Sixty-Four…

Sixty-Four: The Agony & the Ecstasy

Warning: although there’s no sex, some of the content in this chapter might be considered inappropriate.

“Shit… I’m so sorry Kat. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.”

“No! You don’t get to apologize! You don’t get to kiss me, and then change your fucking mind to make YOURSELF feel better!”

“So make up your fucking mind already! Either you want me or you don’t! I’m sick of it!”

Silence.

“Do you have any idea how scared I am of my own feelings?”

No, I don’t. Because you never tell me, she thought.

“The last time I felt this strongly, I got fucked over,” he muttered.

You’re talking about my mother?

Shuffling came from outside.

“What was that?”

Crash. A Dempire kicked in the door.

“Hunter.”

Oh, God!

Wait… his face. She knew him from somewhere.

Seemed like forever he gawked at her, his face expressionless. Then recognition flickered.

He knew her too.

“I never wanted to scare you,” he said. “Don’t worry. I won’t let them hurt you.”

“Don’t let them hurt Hunter, either.”

He nodded.

“This room is all clear!” he called.

“Stay safe,” he whispered. “They’ll be looking for your father next.”

She drew in a deep breath, held it.

“I’ll do what I can to make sure you don’t get hurt.”

“Thank you,” she replied as quietly as she could. She glanced at Hunter.

His face was stoic, cold. Was he mad about something?

OMG. He was jealous!

“What took you so long in there?” one of them asked, sounding suspicious.

“There was a funny looking rat in there. It had black fur,” he said.

“Oh.”

Hunter rolled his eyes.

Once it was quiet, Hunter closed the door.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” she said.

“Yeah. Me too.”

“I love you, Hunter.”

“I love you too.”

Her eyes widened.

“It should be daylight by now,” he said. “We’ll try to leave in a few more hours.”

“Okay.”

“I have to take a piss. I can’t wait any longer.” He got up.

She moved away from the door.

“Be right back,” he said heading out.

Kat sneezed. Likely from all the dust in Purgatory.

Tinkle tinkle. The sound of Hunter’s peeing. She had to go too, but didn’t feel like squatting in a corner.

That tinkling made her want to go even more. But she was determined to hold it in.

He returned a moment later.

“I have to feed again,” he said.

“Yeah. I figured.”

Crunch.

For some reason, this time it hurt even worse than before. She tried to block out the pain.

At least she didn’t get dizzy.

He moaned.

Wow. Must’ve really been hungry… or something.

Just like before, he kissed her afterward. But this kiss was different.

His mouth opened wide, as if trying to devour her face.

Oh, my God. Now she felt dizzy.

Here it comes! His tongue! The Frenchie I’ve been waiting for!

Her tongue met his. It felt weird as it slid into her mouth. Those pleasant sensations in her lower tummy intensified.

“Mmmm… so good,” he said. His lips trailed down her neck, licked the old blood.

Jesus. He was turning her on.

Again, his mouth found hers.

“Make love to me?” she asked.

“No.”

“Why can’t we do it?” she asked.

“Because it’s bad enough we’re doing this.”

His finger traced her lips, parted them, then claimed them in a kiss.

Tired of straining her neck, she stood on her tip toes to meet his lips.

Slowly, he withdrew.

“We really shouldn’t be doing this.”

“Yes we should.”

“You’re so young. Vaclav would annihilate me if he knew.”

“No. He can’t hurt you. If you die, that means I’ll die.”

Sitting in the corner, Hunter held her as she rested against his chest.

They waited.

Nighttime came.

He kissed the back of her head and said, “I need to make sure they left.”

She got up. He ventured outside the room.

Hunter peered around the corner.

It was very still, quiet.

“I think they’re gone. Let’s go.”

A few minutes passed as they made their way to the first level.

Hand-in-hand, they walked down the corridor toward the waiting area.

A dead body greeted them.

“This is what we’ll do,” he said. “You go wait in my office while I call Vaclav and warn him about the Dempires. Hopefully they haven’t arrived at your house yet.”

She turned around and headed back into the hallway.

Nervously, she waited for Hunter to let her know what was happening.

Hunter entered the room. Kat jumped.

“You’re not going to like this,” he said.

Silence.

What? What is it? For Christ’s sake, just TELL me!

“Vaclav managed to fight off the Dempires. But more will be coming. He wants you and Aubrey to get out of Shadowvale, while Reznik stays behind to help.”

“I’m not leaving my home! I’m not leaving you!”

“I’ll be going with you,” he said. “Vaclav contacted someone a few towns away, who lives near a hospital and can get us blood and other supplies. That way, we’ll have sustenance and you’ll still get your treatments for I-DAS.”

“And I have enough injections for the lycanthropy to last a month. I’ll take those with me.”

“I still don’t want to go. I’m scared.”

“Your mother’s going to be with you, I’m going to be with you. For once I agree with Vaclav. It’s the only safe way.”

“When are we leaving?”

“As soon as I pack a few things.”

She looked away.

Everything was changing. All of it happening way too fast.

****

Yet another song for your listening jollies (and yes, it’s ancient):