Val The Vessel

19 / Are We Blood?

I rise from a mattress after being stirred awake by an evil dream. My eyes flick forward, struggling to comprehend my strange surroundings. A plasma screen tv is mounted on the purple wall in front of me. The local news is on, but the volume is muted. The room is rather large, containing fancy velvet furniture and tall plants of all kinds. I run my hand along the silky lavender sheet of the bed. Whoever owns this place has expensive tastes.

"You're finally awake," a deep voice startles me.

Doron is seated on the side of my bed with his neck turned towards me. He fixes his hypnotic hazel eyes on mine. A thin white tank top hugs his caramel body and I can almost see his mysterious arm tattoo. "How you feelin'?" he asks casually, laying a warm hand on my forehead.

"Um... I'm feelin' alright," I answer weakly.

He scratches his head and ponders. "I need to check somethin'." Without warning, he lifts up the sheets and scans my body. I feel my face flush. The only thing I have on is an undersized sports bra and faded pink panties. "Yep. You're almost fully healed," he says monotonously.

I nod, embarrassed by my physique. A memory of Hollow flashes in my brain. "D-Doron! Nicole is—"

"I know," he cuts off. "You don't gotta worry about Nicole anymore. I told her that she's gotta stay somewhere else for a few days."

I clasp my hands around his throat and squeeze with half my strength, still feeling tiny remnants of power beneath the surface of my skin. "If you knew that she was 'Hollow', then why the fuck was she here?!" 

Doron keeps his cool even while being choked. "I can explain—"

"Please! Explain it to me then, Doron! Why was that bitch living in your house?! She tried to kill me twice now! We spent two days running from her! And here she is, just casually chilling in your guest room downstairs?! Explain!"

He sips in a breath of air and exhales. "We have a... complicated relationship."

"Complicated my ass! Didn't seem that way to her! She told me that you two were fucking! And that you think we're related! And that you're just using me as a damn accessory!"

"What? Val, none of that is true," he asserts, reaching for my hands. "Nicole is exactly what you think she is. She's jealous, insensitive, controlling, untruthful, and just borderline crazy. The only reason we associate with one another is because... we owe it to each other."

I tentatively relax my grip around his throat. "What do you mean?"

"I mean... Nicole is a family friend, Val. I knew her since we was kids. You, me, and Nikky used to play damn hide n' seek all the time."

The anger boils up. "Stop it! Stop doing that! Quit trying to brainwash me with memories that never happened! I never knew you or Nicole before this shit!"

Doron shakes his head, adding to my rage. "But you did, though. Nobody really remembers much from when they was lil' kids, but I do. You really don't remember anything?" he whispers, scooting closer to me.

Tears leave my sockets as I ask the question I can't bare to know the answer to. "Doron, are you my brother? Or my cousin? Are we blood? Is that why I have powers?"

He laughs and lunges at me. In a matter of seconds, he's pinning me down on the bed with his hands. I fight with all my might, but his grip is too strong.

"Doron what the hell! Let go—"

I feel my irritation build up only to catch Doron's lips. He rests a hand across my cheek and goes in for the full, open mouthed french kiss. Part of me wants to shove him off, but another part of me relishes in the pleasure. It's my first kiss, and possibly my last. After about a minute, he raises himself off me and smooches my forehead.

"Does that answer your question?"

I fumble for something to say, and for once, I'm glad not to spoil the moment with words.

"Go back to sleep. I'll wake you tomorrow mornin'. You've been out for about ten hours. You'll need a full twenty-four before you start to feel like yourself again," he insists.

I obey him without question, wrapping myself in his silky sheets.

"Goodnight," he chimes. "And Val, maybe I'll tell you a 'story' tomorrow. Just to put yo mind to rest about me and our past?"

I form a grin. "O-Okay."

He returns my expression and quietly shuts the door.