Fortress

Chapter 5

Mina

I fumbled with the cash as I counted out the amount the motel clerk asked for. I was reluctant to leave Rome in the car in his condition but had no other choice.

“Here that should be all of it” I pushed the money toward the middle-aged woman who eyed me suspiciously. I couldn’t blame her I must have looked insane with my muddy clothes and blood-stained hands.

“Alright. Room 102 it’s on the back side, Wi-Fi password will be on the TV stand. Checkout is eleven am and no refunds” she stated in a raspy voice while placing the key on the table.

“Thanks”, I said and rushed out back to the car.

“He walked off that way we tried to get him to stay he really should be seen at a hospital,” the elderly woman said standing in front of her car pointing at a field. Rome was bent over and swayed a lot but never went down.

“Thank you so much for all you have done I’ll get him inside now,” I said and ran after Rome.

“The room is in the back come on,” I said reaching for his waist.

“Wait!” He choked out holding something out to me. A phone? I watched as his eyes shifted again to that strange red before returning to blue he seemed torn.

“Please talk to him,” he said around a mouthful of blood before doubling over in pain. My hand was shaking as I reached for the phone and held it to my ear.

“Hello?” I asked trying to sound normal but nothing was normal about this day and I was allowed to feel overwhelmed in this moment.

“Ah, the mysterious Mina. Hello, my name is Jared I am aware that my brother isn’t doing too well right now yes?” The calmest voice I had ever heard asked. My eyes shot back to Rome as he spat another mouthful of blood out.

“Yes he’s losing too much blood I’m not sure where it’s coming from he refused to go to the hospital,” I said while looking around the half-full motel parking lot.

“Yes that would be bad if he went so here’s what needs to happen. Get him into the room strip him of his clothes and let his body heal I’m assuming he’s punctured a lung and has a few broken ribs” he said as if it wasn’t a life-threatening injury.

“Broken ribs and a punctured lung he needs help his body can’t heal itself!” but as I was speaking this I thought back to what he said. He’s not like me.

“He will be fine I assure you, Mina. He needs one more thing but he’ll be the one to tell you now please get him inside and I’ll be in touch” Jared hung up before I could say anything else. I stuffed the phone in my pocket and wrapped one arm around Rome’s waist and pulled his arm around my neck. He tried not to lean on me so much as we made our way around the motel to our room. I quickly unlocked the door and led him inside. He sat in the chair by the air conditioning unit and struggled to catch his breath. I locked the door behind us dropped my bag on the floor and went to work on his clothes. My eyes fell on his chest and I couldn’t stop the scream that escaped my mouth. There had to be more than ten bullet wounds and his side looked caved in.

“I have to call for help you need an ambulance!” I wasn’t aware I was crying until I felt the hot tears rolling down my face. Rome shook his head before grabbing my wrist.

“No,” he said breathlessly and stood. How was he still alive? He released my wrist and began to struggle with his pants.

“Let me,” I said while pushing his hands away. I helped him step out of his pants and was rewarded with the sight of more bullet wounds on each of his legs. I covered my mouth and took a step back my head was feeling light and I stumbled toward the bed. Rome reached for me before stopping to cough up more blood. I needed to help him and not get lost in my head. Rome limped toward the bathroom and I heard the shower cut on a few seconds later. Do I give him his privacy or help? My eyes shot to the motel door as another thought came to me. Do I leave and forget this ever happened?

“Mina” Rome called weakly. s**t! I rushed into the bathroom to find Rome sitting on the shower floor in his underwear as the water washed the blood from his body.

“Mina I need” his voice was so low I could hardly make out what he was trying to tell me. I dropped to my knees beside the tub and held my hand out to him. He gripped it lightly and closed his eyes.

“Hey! Rome wake up! What do you need?” I asked while shaking his hand. His eyes popped open and a small smile crept onto his lips.

“I need you,” he said strongly looking into my eyes.

“Well I’m here”, I said aware of the emotion in my voice. My heart was beating so fast as I tried to calm myself down but failed.

“What can I do? I don’t have a lot of experience with uh bullet wounds but I can try” I said reaching to brush the hair from his beautiful face.

“I need blood.” he said and I already knew he needed blood he had already lost so much.

“I know that but you refuse to go to the hospital” I said disappointed in him.

“I need to drink your blood Mina”My hand froze on his face as I recoiled from his words. I dropped his hand as I fell on my ass. What type of s**t was this? I searched his face but saw no signs of joking.

“Rome what are you talking about” I demanded my body tensing up.

“I’m not like you. I’m a vampire and I need your blood to heal faster” his voice was fading with each word he spoke. This had to be a joke this all was insane. My eyes fell on his chest and knew for a fact those weren’t fake wounds. I struggled with myself as I closed my eyes to try to ground myself. I thought back over the whole night, I knew that I sensed something off with him from the very beginning. I should have run the first moment I saw him but as I thought this it felt wrong. Something inside of me pulled me to this man from the beginning.

“Mina,” Rome said wearily. My eyes snapped open to find him watching me like I was the last drop of water on Earth. That’s because he wants to eat you, i***t. My thighs warmed at that inappropriate thought. You can run now he’s too weak to chase you anyway. My mind was spiraling down a rabbit hole as I tried to work out what to do.

“You are a vampire? Vampires aren’t real and this isn’t funny you need to get to a hospital” I said standing to my feet.

“Please” Rome’s eyes shut again and my heart damn near stopped. Why was I so afraid of him dying?

“Rome!” I yelled as I sank to my knees again shaking him by his shoulder.

“Ow!” He protested and I quickly released him.

“Sorry!” I shook my head and thought about my options. I stood and made the most insane decision I’d ever made in my life. I quickly undressed down to my bra and panties. Rome’s eyes latched onto mine and I caught what could only be described as fangs drop down past his bottom lip. The oxygen in my body no longer wanted to oxygenate me.

“I won’t hurt you. I could never hurt you” Rome repositioned himself making room for me to sit in between his battered legs. I would blame my next action on exhaustion. I stepped into the spray of hot water and sat between his giant legs.

“You can relax Mina you have to accept my bite for this to work”. His lips were so close to my ear causing my thighs to warm. The hot water beat onto my stomach as I gently laid my head on his chest. Rome wrapped one arm around me and squeezed gently. I closed my eyes taking in the embrace and the feelings it awoke inside me. Rome moved my hair from my neck and allowed his fingers to linger there. Soft lips brushed against my neck and I tensed.

“This will be more pleasurable than painful” he promised and then he bit me.

Sharp teeth pierced my neck followed by a small sting I sucked in air and brought my hands up to grip Rome’s strong arm. Rome’s soft moan penetrated my head as he began to suck on my neck. My eyes closed as this tingling feeling spread through my body and heated my core. I felt this before when I experimented with a vibrator but this feeling was so much more and it continued to build stronger and stronger inside of me. My head fell back and I could no longer suppress my own sounds of pleasure. I have never felt anything this good in my entire life this had to be what s*x felt like. Rome released his bite and my eyes shot open.

“Thank you.” His voice had returned to its normal tone. I sat up as many clanking sounds started to fill the small bathroom and turned in time to see two bullets working their way out his upper chest. I stood in amazement as the skin closed instantly after. Rome chuckled and then stood before stepping out of the shower.

“I’ll let you shower while the water is still warm,” he said briefly before leaving the bathroom. My hand flew to my neck but it was smooth as if nothing happened but the throbbing sensation still lingered between my legs.