I'm Not Ready

4.7K 432 4
                                    

Chapter 56 –Claire's POV– I'm Not Ready

No one spoke for a moment, still absorbing the shock of Adrianna's request. Then Claire moved to kneel in front of her. She gently held her hands and searched her eyes.

Adrianna whispered, "You shouldn't be surprised."

Claire knew what she meant. She had always assumed, becoming a vampire, would be her future someday – when she wanted it. "No, I'm not surprised at your desire for this" Claire replied quietly, "but are you certain the time is now? You can never go back."

Adrianna quirked an eyebrow at Claire and laughed softly, "When have we ever been unsure, once we determined to do something?" Claire smiled. Adrianna was right. She had always been as stubborn as a mule. When she made up her mind on something, there was simply no other option.

Adrianna looked at Rhysian expectantly and repeated. "Will you...change me?"

Rhysian nodded silently, his face overcome with emotion. Claire suspected he was remembering the moment he had begged his own Adrianna to let him change her. She had denied him and died in his arms. Claire went to his side and put her arms around him and whispered, "Are you okay?"

"Yes. It's just...I thought I would never be a father again...and now I have two daughters..." his voice trailed off in emotion.

Adrianna joined Claire, to hold him tightly and whispered, "Thank you."

"Well shit," Eve chimed in with a grin.

"We'll need blood. Four pints preferably, just in case. We don't know exactly how you will respond and I want to be ready, since there will be two humans in the room," Rhysian requested.

Oh! Claire had never thought about the risk to her and Eve. It was dangerous to be around a vampire when they turned, until they could get their thirst under control.

Eve came back with the blood. She and Claire moved to the other side of the room as Rhysian faced Adrianna on the couch. She looked up at him with wide eyes and twisted her hands together nervously. "Will it hurt?"

"It isn't pleasant, Bebe', but I will do it as quickly as I can and the pain doesn't last long," he acknowledged with kind eyes.

She bit her lip. "Okay."

Rhysian bent his knee so that one leg was on the couch. "Turn, so that your back is to me. I will have more control over you, in case anything unexpected happens," he instructed.

Adrianna turned and slid back against his chest. She felt his arm wind around her, locking her in an unmovable embrace. Well, not unmovable for long, she thought in anticipation...and fear.

Rhysian felt her tense up and murmured, "Relax Bebe'...you are strong enough to do this. I won't let anyone get hurt." She nodded and closed her eyes. Rhysian smoothed the hair away from her neck and quickly sunk his fangs into her neck.

Adrianna cried out in pain and writhed against him, his steel arms keeping her in place. Sooner than expected, she stopped her struggle and slunk in his arms.

Claire inhaled sharply. She knew that Rhysian had to bring her near death to affect the change, but it still scared the hell out of her to actually see it happen. She looked down at the sudden sharp pressure on her hand. Eve clutched it tightly, anxiety pulling her forehead into a frown.

When Adrianna's pulse was almost non-existent, Rhysian bit into his own flesh and forced it to her mouth. For a moment, Adrianna remained limp, but then her back arched in pain and she tried to scream, unable to get the sound past Rhysian's arm relentlessly pressed against her mouth.

Adrianna struggled violently against his hold on her, her body jerking in unnatural movements. Tears streamed over her cheeks as she struggled to breathe. High-pitched muffled screams and deep guttural groans escaped in an unbroken stream from her chest.

Chills ran down Claire's spine.

Abruptly, Adrianna stopped struggling as though confused. Then she grasp Rhysian's arm tightly in both hands and sucked greedily. He let her drink for a long moment, but then wrenched his arm out of her mouth with a hiss, her fangs tearing through his flesh, when she didn't let go. He grabbed the first blood bag to force it into her mouth. It was clear; Adrianna preferred Rhysian's warm pulsating blood because she shook her head and growled viciously.

Eve gasped and trembled slightly next to Claire.

Adrianna stopped moving suddenly, as though listening to the sounds she could now hear around her. Claire inhaled sharply realizing that Adrianna knew they were in the room and had yet to satisfy her thirst.

Rhysian wrapped his leg around Adrianna's lower body; tightening his hold on her.

But it wasn't enough.

With a shocking amount of power, Adrianna seemed to explode from his grasp and disappeared.

Time slowed down as the sudden extreme-adrenaline shot through Claire's body, heightening her senses. She knew that Adrianna was gone from her vision which could only mean that either she or Eve would be hit right about now...

In the next instant, Claire found herself flat against the floor, her body shocked by the fierce impact; Adrianna sat on her chest, ready to strike. Claire's brain idly recorded Eve screaming in the background.

There was a millimeter of a second where Adrianna hesitated, looking at Claire in confusion. It was enough time for Rhysian to reach them, hurtling his body into Adrianna and tackling her to the ground. Feral growls ripped from both of them as their bodies rolled a path of destruction through the lab. Rhysian pinned her beneath him and roared, "Stop!"

Adrianna held perfectly still as she stared up at him with wide eyes, seeming to recognize him for the first time.

Somehow in the middle of her screaming, Eve had had the forethought to plan for this moment, and had rushed to grab two of the blood bags. Instantly, she hurled them toward the back of Rhysian's head.

Without looking, Rhysian's hand shot up and plucked them out of the air. He brought one down to Adrianna's lips and snarled, "Drink it!"

This time she listened to him, and emptied the first bag within seconds. Rhysian called out, "More!" as he gave Adrianna the next one.

Eve was already waiting to throw the last two bags and let them fly when she heard Rhysian call for more. Again he grabbed them from the air without seeing them.

Adrianna had finished the second bag and Rhysian handed her the third. From Claire's position still on the floor, she could see Adrianna slowing down. By the time, he handed her the forth bag, Adrianna shook her head no, her eyes clear.

Rhysian waited for a moment and then slowly got off of her. Adrianna looked around in amazement as though seeing the world in crystal clear clarity for the first time, until her eyes landed on Claire. She gasped loudly and ran to Claire's side.

"No, no, no," she whispered stroking Claire's hair, tears falling from her eyes. "I'm...sorry," her voice broke.

Claire looked up at her with a pained grin and reminded her, "It's okay; we've had worse..."

Claire turned her head when she heard Rhysian ask softly, "Where does it hurt?"

She tried to smile, but it came out more like a grimace, as she answered, "Everywhere."

Rhysian nodded and spoke firmly, "Well, then it seems we have no choice. Sorry, Bebe' but you are going to drink my blood, as well, today."

Claire let out a small cry, her eyes wide as she shook her head and whispered, "I'm not ready."

The Stars Lie {Myrnin, Morganville Vampires}Where stories live. Discover now