“Holy shit.” Ivor's hands shake as he grabs a garbage can for me.
He’s not quick enough, as another wave hits, and I puke up even more blood.
“What’s happening, Penelope?” Ivor pulls on his pants and paces back and forth. “Water? I’ll get you water.”
I don’t have time to talk before I puke again. I grow weaker each time as the vampire blood leaves my body.
Ivor puts a glass of water in front of me and grabs his phone. He dials a number. “She needs you. We’re in the cabin.”
“Who...” Is all I can get out of my mouth before more blood comes up. The room spins as I lay my head on the floor. I close my eyes to ease my dizziness. The pit of my stomach clenches as more blood makes its way out of my mouth.
“Help is coming, Penelope.” Ivor is by my side, rubbing my back. “Who gave you the blood?”
“Annie.” I manage to say between heaving breaths.
“Who’s Annie?” Ivor says quickly.
“Someone else first...” I hold my stomach as the pain sharpens. I can’t control the sounds coming from my body, loud moans to screams. “What’s happening?”
“Your body is rejecting the vampire blood.” Ivor’s sweating as he tries to hold me in a comfortable position.
“I’m part vampire...”
“No, P, You’re not.” He kisses my forehead and rocks me back and forth in his arms.
“I could drink it.” I shake my head, “I have fangs.”
“It’s going to be okay, I promise.” Ivor was a terrible liar. It was easy to tell between the sweat on his face and his watery eyes.
The pain worsens, and my insides feel like they are shredding inside my body. I roll over and gag up more blood. I roll back on my back and finally feel a little relief.
“Don’t hold it in.”
“I think I’m past looking ladylike now,” We both chuckle.
There’s a hard knock on the door, and Ivor jumps to his feet and runs to answer it. “She’s over there,” Ivor says.
I cover my naked body as much as I can with the little strength that I have left and lift my head to see Clark standing there, in a full-on rage.
Chapter 17
The pain in Clark’s face quickly overwrites my guts being torn apart by Vampire blood. But I can’t regret being with Ivor. Our connection was disturbing yet intense. But I had a loyalty to Clark. I thought our “onetime thing” meant the same to him as it did me. But laying here and looking up at him, wanting to hold him in my arms, made me question my feelings for him.
Can I love more than one partner? It’s not long till my thoughts turn back to how bad I feel as I puke up more blood than I think is even in my body.
“Emotions aside.” Ivor holds his hand out to Clark.
The silence is deafening as I wait for Clark to shake his hand. I hold my head up only long enough to puke again. The room only stops spinning when I close my eyes. Even though I might lay dying, I want to pelt a million questions at them. How does Ivor even have Clark’s number? And why would he call him? Clark would love to pull his skin off and wear it.
I feel a hand pulling back my hair as my body starts convulsing, getting ready for another purge. This time it’s barely a mouthful. A wave of energy fills me but vanishes as quickly as it arrives. Hopefully, this means I’m on the mend.
“Drink this.” Clark is holding my hair back, and in his hand is a frosty glass of water.
I just stare at him, unable to form any words that would be meaningful enough to come out of my mouth. The sorrow in his eyes weighs my heart down. I take the water and drink the whole glass down, unaware of how thirsty I was. He helps me sit back against the couch, making sure the blanket covers my body.
“I..I..” I want to say something that will take his pain away, but I’ve got nothing.
“Don’t.” He doesn’t look at me.
“What do we do?” Ivor is pacing back and forth in the kitchen. His hand runs through his hair, and his face is flush.
“Who gave it to her?” Clark's voice is harsh, and he only half turns his head to Ivor.
“I don’t know her.” Ivor approaches us, but Clark holds his hand up for him to stay away.
“What’s her name?” Clark asks.
“Anna,” I say, my voice weak and low. I meet Clark’s eyes to see if there is any hint of recognition in them.
“We need to get her away from here.” Clark reaches over and picks up my clothes on the floor. “Do you need help putting these on?”
“Just give me a minute. I think I’m starting to feel a bit better.” My stomach rolls as soon as the words are out, and I puke all over my blanket.
Clark doesn’t shy away from me. In fact, he doesn’t even budge.
“Give me a facecloth and cold water.” He asks Ivor.
Ivor quickly obliges but kneels down on my other side. It looks like there might be a fight any moment over who gets to wash the puke off me. Then Clark stands down.
“I need to make a call.” Clark heads to the front door and slams it shut.
“Why did you call him?” I ask as Ivor gently wipes my face and chest down with the facecloth.
“He cares about you.” Ivor has no expression on his face. He diligently washes everything off of me and helps me to my feet. He walks me over to the bathroom and sits me down on a chair by the door, then brings my clothes over to me. “Don’t lock the door. I’ll be right outside if you need me.” He kissed my forehead and closes the door.
I let the heavy blanket
