“Thank you,” I replied courteously. “That would be nice.”
“Is it true that Jonah drank your blood?” Brooke’s accusation sliced through the air.
“Urm … Yes. I didn’t give him a lot of choice.”
“Brooke, you know what happened. Cessie helped Jonah. He is still with us because she assisted him.” Gabriel fired her an annoyed look that seemed to say “stop talking.”
“Assisted him! Jeez! You’re lucky you’re still breathing! Honestly, who goes around offering themselves like that anyway!” she continued petulantly.
I started to sense that it wasn’t my risky sacrifice that she was interested in; it was my connection to Jonah. “Really, there was no alternative,” I defended myself.
A short, sharp snigger came from the far corner, where Hanora stood. And I couldn’t help but feel that she was rather enjoying this little exchange. I didn’t want to appear like an argumentative child, so I put an end to the conversation.
“Gabriel, would you mind if I take a nap? I’m a bit tired.” It wasn’t a lie. I was torn between starving hunger and an overwhelming need to close my eyes, just for a short while.
“Of course. I’ll show you to your room.”
“I look forward to getting to know you all,” I offered uncomfortably as he whisked me off.
Politely, he stepped behind me and guided me through the hallway and up a huge staircase. He directed me to the landing, passing several doors as we went, eventually ending up at the far end. He turned the heavy steel handle and opened the room up for me. I stepped inside and observed my surroundings. The room itself was sizable, decorated neutrally in whites, which contrasted with the dark wooden beams that ran across the ceiling.
In the center there was a four-poster king-sized bed draped with expensive white-and-silver sheets. The hardwood flooring was mostly covered with a chocolate-brown rug that the bed sat upon, extending to a few inches in from the baseboards. I considered the ornate dresser, topped with a circular mirror, placed in the corner. It looked as though it once belonged to a prima ballerina or a lauded actress. I stepped farther in and saw an additional door, which I walked toward.
“Your en suite.”
Behind the bed on the back wall ran enormous built-in closets and it occurred to me that I had no clothes, nothing at all. “I would never be able to fill that in a lifetime!” I joked, astounded.
Gabriel walked over and slid the mirrored door across, revealing several outfits, a dressing gown, silk pajamas, and slippers. “Borrowed from Brooke. She’ll take you shopping so you can pick out everything you need yourself,” he said, beaming.
“That’s kind of her. I assume you had something to do with that offer. I get the distinct impression she’s not my biggest fan.”
“Don’t mind her, she’s still very young and she’s quite protective of Jonah. He saved her, you see.”
“Like you saved me a few days ago.” Maybe Brooke and I had something in common.
Gabriel sighed. “If only I had been able to save you,” he murmured. “I would have spared you a lot of pain and myself…” He trailed off. His gaze fell to my midriff. I shifted uncomfortably. He moved in and stood squarely in front of me and said, “May I take a look?”
“Did Jonah tell you?” I stuttered.
“He may have mentioned … I tended to your wound, I’d already seen—”
I stood uncomfortably still.
“There might be something I can do,” he offered.
I met his eyes and searched them; it dawned on me that he had gifts of his own.
My feet sank into the rug as I strode across the room and gently shut the bedroom door. He watched me cautiously as I made my way over to the bed, flicking the flats off, letting them fall untidily to the side. I climbed onto the bed, plumping a couple of pillows on top of each other. I inhaled through my nose slowly. My top was still torn underneath the cardigan; all I had to do was slip it off. I did so, keeping hold of the front of the shirt across my chest as I lay down. I nestled my face in the side of the pillow, my hands close to my face. My loose curls tickled my exposed back at my waist.
I felt Gabriel sit down next to me. He stroked my hair tenderly at first before gradually sweeping it away from my skin. Oh, Lai.
I winced, changing my mind instantly. This wasn’t a good idea; I didn’t want him looking at it. I started to scramble up.
Shhhh, it’s okay. His voice in my mind calmed me once more. I relaxed again. I felt his hands glide over my skin, his fingertips running up and down my scar. Goose bumps spread over me. His touch was so soothing; it was unlike anything else in the world. What happened to you?
I didn’t want to revisit it, but I didn’t want to hide anything from him. I don’t know exactly. A Vampire. I was drifting off, deeper into the tunnel.
What was his name?
Frederic.
I didn’t want to name him. There were black spots of him in my memory, even though it had happened in this lifetime, just over three years ago. Part of the story was missing, which made it difficult to recall the first few chapters. Although the details were sketchy, the wave of emotion that spread over me was pure desperation and complete, all-encompassing fear.
As I conjured his face, it flashed across my mind, and I jolted back. I felt Gabriel place both his hands across the ridge of my spine, easing me. But I couldn’t control it; complete recollection came tumbling through rapidly.
Images of us working together in a patisserie seeped through first. I was laughing, he was laughing. He was my friend. Images of him leaving the shop with different girls, grinning like a naughty schoolboy as he went.
I had thought it was funny; I didn’t know. I’d tucked it all away; I hadn’t wanted to think of him again. I knew Gabriel was watching, able to see everything I saw.
What did he do to you? Gabriel’s voice sang through my disturbing thoughts.
Why do you want me to see it again? Why do you want me to watch? I was starting to panic. I knew what came next.
I have to know what happened to be able to take it away.
I didn’t have time to respond before the memory flooded through my consciousness. I watched myself walking out of the exit at the back of the shop; I heard Frederic locking up behind me. I recoiled inside as I saw myself choke when the cruel steel sliced through my skin, scraping along my bone. I saw myself thud to the floor, my head hitting the curb.