Chapter 127

Richie open the door!

Richie ripped the door open, his eyes huge black pools in his face.

“Oh Jesus! Is she dead?”

Jon moved past him.

Ksenia cried out as she took in their condition. Jon’s white shirt was stained with blood. The smell stung every nose in the room. Ciara’s ripped dress predicted nothing good and Jon snarled as Richie’s eyes lingered for too long on Ciara exposed, bloody skin.

“We need to clean her up.” Ksenia rushed towards the bedroom.

“I’ll take it from here.”

“Let me...”

“I’ll take it from here.” His eyes flashed.

“Honey, let Jon clean her up.” Richie’s hand held her back.

“Is she hurt? Did he...?” Ksenia shook his hand off, following Jon into the bedroom.

“No he didn’t ...I should have killed the fucking bastard.” Ciara’s hair fell from her face and the gasps whipped through the air.

“Oh my God! Look at her face!” Richie’s fists bulged. She was bruised all over!

“She saw my face tonight. She knows what I am.” Jon’s admission came as a second shock. His hand brushed gently over the angry bruise. “It’s all too much for her. She couldn’t take much more.”

Ksenia’s hand squeezed his shoulder sympathetically.

“I’m sorry she had to find out this way but its all for the best. She needed to know. Her time was running out.”

“Yeah...but I was supposed to protect her. She didn’t need to go through this but it will never happen again. Never.” He brushed her collar bone splattered with dried blood.

“I need to clean her..” His haunting eyes tugged at their heartstrings. He seemed so vulnerable, tension pulled at his mouth, turning it into a tight line.

“We’ll go but if you need anything...”

“Yeah...yeah I know. Thanks.”

He waited to for the click of the door before he turned to rid her of what’s left of the dress.

Ciara floated back to consciousness as warmth enveloped her. A movement in her peripheral vision caught her attention and she flinched as she stared into the human face of the vampire she had feared for so long. A shriek escaped her lips, water sloshed over the rim of the bath and she groaned as she cradled her head in her hands

“Ssshh baby. Take it easy, you have a concussion.” Jon sighed as she cowered in the bath, closing his outstretched hand he retracted it. “You needed to get clean so...”

“I can do it..” She grabbed at the slippery soap bar.

“Are you sure? Do you want me to go?”

She nodded, not meeting his eyes.

Ciara cleaned herself, feeling as if she was playing in a horror movie as she saw the water darkened with her own blood and that of the vampire’s.

Steadying herself she stepped out of the bath, covering her wet hair, she twisted the towel around her body. Realising that she was in Jon’s hotelroom she faced another complication, no clothes.

She opened the door, listening carefully she didn’t know exactly what she was expecting. Jon pouncing on her, fangs displayed?

Her feet patted into the empty bedroom. Not sure what to do, she sat on the bed, fighting another wave of dizziness. Taking the towel from her hair, she gasped as her hand banged on the wound on the top of her head. Touching it tentatively, she winced.

“Ouch! Dammit!”

“You ok?”

Another cry slipped from her mouth.

He was standing with her suitcase in his hands.

“I thought you needed something to wear.”

She didn’t answer but her mistrust was clear in her eyes.

He threw the case on the bed, opening it, he dug through it, tossing her nighties towards her unceremoniously.

She took it from him, clutching it to her breasts.

“I’m not going to bite you, you know. Ok, I’ll go, you get dressed.”

Ciara snapped the nighties over her head, digging through her suitcase she found a fresh pair of panties and slipped it on just in time before Jon entered, a tray balanced on one hand.

“Get in bed.”

She scooted in between the sheets, her eyes huge, her face pale as death.

He sat next to her on the bed, holding a steamy cup of hot chocolate in his hands.

“Drink it, you need something warm in your veins.”

“I don’t want it.”

“Ciara, please. I know this is difficult to understand, but I need to explain myself. And I will do that, when you feel better. Drink it, here are two painkillers...”

She took it silently, tipping it on her tongue she took a few quick gulps, pulling her face as it suddenly tasted bitter. Did he forget to put sugar in?

His eyes shone on her.

He stood up and returned with disinfectant and cotton wool.

“Lets get your cuts cleaned. I don’t want you to get infected.” He dipped the cotton wool into the warm mixture, bringing it to her face, he patted gently. Ciara was too scared to breath but when her lungs started to burn she exhaled.

“Breathe...” His stormy eyes were glued to his task at hand.

Standing up, he brushed her hair aside, searching for the wound.

Her hiss set his teeth on edge.

“I’m sorry for doing this to you...I’m sorry...about every damn thing.”

His hand moved from her and he touched her bare shoulder, his eyes apologetic as his fingers brushed her naked skin above her breasts.

“Is it ok if I clean the wound here?”

She didn’t say a word, just nodded slightly, her heart a wild thud in his ears.

His eyes hardened as he stroked the angry scratches along her chest. Such beautiful skin marred so terribly!

Ciara leaned back, signalling that she had had enough of his touch.

“You need to rest now. We can talk tomorrow.” His hand brushed the bruise. Ciara pulled from his touch, sagging backwards, she pulled the sheets towards her chin.

“I’ll be right outside if you need me.” He didn’t stay long enough to see the mistrust in her eyes.