I'd spent the rest of the night in silence—the fight was internal. My family kept a close watch over me, but refrained from speaking to me except to offer me more deer blood. They knew what I was facing, they'd each faced it themselves and were all too aware of the difficulty.
I grimaced and turned my face away from a second sip of deer blood. Elizabeth retreated without a word. My thoughts returned to Jason and his touch, that beautiful sensation that radiated through my body—we were meant to be together, of that there was no doubt. Again, as with each time I thought of him, the burning thirst returned—the monster returned. How could I control this? How did I before? I remembered the tender moments we shared under the pine canopy in the park, and his kiss—that amazing kiss that changed everything—the night under the twinkle lights, our dance, the longing I felt. I wanted that—wanted it so much, but it seemed impossible.
The door opened and closed and I opened my eyes. Tink and Hayley were gone. Beyond the windows, light flickered through the fall leaves, it was early morning.
"You look better today." Melanie said as she stepped in front of me. "Your eyes are a lighter shade already."
"Can I see?"
Melanie returned with a Sterling silver, hand mirror that must have been one hundred years old. She held it up in front of me.
I recoiled a the sight of my crimson eyes. "Jason saw me like this." I mumbled.
"He did."
"He must have been terrified."
"No, he was sad, sad that you were in such anguish."
"I remember. He said it was his fault."
"Boys, they always think the world revolves around them, that what they do, or don't do, determines the outcome of everything. Our stalker—the historian was not Jason's fault, nor was your abduction. We all thought you would be safe around humans. No one foresaw the desperate measures he would take." Melanie glanced over at Elizabeth who had cautiously moved closer. "Do you remember the dance?"
"Yes." I dug deep, past my monster. "Homecoming—Beauty and the Beast."
"You were stunning." Elizabeth said. She help out a picture of Jason and me dressed as Belle and the beast. "What is it, dear?" she said as my head drooped.
"Clearly I'm the beast now."
The door opened and Tink and Hayley returned. A new scent aroused my thirst. "It's on the porch." Tink said to Elizabeth. He grabbed the glass of deer blood and took it outside.
"I don't like this." Nathan said.
"Just a little," Melanie told him, "to ease the transition."
My nostrils flared at the new scent when Tink returned. Melanie and Elizabeth parted as Tink stepped forward.
"See if this tastes a little better." he said as he tilted the glass toward my lips.
There was still the putrid taste of deer blood, but also a much wilder, stronger taste, almost satisfying.
Tink pulled the glass back. "Better?"
"More."
He pressed the glass back against my lips and I drank.
"This was Hayley's idea." Tink said, pulling the empty glass away.
I glanced at her. "More."
Tink looked to Nathan and then to Elizabeth. "Be right back." Tink went out on the porch and returned with another glass of blood. He let me drink it all.
"Oh my." Melanie exclaimed.
Tink looked at me, smiled and then gave Hayley a hug.
"What is it?" Elizabeth said as she approached. She smiled as her gaze washed across my face.
"What?" I asked.
Melanie put the mirror back in front of me. My eyes had changed. The area around my pupils was a deep, golden color that faded to a crimson rim at the edge's of my irises.
"What does it mean?" I asked.
"How is your thirst?" Elizabeth replied.
I swallowed. The burn was still there—still beyond my control, but it lacked some of the intensity. "Better, I think."
They all smiled, but there was a detectable uncertainty.
"When will Jason get here?" I asked.
Quick, apprehensive glances were exchanged.
"Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see how I do."
"Test your restraints." Nathan said.
I pushed outward against them and felt the resistance. I was stronger, but I refrained from pushing any harder. "About the same."
Nathan nodded.
"What did you do to the blood?" I asked Tink.
Hayley answered. "When I was trying to adapt, the blood of a predator was more substantial—closer to human blood. Tink and I found a mountain lion of some sort and mixed it's blood in with the deer blood."
"I hope you had some."
"A little, I couldn't resist. Just so you know, I still find deer blood disgusting."
"Thanks, it helps to know, and thanks for the mountain lion. Could I have more?"
Hayley looked to Elizabeth, who looked to Nathan.
"Half." Nathan said with finality.
Tink started to get up.
"I'll get it." Hayley said. She grabbed my glass and went out on the porch, retuning a short time later. She walked deliberately toward me and pressed the glass to my lips.
"Hayley?" Tink warned.
The blood was more predator than deer this time—it tasted so good I gulped it down. I finished it before Tink stood.
Hayley turned toward him. "It's okay, just a little more vitamin enriched." She turned back to me. "Better?"
"Thank you, it really helps."
"My pleasure." She winked, and returned to Tink's side. She responded to his frown with a kiss. "Don't worry, she'll be fine. You were right all along."