Chapter 38

My gaze was fixed on the sink in the pantry. Dark red thick liquid clung to some of its white ceramic tiles, then my eyes shifted to the bottle in my hand. This was the third time I tried to drink the blood Greg brought, and the third time I vomited it back up. Was this blood expired?

I placed the bottle on the counter and turned on the sink faucet to wash away all the blood that stuck to the tiles. I rubbed my stomach while reaching for the phone Greg had given me earlier, then sent a short message about the blood supply he provided before returning to bed. I knew the early stages of pregnancy were very risky, at least for humans, so I had to request a fresh blood supply as soon as possible, even though I wasn't feeling very hungry yet. Alastair's blood was still enough for a few hours, or more. I closed my eyes as sleepiness crept in. Where was Nick now? Was he looking for me? That was my last thought before sleep overtook me.

***

One advantage of my transformation was that all my senses became more sensitive after becoming a Leech. When the sound of footsteps echoed from the spacious garage below, my eyes opened automatically. In silence, I waited for the footsteps to approach without moving from my sleeping position. What time was it? I hoped Greg brought fresher blood.

Once the footsteps reached the stairs, I finally got out of bed. My stomach had been feeling uneasy since this afternoon. Not uneasy from pain, but from nervousness. Maybe this was one of the effects of pregnancy.

Suddenly, the door to the apartment slammed open with a loud bang, and standing in front of it was the last person I wanted to see right now.

My heart pounded hard in my chest. This was the second time Nick looked so disheveled like this. His blue eyes were adorned with red circles around them, showing that he hadn't rested at all. Nick wore a crumpled ivory white shirt, as if someone had just grabbed him. And he looked like someone who had just been through hell.

For me.

I swallowed my saliva to moisten my suddenly dry throat. How could he be here? Did he read my message to Greg? Slowly, he walked towards me without saying a word, but before reaching the middle of the room, his body froze suddenly. With horror, I saw him raise his head slightly and take a deep breath, his eyes changing from dark blue to black instantly. His breath became slightly erratic as his gaze returned to me. "Did he give you his blood?"

My feet moved back slowly as he began to approach me again, until my back hit the wall behind me. Nick raised his hand as if to hit me, I closed my eyes tightly and protected my stomach with both hands. A hard blow was felt on the wall next to me, causing the plaster on the wall next to my head to crack. His breath felt warm on my cheek for a few seconds before I opened my eyes again. When I looked at him, his eyes were blue again. And I saw more than that in his gaze, frustration and anger radiated clearly from him.

"Why, Eleanor?" his voice sounded slightly hoarse and heavy. It felt like there was a lump of rubber in my throat holding me back from speaking, because if I opened my mouth, I would cry.

"Why?" he repeated, almost whispering. I couldn't breathe. Tears began to gather in the corners of my eyes. "What have I done to deserve this?" Nick's hand lifted my chin slightly, bringing our faces closer. As if under a spell, we couldn't divert our gazes, and the atmosphere between us changed. Nick still looked at me with his angry gaze, but there was something different in it. Before I was ready, one of his hands cupped my face a little roughly, and finally, his lips kissed me with anger.

Nick didn't give me a chance to think. It was as if he still wanted to show his anger in his kiss. I pulled his neck down, his head tilting towards me. Nick's other hand hugged my waist tightly, and for a moment, I forgot everything. There was only Nick in my arms right now. Then, faintly, I could hear the pulse in his neck pounding, followed by a scent that made my stomach growl with hunger again. I opened my eyes again as Nick stopped kissing me, resting his forehead against mine while regulating his rapid breaths. His dark blue eyes looked slightly glossy, perhaps his expression mirrored mine. Slowly, my gaze dropped to his neck, the pulsating of his vein looked so inviting that I couldn't help but swallow my saliva. I felt even hungrier.

"Ele—"

My fangs sank into his neck before Nick could finish his sentence, my body moved as if against my will. The warm, soft, and delicious blood flooded my dry throat, and I couldn't help but sigh with satisfaction. Nick's hands pressed against my waist, his breath became rapid again. I could feel everything, Nick's heartbeat, his warm body temperature, his hands, his breath... and his feelings for me. It was as if the warmth from Nick's body transferred to mine.

"Eleanor." Nick growled slightly as he said my name. I opened my eyes when I felt something change, and the next moment, I pulled my face away from his neck very quickly. A few drops of blood adorned the base of his neck, making me want to lick them.

"Sorry." I mumbled without looking at his face, what was wrong with me? It was as if my body was moving beyond my control. I didn't even realize how long I had been drinking Nick's blood; I didn't feel that hungry until I entered the bloodlust phase. The phase where I was so hungry I didn't realize whose blood I was drinking. I swallowed my saliva again.

"Eleanor... what's wrong with you?" Nick pulled my chin up again so I had to look at his face. His thumb wiped the blood from the tip of my lips, which still felt slightly swollen from our kiss. I opened my mouth as Nick pushed his thumb behind my lips, my tongue moved to lick the remaining blood from Nick's thumb. His blue eyes darkened as he looked at my lips. "You..." Nick swallowed his saliva as his voice sounded hoarse, "You've changed."

"What?" I asked after Nick pulled his thumb from my lips. He still looked at me with a slightly puzzled expression. "Your eyes..." he muttered without averting his gaze from my face.

"What's wrong with my eyes?"

Nick stepped back from me and pulled me towards the mirror attached to the large wardrobe. My mouth slightly opened when I saw my face; Nick was right, my eyes had changed. The amber color that was previously getting brighter and almost golden, and not only that, my lips looked fuller than before. So did my eyelashes and hair, I looked more... radiant. Both of us stared at my reflection in the mirror for a few minutes. "All of this because of your blood... before, I wasn't like this." I said softly.

Nick shook his head slowly. From his expression, he seemed to be thinking, but his eyes didn't move from my reflection in the mirror. "My blood wouldn't change anything."

"Then... what's happening to me?"

Nick remained silent for a few moments. His forehead slightly creased as he finally answered me, "I don't know." Then suddenly, he wrapped both arms around my waist and buried his face in my neck from behind. "Don't leave me again." He murmured on my neck, "I won't be able to survive without you, Eleanor."

His words made my heart feel squeezed, followed by a haunting feeling of guilt. Should I tell him now? "Nick..."

"Hmm." He answered without lifting his face. "I..." I swallowed my saliva nervously, "I want to go home." I continued, closing my eyes. I couldn't tell him now.

"Five more minutes." His lips kissed my neck slowly, almost making my legs lose their strength. I took a deep breath and placed my hands on top of his that were embracing my waist.

"I love you, Nick." I whispered without a sound until I was sure he didn't hear it. I leaned my back against his chest, and we remained silent for a few moments to enjoy this moment.

"I know." He suddenly whispered, his kiss moved to my jawline. I had to tilt my head to give him more space. "I know, Eleanor." He repeated without breaking the kiss. Then he stopped to look into my eyes through the mirror's reflection. "I won't be able to live without you anymore."

I bit my lip to hold back the emotions filling my heart. This was one of Nick's ways of saying he loved me too. "I know." I replied hoarsely. He smiled for the first time today and released his hug. As he held my hand, he hooked his fingers onto mine. "It's time to go home."