Bite, page 65
The vampire tries to sneak up on me but just as she is about to pounce, I turn to face her and I grin as I say, “Nice try but better luck next time.”
JoJo just smirks as she says, “That’s not fair. You mind readers take all the fun out of things.”
“Sorry I ruined your excitement. Now go away.” I turn my back on her and try to focus on the face that I’m trying so desperately to remember when I still feel JoJo standing behind me. Now this bitch is starting to get on my nerves since she is not getting the hint that I want to be alone. I begin to growl as I ask, “Is there something in particular you wanted or did you just come here to annoy me?”
“Well I was just curious as to how long you are planning to hold onto the past? You know you will never see her again. You might as well accept the fact that Gina is never going to save you.”
I pause at the sound of the name and it seems familiar to me. I look down at my ring again and I whisper, “Yes, that was her name. My wife’s name is Gina.”
“Ah, so you finally remember? You can thank me now.”
My anger seems to increase with the fact that she did assist me in recalling my wife’s name but I didn’t like her condescending tone. I narrow my eyes as I hiss, “Thank you. Now go away and leave me alone.”
JoJo grins, as she says, “No problem I only came over to tell you that Ursela would like to see you. I honestly don’t know why you’ve become her favorite all of a sudden. It’s not like you did anything spectacular. You do nothing but sit around all day and think about a wife who we all know is not giving a second thought about you.”
That statement got me a bit curious which judging by her facial reaction is what JoJo was looking for. I stare at her as I ask, “What are you talking about? Are you saying that Gina doesn’t love me?”
Smiling with satisfaction she replies, “Well I think she loves you but the last time I saw Gina, she seemed quite chummy with that young guy with the shoulder length hair who by the way it totally adorable if you ask me.”
I growl as I bark, “Nobody asked you. Make your point already!”
Pretending to be unfazed by my attitude she continues, “Well I’m just saying the way they were talking was inappropriate for a married woman. I caught them in deep conversation when they were at a field on the day Carla killed her mother. They were standing pretty close to each other and I was waiting for them to kiss or something since that was the vibe I was getting. In fact, they would have continued their so-called friendly conversation but I remembered what my assignment was so I made sure they felt my presence so I could get to Carla. But I did finally get to see them lock lips and I think Gina enjoyed kissing him. Sorry to be the one to tell you this but I thought you should know. If you really think about it Sam, I’m doing you a favor. It’s really annoying seeing you sit everyday trying to remember your life with your cheating wife.”
Her words almost feel like daggers piercing through my cold heart but I didn’t want to believe her. The more she talks about her, the memories of Gina are very slowly coming back and one thing I know for sure is that she has been very faithful to me. I never had to doubt her love for me and I refuse to believe a word JoJo is saying.
I glower at her while I sneer, “You lie.”
“Do I,” she replies back in mock surprise. “Samuel, what reason would I have to lie? What the fuck do I have to gain by lying about your cheating wife?”
I study her face carefully as I slowly say, “Well I don’t believe you. I doubt the woman I married would be unfaithful to me.”
JoJo shrugs her shoulders as she says, “Whatever. Can’t say a girl didn’t warn you. Ursela is waiting.”
“Fine,” I hiss and I don’t waste another minute of my time with JoJo as I hurry across the street. I quickly run inside the house and find Ursela sitting on the couch while staring out the window. As soon as I approach she whispers, “Hello Sam.”
“Ursela, what is it you need of me,” I ask while bowing my head.
She stands up and holds out her hands while saying, “Come over to me my child.” I walk over and after she takes my hands she asks, “Are you alright? You seem down about something.”
Yeah like she really cares. My head feels like it’s in a fog but I didn’t want to let Ursela know that my memories of my wife are returning. I’m anxious to have some free time to myself so I can confirm if what JoJo had said is true. I’m not allowed to go back to Long Island until Ursela is ready to make her grand entrance so I have to find a way to sneak off without her picking up on what I’m doing. I’m going to have to make my trip quick otherwise the punishment will be severe and I might finally meet my end. I have to keep Ursela in the dark for as long as I can until I know for sure about Gina.
Ursela is watching me carefully and knowing she’s waiting for my answer I simply respond, “I’m just thirsty and I would like to go out hunting now. Will my queen grant me some time to myself so I can go out and have someone to eat?”
She looks at me skeptically but she then smiles as Ursela replies, “But of course. You can do what you have to so your thirst can be satisfied.”
I just nod and turn to head out the door until an excruciating pain makes me drop to the floor. I try to rise to my feet but every movement I make increases the pain. I try to contain my screams but my skin feels like it’s about to split open or peel off from my body and I open my mouth to cry out from the agony. As I scream out, she hovers over me and calmly says, “I don’t mean to hurt you Sam but I feel this message had to be delivered. This is just a reminder that you better return to me once you’re done. Because if not, your blushing bride will feel this pain to a degree that has yet to be measured. Understand Samuel?”
Even though I barely remember Gina, I still didn’t want her to feel the pain that I’m suffering through right now. “Yes Ursela. I understand,” I somehow manage to get out and just like that the pain disappears. I gasp as I struggle to get on my feet and once I gather my composure, I leave.
I start to run but as I distance myself further from Ursela, I honestly have no idea where I’m heading. Visions of a house appear in my head and I assume that is my home that I shared with her but I’m sure Gina will not be there. I suddenly begin to remember my last moments with her and I recall that we were to go to a friend’s house so we could hide her human friends but I’m don’t remember who the friend is or where he lives. But I have to find her so I can prove JoJo is wrong. No way would Gina betray me. I may have forgotten a lot of things but one thing I know for sure is Gina loves me and only me.
So why am I having my doubts?
Okay I Screwed Up Big Time
(Gina)
It’s been only a week but it feels like an eternity has gone by since my husband has been taken from me and I’m completely falling apart. After I told everyone what happened at Niagara Falls, we decided to postpone going to Alex’s until we had a secure plan. We wanted to be sure that Sam didn’t reveal that we were taking my friends there and we would be met by an ambush. After seeing the amount of vampires she had possessed, I wanted us to be prepared for anything but I didn’t want to lose my cool to where one of my friends got hurt or worse. Every minute that went by, I feel my nerves reach closer to the breaking point of where a stupid mistake could be made and it could cost us greatly but I’m ready to take her ass down. Ursela taking Sam finally pushed me over the limit and now it’s payback time.
Even though our nerves are on edge, we manage to wait the week as agreed and after getting a call from Alex to assure us that the coast is clear, we decide Saturday is the day to head out. I told my friends to pack and be at the house by ten in the morning so we can leave early. I come out into the backyard and stare up at the clouds hoping it won’t rain but Charlie already said it will come and who am I to doubt a vampire that can predict the future. I walk over to the trees and the rain begins to fall as I stand at my mother’s grave. We buried her a few days prior but it still feels like only a minute ago we put the last patch of dirt over her coffin. Funny how we’re the vampires and Sara is the one that now forever sleeps in a coffin.
“Hey you. How you holding up,” Mark asks as he walks towards me.
I just shrug as I reply, “Okay I guess. When did you get here?”
“About ten minutes ago. The girls are here as well and Steve will arrive within fifteen minutes.”
“Cool,” I softly say and I turn to face him.
A look of surprise flashes across his face but it settles into concern as he comments, “Wow Gina, no offense but you look like shit. When was the last time you, um, had something to eat?”
I know I’ve deprived myself but since Sam’s been gone, I haven’t given anything else any thought. I pushed myself for the past week on trying to perfect being inside another vampire’s head to the point where I actually tired the others out. Harry has tried on several occasions to get me to go hunting with him but until I have Sam back in my arms, nothing else matters except killing Ursela and bringing him home.
I look at Mark with sorrow in my black eyes as I reply, “I honestly have no idea.”
“It’s been too long if you ask me.” We both turn as Charlie materializes from the house. He looks at me intensely as he says, “Gina, you need to definitely go hunting now. Your friends are here and if you go back into the house, the scent of their blood will be too much for you.”
I frown as I bitterly mutter, “Thanks for having faith in me Charlie. I’ll try not to let you down and go on a feeding frenzy.”
He frowns at my remark and lets out a huge sigh before asking, “Mark would you give us a moment please? I would like to speak to my sister-in-law in private.”
Mark nods and heads back inside the house. I turn to face my mother’s headstone (which was Harry’s idea to bury her in our huge backyard) and I say, “If you’re going to lecture me, you might as well save your breath. I’m not in the mood.”
Charlie walks next to me and softly says, “Gina, what happened to Sam wasn’t your fault.”
I turn to face him as I respond, “Yes it was. I was supposed to protect him from her and instead I did nothing but hand him over to her on a silver platter. I knew he would eventually follow me so I should have figured something out before going up to Niagara Falls to meet her. I should have tied him up or locked him in his room or something. Or better yet, my dumbass shouldn’t have called for him in the first place.” I throw my hands up in frustration but sigh as I say, “I should have never have gone to see her. I was in way over my head with her and she played me like a fucking idiot.”
“It wasn’t like you had a choice Gina. It was either go to her or have Ursela come to you and of course none of us wanted the latter.”
I give his words some thought and sigh as I whisper, “I just feel like I failed him.”
I kneel on the ground as Charlie puts his hand on my shoulder for comfort. I know I shouldn’t put all the blame on myself but it’s how I feel. I sense Charlie kneel down beside me and he says, “I’m sorry Gina. I feel like I failed both of you. It is already my fault for me and Sam’s fate but I feel that I should have better prepared you before you met with Ursela. Actually, there are a lot of things I should have better prepared you for so forgive me Gina for being the world’s shittiest brother-in-law.”
As I listen to his words, I let the tears fall from my eyes because right now that is the only response I feel is appropriate at the moment. He wipes away a few tears as he says, “The only way for both of us to feel right is to succeed in defeating that bitch and get your husband back.”
I smile to him weakly as I say, “I couldn’t agree more. Do you honestly think we have a chance of succeeding?”
“One can only hope,” he replies as he helps me rise to my feet. “But we still have a lot of practicing to do so while we have some time before we leave for Pennsylvania, let’s get cracking.”
I nod as I follow him into the house where I find Tiffany, Diane and Amber sitting on the couch. Mark emerges from the kitchen with a pizza box in his hands and places it on the coffee table. The minute he opens it up, the heavy smell of garlic fills the room and I wrinkly my nose in disgust.
“Wow that stinks. Did I really eat that when I was human,” I ask while making a face.
David snickers as he replies, “Are you kidding me? Oh man you used to put bucket loads of garlic on your pizza. Drove us crazy with that stuff.” He winks at me while he teasingly adds, “Personally I think you did it on purpose to get on our nerves.”
“Only yours David,” I retort with a giggle.
Amber looks at her slice and asks, “Does the garlic hurt you guys? I mean we don’t want to cause you guys any pain or anything.”
I smile as I respond, “It’s just very annoying to us like pepper would be to you.”
“Oh my god Gina you should have told us. We can eat outside if you want so you don’t have to smell it,” Diane says.
“No it’s okay. Relax and enjoy your food.” I didn’t want to tell them that the garlic would keep them safe from me. Charlie was right. Since I haven’t fed in a week their blood did smell mouthwatering.
“Speaking of food, I better run out and get me a bite to eat myself if they’re gonna be in my car for three hours. I don’t wanna accidentally nibble on one of them especially if we get stuck in traffic,” David jokingly says.
“Not even remotely funny,” I growl while I mentally toss him outside so he can go hunting.
“Maybe we should all go,” Charlie suggests while looking directly at me.
I glare back at him as I respond, “You guys go ahead. I’ll stay here with them. I don’t want to leave them alone.”
“Sweetheart they’ll be fine. Please come with us,” Harry pleads.
I stubbornly shake my head and they try for five minutes to convince me. Things may be quiet now but I don’t want to take the chance of leaving my friends alone and we come back to find their throats ripped open. Since vampires live in this house, any other vampire can just casually walk right in without an invitation. They finally decide to drop the subject since I wasn’t budging and they leave to go on a quick hunting trip and I’m alone with my human friends. Since I haven’t hunted for about a week, I start to wonder if maybe I should have listened to Charlie and Harry since I didn’t know how much their blood is going to affect me but as they consume the pizza that’s loaded with garlic, it begins to kill my desire for them but not as fast as I would like it to. Mark stares at me and without saying a word he gets up to open a couple of windows and the front door. The cool autumn air blows into the house and I smile warmly at him as I say, “Thanks Mark.”
He curtly nods but as the breezy air flows into the living room, Tiffany whines, “Mark are you crazy? It’s getting chilly in here. If you’re having a hot flash, why don’t you go sit outside instead of trying to freeze us in here?”
While letting out a sigh of frustration he responds, “Will you look at Gina! Her eyes are pitch black and that’s not from allergies! You’ve seen that stupid movie so you know what the black eyes mean. We need the cool air to help her out a bit.”
Amber asks, “But I thought since we’re eating the pizza with the garlic it wouldn’t bother her?”
I look at them intensely as I say, “Trust me Mark did the right thing because as thirsty as I am, I’m willing to overlook the garlic.”
I must be quite a frightening sight because I can sense their fear as they tense up and Diane even shivers a little. Their reaction is actually stirring up my thirst again and I slowly rise up off the chair I’m sitting in. I stare at all of them while trying to decide who appealed to me the most.
That is until Steve walks into the house. His blood hits me with such an impact that I’m almost knocked off my feet. He waves and says hello to everyone and when I can’t stand it any longer, I make a move for him.
I go to take one step and I’m slammed from behind and down on the floor. My friends scream as David grabs my shoulders to hold me down while Joseph says, “Sorry Gina but Charlie told us to get back here in a hurry. And it looks like we got here just in time too.”
I still struggle as David calmly says, “Oh yeah she is definitely Sam’s wife because his stubborn streak has passed into her through his venom. Can someone give me a hand? I can barely keep a firm grip on her.”
“Why don’t you let me go and I won’t kill you,” I say menacingly.
“Oh kiddo, I would love to see you try,” he replies while snickering.
“Gladly.”
With a wicked smirk I mentally lift David off me and hurl him across the room. I get into a crouching position as Joseph springs towards me but he too goes flying. I hear Tiffany screaming for me to stop but this newfound strength pushes me towards Steve who I pin against a wall. I feel my fangs grow out as I let my thirst take over and guide my actions. Just as I’m about to take a bite from his neck, a massive shock ripples through my body and I release him as I howl in agony before dropping to the floor.
As the pain subsides, Charlie rushes over to me and says, “I’m really sorry but you left me no choice. Are you alright?”
I start to relax as I begin to feel like myself again and I rise up off the floor. I reply softly, “Yes I’m okay. I don’t know why I reacted like that. Steve I’m so sorry.”
