The left side of my body was numb and I was wheezing for breath. Every time I did, a shocking sensation would peruse throughout me. It was exasperating.
I was somehow back in my room, staring sheepishly up at the ceiling and trying to piece together how a casual evening night turned out so wrong. Blood Balls were meant for vampires to get drunk on refined human blood, party all night, and manipulate each other. Though, it never ended in poison and rage. Or being physically attacked. Only women like me being married off for quick money.
Ulrica places another cold cloth on my forehead. She appears exhausted, the bags under her eyes turning black. Seeing her this close, I can see grey hairs flourishing amongst her brunette tones.
"How long have I been out for?" I wince.
"Two and half days."
With the curtains drawn, I consider the fact that Ulrica has been tending to me even during daytime hours. It's too awkward to express my gratitude so I give a curt hum in acknowledgement. Even if she's been ordered to help me against her will, her presence is helping in some sort of way.
She hovers a spoon at my mouth and I belatedly realise it's soup. My stomach growls at that perfect moment, greedily needing some sustenance. I try to lift my head up to take a sip but a sting at my neck abruptly stops me.
"O-ouch…" I say. I brush a finger over the spot and the skin feels tender and bruised. A spotted scab can be felt from dry blood and I widen my eyes. The bite was real.
Ulrica stays silently with a bowed head, her focus on the soup on her lap. By that reaction, I've been bitten by a vampire. A vampire who mustn't have drunk my blood. What was the point then? And which vampire had come to say save me? I would find out soon enough if it was to save me or put me in their debt.
A wave of dizziness falls over me at the multitude of questions scribbled in my mind.
"Miss Azaleigh?" Ulrica echoes in my mind. I fall asleep once again from exhaustion.
In my dream, I'm walking on water. It reflects the night sky above me and I'm able to run across the various constellations I can point out. I playfully dance around and a freeing feeling overwhelms me.
Orion's Belt shines above everything else. When I walk closer to it, the stars lift up from the water and become a physical model around me. A delighted smile spreads across my face. When I touch parts of the asterism, the orbs glow brighter and a melodic sound gives off a peaceful pitch. It's so beautiful. The stars are so close to me, more than any other human on the planet. I walk across to another orb, it bounces playfully on the spot. Something ripples in the water and the orbs of Orion's Belt collapse back into the water, all except one.
Rigel morphs into a sapphire torch. It ignites when I step towards it. I realise I'm only wearing my nightgown when I feel the warmth blanket over me. I put my hands out and see the veins on the inside of my arms pulse with the same blue energy. It's almost as if my body is blooming with a newfound meaning and I'm so entranced by my veins that I don't realise what's swarming towards me until it gives an eerie blow. A red dust starts to sweep through and Rigel cracks through the middle with a glass-like sound. The dust has a horrid smell of decay and I hike the neckline of my dress up to cover my nose. Rigel's glow has now dissipated and appears dried out and porous; a skeleton of its previous self. The room has turned cold and the redness has taken up homage around me.
A tall figure cloaked in shadow can be seen several feet in front of me. Its pale, angular face glides into view, the red desert casting sharp, unnatural shadows over its features.
Eyes like molten rubies in hazardous dust pierce through me, burning with both hunger and amusement. I want to move, to scream, but my body betrays me and I'm paralysed in the thick gloom.
The vampire speaks softly, its voice as smooth and menacing as silk unraveling, vocally describing with chilling detail how my essence will sustain its existence.
"I won't let you harm me!" I defy.
I feel the warmth of my own blood rush to my neck to where the bite mark is and it caresses the beautiful damage the vampire did to me.
A familiar smile dances on its face and it plunges the room into darkness. A soft whisper brushes against my ear and it's behind me now. I dare not to turn as cold hands seize my shoulders, pulling me closer, and just as sharp fangs graze your skin, the room collapses into nothingness.
I shoot awake. Sweat has layered my skin and I can tell the day has come and gone. I twist my neck slowly and see Ryker standing at the edge of my room. His eyes aren't red like they were in my vision.
They're back to his usual green that glints from the moonlight. Though he watches me tensely and unwavering.
My croaked voice comes through my chapped lips.
"What have you done?"
"You were in pain."
"I could have handled myself."
He clicks his tongue. "Just be thankful."
"Yeah, right…" I grumble angrily. I don't feel the broken ribs as much as before, clearly having healed faster than humanly possible. I would rather lick the ground than thank this menace of a man.
Ryker shuffles and begins to leave. His white tunic is untucked, tailored pants shoved neatly into tall, leather boots and I guess he may be going out for a wander.
"What now?"
With a cold hand on the door knob, he stops and keeps his back turned at me.
"What do you mean?"
"I have a sinking suspicion that this bite comes with consequences." I grit out and stare daggers into the broadness of his shoulders.
"Don't worry your pretty little mind over such nonsense." He conveys darkly and leaves the room.
I swallow down a foul remark waiting at the tip of my tongue and turn on an oil lamp beside me. I rise upwards, gritting my teeth at the remaining pain.
I reach out for a notebook and a quill, the ink no longer fresh but I begin to write notes about my vision anyway.
Towards the end, I spell out:
Rigel, Orion.
Ryker, Azaleigh.