Of Fangs & Fins

Chapter Eighteen

SR: Christina Peri - Jar Of Hearts

eighteen.

Eryn.

As I laid on my bed, a myriad of emotions overwhelmed me suddenly. Fear curdled in my gut, but I knew this wasn't my fear. These emotions were too panicked, too much. They made me toss and turn, unable to settle myself down.

My eyes snapped opened and it was on impulse, whirling downstairs with the world around in me in a blur. 

Once I reached the basement, I calmed down bracing myself for what I was going to see. It was dark down there, but my eyes instantly adjusted. The room was small, but wired cages lined the corners of the room, connecting to a far end.

I could hear softs calls for help and thumping sounds. As I turned on the lights, Ally stopped moving, watching me through the wire. It was only a precaution in case she turned into a rabid vampire instead of a turned one. I didn't know how good my chances were of making another vampire. Turned vampires didn't really turn others. There was more of a chance that out sired offspring would be feral. 

The wire was made of silver, and it could only keep newly turned vampires inside. The silver would hurt sure, but my tolerance was strong enough to break through it. Ally, on the other hand, poked it and hissed, backing up into the corner further.

"Where am I? Where is everyone?" Ally called out. She locked gazes with me and stepped closer, standing in front of the clasped door, "why am I so hungry?" There was a desperation to her voice that cried out to me. I could feel the inner workings of the sire bond come forward, her emotions 

I strode forward, trying to repress the emotions that were coming from Ally. They were so strong, so apparent that it was a struggle separating hers from mine. "You were attacked and nearly killed," I replied while seeing gaze shift from curiousness to horror, "Your friends wanted you to live. I granted you another chance." Sybil would be laughing at me right now. She was so much better at doing this than me. For me, vampirism was the gift of life. I only hoped Ally felt the same.

She slid down on the ground and held her head in her hands. "This... hunger. This is not another chance. This is Hell."

My heart went out to her. I was in that position hundreds of years ago, but I could remember it like it was yesterday. I'm sure to be the very thing you grew up hating wasn't something that you wanted to be. "It's going to be hard for a couple of weeks. We're at a friend's house of mine. We are all going to make this as easy as possible, okay?"

Her shoulders shook as silent sobs wracked her body. "I don't want to be this. I don't feel anything. I can't feel anything."

I knew all too well what she was talking about. After my body healed from my injuries, my mentality changed. Physically, I was more efficient but, emotionally, it was if I felt everything and nothing all at once. "Everything is heightened, your human mind can't adjust to the vampire qualities and shuts everything down until you can accommodate the shift in your DNA. Once you adjust, you'll feel a bit like yourself again." I stiffened slightly, knowing the last part was a lie. Ally would never feel like herself again.

 I unlocked the cage immediately she rushed past me, shoving me with insurmountable strength. I fell backward and she crashed into a stone way, a yelp coming from her. Ally's speed wasn't something she was used to. I rushed forward and grabbed her arms, yanking her backward. 

She hissed, trying to shimmy out of my grip. Her strength was wild, making me grunt in response. I hauled her back into the wire cage and pulled a chair from the side, pulling it the doorway. I sat down, my gaze sliding over her fearful one. "We don't know each other well, but we should."

"I'm a monster," she muttered, drawing up her knees to her chest, "Flynn... he's going to be repulsed by this. Where are they?" Her head snapped to the side as if she was hearing something upstairs. I listened and could hear Georgie and Tara bounding upwards. 

Ally's eyes were red, something that I knew she was going to have to get used to in time. "I can smell them."

I winced, hating how bad this was going. I didn't know the first thing to be a sire. I could only do what I was taught, what I was showed. "We can worry about them later, okay? You're feeling a lot right now, I know."

"I know I feel horrible, but I can't feel it... I can feel my heart hurting, Eryn. Why?" Ally sobbed, the sound of her sobs sending waves of sadness and guilt over me. It took me a moment to figure out that the guilt was coming from me rather than her.

I clenched my jaw, trying to repress the feelings that I was beginning to feel from Ally. Sire bonds were very dangerous things and vampires did not take turning other vampires lightly. If you weren't careful enough, your thoughts and feelings can be felt and thought by your sired offspring. It was easier to control my thoughts and emotions, but since Ally didn't know how, I felt everything she did.

"Come with me, perhaps if you eat something you'll feel better," This was the choice I had to make. For Ally to transition well, she needed human blood. I knew that much at least. I also knew it was risky. I didn't know how stable Ally was. We needed to progress slowly. It was harder to do it on animal blood, but it would have to do. My slip-up last night was just a further reminder of why sustaining myself on animal blood would be better. It would be better for Ally as well. 

I stood up, dragging the chair back and letting her step through. She stumbled onto me and gripped my forearm tightly. I held onto her elbow as we bounded the steps.  Ally stood close by me, looking around the house in awe. If the place could keep her mind off her hunger for a bit, then so be it. 

"This place is own by Lance and Chris. You'll meet them later, I'm sure." I replied, pulling her into the kitchen.

Shakily Ally sat down on a stool on the island table. Her eyes widened and she touched the counter, running her fingers over the white marble. "Whoa."

I lifted a brow trying to figure out what was so fascinating about a table. Then it dawned on me, and I felt like an i***t. "Your senses are heightened, so your touch is sensitive."

"It's like I can feel every part of the stone," a small smile tugged on her lips as she ran her hands over the counter, "and my sight." She looked around the kitchen in awe. "It's like... super zoomed!"

I laughed and shook my head. "Everything is bright and vibrant. We can see a broader spectrum of colors. I don't know the science behind it, but it's something about seeking out prey easier." The second the words slipped out my mouth I cringed. 

Ally's horrified gaze settled over mine. "Humans?"

Sagan interrupted the conversation, striding in with purpose. She did a double-take on Ally. "Is this the fledgling?"

Ally stiffened an uncomfortable expression on her face. "Fledgling?"

Sagan watched Ally with scrutiny. "Do you still have your mermaid powers?" She approached her and leaned in, sniffing her, "there's no mermaid scent--"

"Enough Sagan." I snapped, my voice even. She was a lot in any sort of setting she was. I loved the woman, but sometimes she could be overbearing.

"Am I not a mermaid anymore?" Ally replied, her voice sounding more unfamiliar. She was getting overwhelmed, her emotions of confusion and sadness hit me in my chest. I sharply inhaled.

Wordlessly, I approached the fridge and rummaged inside, hoping that Lance and Chris still had animal blood bags. I knew Denali and Sagan were fans of bear blood. "Yes," I called out, happy that I found it. "So there are two different ways you can drink this. I prefer it warm, but maybe you'll like it cold."

Sagan rolled her eyes. "Well, now I'm just bored. Good luck with your sired." She tugged on my stretched lobe and left, leaving Ally and I alone again.

"Where's Marina and my friends?" Ally asked she was now standing, edging towards the doorway.

I opted to pour the blood into a cup and slide it over the counter. Ally was scared, submerging her too quickly into all the information probably wasn't the best. "Here."

Ally reached for the cup slowly, her hands shaking as she grabbed the glass. She pressed the rim of the cup to her dry, cracked lips. Within seconds, she set the glass down and wiped her mouth with the back of her.

"Better?" I asked.

She nodded slowly, her eyes as empty and haunted as the night I turned her.

"Ally?" A voice called behind me. I instantly registered it as Marina. I was so caught up in Ally that I didn't hear them come in.

I whirled around, searching her face for anything that showed she was okay. Marina glanced at me for a moment before running towards Ally and taking her into her arms. 

That's when it hit me, the need. It clung onto me desperately, pulling me into its dark clutches. I was distracted, caught up with Ally that I wasn't thinking about myself. 

My fangs lengthened and I held onto the counter, holding myself in place. My mind was consumed by the need to have her in my arms. My fingers twitched, strengthing the urge to have her next to me. I took a deep breath, trying to ignore the image of sinking my fangs into her thigh. It replayed in my mind on a continuous loop. I had to have her.

"Ally!" Marina cried out. 

I snapped my head up, watching as Ally sunk her newly sharpened fangs into Marina's shoulder. I sped over, ripping Ally away from her. "What do you think you're doing?" I roared, standing over Ally. My eyes shifted and my nails extended.

Ally's eyes were full of wanting, the same need. "That... I want more of that."

I lunged, clasping my hand around Ally's throat. "You will never do that again," I hissed, baring my teeth.

Lance grabbed Marina and pulled her to him, shouting things that I couldn't hear. The buzzing in my ears was too loud, it consuming all my senses. All I could see was Ally in front of me, blood on her chin.

Marina's blood.

A sharp pain shot up my spine and the familiar burning sensation flowed through me. I shrieked, fumbling around my back to pull out the silver serum. Turning slowly, I saw Chris standing over me with Lance pulling Marina towards the stairs. She held her neck and I could smell her blood. I folded into myself, trying to grab onto the counter before I fell.

Chris caught me before I could fall, settling me into the floor gently.

Ally stood up, speeding over and heading to the stairs. He grunted, yanking Ally by the back of her collar and shoving her to the floor.

Chris twisted another syringe, impaling Ally on the arm. She screamed, writhing on the floor in pain. "It hurts," she moaned, clawing at her arm. Within seconds her body was limp, blood tears falling down her cheeks. 

I sighed, groaning softly when the burning sensation became more painful. My body was healing itself faster than ever, but it hurt so much more. The white-hot agony spread through my body, causing my limbs to become rigid. "Thank you," I muttered, watching as Chris lifted Ally. 

"I'm going to bring her to the detox chamber. I'm coming back for you too," Chris said, an expressionless look on his face.

I watched as Marina and Lance disappeared fully upstairs. I knew this wasn't Ally's fault. It was mine. I was the one who was thinking about biting Marina. Ally must've picked up on that, unable to control herself. I failed Her.

Most of all, I failed myself.