Emily's Condition - Chapter Forty Four

My body stops burning and jerking. I go still, and I'm in my own thoughts, trying to contain the pain that just ripped me apart. 

I'm drawn to the warm hands that are on mine. It's Dimitri, he's begging me to come back to him. He sounds so worried and scared. "Emily, if you can hear me please, please don't leave me. You are my world, don't you leave me now," he says as he strokes my hand. 

I open my eyes and shift my body toward him. He jumps up in a panic. 

"Hey you," he says with a sad smile on his face. Oh, his lovely face. I must have scared him to death. "Welcome back, you scared the life out of us all," he says.

"I don't know what happened. What's wrong with me? Why do I feel so strange?" I ask. He leans over and strokes my hair. "I lost control and almost killed you. I do not know exactly what happened when I was feeding off you. I remember losing control and then we got blown apart by force. When I woke up, you were laying across the room unconscious. Your wings disappeared and I was normal again," he says with a sadness in his voice. 

"My wings are gone," I say with pure horror in my voice. Am I going to die?" I choke out. 

"I'm going to go and find the answers. I think I know where to look and who to go see, but you have to be strong for me and don't die on me. You must rest, don't do anything that would cause you to stress or to lose strength doing. You are to lie in this bed and not move a muscle. Jen is here, and she's going to stay with you while me and Chris go find the answers we need to fix your condition," he explains. 

He leans down and kisses me. Oh, his lips are soft and warm, it warms my soul. 

I pull him to me and crush his lips harder on me. 

"Don't go, don't leave me. I'm scared," I plead as he gets up. I grab at him and try to pull him back. "Emily, I have to go. This is the only way I will find a way to save your life. You are not well, and it could be only a matter of time before you could die. I got to do this. I did this to you, and I will find a way to make it right," he says with a sad smile. "Please hurry back. I will do what you say and do my best to not get any sicker. I love you," I say. "I love you too," he says and then leaves me. 

Hours pass into days, and I have become really weak. Jen has been by my side to keep me comfortable and to make sure I don't move a muscle.

All of a sudden, I'm hit with a knot in my stomach that pulls tight, and I'm about ready to throw up everywhere. I leap off the bed and out the door leaving Jen confused and running after me. 

I barely make it to the bathroom before all the contents of my stomach come up. I fall to my knees in front of the commode. I puke until I start to dry heave.

I finish, and a sheet of sweat gathers across my skin. I lean against the wall for support when Jen walks over to me. "Emily, are you ok?" she asks as she kneels in front of me. I look up and nod. 

She pulls me up off the floor and holds me for support. My knees are weak, and my body hurts. "Let me help you to your room. You need to rest," she orders. 

When we get to the room, I get dressed to try to feel normal. When I sit on the bed a pain that shoots across my belly. "What's wrong?" Jen asks. I grab at my side and my stomach. "I'm not sure." Jen reaches for me and stops. "Do you think you could be pregnant?" she asks. "That's impossible, Dimitri is a Nightwalker, and I haven't been with anyone else in a long time," I reply.

"It's probably side effects to what is going on with you. Your body is in an uproar. It's hard to tell what will happen next, all you can do is relax till Dimitri gets back with some answers or a cure," she says.

"I hope they come soon, my body feels like it's being torn apart," I say as I try to readjust myself on the bed. "Rest, I'll be right here if you need anything," Jen tells me. 

I lay down and drift off to sleep. 

Someone comes in, and it stirs me from my sleep. I look up and see what almost looks like a younger Dimitri. It must be his brother that I was going to meet at some point. 

"You must be Jen, and you must be Emily," he says as he looks in my direction. "Dimitri called and wanted me to be here to look after the both of you while they went to find Nolan. Dimitri has a plan and a brilliant one at that. I just hope they can find that wizard in time," he says. 

"What do you mean by the plan?" I ask. "I'm sure you have heard the legends of how your people started. The gift of light. Well, the wizard that did that spell was a guy named Nolan. He is from our family. He married Annabell's daughter that had the curse too," he says. "Wait, wouldn't he be dead by now," Jen asks. "Well, he would have if his wife had not turned him. She was born also cursed. So not only is he like a Nightwalker, but he's a wizard too. Dimitri's plan is to find him so he can redo the spell he on Emily that he originally did for her ancestor," Daniel explains. Dimitri is hoping that Nolan can do the same thing as he did with the baby in hopes that it will give your light back," he explains. 

They have brought a private doctor in, and they are now pumping me full of fluid. I can't keep anything down and no longer have the strength to run to the bathroom, so Jen has set up a bucket next to the bed. She brings me regular meals, but now I find them repulsive. I can't even bring myself to eat anything. 

The days have been going by, and I don't know how much longer I can hang on. My body is so weak, and I'm exhausted even when I have not moved from this spot. I fear my end is coming soon. I'm not sure if I will even get to see Dimitri again to say goodbye. 

I can no longer keep my eyes open, and all I do anymore is sleep. 

"She's getting worse. I can't get her to eat or drink anything. When she does, it comes right back up. She's so pale with dark circles under eyes and cheeks. Please tell me you have some kind of news," Jen says in a whisper tone, trying not to worry me, no doubt.

"She doesn't look good. When is the last time she was awake, or the doctor checked on her?" Daniel asks. "He was in here earlier. She sleeps for the most part of the days and the rest is throwing up. She's been asleep for a while now," Jen says. 

"What are we going to do?" Jen asks. Can you call them and see if they are getting close? We need to give her some hope," she says. "I'll see if they are getting closer to being here. The last time I talked to Dimitri was yesterday, and they had found Nolan, and it sounded hopeful that they would be able to do the spell. They have to find the stuff that was in the dust that he used. I will call him and see if they are getting closer," he says as he pulls his phone out of his pocket. 

"Hey, it's me, how close are you guys?" he asks. "Well, you better hurry because she's not doing well. She's deteriorating fast, I don't know how much time she's got left," he says. I then can hear Dimitri's voice on the other end in a panic. He's saying stuff in a fast tone, and I can't make out what he's saying. 

"Ok, I will get that ready and will see you soon," he says as he slides his phone back into his pocket. 

"They found what they need, they are on their way. They should all get here by tomorrow morning," he says. "Let's just hope she can hang on till then," Jen says. 

Tomorrow... he will be here tomorrow. I must hang on till tomorrow. I keep repeating to myself. That was the last thing I remembered before I drifted off. 

Dimitri's Bite - Chapter Forty Three

Sound asleep, I'm jolted awake by Dimitri thrashing around mumbling in in his sleep.

I carefully reach over to nudge him from his nightmare. His eyes come alive as he regains his thoughts. 

What were you dreaming about?" I ask him.

 "I lost you. I was plunged into darkness. It was if I was reliving my worse nightmares all over again. It was like how it was when I was first turned and didn't know if you were still alive," he tells me. I hug him tighter. Running my fingers through his hair, I can feel him relax. "I'm here with you now, it's all going to be ok," I tell him. 

Dimitri pulls me into his arms and nuzzles up to me. I can feel him start to relax. We lie there in silence for a while until I fall back to sleep.  

"It's morning already," I say as I wipe my eyes. 

Sitting up, I stretch and notice Dimitri's nowhere to be seen. 

I wait for a few minutes and hear nothing. I'm going to go find him. I bet he's taking a shower.

I head downstairs to the bathroom. When I get close to the door, I hear the water running. 

When I enter, I see Dimitri at the sink. "I woke, and you were not there," I say as I place my hand on his shoulder. He flinches, taking me by surprise. "Sorry, I didn't want to disturb you," Dimitri says. I notice that he's shaking as he keeps his back turned away from me. "What's wrong?" I ask him. He doesn't say anything for a moment. "I've just had a rough night," he says. 

"Turn around," I ask. He hesitates, then he turns to face me. His face is really pale with dark circles around his eyes. "What's wrong with you?" I ask, as my voice gives me away. "I've gone too long without blood. My body needs it from time to time. I will need to go to my aunt's house when she gets back." he says casually. "You look like your in bad shape," I say. "Don't worry, Emily, I"ll be alright," he says, trying to reassure me. "No, you won't, I can see it. I won't lose you again," I say.

He sighs, "Emily, it's nothing, really." "It doesn't look like that to me," I say. 

I reach out and touch his face. He's clammy and sweaty. "Talk to me. Don't keep things from me," I whisper. 

"Don't worry, I just haven't feed in a bit, I'm ok," he says. "You haven't feed. If you don't feed, you will die. Why don't you feed off me like you did with Jen? Let me take care of you," I say. It seemed like the perfect solution to the problem, but, of course, he had to have his say in it. "Emily, you know I can't do that. You and Jen are different. You have the fairy blood, and it's addictive. I don't think I could stop," he says. 

I pull him into my arms and hug him tight. "I know you would never hurt me. If anyone could control themselves with me, it would be you," I say. "Emily, it's not worth your life. I will find a way to feed. I just need time," he says. 

He swings me into a dip to lighten the mood. I know he's trying to distract me, and it's working.

The next few days, Dimitri has been keeping to himself. I find him in our room. I take one look at him, and my anger gets the best of me. "You said you would feed, and it's been a few days, and it looks like your getting worse. The veins are getting darker in your face, and your eyes are dark. Your wasting time you could just drink from me, and it would be done," I hiss at him.

"Emily calm down its not that big of a deal. I said I would deal with it, I just haven't gotten to go to my grandmother's, she's out right now with her feeders. They will be back soon," he says in a calm voice.

"You're getting worse. What if you get so sick that it's too late before they get back? Why are you so stubborn?" I shout.

"Emily, if they are not back soon, I will go and find someone to feed off of. I'm not feeding off of you; that is final," he says as he looks almost defeated in his expression, which makes me feel bad for yelling at him. I know he's been this way for over a year, but still, it makes me nervous to see him like this.

The next morning I wake to see Dimitri still sleeping.

 He almost looks dead, and my heart stops. I scoot over and place my hand on his head. He's cold and really pale. His skin almost looks like it's glowing. I figured he would wake up with me touching him, but he hasn't moved.

I jump out of bed and head to his side of the bed. 

As I make my way to the side of his bed, I hear myself calling his name.

Before I make it to him, he leaps out of bed with almost a startled look.

"Why are you yelling at me?" he says. "Dimitri, you scared me. Your glowing, and I think you are not well anymore." I say as I get closer to him.

"Emily, I'm still here. Don't be scared. I can deal with this. I will contact them today," he says as his eyes melt me.

He goes to walk away. I grab him, holding him tight."I can't lose you. If something happens to you, I will be lost and all alone," I say as I take in his smell.

He turns around and regards me carefully. "So you are willing to risk your life to make me well? Why do you do these things to me?" he asks.

He leans into me and grips my shoulders tight. "Hold still and don't move. This will be painful," he says as his mouth nears my neck.

He then leans me back, and I brace myself for his bite. I know it's going to hurt, but I'm willing to do this for him. He's my soul mate, and I can not be in this world without him.

As I prepare for the bite, without warning, he shoves me backward, and I fall to the ground. "I can't do this," he says as he holds his hands up in defeat.

He falls to his knees. I scoot over to him, and he pulls me into his arms. "I love you, Dimitri, and all I want to do is take care of you," I say as I stroke his cheek.

"I know, but it's too risky for me. I'm too weak, and I don't know if I have the strength to stop. In other circumstances, I might be able to, but I think I let it go too long. I need a normal human feeder. I just don't want to lose you," he says. 

Bravely I move my hair, bearing my neck to him. "No, I can't. I will not drink from you," he shouts. "You can take what you need to make you strong enough to hunt. You can't go out this weak. I had no idea you were starving yourself like this." I say as I pull him to me.

 "I was so happy to have you back that I had forgotten when I last feed. I won't be able to stop Emily, what if I can't. What if I go too far. It's not worth it to me. I would die a thousand deaths before I hurt you." he says with pain in his voice. 

"For the love of God, Dimitri, you need me, I won't lose you." I pull him closer even though I can feel him trying to strain against me. I grip his shoulders tight, knowing he's too weak to resist. 

I sweep my hair out of the way and push my neck at him. He groans. "I can't, Emily." "Yes, you can. I love and trust you".

"Hold still, don't move. This will sting for a second. Then the pain will disappear. Ready?" he asks with a nervous tone. "Yes," I tell him as I prepare for the bite.

I feel his lips touch my neck, and the stinging pain rips into my neck. I feel his teeth sink into my skin. I can't help but let out a cry. He tenses but keeps his mouth on my neck. He makes a low groan as his body gets the blood it needs. He's getting stronger, and I can feel myself getting weak.

"Dimitri, I think that's enough," I gasp as I push at his shoulders. He grips me harder, and his mouth is sucking harder. "Dimitri stop, please," I beg as I hold onto him. I feel myself slipping, and I know it will only be a matter of time before I slip away. It's the fairy blood, it's got a hold of him, and now it's holding him hostage. I slump against his body as my body feels so heavy.

"I love you, I always have and will always," I say as I fight against the darkness that's trying to claim me. I can't, I must not give up. I let my hands find his hair. His silky dark hair my fingers tangle into his long hair. I love him so much, I throw my head up as I cry out. Not any words but just a cry of love, everything I have ever felt for him.

A bright light fills the room.

Then there is an explosion that slings us with such blunt force.

 I feel myself fly across the room.

Dimitri flies in the opposite direction from me.

I hit the ground with a thud, and everything goes black. 

I must have been out for a bit. When I come to its all foggy and my vision is blurry. My body is aching, and I feel cold all the way down to my bones. Something isn't right. 

I manage to push myself up to a sitting position and lean against the wall as I try to focus. The sound is buzzing in my ears. 

I try to get up but find I have no strength in my legs. I try to focus around the room. Everything is still all blurry.

 I look and finally spot Dimitri across the room. He's lying still on the floor. He's not moving at all. The exposition must have knocked him out like it did me.

 My vision still improves, and he finally moves. He slowly sits up, and I'm shocked at what I see. Can it be?

He moves slowly and gets to his knees, trying to get his bearings.

When he looks up, he's beautiful, all normal. His brown eyes not ringed anymore in red. Is he cured? "Dimitri!" I choke out. 

When he looks at me, his face turns to horror. What could be wrong? And then it all goes black. 

 I can't move or even open my eyes. My whole body is numb, feeling, and lifeless. What's wrong with me, I ask myself as I try to will myself to respond. The shock of seeing Dimitri normal, flashes before me and the site of his brown eyes, his horror, and pain in his eyes break into my very soul. I can hear loud sounds but can't make it out.

 My senses are coming back, and I can feel that I must be in the arms of Dimitri. He's squeezing me tight, and I can feel his breath on my neck, which has to be bleeding from his bite. Oh no, the bite. Am I dead?

 I can feel the tears dripping down on my shoulder as he's sobbing. He's saying something, but it's all muffled to me. Wake up Emily I will myself to move or even twitch any limb I have to let him know I'm still alive. The sound becomes clearer, and I can hear his pleads. "Emily, please, please don't leave me. I'm so sorry I didn't stop. I wasn't strong enough. Please don't die," he pleads. It breaks my heart that I can't tell him I'm here and that I can hear him. But I'm a prisoner to my own body. Why won't I wake up?

 I feel him lift my lifeless body up, and we are moving across the room. I'm screaming in my head now. Dimitri, I'm here. I'm still here. I'm not dead...But no words come out.

 He lays me on what feels like the bed, and I feel so cold. But my body doesn't shiver. I'm lifeless. Am I dead and waiting to pass over? I don't see any bright light to walk into, and I'm still in my body. Maybe I'm only half dead. I hear clicking sounds. Dimitri is doing something as he paces the floor.

 "Chris, yeah, it's me, Dimitri. How fast can you get over here? I have a problem, and I think I might have killed Emily," he says in a panic.

 "What! You did what? I'm on my way," I hear Chris shout through the speaker, and the phone goes dead.

 What seems like an eternity and pure torture of Dimitri's panicked state, I feel like I'm going insane. The door flies open, and I hear Chris's voice. "Dimitri, what did you do?!" he shouts.

"I'm so stupid, really stupid. I let myself go too long without feeding. I put it off and was only thinking of the new life me and Emily would have. I hadn't feed since Jen, and that was a long time ago," he explains. 

"Jen! That's been way too long, Dimitri. You should have been dead already from starvation," he says. 

"I know it was foolish and too late. Emily begged and pleaded with me to feed on her. I thought I could stop with her because of the love I have for her. I didn't know how weak I was, and I just couldn't stop. I tried, but it took hold of me faster than I could handle, and I was lost. Then something happened, we were blown apart with a force so strong that it only could have been magic. Now I'm normal, and she's not responding," Dimitri says in a panic to Chris. 

"She's still breathing, but barely and her wings are gone. Her light is gone, I have never seen anything like it," Dimitri tells Chris. My wings are gone, how is that possible? I think to myself. I want to scream out, but no sound will come. I will myself to move, but I can't move a muscle. 

"Let's take a look and see what we can figure out," Chris says as he follows Dimitri to the side of the bed. 

I can feel Chris stretch me out, and he's feeling my forehead. I don't have a cold, I say to Chris in my head. "She's cold, that's not good. Breathing good, I thought you said you bit her. There is not a mark on her neck," he says as he continues to examine me. 

"You don't think she lost her light, you know what makes her a fairy. Maybe you killed her but didn't maybe somehow she gave you her light, her life. Maybe it's just a matter of time before she dies, and this is your time to say goodbye to her," he says. I start to panic. Die my last moments now, this can't be real. I don't want to die. I can't. 

Then something comes over me. I feel strange, and something is ripping through me. My eyes shoot open, and I see Chris, Dimitri, and then.................

I start to scream as my body feels like it's on fire. I can't breathe, and the pain is paralyzing me. Is this the end? I thrash at my neck, as my screams fill the room. I'm going to explode. Everyone in the room is screaming with me.