A Vampire's Thirst_Grey

by Bella Roccaforte

  “I hadn’t thought of that.” Grey gasps. “I have to get to her.” He tries to stand from the couch.

  “No, you need to stay put.” Charles holds his hand up to him.

  “The difference is, she won’t die. She’ll be stuck in the cycle of illness forever.” Grey breathes it out and dies inside at the thought of Mila being in pain. “But if I die and go to the Underworld...even if we aren’t allowed to be together, my proximity to her will spare her this pain.”

  “It’s not going to come to that,” Clarence reassures him. He isn’t sure himself if that’s how it will be, but he’s not willing to give up just yet. “Let’s focus on finding her mother, what do we know?”

  “Her mother’s name is Genevieve. Vivienne knows her, but says she hasn’t seen her for a very long time. That she’s not even sure if she’s still alive.”

  Clarence picks up his phone. “Let’s see if anyone knows anything. Although, I’m assuming everyone will be very tight-lipped about a blood fairy living among us.”

  “I don't think that’s a good idea, Clarence,” Charles warns.

  “Why?”

  “If we put Directive feelers out for her, it could make her burrow deeper to stay hidden.” Charles reasons.

  “You’re right, she’ll become even harder to find,” Clarence places his glass on the table.

  Penny quickly comes in to retrieve it. “Another?”

  “No, thank you,” Clarence says without looking in her direction. “We’ll find her.”

  Grey groans at a sharp pain ripping through him. “Fast, we need to do it fast.”

  “We will.” Clarence turns to Charles, “I think we’re going to need your particular expertise. I know you have all the seediest connections in every city. We should start there.”

  “I’ll get on it.” Charles gets up and leaves the room.

  Clarence watches Grey writhing in pain. “Grey, I’m going to speak with Magno. He has to know what’s happening to you.”

  “Thank you.”

  Clarence pushes himself out of the chair. “I am concerned about your fragile state, I fear your vulnerability may not be survivable in the best of circumstances.”

  In a flash Grey has Clarence up against the wall, snarling, “Don’t mistake my pain for weakness. My docile nature prevails in most situations, but in matters having to do with Mila I am far more deadly than I have ever been. You might bring that up when you speak with Magno Zara.”

  Clarence smiles, “Just testing the waters, friend. I need to know what type of fight we may have on our hands.”

  The ambiguity of who the fight is with is not lost on Grey. “The fight of your life.”

  Clarence smiles, “Then let us hope we are all the victors.”

  Grey releases him and stalks back to the couch. He pulls his watch out again studying it.

  A knowing smile lights Clarence’s features. “That watch.”

  Grey flashes a glance at Clarence through his darkened eyes. “Yes.”

  “You’ve never forgotten have you?” Clarence asks in a quiet tone.

  “How could I forget?” Grey asks as though it’s obvious.

  “Rupert was a good man, and he’d be long dead by now regardless of what you did.” Clarence attempts to bandage an old emotional wound.

  “But he deserved to have more life, more time.” Grey argues.

  “It’s not for us to decide, war is a messy business. Rupert knew that.” Clarence says nodding his head.

  “But he never had enough time to figure out what really mattered,” Grey says choking back his emotion.

  “No, but he knew you would. That’s why he gave you that watch before he died and now you’ve had enough time to figure out what really matters. Don’t lose sight of that. We’re going to figure this out.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Mila opens her eyes to Silan sitting on the bed with her holding a warm cloth to her head. She opens her mouth to speak, but her voice is hoarse and won’t come.

  “Shhh.” Silan tries to comfort her dabbing Mila’s cracked lips.

  “What’s happening?” Mila squeaks out.

  “We aren’t sure. The healer said she’d be back shortly when she has some answers.” Silan smiles.

  “I need Grey.” Mila whispers, “That’s all I need.”

  “Don’t be silly. You’re a blood fairy.”

  “Grey is my Bloodmate,” Mila explains, “We need each other. Being away from him is worse than death. You have to get me back top side. It’s the only thing that will help.”

  “I’m sorry, but that’s not going to happen.” Silan fluffs Mila’s pillows, “Lay back, get some rest. The healer will be back soon.”

  “Knock knock.” A sweet sounding voice comes from the doorway.

  Mila and Silan exchange a sour glance. “Come in, Sazi,” Silan says with a labored breath.

  A young woman with flowing blond hair, piercing green eyes and pregnant belly come waddling through the door. “Mila! I’m so glad you’re home.” She stands next to the bed and slowly lowers herself down. “I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. Your father said you just need to feed and you’ll feel better. I’ve brought a little something for you if you’re up for it.” She claps her hands together and a shirtless man walks through the door.

  His chiseled chest and washboard abs would have interested Mila before, but not now. She only has a thirst for Grey.

  Mila rolls over and away from Sazi. “I’m not hungry.”

  “But he’s delicious!” Sazi squeals, “I had some this morning. I am eating for two.”

  The man comes around to the side of the bed Mila’s facing. “Hey there Mila. I’m here if you need me.”

  “Ty,” Mila recognizes him as a regular feeding partner.

  “I’d like to help if I can.” He leans down close to her.

  Mila’s stomach turns at the thought of feeding from him, “I’m really not hungry, but thank you.”

  “You need to eat something, or you’re going to waste away.” Krovo’s gruff voice fills the room before he does.

  “I’m not hungry, Daddy.” Mila doesn’t turn over or acknowledge him.

  He dismisses Ty, “Thanks for trying, we’ll try again later.”

  “Of course. Just call, I’m always here for her.” Ty tenderly strokes Mila’s cheek.

  Mila cries out in pain as the flesh beneath his touch withers.

  Krovo snatches Ty’s wrist, “What have you done?”

  Ty stumbles backward, “Nothing, I’ve just touched her cheek.” He studies his hand.

  “Look at her.” Krovo points to her cheek. He reaches down to touch her, and she shies away. “Mila, let me touch you.”

  “It hurts.” She whines but complies with her father.

  He runs his finger along her cheek, and nothing happens. He turns back toward Ty, “You had to do something.”

  “I would never hurt Mila.” He says defensively.

  “Krovo, calm down.” Silan stands up resting her hand on Krovo’s arm. “Ty would never hurt her.”

  “Get out of here.” Krovo shoos him out the door.

  Ty complies quickly leaving, but stops to look back at Mila filled with concern, “Feel better, and please call upon me if you need me.”

  Mila doesn’t answer, she’s far too deep in her pain at this point. She mumbles something, but then lays back staring at the ceiling praying for the pain to stop.

  “You’re going to be okay,” Silan says stroking her cheek. “We’re going to figure this out.”

  “Where’s that damn healer?” Krovo bellows.

  “I’m right here, get out of the way.” An older woman enters the room carrying a plate of herbs.

  “Keelie, have you figured anything out?” Silan asks with concern.

  “I believe I have. We have a solution, but you’re not going to like it.” Keelie addresses Krovo directly.

  “Will it save her?” He asks.

  “Possibly.” She waves everyone aw
ay from Mila’s bedside. “Mila, sweetheart, I’m back. I have something for the pain.” She lifts a small vial of liquid to Mila’s chapped lips. “Drink now, it will help.”

  “What is that?” Silan’s tone is full of concern.

  Keelie turns to her, “Let’s see it works first.”

  Mila straightens slightly in the bed, coming back around. She’s still very weak but able to speak. “That tasted awful.”

  “Medicine isn’t supposed to taste good.” Keelie answers. “Are you feeling better?”

  “Not by much, but the pain comes in waves. I feel like I’m withering away.” Mila lifts her hand that is visibly wrinkled as though she had aged twenty human years.

  “This should help, we’re working on other solutions as well,” Keelie assures her with a nod. “You have to tell me about this vampire and where we can find him.”

  “Grey.” Mila’s spirits lifts slightly saying his name.

  “Yes, Grey.” Keelie says drawing a long breath. “I believe what’s happening is you’re going through withdrawal from his blood. That there was an addictive factor to it. So we need to get some of his blood to wean you off slowly so as not to shock your system.”

  “It’s not his blood that’s addictive. It’s him. He’s my Bloodmate.” Mila struggles past the lump in her throat. “I need to be with him.”

  Keelie straightens up, her expression twists to deep concern.

  “Keelie? I don’t like that look?” Krovo says cautiously, “What is a Bloodmate?”

  Keelie says with a smug look on her face, “Krovo, you’d better be ready to welcome a vampire to court. She has to be with him, or they will both die.”

  “There has to be another way. There’s no way I’m allowing her to be with a filthy vampire.” Krovo paces the room, “You hear me Mila? No vampires.”

  Mila looks upon her father with sadness that he would allow his prejudice to kill her.

  “Besides, we’re immortal. We can’t die, this is bullshit, Keelie, I can see right through what you’re doing.” Krovo barks at her, but she doesn’t back down.

  “I’m not doing anything, and you’re correct. She won’t die. But she will wither away to nothingness, she will be in a state of pain for eternity.” Keelie says pulling her lips into a tight line.

  “His blood can keep this from happening?” He asks working something out in his head.

  “It will sustain her for a time. But for her to be truly happy, she has to be with him,” Keelie sits beside Mila on the bed.

  Sazi stands up, “Mila, you don’t really want to be with a vampire, do you?”

  Mila nods and whispers, “I want to be with Grey.”

  “You can’t, that’s all there is to it. You are my first daughter. It’s your duty to mate with Elomere and have lots of his babies.” Krovo stubbornly paces the room.

  “You can’t have babies with a vampire,” Sazi says.

  Silan rolls her eyes and looks at Mila, “Perhaps having children isn’t the only thing that will fulfill her in life.”

  “Was that a cut on me because I can still bear children for our mate?” Sazi puts her hand on her hip.

  “No, I was simply stating that we all may not want to follow the same path.” Silan says with restraint.

  “That’s not entirely true.” Keelie interjects hoping to stop the women from fighting.

  “What’s not true?” Silan asks.

  “A vampire can have offspring with their true Bloodmate.” Keelie nods.

  Mila’s eyes light up at the thought of being able to bear his children. The color returns to her face momentarily.

  Silan leans down to Mila and whispers in her ear, “Tell me where to find him.”

  Mila whispers back to her, “New Orleans.”

  Silan stands from the bedside. “I’m going to find him and bring him back.”

  “The hell you are.” Krovo protests, “I forbid you from going there. Do you know what can happen to you if you’re caught?”

  “Do you realize what will happen to your daughter if we do nothing?” Silan challenges Krovo.

  “I believe I have another solution. It may not work, when I created it I wasn’t aware that I was dealing with a Bloodmate.” Keelie looks upon Mila with worry.

  “We have to do something.” Silan shifts her eyes to Mila, she can see her wasting away.

  Keelie leans down toward Mila. “I’m going to give you more of this potion.”

  Mila nods slightly and tips her chin up to take the potion. She swallows it down. “What is it?”

  “It’s forget me potion. It’s possible that will cure you.” Keelie says putting the stopper back on the bottle.

  Mila’s eyes fill with terror, “I don’t want to forget him, I want to be with him.”

  “Good job Keelie, perfect.” Krovo pats Keelie on the back.

  “If this doesn’t work you may have to get used to the idea of having lots of little vampires running under foot, Grandpa.” Keelie pokes Krovo in the stomach on her way out the door.

  Krovo approaches Mila’s bedside, “You understand this is all for your own good.”

  Mila spears him with an angry look but does not speak. In her periphery she sees Silan slipping out the door. Silan winks at her before quietly clicking the door closed.

  Mila shifts back to her father and Sazi by the bedside. “You’re going to get better and all this will be behind us. You’ll be mated to Elomere by the next moon.”

  A satisfied smile stretches across Mila’s face at the thought of Elomere being dead.

  “See Sazi, she’s already getting used to the idea.” Krovo puffs his chest out proudly.

  Mila’s grin becomes more menacing by the second. Sazi notices before Krovo does, “Mila, what’s going on in that mind yours?”

  Mila smiles and whispers out on a hoarse voice, “Elomere is dead.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Grey struggles to hide his pain. His insides are turning to ash, but his need to reunite with Mila pushes him forward. He managed to slip out of the house under the watchful eye of Charles and Penny. Easy stuff for him. They likely think he’s still resting in the parlor, he laughs out loud as he brings the car to a stop on Florida avenue in the Lower Ninth Ward.

  Grey recalls the message sent by Vivienne. He’d like to call her but doesn’t want The Directive to know he may be close to finding Genevieve.

  “If I were fairy, where would I be?” he says out loud trying to work out her location.

  He’s hoping there’s some sort of cosmic draw to her from his connection with Mila, but there’s nothing.

  A young woman walks past his car, he can hear her blood pumping through her veins. He doesn’t feel as though he needs to feed, but the Thirst is coming back, and he’s losing himself to it. He gets out of the car and follows behind her.

  Far enough away to not be noticed, but close enough to smell her blood. He stalks closer.

  Grey doesn’t have the strength to fight the Thirst, he’s going to drink from her, and he’s going to enjoy it.

  Grey is within arms reach of the woman, he’s ready to strike, his fangs protruding from his mouth.

  He stops in place when he feels a cold blade up against his throat and the serious voice of a woman. “That would not be wise, vampire.”

  Grey attempts to collect himself, relieved that someone stopped him, but still crazed from the Thirst. He’s fighting it, but losing. He starts to turn around.

  “I didn’t say to turn around, you wouldn’t want to lose your head.” She says.

  “Thank you,” Grey says quietly.

  “For what, spoiling your dinner?”

  “For keeping me from doing something I’ll regret.” He says. “May I turn around?”

  “Slowly. But know I will not hesitate to end you.” She keeps the sword at his throat.

  Grey turns around, he can’t believe his own eyes. He must be going mad, “Mila?”

  The woman freezes in shock for a split second then hard
ens her stance, “How do you know that name?”

  “She’s my…” Grief descends on him crashing down all over again. “Bloodmate.”

  “Who are you?” She demands.

  “I’m Grey Hart, and I’m looking for Mila’s mother, Genevieve.” He gets the sentence out past his dry throat.

  “Nobody's called me by that name for a very long time.” Genevieve relaxes slightly. “Why are you looking for me? Are you with The Directive?”

  “No, I’m looking for you because Mila needs you.” Grey pleads with her. “She’s been taken back to the underworld against her will, and I need to find someone that can open a portal so I can get her back.”

  “And you think I can open a portal to the Underworld?” She laughs, “Yeah, I’m not opening anything to the Underworld.” Genevieve sheathes her sword. “Get out of here, and if I catch you here again, I will kill you.”

  “But Mila needs you.” Grey’s confusion rides out on his tone.

  “I can’t help her.” Genevieve walks away from Grey.

  “You have to. You can’t leave her there.” Grey follows after her.

  “I have left her there for a very long time. She can’t come here, or I would have brought her back with me.” Genevieve wears a mask of sorrow that deepens at the thought of Mila being without her.

  “You came here. Why can’t she?” Grey rationalizes.

  “Because she’s a blood fairy, it’s forbidden. It’s why this is the only place I’m somewhat safe.” She rolls her eyes, “Except for the vampires, it’s pretty calm.”

  Grey thinks for a moment, there’s an idea brewing that might save his love. “But she’s not full blood fairy.”

  “So? Do you think The Directive is going to care? It doesn’t make her any less blodthirsty.” Anger flashes in Genevieve’s expression.

  “Yes, because she’s my Bloodmate. It’s very rare but very serious. The Directive may make an exception for us, especially since she’s not full blood fairy.” Grey is talking out loud, but working the idea up as he speaks. “You have to come with me. Clarence will want to speak with you.”