“I’ll carry her to the car,” he said, before any objections could be voiced. His stomach churned as she nuzzled her head against his chest. He frowned as Jack held the door. There was a little too much familiarity with her friends’ actions to sit well with him, and the story they had just woven was an obvious lie. The question was, why. Why would they leave her in this state when the best place for her would be in hospital, being checked over? People didn’t just collapse for no good reason.
He glanced around, questioning why her boyfriend had abandoned her, a protective annoyance creeping over him as he wondered if his sudden disappearance was because he was to blame. He pushed the thought of him away, the image of her locked in his embrace, as her warmth against his chest caused his own temperature to rise, and he heard a whispered warning as clear as if it had been in his ear. ‘Mine.’ He paused, hoping the voice had only been within his mind and not escaping his lips.
Jack grabbed the door, ushering them quickly into his car. Conrad glanced behind them, expecting to see her boyfriend make another appearance, but was more than a little relieved when he didn’t. Although such a realisation sent him into turmoil. How could someone just slink into the shadows, leaving the person they cared for to fend for themselves? Even if he was a psychic vampire, if he had taken too much—losing himself in the moment as was so easy to do in her presence—it was his responsibility to make sure she was safe. That had to be it, the reason her friends knew what to do, why they seemed so well versed and unfazed. It was far from the first time this had happened. It could even explain his absence. If he were to be caught causing such damage, the P.T.F or Blue Coats would need to step in.
“Ash, you with us?” Tess called back over her shoulder. When she didn’t respond, Jack opened the glove compartment of the car, rummaging through before pulling out a small tube.
“Get her to drink this.” He tossed it back to Conrad, who pulled at the tab, placing the liquid to her lips. She seemed to suckle instinctively, swallowing the sugary gel.
“What was that back there?” Conrad asked, squeezing the remaining fluid into Ashley’s mouth before glancing at the label—an isotonic energy gel, a quick way to replenish energy. He was liking this less and less. “I’ve seen her eat. No way this is diabetes. Is it something to do with that vampire back there?” He failed to hide the bite in his voice, but hoped, by proving he already knew what her boyfriend was, it would encourage them to be honest with him.
“Yes. But now’s not the time,” Tess called back.
“Clearly you’re too familiar with this. Don’t you see he could be doing lasting damage? Why won’t you let someone look at her? Report him? Something?” Suddenly, her constant exhaustion made sense. She wasn’t just overworked. Her boyfriend was slowly killing her and for some reason everyone was turning a blind eye.
“Trust me, hospital is the last place she wants to be, especially tonight,” Jack added, seeming to angle himself towards Conrad in an attempt to stop his foot pressing on the imaginary brake.
“What’s tonight?”
“The worst day ever, twice,” Ashley whispered, blinking slowly as her confusion seemed to wane. Conrad wondered what she meant, putting it down to the lingering confusion. “How bad?” she croaked, her hand moving slowly to squeeze Conrad’s leg in what he thought was intended as a comforting gesture. “Sorry,” she whispered, just loud enough for him to hear.
“Small crowd, no familiar faces.”
Ashley nodded, relief seeming to transform her tired face from worry to relaxation. She closed her eyes shuffling slightly to lean her head on Conrad’s shoulder.
“I owe you an explanation… but can we leave it for tonight and just watch some movies and order pizza?”
“One condition,” Conrad whispered, lifting his arm so she could rest more comfortably. “The takeaway’s on me.” He looked at his arm cradled around her, wondering why he was doing this to himself… why he was savouring this moment of closeness and the soft fragrance of her hair, while knowing it could never be. He relished the feeling of her warmth against him as her breathing slowed and allowed his own head to fall back to gaze towards the car’s roof despairingly. She would be his undoing, of this he was certain.
Refusing movie night had left Will with a hollow pit in his stomach. It had pained him almost as much as discovering Conrad had been invited. He knew it was a difficult night for Ashley, one she hated to spend alone. This one night they always had a sleepover, watched movies, cooked disastrous foods, and ordered takeaway. Anything to ensure the night was a good one. It was a painful anniversary for Ashley for more reasons than one. Not only had it been the day she became an orphan but, by some cruel fate, many years later it was also the night the accident had happened.
Ashley had stepped away from the car only moments before the collision occurred, propelling the vehicle down the small
