Bab 5: Chapter 5: A Bite to Eat

Four days, two hours, and thirty-seven minutes left.

Rilian and I continued down deeper into the mine shaft. It felt like we were going further and further away from life above, despite Rilian's assurances. I wondered if I had made a grand mistake by trusting his judgment.

"Are you sure this is the right way?" I asked again.

I could feel the ground incline down on this route. The old rail had stopped several feet before, and it felt like we were walking into a cave.

"I told you it's fine," Rilian sighed, and I felt his head drop against my shoulder.

I turned back to look and see what was wrong. Rilian had sweat beading up on his brow, and his green eyes, half-lidded, were hazy. He was breathing very slowly.

"Turn...Left...There," Rilian mumbled, his voice going quiet as his eyes slid shut.

"Rilian?" I asked, concerned. "Are you okay?"

I stopped walking, and Rilian's eyes snapped open again. His usual emerald green glowing an eerie red at the center of his irises. He snarled under his breath, and I saw his fangs; duel canines on each side started to extend as he opened his mouth, but he caught himself and pulled back with a pained groan.

"I. am. Fine." He hissed, emphasizing each word.

"You don't look fine!" I exclaimed, turning on the spot to kneel, and lowered Rilian to the floor.

The weary vampire slumped back against the wall with a thud.

"Taking shots at me now?" Rilian was still joking despite his discomfort, but his usual grin was gone. "Look, the quicker we get out of here, the better it is for both of us."

I leaned in to look over him. I knew vampires were pale, but this was exceptional, and he seemed to be getting worse by the moment. Was it an infection? Could Vampires even get infections? But as I got closer, I saw Rilian's eyes locked down on my throat. His lips pinched together as if trying to keep something from escaping.

"You're hungry."

How could he not have been? He had lost tremendous blood; all I had was human rations. I began rifling through my bag, searching for anything.

"Don't bother," sighed Rilian, "not that I don't appreciate it, man. But I can't eat your food. It will just go bad in my stomach. We just need to hurry so I can get out of here and get a proper meal."

Rilian winced, his head dropping back against the wall. He was trying to compose himself. I didn't really understand the consequences of vampires skipping feeding, but I knew it had to be bad. After all, the lengths they went to keep a constant supply of blood were insane, and the feedlot was a product of that.

I glanced at my wrist, watching the blue vein pulse under my olive skin. I had a terrible idea, but if Rilian passed out now, there was no telling how long we would be stuck down here or if we would ever get out.

And truthfully, even though we had just met, I hated seeing him suffer.

"Can you drink wolf's blood?" I asked hesitantly.

"You're offering? Thought you said not to bite you?"

"Would it help?" I asked timidly.

"First, it was all, 'Oh no, mister vampire man, don't bite me!'" Rilian mocked in a pitched voice. "Now you're just offering it up? A little sus, babe."

I rolled my eyes. How could this guy be on the brink of death and STILL spitting sass at me!? I took a deep breath before crouching across from him, locking my eyes with his.

"So, is that a yes, or no?" I asked more sternly.

Rilian went quiet. His eyes scrolled slowly over me, taking me in as if he were contemplating his options. I could almost feel his gaze looking at me from head to toe with prying eyes, scrutinizing every inch of me.

I glanced away nervously, and Rilian chuckled at my embarrassment.

"Yeah, it'll help. Come here, I can't do it with you hiding all the way over there," Rilian teased.

I grimaced, almost instantly regretting my decision. Inch by inch, I scooted forward, hesitantly getting closer until I was within arms reach. I held my wrist, trying to keep my distance like I was handling some venomous snake.

"You scared of me?" asked Rilian, grinning mischievously.

I watched him as he carefully took my hand and began sliding his calloused fingers over the largest vein in my wrist. He caressed it slowly to feel the pulse underneath.

"I mean, who is actually afraid of vamp...OOF," I cried as Rilian suddenly used my hand to yank me up next to him, pulling me up into his lap.

"Whoa, hey!! Some warning!!" I protested.

"Settle down, settle down," Rilian said, chuckling into my ear. "I'm just f*cking with you."

"Well, since you've got enough energy to do that, I-I'll just be on my way!" I stammered, trying to squirm again, but Rilian locked me down with an arm around my waist.

"Stop wiggling and answer the question," said Rilian, and he caught my chin to force my gaze to meet his own. "Are. You. Scared of me?"

My breath caught in the back of my throat. His grip was firm despite his injuries, and the way his eyes were narrowed at me in that unyielding gaze made me feel so exposed. I didn't dare lie.

My mouth felt parched. I swallowed, trying to find my words, but nothing came out. I could hear my ragged breath shuttering in my ears. His grip tightened, and I shuttered. I felt caught like a fish and wondered what he would be like at full strength.

"I-I know what vampires do," I whispered breathlessly. "And this is really dangerous."

"I take it you've never done this before?" Rilian's voice softened.

"No," I said, shrinking down a little further. "only blood bags."

Rilian chuckled as he gently brushed his fingertip from my chin up into my hair, sending tingles down my spine as he swept it away from my face.

"We don't have to kill to eat, and most of the time, we don't. It's too messy," Rilian said, trying to assure me.

"Comforting," I groaned, rolling my eyes.

"You'll be fine. Although, considering you're a dude, it might be a little weird for you," Rilian said with a guilty grin.

"Weird. How exactly?" I asked nervously.

"Oh, you'll see... Lucky me, you are cute, so this will be great on my end," Rilian teased.

"Wait, I'm wha...???"

Heat rushed to my ears as I felt his rough hand slide up the back of my neck, cradling my nape. His arms were warm and heavy, keeping me focused on him.

"Shh," Rilian whispered, leaning into my ear. "This won't hurt too much."

Rilian's breath was hot against my throat, and I could hear the sound of my breath trembling as I tried to instinctively shrink away from the beast that drew me nearer. I knew that I was the one who offered, but now that I had been ensnared by him, I had begun to question my choices.

"So... How would you like me to do this?" Rilian asked, his voice dropping down to a whisper. "You're shaking, and I know you're afraid. So want me to be quick? It'll be rough and hurt more, but it will be over fast."

"No... If you move any faster, my freaking heart will stop. Just go slow, please."

"You sure about that?" Rilian smirked.

"Can you stop playing with your food now, please!?" Rilian giggled, leaning in to brush his lips against my neck.

I was flushed from ear to ear in another guy's lap, being cradled like a bride. It was so embarrassing. I heard the shift near my ear and knew those long fangs were extending again. I didn't want to see it, so I closed my eyes.

I felt a pinch as his fangs penetrated deep into the side of my throat. Every instinct I had screamed for me to pull away, but Rilian's grip was firm. His hand slowly caressed the back of my hair as if trying to soothe me as he drank. I could feel the warmth of his lips on my neck and the rush of my blood as it rose to the wound. I could hear the sound of blood washing over his tongue with every little sip.

But what was killing me was that Rilian would let out the softest moan with every little mouthful. I could feel his hands tightening around me, caressing me as if they were wandering on their own. All I could do was endure, not moving a muscle, fearing something might go wrong.

It should have been awkward and nothing more, but Rilian had been right. This was oddly intimate for two men. I found my blood was rushing in two very different directions, creating some lower tension that I prayed to the Gods he would not notice. Fortunately, for the time being, he seemed very distracted.

"I think... I may be at my limit..." I gasped, pushing him away as I began to get lightheaded.

Rilian broke away, blood leaking from the corners of his lips as he stared wild-eyed down at me.

"I need more," Rilian growled, catching me by the shoulder as I tried to move back and pushed me harshly to the floor.

"W-wait, hold on!" I cried as Rilian locked me to the ground, returning to sink his fangs into my neck. I cried out with the sting of a new bite.

But Rilian didn't seem to hear me. His touch grew more heated, caressing my body in a fever, his knee pressed tight between my thighs. Wandering hands gripping, kneading, and grasping over my clothes and onto every tender part of me. The grip was much more firm, holding me down against the cold earth. I tried with all I had to push against his shoulders, but Rilian's seemed to grow as my strength faded. It felt like pushing against stone and just as helpless.

"You are taking too much!" I cried desperately, arching against the floor.

My vision started to blur, and my head began to swim; my fingertips felt weak against Rilian's shoulders. Eventually, even the strength to hold my hands up became too much, and they dropped pathetically to my sides.

It was like he couldn't hear me. He was too lost in blood lust and hunger from denying himself for so long. He arched over me like a cat guarding its food, holding me with threatening claws. The room was spinning in my eyes.

Was this the last thing I was going to see?

It was growing cold, and I began to shiver. I didn't know what else to do, so I clung to Rilian, wrapping my arms around the beast as it devoured me.

"Rilian," I whimpered softly. "I'm scared..."

At last, Rilian's eyes snapped open, and my voice finally broke through to him. He stopped, pulling back to look down at me as I shivered in his arms below.

"Sh*t," Rilian cursed, drawing me up against his chest. "Aspen! Are you okay? Look at me."

Blood still stained his lips, and I could feel a dull throbbing at my neck where he had been, still aching though it was slowly fading into the background.

"Feeling any better?" I mumbled, half out of my mind.

My head began to swim, the room around us spinning and spiraling into darkness. My eyes grew far too heavy to hold open. The last thing I saw was concern on his face and an odd warmth wrapped around me.

"I've got you, Aspen... You're going to be okay," Rilian whispered to me from a distance, and the room slowly faded to darkness.

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