"What does it taste like?” I opened the bottle and sniffed, then crinkled up my nose. “Smells just like vitamins."
Nicoleta laughed, her recently soured mood lifted. “You have no idea how alike you are to your great-great-grandmother.” She shook her head and laughed again. “The supplements won't have much of a taste if you take it with water.” She stood. “Okay, let's call it a night. If you have any issues at all tonight or any time for that matter, call me right away. You still have my card with my cell phone number on it?” I nodded. “Good. I'll see you tomorrow then."
I stood and followed her to the door. Mom and Dad waved good-bye to Nicoleta as she left. After picking up my stuff I'd dropped by the door, I jogged upstairs to my room for some much needed privacy. Mom and Dad didn't even bother to stop me.
The alarm annoyingly buzzed in my ears. I slapped it off. Uuug! Mornings came much too soon. And I really hated that stupid alarm clock.
Roxie jumped up on the bed and plopped on top of me, licking my ear until I made a move to get up. With her around, I didn't need the dang alarm.
"Okay, okay. I'm getting up."
She barked her reply.
My gut screamed to be fed as it gurgled and churned. I pulled on the pajama bottoms I had shucked off during the night and headed downstairs, Roxie leading the way. Food was number one in my thoughts.
After two full bowls of Frosted Flakes, two glasses of orange juice, two strawberry Pop-Tarts, and an apple, I found myself just as hungry as before I ate breakfast. Strange. If I kept eating like this, I'd have to roll myself out of the house. I wondered if vampires gained weight if they ate too much? Mom and Dad were very trim and fit. All the other vampires I knew were thin, too. Ha! I grabbed two more Pop-Tarts and chowed down. What the heck. An upside after all.
I'd spent way too much time pigging out, so I had to get my butt in gear or I'd be late to school. The hollow pit of my stomach still grumbled for more food, but I'd run out of time. Not wanting another repeat of my less than perfect appearance at school the other day, I hurried back upstairs to make myself presentable.
As I stood in front of the bathroom mirror brushing my hair, the melody of the song—our song—me and Ryan had danced to filled my mind. But for some reason, one of the lines of the lyrics kept repeating over and over in my head like a broken record.
You fill the dark void in my soul
You fill the dark void in my soul
You fill the dark void in my soul
I stopped brushing and stared at my reflection. “You fill the dark void in my soul ... you fill the dark void in my soul ... fill the dark void in my soul."
A heat radiated from my mark and the pendant around my neck vibrated.
"Fill the dark void in my soul,” I said aloud one more time.
My mark heated even more, almost to the point of being uncomfortable. I turned around and jerked the side of my jeans down and twisted my torso to look in the mirror.
Oh, my God! My flippin’ mark glowed. No freakin’ way! It was something straight out of a Sci-Fi movie. Way too crazy for me. The pendant all but danced around my neck it vibrated so hard.
But what did it mean?
My password! I'd discovered the special phrase Nicoleta had told me about.
"Fill the dark void in my soul.” I had to try it one more time just to be sure.
I received an even stronger reaction for my trouble. The heat around my mark now turned to a pricking sensation—like a rubber band snapping me over and over.
"Okay, okay. I won't say it anymore.” I chuckled to myself, giddy I had solved the riddle so easily. I danced around, twirling in front of the mirror. Roxie barked and pranced around the bathroom, circling my legs, excited by my unusual reaction so early in the morning.
Time quickly ticked away, so I had no choice but to leave. I made a run through the kitchen and grabbed a Slim-Fast bar to help quiet my rumbling stomach.
"Bye, Rox! See you later. Be a good girl,” I yelled before slamming the door behind me.
I made it to algebra just in time. Ms. Sampson passed our graded tests back. I ended up with an eighty-four. Not bad. I'd be able to bring that score up.
Except for my bottomless pit of a stomach, my first class went without incident. My day headed in the right direction. I thought about knocking on wood or something. I really didn't want to jinx myself, especially with Val slinking about like a snake coiled and ready to strike.
By the time I reached the biology room, Mandy already had our lab table saved. “Hey! I beat ya."
I plopped my crap down. “Are you excited about the lab today or what?"
"Oh, yeah, today is the bloooood typing lab.” She dragged the word ‘blood’ out for my benefit.
"Yeah. A thrill a minute."
No doubt the lab would prove to be quite interesting.
Ryan walked in and our glances automatically locked. I held my breath, waiting to see what he would do. As he approached our table, he never broke eye contact with me. My pulse skittered and my face heated from the blatant attention.
"Hello, Sparkie, Mandy. Mind if I work with y'all?” He looked at Mandy, then back at me, waiting for permission to set his stuff down and join us.
"Sure, no problem,” Mandy answered.
My tongue froze in my mouth, rendering me momentarily speechless, which seemed to happen often around him. I motioned to the empty space instead.
And of course, once Val got to class, she made sure she placed herself as close to Ryan as possible, so her little cheer section took the table next to ours. Yep, one happy little finger-gouging grouping.
Ryan's constant nearness confused all my senses. My body hummed when he got within ten feet of me. His presence affected me to the point I felt electrified, but when he accidentally on purpose brushed up against me, I thought I'd die from the heated sensation of the contact. Waves of energy flowed through my veins, zapping every nerve in my body—pure torture in a pleasant kind of way. I melted into a blissful puddle of goo. Something I swore would never happen to me. It was quite disgusting to tell the truth.
Oh, God, and the way his blue eyes caught with mine in silent communication every time I looked up made the butterflies in my stomach flutter like they were hyped up on caffeine.
We each received a spring loaded lancet to prick the tip of our finger and a card with four circles where the blood drops would go.
I grabbed the sharply pointed lancet. “How does this thing-a-ma-jig work?"
"Uh, you put it over your finger and press the button on the side, then the jabbing part springs down and pricks your finger,” Mandy said, a smile spreading across her face.
She enjoyed teasing me about my needle phobia a little too much. I stuck out my tongue and snatched the alcohol pad from the lab table, ripping it open with one motion. No way would I let her get the best of me. How hard could it be? Or should I say, how much could it hurt? I poised the lancet above the tip of my finger, but I couldn't do it. Knowing when the sharp point would plunge into my flesh kind of psyched me out.
Mandy laughed. I looked up and both she and Ryan stared at me, apparently waiting for me to go first.
"What?” I asked.
"Oh, nothing.” Mandy laughed again.
Ryan reached out and took the lancet from me. “Here, let me do it. The anticipation is much worse than the actual prick."
He took my finger in his hand and gently wiped the alcohol pad across my finger. Let's just say snap crackle pop happened on a new level. My heart jolted, shooting sparks through my veins. I totally forgot the point of why he held my finger until a sharp pain bit into the tip.
"Ouch, thank you.” I tried to pull my finger back, but he wouldn't let go.
"Allow me.” He massaged the blood to the tip until a drop formed, then let it plop onto the first circle of the card. He repeated the same thing for the other three circles, all the while seeming to inhale deeply with each drop that fell—almost as if he was enjoying the scent of chocolate chip cookies baking. I found the gesture a bit strange. He dabbed the remaining blood with the alcohol pad and brought my finger to his warm lips, pressing a kiss to the tiny wound. “There. You're done. That wasn't so bad was it?"
I still reeled from his magical touch and barely comprehended what he said. “No ... I guess not."
Mandy had this cheesy grin plastered across her face when I looked up and met her glance.
Val sauntered over to our table and extended her hand with a lancet in it toward Ryan. “Ryan, I just can't seem to poke my finger. Can you do it for me, pleeeeaaase?” She licked her lips, making sure Ryan knew she wanted more than help.
I rolled my eyes so hard I saw stars. What a pretentious little witch. Mandy must have shared my attitude because she propped her hands on her hip and gave Val a dirty look.
Mrs. Krammer came to the rescue. “Class, I think we can all do our own finger pricking. It's not that hard. I would prefer you didn't help each other. We are dealing with blood. Please take the precautions listed on the lab sheet.” She turned toward Val. “Return to your table."
Val huffed, gave me a scalding look, and swished back to her table, but not before batting her eyelashes at Ryan and giving him a seductive smile. Bitch!
Everyone around us began poking their fingers. I must have been the only one done thanks to Ryan. The sweet metallic scent of blood rushed into the room all at once. My nostrils flared and my pulse exploded in my veins like a shot of epinephrine. I started to breathe heavier as my heart pounded in my chest.
Ryan jabbed his finger and I watched mesmerized as he squeezed out a drop of blood. The beautiful rich crimson fluid with the equally beautiful smell almost knocked me to my knees. My stomach lurched and water filled my mouth, causing a stinging sensation around the jaw area. It was all too much—like a smorgasbord of scents.
Dizziness overtook me and I swayed side to side, unable to maintain my balance. I could hear Mandy and Ryan speaking, but their voices sounded as if they spoke underwater—all gargled and murky. As I glanced around, every color faded—except red. Anything red blazed to life, seeming to pulse and lure me toward it.
I gasped for breath and attempted to get a hold of myself. A thin layer of sweat coated my body.
This had to be a
bloodlust.
And I was dangerously close to doing something I wouldn't be able to take back. My gums itched and burned.
Oh, my God!
My teeth started to extend. I grabbed my purse and practically ran out of the room, not even caring I didn't have permission to leave.
Someone followed me out the door and into the hall, but I didn't look back. I had to get away. Find some privacy and take the supplements Nicoleta had given me ... before it was too late. I no longer heard footsteps behind me, so I stopped at the closest water fountain. I glanced around to make sure no one watched me. After digging in my purse and finding the pills, I took a drink of water then popped two of them into my mouth and swallowed.
I shook so bad I could hardly stand, so I slid down the wall next to the fountain and sat. Footsteps echoed in the opposite direction, alerting me someone else occupied the hall. Taking in several deep breaths, I prayed my teeth wouldn't drop all the way and my
bloodlust
would subside. The loss of control scared the crap out of me. A feeling I never wanted to experience again.
After a few minutes, I started to feel better. My heart rate returned to normal and I could see colors once again. I stood on wobbly legs and walked back to the biology room.
Both Mandy and Ryan met me at the door as I entered the room.
"Are you okay?” Mandy asked.
"Yeah, you looked awfully pale when you rushed out of here.” Concern shimmered bright in Ryan's eyes.
"I don't know. It was kind of weird. I guess the blood got to me or something. I got nauseous and thought I might hurl, so I ran to the bathroom,” I tried to reason.
"Shiznit! Don't tell me you have a blood phobia, too,” Mandy said.
"Now, that would be ironic.” I managed a small chuckle.
"Ironic?” Mandy scrunched her face in confusion.
"Nothing. Inside joke."
"Okaaay. If you say so."
Ryan cocked a brow. “Blood phobia, too? As in you have another one?"
"Oh yeah, she's like really claustrophobic."
"Thanks, Mandy,” I said.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone has their thing.” Ryan draped his arm across my shoulders and gave me a brief squeeze.
If he didn't quit touching me, I'd spontaneously combust or pass out cold. He consumed me, and I had no idea how to deal with it.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a movement. Val passed by with a smirk plastered on her face, making sure to touch Ryan as she brushed by. No doubt she enjoyed my little spectacle and it would be all over the school by the end of the day. I could just hear it ...
Cheyenne, the bat girl, almost passed out from the sight of blood. Blah. Blah. Blah.
The bell rang, sending students scurrying to make it to their next class. Me and Mandy dropped by our lockers to dump our biology stuff before heading to French. At least Ryan or Val wouldn't be in that class, so I could relax.
"Well, Ryan sure seems to be into you. And it looked like you were more than just a little bit into him.” Mandy grinned.
"Yeah, well you should see the gaga looks you and Brad give each other. Talk about disgusting,” I added, trying to take the attention off me. My reactions toward Ryan already had me plenty disturbed.
"Oh, hey, don't you have an orthodontist appointment today?” Mandy asked.
Nice change of subject.
"Yep, I have to get the bracket put back on. I might be a little late for gym."
"Yeah, sometimes they're slow, especially when you have anything done other than switching out the rubber bands."
We got to French right as the second bell rang. Finding two seats side by side, we slid into the chairs. Luckily, today we'd be working more on grammar than speaking. I just wasn't in the mood, not to mention the fact that I kind of sucked when it came to the speaking part of French.