Essence (Nectar 3)

“Got it.” Sam went and fetched Adrian, hefted him over his shoulder and moved toward the dining room.~~~Tristan checked on Kyla. She was asleep. Her skin was pale and she was twitching, restless, as if she was having a bad dream. He put his hand on her face. She stilled.

“Wake up, little cherry bomb.”

He kissed her eyelids one after the other and ran his hand up her arm.

She opened her eyes. They were bright sparkling green but the whites of her eyes looked pinkish. She had dark circles under her eyes. He really wished he had the ability to use his diagnostic skills with her, so he’d know what the fuck was going on with her.

He wasn’t sensing a thing; it was bewildering after having the ability to feel medical conditions from any ill person he met. All he had to do for some was be near them and certain conditions were emitted like radio waves he could easily decipher. In other circumstances he recognized illnesses by scent, much like a chef recognizes aromas for what food they represent. The taste of blood had always been very telling as well. Tristan’s pre-vamp life as a chef may have contributed to giving him very attuned scenting and tasting abilities. Or perhaps that inherent talent in him was what made him seek out his career in the culinary arts before he’d been turned.

Those talents were failing him now, now when he really really needed them.

“Princess, I’ve put a dagger under the mattress here, right by your pillow, okay? If any vamp but me comes in here and gets near you, you plunge it into them and leave it there. Except Sam. Unless you feel threatened by him. Okay, baby?”

She nodded.

Would she even comprehend a threat? He had no idea. He caressed her cheek with his palm,

“I love you. If you’re in there and you can comprehend this, I’m working on things. Don’t give up. I’m gonna do everything I can do to bring you back to me, okay? I’ve got what might be good news. I’m tryin’, baby. I’m trying so hard to get you back.”

She nodded solemnly, “Grape,” it was a plea.

“I’ll find you some grape.” He kissed her lips and caressed her face.~~~That evening he could barely get her to eat. She was even weaker, even more lethargic. He spoon-fed her some chicken stew and a bit of buttered bread and he’d gotten someone to track down some grape pop and she’d had a few mouthfuls but it didn’t seem to do anything to boost her spirits.

“Does that taste good?” he’d asked.

She’d nodded and moistened her lips with her tongue but only had a second mouthful at his urging.

“Where’s the dagger, baby?”

She blinked.

“The dagger, Kyla?”

“Under the mattress.”

“Good girl, take another bite of bread.”

“Liam’s back,” she muttered.

“He’s not back.” Tristan was tweaked.

“Dagger in his back.”

“Not anymore, princess. Liam’s gone. He won’t hurt you again.”

“Okay, Tristan.”

He hoped she wouldn’t have anyone close enough to have to need it but felt marginal comfort knowing she’d comprehended those directions.

The meeting with the compound employees had gone off without a hitch. He’d influenced them all to believe Adrian had gotten called away on an urgent out-of-town meeting and then he’d gotten an update from each of them. Nothing particularly nefarious had been happening beyond regular business and none of them had a clue about any experiments with Kyla so Adrian had been heading that project up without any assistance, of anyone here, at least.

Tristan’s assistant, back home, was making flight arrangements to get them to Seattle and doing it quietly. Then they’d board a boat to take them to the nearby island Sasha was on. Sam said he had had spoken to his sister briefly to say that he wanted to meet and she was expecting him but didn’t know yet that Tristan and Kyla would be nearby.

He was hungry for a feed. But more than nourishment, he was hungry to feel her. He had complete control over cravings, this wasn’t about her blood nearly as much as it was about their connection and his desire to feel her and try to wade through her confusion to find out what she needed to make her feel well.

The fact that she tasted like what he wanted and needed was amazing but strange. He needed to feel her and see if he could figure anything out but with how weak and ill she seemed he didn’t want to lose control and put her at even further risk.

Her scent came back; her blood came back. How could he get the rest of her to come back?

He climbed into bed with her that night and she wasn’t looking any better; in fact, maybe a little worse. He pulled her close and put his nose and mouth to her throat. He felt her pulse move against his lips. When he sank in he braced and was hit with a tidal wave of her emotions, which were exactly the same as earlier that day. She was lost, confused, and in extreme pain.