I forgot to mention in the earlier author’s note that I am trying to differentiate this vampire story from the others. There will not be any Mates, in the typical sense. There are a few concepts from other genres that I will be incorporating into this story because I think it’ll bring an interesting twist.

Some of you might think it’s strange, but I’m hoping most of you will think it’s refreshingly different. 

I know that sounds ambiguous. You all will see what I mean within the next couple of uploads.

This is NOT YET edited, please point out mistakes that are distracting.

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2.

All I could do was sit in stunned contemplation.

Part of me wondered if that had all been a dream. I had been sorely lacking in male companionship my entire life, after all, so perhaps this was some fantasy my desperate brain came up with in the last stages of my life.

Unfortunately, the logical side of me knew I could never dream up male specimens as handsome as those. I wasn’t quite that imaginative.

And on top of that, I could still sense their lingering presence in the room, a light chill hovering in the air. I felt unsettled by the unusual encounter.

Hesitantly, I turned to observe the vial sitting next to me. I knew I should probably just smash it on the ground and tell the nurse I had some sort of accident. My rational brain wanted nothing to do with whatever the hell was going on here.

But I’d always had a burning, gnawing curiosity deep within me. It was what drove my appetite for reading. Even now there was a stack of books by my bedside. It was this impulsive, rash side of me that made me reach out, open the drawer in my nightstand, and place the vial inside near the back of the drawer where nobody would likely find it.

Just in case I got delusional and decided to drink what looked suspiciously like blood.

As soon as I shut the drawer the door to my room opened and my family bustled back inside, concern evident on my father’s features. I knew he was about to grill me about the strangers; he’d probably nearly had a heart attack when he saw them. Judging my Carla’s expression, she was the only one holding him back from busting in the room sooner.

Attempting to push the strange, beautiful men out of my thoughts, I quickly tried to come up with a series of lies to tell my family. I hated lying, but there was no chance in hell I would tell them the truth about what happened. I still couldn’t believe it myself.

But even as I spent the rest of the night just hanging out with my parents and Brentley, my parents trying their hardest to cheer me up and even watching Finding Nemo with me on the tiny TV, I could not push Kaz and Adam out of my mind.

What was in the vial?

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It was an entire day before I decided to get the vial out again. My family was out at dinner and I knew the nurses wouldn’t disturb me unless I had another coughing fit, so I was alone for now. I aimlessly turned on HGTV, listening to potential homeowners prattle on in the background as I tentatively opened the drawer.

The glass vial was cool to the touch, and I observed it cautiously as if it could turn into a snake and bite me. The scarlet liquid inside was very thick and completely opaque. It almost seemed to absorb the dim light of the room as I held it aloft. It definitely looked a lot like blood, but was darker than mine. That observation made my unease return in full-force.

And yet, something deep in my gut pulled me towards the liquid, made me raise it to eye level so I could stare even more intently at it. I had a strange sort of fascination with this “mystery cure,” and I couldn’t entirely explain why I felt drawn towards it. I shivered, suddenly feeling cold, and I quickly put it away. Adam’s hauntingly icy gaze flashed through my mind, unbidden. I’d been trying to put the two out of my mind but I’d been mostly unsuccessful.

And, I could reluctantly admit to myself that I MAY have pictured one or more of them shirtless during the long, boring day. Embarrassed at the thought, I hastily pushed the vial away from me. Stupid hormones. I had nothing better to occupy my time, as I’d already read all of the books by my bedside multiple times.

I sighed heavily. I couldn’t do it. There was no telling what that might do to me, and it was stupid to think it could help. I was dying, and I should just accept that. I’d known my fate for two years now. If I got my hopes up, it just left me open to a crushing letdown.

But, I couldn’t help but wonder about the ‘what-ifs,’ what would happen if, for some scientifically inexplicable reason, the ‘cure’ worked. What it would be like to grow old, get married (assuming I learned how to talk to men), have children. Pursue a career.

Shove large amounts of unhealthy food in my mouth that I couldn’t stomach now. The thought made my mouth water; oh, how I’d loved having a fast metabolism before I’d gotten sick. I could discover my love of food yet again if I could be cured.

Don’t think like that. It isn’t possible, the realistic side of me said coolly. I cursed my voice of reason, wishing for once she could leave me alone. Sighing, I leaned back against the pillows and resigned myself to another boring night of TV and melancholy. 

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The second night after the mysterious visitors, I had a very severe coughing fit. I bent over, wracked by uncontrollable coughs that left me whimpering and wheezing. The oxygen tube under my nose didn’t seem to be enough; I tried to take in massive amounts of air but my lungs, affected by the pulmonary fibrosis, would not cooperate.

Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision as I waited for the coughing to stop. My chest and throat ached with the effort of squeezing the breaths through. I dimly noticed my father, next to me and clutching my hand as a nurse hurried into the room.

I felt like death was uncurling deep within my chest. For a moment, I genuinely believed I would suffocate and that this was it for me. I clung to my father’s hand desperately, trying with all my might to fight the coughs down. My throat itched and burned and I desperately wheezed, praying the oxygen would make it into my lungs by some miracle.

It was in that moment that I realized Kaz was right. As the terror struck at me, threatening to paralyze my entire body, I knew I’d been lying to myself. I was not ready to die. My calm exterior had been but a façade. There was still a significant part of me very much set on staying alive to fight another day. It was evident by the way I valiantly tried to fight the coughs down.

Someone who was ready to die would not fight that hard.

The blackness was creeping in on the fringes of my vision, and my struggling only increased as I frantically tried to suck in enough air to keep me alive. It was completely and utterly terrifying. I had never been so close to death before. I never wanted to experience such a feeling again.

I felt incredibly light-headed and on the brink of darkness when the coughs finally stopped. I realized an oxygen mask had been placed on my face for the time being, and I must’ve been given some sort of medicine because I felt oddly calm and relaxed. In that state of mind, I could think about everything with a calm sense of clarity.

Drinking a small amount of mysterious liquid didn’t seem like such a big deal. Sure, it probably wouldn’t do anything to help….but I was beyond help anyway. How long did I have, a couple of weeks? The blood, or whatever it was, couldn’t possibly make anything worse.

Although it was probably a scam, I realized it would be way worse not to even try. As crazy as it made me feel even considering it, I wanted to live. I was willing to do anything. I had hovered on the brink of death and it was not pleasant.

With my father’s hand still firmly clasping mine, my aimless thoughts spiraled further out of control until I drifted into a dreamless sleep.

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 Okay, I had finally lost it.

My parents were back at home putting Brentley to bed, and I had the vial loosely grasped in my hands. Oh, my grandmother would be turning in her grave if she knew what I was about to do. She and my father had always been practical, patient, and anything but reckless.

What I was about to do was the exact opposite.

I was about to DRINK someone else’s BLOOD—or at least something that looked suspiciously like blood. I sure couldn’t inject myself with it, and I was pretty sure the nurses would ship me off to the loony bin if I asked them.

What if it had STDs? The thought made my lip curl with disgust. That would be just my luck; contract a sexually transmitted disease on top of pulmonary fibrosis. Was that even impossible by drinking someone else’s blood?

I swallowed, hard, hesitating. Now that the medication had worn off, my thoughts from the night before seemed crazy. I had spent the entire day deliberating, and now it was almost 10pm and I still couldn’t make up my mind. I only had two hours to meet the guys at Pine Street and Main, and my father might be back soon after taking care of Brentley. My window was closing.

I took a deep breath. I had a history of impulsive decisions, as I’d always been an impatient and rather short-tempered person, but this would take the cake. Taking a vial of potentially-lethal liquid from two handsome, strange men would have to be the craziest thing I’d ever done.

But, pushing my logical brain aside, I knew it was worth it. On the less-than-one percent chance this vial could somehow help me, it was still worth it. Kaz was correct in thinking I was just desperate enough to disregard the potential repercussions and do this.

Because, regardless of what this would do to me, it had to be better than death. Thinking of my episode the night before helped reassure me of that. The paralyzing terror I had felt was something I never wanted to experience again. I wanted to stay here, with my family, even if I had to work some sort of job to pay Kaz and Adam back for this cure.

And, even if it hurt me, I was close to death anyways. My coughing episode had demonstrated that.

My heartbeat sped up, thudding in my chest as I pulled my oxygen mask away from my mouth; I could go without it for a minute. I hoped. I pulled the vial towards me and screwed off the lid, bracing myself as I leaned forward and smelled the liquid inside.

It was completely odorless. The signature metallic tangy scent of blood was noticeably absent. I glanced at the clock: 10:23. I had wasted too much time deliberating.

Screwing my eyes shut, I took another deep breath. It was time to be brave, I thought. Nothing would even happen because of this….most likely. Without another thought, I brought the vial up to my mouth and tilted it, leaning my head back. The small amount of liquid rushed into my mouth and…

Woah. It tasted….good. Wonderful, even. It was like an explosion of nectar and honeysuckle in my mouth. I swallowed, hard, nearly choking with shock. Out of everything I could have expected, this wasn’t it. It was almost as if all of my favorite tastes culminated into one, and that’s exactly what the liquid tasted like. It was heavenly, and I instantly craved more than just a mere mouthful.

It left a burning trail down my throat, but it wasn’t unpleasant. My nerve endings began to come alive and I felt my cheeks heating up. Whatever was happening, it was going to happen fast. I could still taste the lingering sweetness on my tongue, and I decided that if I were going to die right now, this would be a pleasant way to go.

The oxygen mask suddenly seemed unnecessary. In fact, as a couple minutes trickled by, I realized I was breathing pretty effortlessly without it. I blinked incredulously as I sucked in air more easily than I had in months.

I reached my arms out in front of me, flexing my fingers. A newfound strength was unfurling from deep within me. I couldn’t believe it. Whether I was hallucinating or not, there was no doubt that the scarlet liquid was having some sort of miracle effects.

A few more minutes passed and my strength continued to build. I shifted position, itching to stand up and move around. I felt stronger now than I had before I’d gotten sick. Everything around me stood out in clarity as my vision seemed clearer, the colors more vibrant.

If this was a drug, I wanted more. I could practically feel my lungs working the way they were supposed to.

I smoothly stood up, not wavering in the slightest once I was on my feet. I had to go meet Kaz and Adam. I would never have believed it before, but the contents of the vial….they were working. It seemed too real to be a hallucination. Their medicine was genuinely helping me. If I could get fixed permanently, it would be worth whatever they wanted from me.

I had over an hour to make the walk. I had wondered before how the heck I was supposed to get there, but I felt more energetic than ever before. Something told me I could make the walk to the intersection they’d mentioned, which was less than three miles from here.

A thought occurring to me, I hastily glanced around the room until I found a pen and a pad of paper. Brentley had sketched a dinosaur on the front page of the pad and I smiled slightly as I turned the page to a new one. If somehow this could work…my little half-brother wouldn’t have to see me go.

I quickly scribbled a note to my father, saying something about feeling better and the nurse taking me out in the wheelchair for some fresh air. It was a pretty thin lie, but it was better than leaving no note at all. Surely I could come back in a couple hours if the cure was successful.

Then, I rummaged around in the suitcase in the corner where I had packed some of my things in case I ever got to leave. I’d thought I would never get to use it, but with this adrenaline coursing through my system, everything was possible. I changed into a pair of jeans and a hoodie, pairing the outfit with my comfortable Uggs in case it was cold. I wanted to blend in so the nurses didn’t stop me.

That done, I made my way to the door of my room and cracked it open, hesitantly peering out and glancing each way. I didn’t see any nurses lurking about. This floor was reserved for terminal patients like me and it was usually very quiet, especially this late. I tiptoed outside, shutting the door quietly behind me after deciding to leave the TV on.

The logical side of me again tried to argue how reckless and stupid this was, and how frantic the nurses would be if they saw me missing, but I tried to ignore the thought. The blood was working. Against all logic, I felt better. I had to do this if I wanted the chance to live.

I put my hood up and dipped my head, allowing my hair to obscure my face as I made my way through the hospital. I got a curious look here and there but fortunately, I didn’t see my nurse anywhere and nobody tried to stop me. As soon as I left my floor, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was highly doubtful that anyone in the hospital would recognize me now.

As expected, when the elevator doors slid open with a loud ding to reveal the ground floor, hardly anyone spared me a glance and I made my way to the exit without incident. As the automatic doors slid open, I was hit with a blast of cool October air; it must’ve been in the 40s. However, I noticed that the heat rushing around under the surface and the adrenaline pumping through my system prevented the cold from penetrating my skin. I barely noticed it as I turned to the left and hurried towards the intersection Kaz had mentioned.

Before this, I never would’ve thought I could walk a mile again, let alone three. But my energy seemed to be limitless. I felt stronger than ever before, and I kept up a very fast walk as I made my way towards the destination.

The sidewalks were mostly devoid of people since it had to be 11 o’clock by now, and I kept up the hurried pace, boots slapping against the still-damp sidewalk. It smelled like a mixture of rain, gasoline, and stale food. Not exactly the best combination. I scrunched my nose as I turned right down another street; It had been about thirty minutes, and I was halfway there.

My newfound strength was not yet fading. I felt incredible.

The rest of the walk was practically a blur as I remained intensely focused on the intersection to which I was heading. I was on Main now, and Pine Street was just ahead. There was nothing particularly remarkable about the location. There were some nondescript buildings and a park somewhere nearby, but nothing special.

As I approached, I narrowed my eyes and peered across the street, wondering if Adam and Kaz were almost here. I had snagged my cell phone on the way out just in case, and glancing at it I saw it was 11:55. I turned in a slow circle, trying to find the two handsome men.

For a brief second, I wondered if this was a prank. What if they stood me up?

 A voice came from nearby, cutting off this train of thought.

“So you showed up after all,” came the relaxed drawl, and I turned around to see Adam, with the customary smirk on his face. I blinked, slightly startled. How had I not seen him before? I glanced around quickly, not seeing Kaz anywhere.

“Yeah,” I replied, quite lamely, feeling my face heat up with embarrassment. I felt even more awkward around Adam than I did around Kaz.

 “How’s the blood treating you?” Adam’s icy gaze glimmered with something I couldn’t recognize.

 I felt my mouth drop open involuntarily. I’d had my suspicions, but still….it was shocking to think I’d ingested someone else’s blood. “It’s…uh….” I stammered, feeling a bit nauseous all of a sudden. I tried to push the thoughts of drinking blood aside.

Adam sighed. “You all are always so disgusted by the concept,” he muttered, increasing my confusion. Who would not be disgusted by the concept of drinking blood? Before I could ask any questions, though, I heard the rumble of a car as a sleek, black vehicle pulled out from a side street, coming to a stop directly in front of the curb next to Adam and me. I turned to face the car, perplexed. The tinted window rolled down to reveal a solemn-faced Kaz. He nodded quickly in my direction before indicating I enter the vehicle.

I hesitated, unsure, feeling a prick of irritation. Why the heck had they made me walk all this way, just to get me into a car? Was I being kidnapped?

Adam almost seemed to have read my mind. “We wanted you to experience the effects of the blood for yourself, including the strength and increased endurance. It makes our claim of a cure much more…credible.” He was standing pretty close behind me, and his cool breath made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Nervous because of his proximity, I stepped away and towards the car. Adam made me feel incredibly unsettled.

 “I don’t…” I began, suddenly feeling a bit unsure about all of this. I didn’t know why the appearance of a car made me dubious of their intentions, but I couldn’t help but feel nervous. Where would they be taking me?

Kaz must’ve noticed my expression, for he leaned towards me slightly from the driver’s seat. “Lucy, you’ve come this far,” he said quietly. “And obviously, you know we really do have a cure that works.” He pressed a button, unlocking the back doors.

“What interest would we have in harming you?” Adam cut in, flashing me a somewhat irritated glance as he opened the passenger door. “Look at you. You’re pale and sickly. You’re dying anyways.  It would be pointless.” He slid into the passenger side without another word, leaving me to glare at him in irritation due to his insulting tone. 

I knew they were right, though. This could be dangerous, but the alternative was definite, inevitable death. I felt so alive in this moment, with the blood in my system. As gross as the thought was, whatever was in the blood was almost…magical. I needed more. If I was cured, I could spend the rest of my life happy and healthy, or so it seemed. My family wouldn’t have to go through the pain of my death. Maybe, I could go back to college. All I had to give in return was my service to Kaz and Adam. It couldn’t be that bad….right? 

Nodding once with resolution, I made up my mind.

I got in the car.

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Pic is of Adam. I know everyone uses Alex Pettyfer, but to my frustration, I could find nobody that better matches my mental image.

 Please point out the super obvious and confusing mistakes. 

Next upload will be tomorrow night!

PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT. It inspires and encourages me to write faster.