Page 16 of Fated to the Damned
“Do you have a name?” she says as silence wraps around us.
I shift slowly, finding it in myself to pull up into a seated position. “Ni–” A cough shudders through my body and I have to fight through it as it racks me. My body is healing, trying to clear the blood from my lungs but I am still too weak. I need blood.
“Nikolai,” I wheeze once the fit is over.
A small smile spreads across her face, and my heart stumbles. “What a lovely name.”
Before I can reply, another coughing fit pushes through me, and I hunch forward, sliding back to the cavern floor, unable to support my weight any longer. Jessa rushes to my side, but can do nothing as I struggle to breathe.
She turns, grabbing the bowl of water. "You need fluids," she says, bringing it to my lips.
I turn my head away sharply. "I don't drink water.”
“You don’t...” She shakes her head. “You need to replenish your fluids,” she says again sharply.
“I drink blood.” The words slip out before I can restrain them. I don’t have the energy to keep arguing with her or bother with edging around the reason.
Jessa pauses, eyes widening briefly. But she doesn't press for an explanation. She simply sets the bowl aside. I'm grateful for her tact.
Then, to my shock, she holds her slender wrist in front of my mouth in offering. "Take what you need," she says steadily, though her pulse flickers rapidly under her skin.
The temptation proves immense, my concentration fractured by thirst and pain. I can nearly taste the sweet metallic tang as my fangs elongate instinctively. But I clench my jaw tightly shut.
"No." My refusal comes out as a hoarse rasp. "I cannot." To bite this innocent human who has shown me nothing but kindness would be unforgivable. I had to save her from another’s bite, and I know I can’t restrain myself right now. I barely did before.
With immense effort, I turn my head away from the proffered wrist. A low noise of frustration escapes my throat, but I will not give in to weakness.
Jessa withdraws her arm slowly, nodding. "Then I'll find you something else," she says after a moment's thought.
Before I can protest, she slips out of the cave into the forest. I'm too weak to call after her, anxiety swirling that she'll meet danger out there unprotected.
But she returns swiftly, holding a small furry creature with tiny horns - a suru, I realize. My fangs lengthen as the scent of blood hits me.
"It was already dead," Jessa explains quickly, seeing my reaction. She holds it to my lips.
I clamp down on the suru's neck, warm blood filling my mouth in a dizzying rush. Power thrums through me with each swallow, the very cells of my body rejoicing. I can feel my torn flesh start to knit back together, healing finally started – marginally – by the vital fluid.
The blood coats my dry throat like honey, making a small difference in a bone-deep thirst. Small drops of strength seep back into my weakened limbs. But my mind is still clouded by pain and hunger.
I drain every precious drop from the suru, before reluctantly releasing the small carcass. Jessa watches silently, making no comment on what she's witnessed.
"Thank you," I rasp, meaning it deeply. But my head lolls back, strength still evading me.
It was enough to staunch the bleeding in my abdomen, but the blood is already used up, my magic trying to ring out every bit of strength I have as soon as I get it.
“You need more,” Jessa says.
“No-” I can barely open my eyes as I reach out for her but she’s already gone. “Wait.”
It seems the little human is stubborn, though. She comes back with another suru, a caesin, and a small iypin. She claims they were all already dead, which is lucky for me, at least.
With each animal, I feel the smallest shift in my body, but it’s not enough. I’m still thirsty, still in need of more, and I think Jessa can see it. After the fourth carcass hits the ground, she takes a seat next to me, peering at me with an analytical gaze.
“What?” I say, my throat still rasping. My blood has clotted, my leg somewhat healed, but my body is still weak and defenseless.
“You need more,” she muses.
I’m about to protest when I realize she’s right. I’ve never been so badly injured, and I have always heard that human blood is the best for us. It makes us the strongest, and I know that as little as I want to give in, I’m going to have to.