It had been a little over three weeks since they started showing up to the diner at night on a consistent basis, and I have been feeling as if I was being followed. I was feeling like I was being watched constantly. Even Holt and Kevin seemed a little strange lately, just a little more clingy than usual. It was nice if not a little off putting. When I had asked Conner if he had been feeling strange lately, as if someone was watching him and he snapped at me. I could not fathom the reason why. Not only did I feel like I was being followed, but Luca and Elijah showed up almost everyday that I worked. Luca and I had actually become quite friendly, while Elijah just seemed to tolerate my presence. The only time he ever spoke to me was when he would place his order, and when he wanted the bill. He was a little scary but a little mesmerizing. Today felt different when I woke up. I woke up and I felt like I was falling apart. My eyes felt like they were glued shut, and my body felt like it was on fire. My heart felt like ice and my fingers and toes felt electric. I had a blinding headache, and breathing felt like I had a ton of bricks on my chest.
"Conner…" I croaked out, my voice sounding like I smoked twenty packs a day. I heard clicking at the computer that stopped for a second at my hoarse voice.
"What's up babe?" I turned my head to face him, a feat just in itself. He was still glued to his screen, as if it was the only thing in the world to him.
"I don't feel good." He then stopped immediately and turned to me. I could see on his face that this did not please him.
"Babe, you really can't afford to miss work. Are you sure you don't feel well?" Suddenly I was overwhelmed with guilt at his words, but I was also a little annoyed. I was clearly unwell, and itcwas two days before my appointment. I had no doubt that my usual pale skin was probably a little flush and almost translucent. I was shaking and I wasn't even moving yet, nor did I feel cold. I actually was a little feverish, and the world was spinning around me.
"I am having a hard time breathing," I said between laboured breaths. He looked at me almost unconvinced.
"You just talked, you're fine." The guilt was welling up in my chest at his words.
I can't be lazy, I need to get going. It was the only thing going through my mind. It took everything in my body to pull myself to a sitting position, and even more effort to swing my legs over the side of the bed. I felt weak and the world was almost spinning around me.
"See? You're fine." Conner grumbled under his breath, almost angrily. I felt almost guilty from his tone, like me feeling sick was a cardinal sin. I somehow managed in my pained and groggy state to pull my shirt over my head and my pants over my legs. It took me longer than usual as I had to fight the nausea and the fatigue everytime I moved.
"What time will you be home today?" Conner barked as I trudged towards the door like a corpse.
"Nine."
"Bring home food or cook." I took a deep breath to catch my bearings and express my disappointment.
"Okay." Like a sick dog who had been thrown out the house for peeing in it, I waddled my way out the door. I don't even really even remember walking down the stairs and out the door. I just remember all of a sudden walking down the sidewalk. Perhaps my brain blocked out that painful memory as my stomach began churning. The air was humid and the sky was beginning to darken. I had forgotten a jacket so a strong gust of wind sent me shivering and I crossed my arms for warmth. I began to notice ever so slightly that I was teetering to the right. My heart beat began to thunder in my ears and the world began to darken at the corner of my vision. Just as I was about to collapse a strong arm wrapped around my waist and hoisted me upwards. I managed to pull myself out of my daze and tried to push myself away from the pervert who grabbed me.
"Are you feeling okay, Suri?" A familiar voice asked above me. I managed to raise my head just as the rain began to fall in fat drops on my face. Elijah loomed himself over me to protect me from the on coming rain, with a hint of worry on his handsome features.
"Yeah… I'm fine." I lied through my teeth as his frown turned into a smile and his hair into a beard. That was when I realized that my vision was actually spinning and I was beginning to mix up his features. He raised his freezing hand and pressed it against my forehead and then pursed his lips.
"Dio mio tesoro, you are on fire." When he spoke italian it made him even more attractive and it frustrated me because all I could focus on was the sky so I did not collapse. Little did I know I was unable to collapse because he had his arms wrapped around my waist to keep me upright. My feet were actually not on the ground, as Elijah with his superhuman strength was actually holding me up. He began snapping his fingers in front of my eyes but I was unable to comprehend it. The world sounded like it was underwater and my eyes were fixated on the dark sky as the heavens opened up and the downpour came down.
"I gotta go to work…" I managed to get out of my mouth before suddenly I reached a strange clarity. I was still nauseous but all of a sudden my consciousness which was slipping away was wretched back to reality. I realized that Elijah was still snapping in front of my eyes, and I was wet. I also had a shiny orb in my eye causing me to jump and blink violently.
"And she's back." Luca's voice caused my eyes to readjust to my surroundings. I had somehow transmigrated to the back of the kitchen, with Luca shining a penlight into my eyes. Elijah was leaning against the white tile wall in his almost see through dress shirt, with Chris jumping on his toes next to him. Jeremy, Cory and Morgan were cooking orders, but they were also looking over to me with worry and confusion.
"Wha--What happened?" I asked and began to move my head around which caused my head to spin again.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Luca began snapping in front of me again and Chris began to quietly make a squeaky noise.
"Why would you try to come into work like this? You literally look like you're on death's door!" Chris yelled so loud I was certain that the customers heard. I leaned my head against the wall as I tried to get my bearings. I did not answer because I had spent so much time here that Chris knew my details of home. Chris quickly grew enraged, twisting his face in anger and throwing his hands in the air.
"You know what, I'm not going to stay silent about this anymore. You bust your ass every day and that useless boy toy of yours bosses you around and plays his games. I have seen you almost collapse on the job, and I have seen you work yourself to the bone. You are sick Suri, and you could die! Does this not bother you at all?" Elijah and Luca just looked at the frantic Chris in total awe as he just began to shake his head.
"You are going to die for this boy one of these days, and I can't bear to see that happen," He began to walk out before he turned to the two non employees bearing witness to his meltdown, "Thank you for taking care of her Doctor Romano. Please make sure she gets home safely." With that he stormed out making me feel like a child who had just been scolded.
"Why am I here?" I asked Elijah who looked like he was posing for a strange playboy photoshoot.
"Luca said he would meet me at the diner and he's an accomplished physician and surgeon. I figured it would be best for him to see you rather than bring you to a human idiot." He scoffed as if I was that human idiot he was speaking of.
"And why in the back room?"
"Elijah carried you in here like a dead body and Chris freaked out and wanted to make sure you were okay." Despite the sad words exchanged before I managed a small smile. Then I saw Jeremy wipe his hands on his towel and saunter over to me. He knelt down next to Luca and in front of me so we were eye level and placed his warm hand over my wet knee.
"Look at me sweetheart," I knew that if I made eye contact with him I was going to either pass out or burst into tears so I looked directly behind his shoulder. He caught my ruse and moved his head so it was in front of me and I bit my lip to stop the tears.
"I am not going to sugar coat this for you, because you know if I care for someone I give them no bullshit," His eyes darted over to the two vampires who were almost alien and strange during this, "But you're dying. Your heart is fragile, and you are not treating it like it is. That man is going to be the death of you, and honestly I don't think he cares."
"May I step in?" Luca asked after Jeremy and before I even had time to process what was going on.
"I've known you for a little under a month, so I can't say I know you well enough to make a judgement call--"
"Drop the little shit." Elijah barked over the doctor. When I looked at Elijah his eyes seemed like they were on fire. He seemed angry, and I could not tell where the anger was directed.
"I was going to put it softer than that but--"
"If someone really loves you, they won't make you work yourself to death for them. Hell, he wouldn't have even let you walk out that door if he really gave two shits." And with that a silence settled in the back.
You can't afford not to go in. You just talked, you're fine.
"I think…" Everyone was looking at me as if I had any answers but all I could do was bow my head.
"I think I need to lay down." I did not have the courage to do what they were all implying. I had spent the last six years of my life with Conner, and I didn't have much. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life which may be a year,or even a day alone. Jeremy rubbed my knee and sighed softly.
"Go home sweetie pie, and think about things. You will always have a place at my home, and my wife is an excellent cook. Just not as good as me." He tried to make me smile but all I had was tears rolling down my cheeks.
"We'll take you home bella," Luca sighed and reached out to me. Elijah just let out a soft growl and Luca pulled back his arm quickly.
"I had better carry her because you're a klutz."
"I can walk." I said unconvincingly. The two men looked at me and then Elijah kicked open the door outside. The rain was a downpour, with thunder and lightning crackling the sky.
"Oh," I said as I saw the trees bending over. Even a slight breeze would knock me over.
"Come on, let's make this quick." Elijah adjusted his already wet clothes while Luca went to go wait by the door.
"Luca will put you to bed and give your roommate instructions on how to care for you for the next few days, so lets make this quick." Elijah grumbled just right before scooping me up like I weighed nothing. Granted he had superhuman strength and my medication always made me severely underweight, but still. Elijah's long legs ran outside, and Luca followed suite into the pelting rain. I squeaked and wanted to get away from the onslaught, causing Elijah to curse.
"Let's just go all out Luca, this rain is horrible!" He barked over the thunder.
"We can't, she's too fragile. We will just have to go on a normal humans run." Elijah tried to hunch over as he ran to protect me from the bullet like rain. I felt like I was going to drown as this venture usually took me twenty to thirty minutes. However, less than five later he skidded to an abrupt stop. The rain stopped around us but the sounds of it continued. I opened my soaked eyes to see that he had already made it to my building and was taking shelter in the alley next to my door. It was blocking off most of the rain because of the direction. Luca shook his head to rid himself of the rainwater drenching it.
"Can you walk up to your apartment?" Elijah asked as he set me down gently on the ground. My legs were wobbly and my vision slightly distorted but I had confidence.
"I'll be one second up there bella," Luca said to me but his eyes were on the much taller man beside me.
"Okay, I'll leave a shoe in the door so you can get in." He muttered a thanks as I poked my head out from the alley. The wind had ceased for a moment so I waddled to the door and swung it open, taking off one of my now soaked shoes and jamming it in the door so Luca could come through it later. I basically crawled up the stairs so I would not lose my balance, and leaned against the wall as I walked down our hallway so as to not collapse. As I approached our apartment I noticed something odd. There was a large wet spot in front of the door, and a trail leading to it from where I was walking. I figured Conner just went to get something to eat and gt caught in the rain. Then as I approached the door, the door was unlocked and open. The door was heavy, but not heavy enough that sometimes if you let it just close behind you the peg left it open. Strange, but a misunderstanding. But I felt a cold shiver up my spine as I stood there, with my world completely bending around me. I heard strange noises inside, and it sounded like yelling. Video games? No, no it was not. I was hearing a woman's voice in there. Despite being so fragile and depleted I never had so much strength. I pushed the door open with wide eyes to confirm my suspicions. There, smack dab in the middle of our living room was a pile of tangled body parts. I saw Conner's signature red hair, tangled with familiar strawberry blonde hair as well. My glass heart fell to the floor and shattered at the sight before me, and even though I was silent, the duo happened to turn their heads in the heat of their passion and see me. The girl underneath him was Tiffany, a law student working at the diner I had been covering for recently for calling in sick. She looked more annoyed by my interruption than shocked, and so did Conner. I was speechless, and filled with so many emotions at once. Rage, despair, hatred, depression. And yet, I still felt empty.
"I thought you would be home until nine." That was it. That was all he had to say to me after I caught them banging on my living room floor like a couple of monkeys.
"You thought… I was going to… be home at nine?" I repeated slowly, realizing that my chest was getting tight and my breathing laboured.
"Yeah, you said nine. Why are you home early?" And with that I began to run away. Well run the best I could, the best I could do was the average person's speed walk.
"Suri wait!" Conner yelled back at me just as my left arm started to feel numb. I ignored him, driven by a strange force to just leave and never come back. I could hear him get into the hallway by the time I managed to get to the stairs. I needed to hurry, I wanted to get away from him but my limbs were getting harder to move. As I struggled down the stairs, I had just made it as he reached them. I threw myself out into the rainy streets, breathing hard and with blackened vision.
"I said wait!" Conner grabbed my arm and yanked me back again, making me see stars.
"Let go of me you whore!' I managed to scream and rip my arm away. We stared daggers at each other in the street, and I realized that he was covering his privates with a blanket.
"I need to feel loved too Suri, and you're always gone!" He barked at me. I pride myself on being calm and collected. But this time, in the pouring rain and with blackening vision I broke.
"I'm always gone because I am working to pay the bills! You could have gotten a job and showed me you actually cared about me!"
"And what if I don't?" That was it. If anything could have shattered me more than how I was then, that was it. He said it was so much contempt in his eyes too, as if he was completely disgusted in me.
"You're going to die soon, and I started moving on a long time ago from you. All you've meant to me is a paycheck and food delivery. I mean for fuck sake, we can't even have sex because you're so fragile! I'm a man, I have needs!" He screamed over the rolling thunder and let go of my arm. He almost made it out to be that I was the one in the wrong here.
"I thought you loved me." For a moment he almost looked remorseful, but then his face twisted into a sneer.
"Well you thought wrong." With that he turned on his heels only to bump into a tall and broad figure.
"Get out of the way!" Conner barked in the face of a very pissed off Elijah. I couldn't even register what was happening as the numbness in my left arm got worse. Pain was spreading across my chest and I just turned towards the ally and began to numbly walk to it. It was like everything was happening in slow motion. My chest felt like fire was being pumped through my veins, and my legs and arms were numb but felt like cement. Everything around me sounded like it was underwater, my world was spinning around me. This felt like earlier but with much more pain. Suddenly I realized it was because I was on the ground, my cheek and head stinging from the impact. Someone was yelling over me-- no two people were. My heart was racing a mile a minute, and breathing was almost impossible. As the fire spread throughout my body my breathing got harder and I felt like I was suffocating. My vision was being swallowed by black, and I could see a ruby looking into my soul right before I slipped away.