[©Lynnifer Ice - November 21, 2022]
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"It's a little complicated, Alex," Blake slowly explained, looking over his shoulder, most likely to check if the others were coming back yet.
I somehow doubt that…
"If you're worried about the cut, don't be. It's not like I can bleed out from this," I half-smiled, wanting to laugh but knowing it would be inappropriate if one read the room. I stole a glance over toward Xinith, noticing his eyes were glued to my arm.
"It can get infected, though," Blake frowned before also glancing over my shoulder at Xinith but quickly looked away.
"Alex, I'm s-," Xinith tried saying before I sharply cut him odd.
"I thought I told you not to talk to me, Xinith," I glared at him with a sneer before looking back at Blake. "How long is this going to take? I'm still hungry."
"I'm hoping very quickly because you-" Blake went on to say, his eyes honed in on the blood.
"You better think very carefully about how you choose to end that sentence. Don't think I won't hit you, too, if you piss me off. Hasn't anyone around here ever heard of the term 'hangry,'" my eyes narrowed, understanding where he was coming from but also feeling incredibly cautious with the new knowledge that he and his dormmates are vamps.
On a sidenote… This temper of mine could come back to bite me one of these days.
"Actually…," Blake drawled out, his eyes locking onto Xinith, "I hate his guts, but I think it would be safer if he were keeping the pressure on your arm and possibly bandaging it. I mean, I'll help, but, ah, I'm sorry, I have to say it. Your blood smells way too divine, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to resist it successfully."
"Does it look like I want his hands to be anywhere near me?" I snapped back, immediately denying the idea.
"Alex, for your own safety, please reconsider. I can't guarantee that I won't-," Blake tried to change my mind, trying to look anywhere but my bleeding arm.
"Are you trying to say you could unintentionally hurt me?" I scrunched my brows, slightly annoyed he had yet to answer my original question, but before I could add anything else, Xinith stepped over irregardless of my warning before.
A single shared wordless glance between Blake and Xinith, and then Xinith was exchanging places with Blake. Compared to all the times before when Xinith would grab me, his hold was gentle. That confused the shit out of me, as it was entirely out of character for him based on what I had seen of him so far. I tried to pull my arm back, but he stubbornly kept his hold.
"I should have gotten here sooner," Xinith quietly commented, his eyes glued to my arm as he grabbed new napkins and replaced the old ones to place pressure against my wound.
"No, you shouldn't have shown up at all," I automatically snapped. "Why are you even here? How did you know exactly where to find me? Do you have any idea how creepy that is?" I nagged; I would have crossed my arms, but I couldn't use one of my arms at the moment.
"Your thoughts…," Xinith began softly as if trying to think of how to word it, "They were very concerning."
"My thoughts? How could you possibly hear them from another part of campus???" I eyed him suspiciously. "You sound like a fucking stalker, Xinith."
"It's hard to explain, and you wouldn't understand. Not yet, at least," Xinith continued, "Alex, I didn't have any ill intentions. I just wanted you to be safe."
"Speaking of which… You better have a good explanation for calling me 'YOUR WOMAN' in front of so many people or at all. I'm not yours, and I don't foresee us being a thing in the future." I said with resolution, even though my heart was trying to hint differently. I didn't want to be with a guy that has a hot and cold personality; it was mentally taxing.
"I do," Xinith finally looked away from my arm and into my eyes.
If I said that, that didn't make my heart skip a beat, I'd probably be lying. It was like some kind of involuntary magnetic pull, which was both confusing and pleasing. The enjoyable part definitely grossed me out.
"Uhm, barf," Blake interjected. "Can you go all lovey-dovey when I'm not in the room?"
"We are NOT lovey-dovey!" I disagreed with him.
"We found one!" Liam exclaimed, creating a perfect distraction from the uncomfortable circumstances.
Aron and Sasi were hot on his tail, hauling other medical supplies. It made me wonder why so much was needed. I mean, I had only gotten a cut. Why would it be crucial to have so many supplies?
"Oh shit," Sasi exclaimed as he got closer, "It got so much worse. Why did it have to be Makan's claws…?"
"Sorry, what? Claws? What do you mean it's gotten wor-," I started rambling, pivoting my head to glimpse at my arm and became lost for words when I saw how the encircling area was turning a dark purple, and spreading. My eyes then looked for the faces around the room, "I need answers like yesterday."
"Erm…," Aron approached, setting things down on a nearby table, "You know that Makan is a werewolf, right?"
I paled, feeling like an idiot for not putting two and two together before. I should have guessed it when I saw golden eyes and the others were calling Makan and Hinrik 'mutts'. I am such an idiot sometimes!
"Don't bash yourself like that," Xinith half-heartedly ordered.
"Don't read my mind then, noseyass. My thoughts are private, thank you very much," I snapped back.
"Not to me," Xinith firmly stood by his words from earlier.
"Not to interrupt, but can I continue? Time is of the essence," Aron urged as Blake and Liam started sorting through the medical supplies on the table.
"Please do," I sighed.
"Makan often partially shifts, primarily his claws. His claws kind of have a permanent poison linked to them. So, if any infected body part doesn't get treated in time, the victim could potentially lose that limb," Aron concluded.
"Hah…," I breathed out, my fiery gaze veering around to Makan's unconscious body, "I should have killed him when I had the chance."
"Whoa, what?" Blake and Liam responded in unison, turning their heads toward me.
"Are you crazy? Do you not know what happens to humans if they slay a werewolf?" Liam rushed out, his eyes wide in disbelief.
"Obviously not," I answered back in a 'duh' kind of tone.
"They get ripped apart, limb by limb while they're still alive," Blake finished for Liam, "It's a huge taboo. The same goes for a vampire."
"However, there's no reason a demon can't do the job for you," Xinith chimed in, his signature side smirk making it's reappearance. "They wouldn't come after me if I did that."
"I'm just saying, and I speak for myself and Liam and Aron. Any friend of Blake's is a friend of ours. Kinda why we jumped in earlier even though it was our first time meeting you. Odd circumstances to meet under but the world is kinda crazy," Sasi added to the conversation.
"Here, here!" Liam and Aron smiled.
"Getting back to the important part… Alex, are you afraid of needles? I kinda need to inject an antidote if you don't want to lose your arm," Blake chimed in, reappearing next to my bleeding arm with said antidote in a scary looking syringe.
"That needle is huge!" I yelped, flinching although nothing had happened yet.
"I'll take that as a yes…," Blake sighed. "Just look away, alright? It'll just be a little pinch." He tried to instruct, placing one hand on my arm near the cut and the other steadying the needle.
When my eyes wouldn't stop shaking and I couldn't manage to pull myself away from the sight, I felt Xinith's free hand lightly turn my face toward him. His eyes had softened as he moved his hand from my cheek, up to beside my eye to act as a blind.
I can't believe you have the AUDACITY to touch me even after I've complained about it before!
"You may not like it yet, but focus on me for now," Xinith tried. "Don't tense up, relax your muscles," he leaned in closer trying to give me guidance, but he only alarmed me instead of calming me.
Damn right, I don't like it! ….At least, I'm pretty sure I don't.
"Y-Your face is too close…," I muttered, barely able to form the sentence, my mind starting to short-circuit the closer he got.
My brain stopped working when a genuine warm smile made its way to Xinith's lips. Then he rested his forehead against mine. He seemed 1000% content but I couldn't have been more uncomfortable, or at least I thought. Something clicked when we made eye contact and I found a word leaving my mouth all on its own from my subconscious.
"DeTartarean."
Huh?
"You finally remembered. You really are the one," Xinith quietly spoke.
"Tch," I scoffed with narrowed eyes, "Get over yourself." Although Xinith's distraction was working, it did not stop my anxiety from climbing. However, just before my mind could go into overdrive, I felt much more than a prick on my arm. "SON OF A BIT-!!!"
- End of Chapter Nine -