When I calmed down enough to open my eyes, I dialed Arsenio.
“Hello?”
“Arsenio, can you come get Scout? She’s not feeling great.”
“How?”
I knew what he was thinking. Vampires didn’t get sick.What happened?
“She bumped her head. She wants to lay down, but I can’t exactly leave.”
“Of course. I’m on my way. Keep her comfortable.” He hung up abruptly, and I returned to the break room. Thankfully, Aleida had returned to the floor.
“She’s got it bad for you,” Scout chuckled. I noticed that the third bottle was empty and sitting on the table.Jesus.
I leaned back on the counter and crossed my arms over my chest. I examined her from a few feet away. “How do you feel?”
“Okay. Tired. Is that normal?”
“Yeah,” I lied. “Perfectly normal.”I wouldn’t know. I’d never done it before.“Was it good for you?” I asked cautiously. I was trying to force aloofness. I was one lip twitch away from giving her my signature creep smile.
“I didn’t know that was even a thing. Drinking another vampire’s blood.”
“Well, movies and books talk about it. It had to come from somewhere, right?”
“I guess.” She sighed and looked away from me. “Is Arsenio coming?”
It was as if she had punched me in the gut. Why did she need him? It was me she should be asking for.
“Yes. I’m glad I fucked you hard enough that he’s the name you’re calling.”
She stiffened. Her head shot back up. “Excuse me?”
I licked my fangs. The taste of her arousal mixed with her delicious blood was still strong on my lips. I didn’t answer her. I knew I was irrational, but the chemicals flowing through me from her blood made me feel weird. Everything was intensified.
“I want Arsenio because I need to get home. I need to get home so I can figure out what to do about this.” She threw her skirt up and spread her legs. She pointed to the spot, but I didn’t need assistance seeing the large intense bruise. It was a large, deep purple and green circle with two fang marks in the center. Little red veins were crawling from the mark. What did I do?
“Oh fuck.” I dropped to my knees and hurried to examine the spot. How had she not healed yet? Was it because it came from another vampire? Was my venom poison to her?
“Yeah. So, get over yourself. I just want to go home. It hurts.”
I swallowed as she covered herself back up.
“What are you going to tell him?” I asked. Her eyes went wide, and she shook her head furiously.
“I can’t tell him anything. How would I explain this? I can’t tell him we kissed, let alone.….” Her voice trailed off, and she shook her head again. “No. I’ll figure it out on my own. I always do.”
“Scout—” I started to argue that he might be able to help, but she shot me down again. She stood and pushed me back. I stood with her.
“Stop. This was a mistake. All of it. I’ve almost got enough for art school. Then-then I can be happy.”
“What about your curse? It doesn’t go away just because you leave town.”
She turned and shot daggers at me with her glare. “You think I don’t know that? I’m close to breaking mine. My curse doesn’t rule over my entire life like yours does. I don’t care if I ever break it.”
“That’s because you don’t know how to. I can help you figure it out.”
She laughed then. It was dry as her eyes rolled to the ceiling.
