Court of Ambrose

Everything

{Celeste’s POV}

“Hey, hey, look at me Celeste!” I could hear Dayus’ worried voice, and footsteps running away. “Veryn! Don’t, we need to help Celeste!” Dayus said. I stayed huddled in a ball, not allowing them to see what he had done to me, not wanting them to see how small and insignificant I really am, at least, that I really felt in this very moment.

“Dayus move, let me try.” I heard Veryn’s voice softly, as I felt large arms scoop me up. “Look at me Celeste, you know that we can heal you, so you need to let us!” He said, setting me down on the couch gently. “Look at me Celeste.. please.” His voice sounded like it broke a little, as he said. “I can smell the blood Celeste.. so let me see.”

I shook my head, keeping my face covered. “No.. just go.. leave me alone!” I cried out. “I don’t want you to see, I don’t want anyone to see!”

He sighed, before grabbing my wrists, I felt two more hands gripping them as Dayus, pulled my hands away from my face, and Veryn was trying to help me stay covered. “She said she doesn’t want us to see Day..” Veryn said.

“If we don’t get some blood in her system, then she won’t heal!” It’ll take weeks even months!” Dayus snapped.

My arms were pulled away, as Dayus gasped. “Oh.. Celeste.. look what he’s done to you..”

I shook my head, tears spilling down my cheeks. I quickly jumped up, running to the bathroom and closing the door behind me. I turned quickly, catching my reflection in the mirror. My right eye was swelled shut, my face covered in cuts and bruises, a bruised handprint around my throat. My nose was broken, and crooked, my lip split down the middle. I gasped when I saw myself, backing up, unable to look away. “I’m hideous..” I whimpered, dropping to the floor. “Da****!” I screamed. “Da****! Fu** you Mason!” I screamed, and cried punching the floor under me. “I hate you! I hate you!”

The door burst open behind me, as arms engulfed me in a warm hug. “Shh.. it’s okay.. it’s okay..” Veryn’s voice was soft behind me. He hugged me tightly, kissing the top of my head.

“No! No!” I screamed, thrashing around. “No! I hate him! I hate him!” I shouted.

He hugged me as I thrashed, and cried, I felt as though everything had come crashing down, that I had lost the last bit of myself that was here, the last bit that escaped that wanted to show my grandmother that I finished school, that I got a job, that I’m better now, that I’m sorry. Now, I don’t know how to feel anything besides pain, and sorrow. “Celeste.. I’m sorry.. we should’ve been there.. the sun.. it finally went down, but we were late.. too late.” He said, kissing my head. “I promise you Celeste, we’re going to catch him! We’re going to ki** him!” He said, kissing my head again. “Just let me help you now..”

I felt his arm move around me, and heard the sound of his grunts. He pulled away from me, and held up his wrist in my face. Blood was dripping from it, as he held it out of me. “Drink Celeste!” He said.

I shook my head, soft whimpers leaving me. I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t drink it, it felt wrong. He bit into his wrist again and pulled his blood into his mouth. He grabbed my face softly, and pulled me into a kiss, forcing the blood into my mouth. The thick red substance slid down my throat, it.. it tasted good.. cold, metallic.. with a strange sweet aftertaste. I felt the cuts on my skin beginning to close, and my broken nose cracked back into place. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to really feel the sensations of my body mending itself. Somehow it wasn’t painful, instead it was euphoric, I felt lightheaded, and weightless. I gripped Veryn’s shirt, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss and drinking down every last drop of blood he had to give. Once it was over I pulled away, feeling embarrassed.. I’d never done something like that.. and I should feel angry that he forced that kiss on me, especially with my past, but I couldn’t help the butterflies that rose up in my stomach as I looked at the expression on his face. Surprise, shock maybe, his eyes wide, his face tinted with red. His lips dripped with blood, and for the first time I really saw his fangs. I stared at him, watching, waiting, both of us sat still, listening to the sounds of our breathing.

“I-I..” I stuttered.. “I’m sorry.. I shouldn’t have done that..” I said, standing up and flinging the bathroom door back open.

He grabbed my wrist, turning me back around. I saw blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, as his eyes searched mine, looking for something, for anything. “Celeste..” he said breathlessly.

I watched the blood drip from his mouth, down his chin, and off onto the floor. “W-Why did it feel like that?” I asked, staring up at him.

He shook his head, confusion written all over his face. “I-I don’t know..” he said, staring down at me.

I nodded, then shook my head, before turning around and walking back down into the loving room. I saw Dayus cleaning up my blood from the ground, and the couch. His eyes glowing as he wiped it up. He turned to me and smiled softly. “You look like you feel better.” He said, turning his attention back to the blood stains. “I talked to the officer.. told him that you wanted someone else here, someone who wouldn’t fall asleep.”

I nodded, turning to see Veryn behind me, he smiled down at me, and I quickly rushed to the kitchen. I began looking through the fridge, trying to find anything I could to eat. I didn’t realize until now how hungry I actually was.

“That’s the blood..” Dayus said from behind me. “It makes you hungry.. thirsty.. you feel everything all at once, it’s normal sometimes when coming down from it to feel off. If you start feeling weird, tell us.. we can help.” He walked up behind me, grabbing a steak from the freezer. “You go try to relax, and I’ll cook you dinner, alright?”