Vaughn screamed, holding Layla close as if he would never let her go. "Please don't die. I need you," he begged, his voice trembling with desperation.
In a frantic attempt to save her, he grabbed a knife and cut open his skin, then brought his bleeding flesh to her lips. He tried to feed her his blood, willing her to drink and live. When that didn't work, he seized the remaining blood tank and inserted the syringe into her skin, praying that it would be enough to save her."I pray she survives," he whispered, running a shaking hand over his head as he gazed at Layla's pale, motionless form. The place where he had bitten her had stopped bleeding, but she remained unconscious, her chest still and silent. Vaughn's cut hand throbbed in agony, but he ignored it, his only concern was Layla's fate. Just as he thought all was lost, Layla's eyes flickered open, and Vaughn's heart leaped with hope. He moved closer, his face inches from hers, and whispered, "Layla, can you hear me?"Layla's response was weak, but she managed to mutter a few words and nod her head. Tears of relief streamed down Vaughn's face as he brushed her hair away from her forehead. "You'll be fine," he promised, his voice cracking with emotion. "I've got you now. You're safe."As Layla looked up at Vaughn, she felt a mix of emotions: gratitude, surprise, and something more. She had expected to die, but once again, her master had saved her. And not just save her - risked his own life to do so. She couldn't deny it anymore; she had started falling for Vaughn, hard. But she pushed the feeling aside, unwilling to admit it, even to herself.
Layla's body was weak and stiff, the blood from the transfusion coursing through her veins. She stared at the ceiling, lost in thought, as Vaughn watched her, his eyes filled with a deep concern. He had never seen a slave like Layla before, one who would sacrifice herself for her master without hesitation. His previous pets had been selfish and cruel, but Layla... Layla was different.
Vaughn's mind wandered back to the blood moon, and the events that had unfolded. He had warned Layla to stay hidden, to keep herself safe from his monstrous side. But she had disobeyed him, and he had ended up kissing her, feeling the softness of her lips and the sweetness of her taste. And now, as he looked at her, he wondered if he was falling for his pet. His wings, golden stripes shimmering in the dim light, quivered with anxiety. When Layla woke up in the morning and saw him like this, she would surely be terrified. He knew he had to hide his true nature from her, but it was getting harder and harder to keep his secrets buried. As the night wore on, Vaughn stayed by Layla's side, watching over her.
Morning light enveloped the room, casting a warm glow over the space. Vaughn, who had been watching over Layla all night, carefully got out of bed and slipped out of the room. He returned a few minutes later with a tray of food, hoping to find Layla awake and feeling better. However, when he entered the room, he saw that she was still fast asleep, her chest rising and falling with gentle breaths. Not wanting to disturb her, Vaughn quietly placed the tray on the bedside table and sat down beside her. He watched her for a moment, taking in the peaceful expression on her face. Layla's eyes were closed, and her dark eyelashes rested against her pale skin. Her hair was a tangled mess, but it only added to her beauty. Just as Vaughn was starting to relax, Layla coughed, and he immediately sprang into action. He grabbed a glass of water from the tray and rushed to her side. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
Layla nodded weakly, and Vaughn helped her sit up, propping her up with pillows. He handed her the glass of water, and she took a few sips before handing it back to him. Vaughn picked up the tray and began to feed Layla, starting with a mouthful of boiled potatoes and vegetables. She chewed slowly, her eyes fixed on his as he watched her with a tender expression.
As Layla finished her meal, Vaughn set the tray aside and turned his attention to the blood tank. He noted that it was empty and carefully removed the syringe from Layla's arm. He disposed of the syringe and turned back to Layla, his eyes scanning her face. The silence that followed was oppressive, but Vaughn didn't mind. He was content to simply sit with Layla, watching her as she rested. He knew that she was still weak, and he was determined to take care of her. As they sat there, the only sound in the room was the quiet hum of the machines and the occasional creak of the old house. Vaughn didn't speak, and neither did Layla. They just sat, lost in their own thoughts, as the silence enveloped them. Vaughn's eyes never left Layla's face, and he could see the faintest glimmer of awareness in her eyes. She was starting to wake up, to come back to herself, and Vaughn was grateful for it. He knew that he still had a long way to go, but for now, he was just happy to be with her, to watch over her, and to keep her safe.
Layla noticed Vaughn's gaze, but she deliberately chose to ignore it, instead focusing on her own thoughts. She had regained some of her strength and was now able to move around, albeit slowly. As she shifted positions, the silence in the room became increasingly awkward, and Layla decided to break it."Vaughn," she called out, her voice soft but clear.
Vaughn turned his attention to her, his eyes locking onto hers as he waited for her next words. He was expectant, wondering what she would say after her prolonged silence. But Layla's question caught him off guard. "Why did you kiss me?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of curiosity.
Vaughn was taken aback, puzzled by her question. He hadn't expected her to bring up the kiss, and he certainly hadn't thought she would ask him about it so directly. It was a mistake he had made, a moment of weakness that he had tried to brush off, but Layla's words drew him back to it. He hesitated, unsure of how to respond. He didn't want to lie to her, but he couldn't think of a way to explain his actions without revealing his true feelings. So, he opted for a casual response, hoping to downplay the significance of the kiss."Because you're my pet," he said, trying to sound nonchalant. Layla's reaction was immediate. She relaxed back into the bed, her eyes shutting as if she had been expecting that response all along. Vaughn watched her, wondering if he had said something wrong, but Layla's expression was inscrutable. The silence that followed was oppressive, heavy with unspoken words and unresolved tensions. Vaughn wanted to say more, to explain himself, but he didn't know where to start. And Layla, it seemed, was content to let the matter drop, at least for now.As the silence stretched out, Vaughn couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. He had hoped to reassure Layla, to make her feel safe and protected, but instead, he had probably confused her even more. He sighed inwardly, wondering how he was going to fix this, wondering how he was going to make things right between them again.