Chapter 16: The threat gets real
I tried to scream but my vocal chords didn't cooperate and only a screech came out and simultaneously the lights switched on again. Max, the class mascot, a stuffed teddy looked at me steadily with its red eyes. This situation was really starting to get on my nerves and to think that I almost passed out due to Max. I looked for the key, which was just right to the table, picked it up and unlocked my door. Casting a last look at Max, I took my file and left for the meeting.
'How did you meet him?' Claudia asked me while driving to the linen store in town. I had convinced her to take me buy my plush luxury bath towel set.
'It's a long story.' I wasn't ready to tell her about the locket yet so I stuck to the basic details. 'He's a friend of Granny. I met him just 3 days ago.'
'What does he want?'
'He says that I'm in danger and he's here to protect me.'
'What's the threat?'
At least this time I could reply with complete honesty when I said, 'I really don't know.
'Are you a vampire too?'
'He says that I am but I don't agree with him.' Then looking at Claudia's profile while she directed her attention on the road, I remarked, 'Now I know why you always see Mr Pierce before me.'
She laughed at this and admitted that there were a few perks to being a half-vampire.
'Well, keep me updated,' were her last words as she dropped me at the door 45 minutes later. When I came in the house, for a moment I thought that I was alone in the house, that is, until I heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom.
'I'm in the shower,' came the reply to my unasked question. It was the perfect opportunity to try the new towels. The seller had assured me that they were pre-washed, so I could use them directly. I pulled one of the towels from the bag and asked, 'Did you take a towel?' I was hoping for the answer to be 'No', and I wasn't deceived.
'Wait, I'll bring you a fresh towel,' I said with some excitement. I went to the bathroom door, opened it and promptly closed my eyes.
'My eyes are closed,' I said. 'Don't worry.'
'Who's worrying?' a voice said just next to me. When had Dave left the shower cubicle?
He reached out his hand and I could feel him pulling the towel from my grasp. I let go. Even though I couldn't see him, I could imagine him standing next to me naked, with water sluicing down his body. The water droplets would then slow down in his chest hair, trapped there, until gravity would make them continue their way down, until... I didn't dare continue on that track.
'Why don't you open your eyes and see for yourself?' he whispered. And before I could stop myself, my eyes popped open to see Dave with the towel wrapped securely around his waist, completely dried. I couldn't hide my deception and he laughed at me, walking past me to the bedroom where he had laid his clothes on the bed. He put his hands around his waist and then started untying the knot which kept the towel secure, all while looking at me. Before he could complete his action, however, I had rushed outside the room, with his laughter following me to the kitchen.
I started the preparations for dinner. There was some leftover rice, so I decided to prepare some Cantonese rice. Quick and tasty.
'Can I help you?' I was startled to hear Dave talking just behind him I hadn't even heard his steps. How could he get dressed so quickly?
'I get undressed quickly as well.' He volunteered the information with a grin.
I pointed to the carrots and onions I had put by the side of the chopping board. 'Can you dice those?' Careful, that knife is sharp.'
I was peeling the garlic and set about to make a paste when I heard a sniffing. I turned around and saw Dave wiping his eyes with his sleeve. Apparently red onions had some effect on vampires, I thought with satisfaction. I had just turned around to washing the chives when I heard Dave hiss and swear. He was holding his finger to the light and a small gash had appeared by the side. I rushed to him and before I could think it through, I grabbed his finger and put it in my mouth. I had heard that saliva promoted wound healing if the cut wasn't deep. I was immediately reminded of the way he had sucked my finger into his mouth during the day and I could see that he also remembered, with the slow smile spreading across his face.
Dave reached out his free hand and gently touched my cheek. I leaned in its direction and rubbed my cheek in his arm. I released his finger and his other hand came out to encircle my waist. He then pulled me into a strong hug and I didn't resist. It had been a hard day at work and his arms felt so good. I stayed in his arms like that, immobile and enjoyed the release that his hug brought. One by one, I felt all my worries fade away, until I was a mass of putty in his hand. The sputtering of the oil in the wok brought me back to reality and I pulled out of his hug and rushed to add the garlic to the oil, while lowering the flame. I took the onions from him and stir-fried all the vegetables. We worked in companionable silence and soon the meal was ready.
We sat down to eat and I avoided looking in his direction as I did not know what to say.
'It's tasty,' he said.
'Thanks.'
I wolfed down the rice in a few minutes and hurriedly got up. 'I'll take a shower.' I didn't wait for his response. I just grabbed my new towel and rushed to the bathroom as if the hounds from hell were chasing me.
I took a quick shower and wore my favorite nightdress which covered me from head to toe. It was very comfortable and reminded me of Nani. Dave was waiting for me on the bed when I came out. He was going through a stack of papers that I had left on the bedside table and I could see that he had already corrected a few of them. My heart mellowed and I couldn't help but feel grateful. I sat next to him and started correcting another batch and it continued for one more hour until I couldn't stifle a yawn any longer.
'Time to sleep,' Dave said firmly, taking the papers from my unresisting hands.
I brushed my teeth, then went around the house to switch off the lights. The dishes had already been done. I could get used to this. I usually felt so lonely at that time of the night.
Then I climbed in my bed and merely moved to the side to give Dave more space as he came to lie down next to me. Why try to pretend otherwise? I slept better with him around me. I wanted to enjoy this as long as I could, before time came for him to leave me.
'Good night,' I whispered and soon sleep claimed me.
At around midnight, my sleep broke. The sheets were twisted around my body and I was sweating heavily. I had a massive migraine and I could feel my body shivering as well. I switched on the bedside table and as I turned around, Dave was already looking at me, with worry clouding his gaze. I looked at my hands, they were turning blue and the veins in my wrist had become very prominent. My stomach was heaving and I felt nauseous. I just had enough time to go to the toilet where I emptied the contents of my stomach. In between bouts of vomit, I felt Dave's hands holding back my hair and stopping it from coming in my face. After a few minutes, I felt lighter and washed my face. I walked back to the bedroom, with Dave following me.
'Must be acidity,' I said. 'I usually get gastric problems when I'm very stressed.' He didn't say anything, he simply went to the kitchen, poured some warm water from a flask and added some sugar and salt to it, brought it for me to sip.
'Drink, you'll feel better.'
I did and then lied down to try to get some more sleep.
Unknown to me, Dave remained awake, looking at my sleeping form, with a frown on his face. He then took his phone and made a call.
'It's happening.'
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone