In Dreams: Bleed Out

Vampires Don't Eat

"I think my body's not used to the 'people food' after so long."  I said gesturing mildly at the toilet bowl as I sat beside it on the floor.  Alexandre looked at me with concern.

"Maybe we should have started slower.  You did drink a lot of that hot chocolate."  He replied and closed the lid of the toilet and flushed it.  "Do you think it's over?"  He asked cautiously.

"Pretty sure."  I answered, trying 'feel out' my stomach.  I tried to stand on wobbly legs.

"Nope."  Alexandre said, scooping me up and taking me back to his bed.  As he set me back down, he kissed my neck gently and I heard him inhale sharply.

"What?  What is it?"  I asked.

"Nothing, just you smelled...off...for a minute.  It might be the 'food poisoning' so to speak.  Don't worry about it, it'll probably clear."  Alexandre replied.

"God, you're going to give me the nervous sweats on top of this and then you'll think 'smell funny'."  I griped.  Alexandre chuckled.

"I didn't say funny, I just said different.  You always smell good to me, Carys."  Alexandre replied kissing me gently.  "Now get some rest please."  I grumbled a reply under my breath, but collapsed backwards on the bed.  It took seconds for me to pass out.  Unfortunately, my nausea sent me fleeing back to the bathroom three more times, though all that came up was greenish bile.  Alexandre let me sleep in late and when I finally woke up, it was well past midnight.

"Why'd you let me sleep so late?"  I grumbled, stumbling into Alexandre's office and sitting on his lap.  His expression tightened with worry briefly, but then he hid it away quickly.

"Because you were up half the night, ill."  He replied, kissing my temple gently.  His lips lingered a moment too long and I felt his chest move as he inhaled quietly, taking stock of me.

"Rude, sneaking a person's vitals like that."  I waved a hand at him.  He laughed.

"Can you blame me?  You really had me worried last night."  Alexandre responded lightly, but I heard the tension hiding underneath the statement.  "I think you should probably eat something so you can heal."  Alexandre said softly and my stomach clenched at the thought.

"Uh no, maybe not right now."  I replied warily.  Alexandre turned me to look at him.

"Carys, you're as white as a sheet and there are dark circles under your eyes that look like they were drawn with make up for a bad sci-fi film.  And in case you didn't notice, you're more than a little dehydrated, and I think you've even dropped a few pounds overnight as your body's tried to recover.  Vampirism takes a toll.  The virus will fight to keep you alive, even at the expense of killing you."  Alexandre's voice was filled with worry, but all I could think of was vomiting again.  He saw the look of hesitation on my face and gripped my hands.

"Please.  For me."  He pleaded, and I groaned.

"No fair with the puppy dog eyes, you manipulative bastard."  I complained and he chuckled lightly, taking that as an acceptance.  He stood, me in his arms, and raced off to the kitchen.  Setting me on a chair, he insisted on serving me and bustled around warming a mug of blood and presenting it to me with a flourish.  When I hesitated again, he knelt in front of me and begged with his eyes until I snarled and took a drink.  My body, at first, blanched at the flavor, and then greedily demanded more.  I drained the cup quickly and set it back down on the table with a sigh.

"More?"  Alexandre asked and I nodded sheepishly.  Delightedly, he raced to refill my cup.  I drained that too, and sat in the chair feeling sloshy and full and content for a moment, while Alexandre at down beside me with his arms around me and kissed my temple.  "Thank you."  He murmured, and I looked at him askance.

"For eating?"  I asked with an eyebrow raised.

"For taking care of yourself for me."  Alexandre gently kissed me.  I rolled my eyes at him.

"You're weird, you know that, right?"  I responded.

"On the contrary, I just don't know what I'd do without you."  Alexandre replied, placing his forehead against mine.  My heart skipped a beat.  "Besides, takes one to know one."  He remarked.

"Hey!"  I smacked his shoulder and he laughed.  Just then we were both distracted by the sound of my stomach as it lurched.  "Uggh"  I groaned, bolting upright as I felt the hot liquid pressing upward.  I barely made it to the sink before the convulsions wracked my body, forcing the blood back up and out.  Being bent over as I was made it easier to throw up, but it also made it easier for my stomach to throw the blood out faster and I thought I would drown before I could breathe again.

"Ah crap."  I gasped, sliding down the side of the sink to sit.  "I think we may have overestimated my recovery time."  Alexandre frowned at me, crouching in front of me.

"Maybe it was too much too quickly, but you really should have recovered by now.  That should have ensured your recovery."  He placed a hand on my forehead.  "Maybe a transfusion instead.  We're not quite at that stage yet I don't think, but still..."  He began muttering to himself.  I grabbed his hand.

"Alexandre, it's probably just because I tried to drink 'human drinks' last night.  Obviously that's a big no-no for vampire me."  I sighed, trying to calm him down.  "I'm sure my stomach will settle by later this afternoon.  Haven't you ever had a stomach virus or food poisoning before?  Sometimes you've gotta take it slow getting back to normal meals."  Alexandre's expression softened, but he didn't look entirely convinced.

"Maybe you're right, but I think I'm still going to make a few calls."  He replied thoughtfully.

"You do that.  Meanwhile, I think I'm going to go back to bed for a while.  After a shower.  I feel gross."  I remarked and Alexandre's eyes lit up.

"Hmmm...A shower sounds fun...  Do you think you might need some help with that?"  He teased

"Part of me is very, very tempted, but the other part is just so damn tired."  I replied with a sigh.  Alexandre's face fell slightly.  "Raincheck?"  I asked and he brightened again.

"Most..."  He kissed me hard  "Definitely..."  He helped me to my feet then walked me to the bathroom.

"I'll be in the study.  Yell if you need anything."  He instructed, looking at me with worry.  He had scarcely let go of me since I woke up and I was starting to feel a little claustrophobic.

"Ok, I'll be fine."  I waved him off.  He looked at me doubtfully.  "I said I'll be fine."  I growled.  A look of shock crossed his face.

"I'm sorry, I'm just exhausted and grumpy."  I sighed  "Go on, get back to work, I've wasted enough of your time."

"You could never waste my time."  Alexandre replied, kissing me gently before hesitantly turning to leave.  I sighed and entered the bathroom, stripping down to shower.  As I faced my reflection in the mirror, I was shocked.  Alexandre had been right, my skin had lost its color and there were shadows under my eyes and even dry skin on my forehead and cheeks.

"Shit."  I complained.  No wonder he was trying so hard to get me to drink and sticking so close to me.  I got into the hot water and let it beat the sour smelling sweat off of me.  I felt my stomach lurch again and bent double, holding my aching ribs.  Thankfully, it was over quickly and I watched the water swirl the pale pink down the drain.  I sank down onto the shower floor and just let the water run over me.  This was probably as much showering as I was going to do.  I let the water pour over over me until I heard Alexandre knock nervously at the door.

"Carys?  Are you alright?"  He asked softly.

"Mmhmm."  I answered.

"May I come in?"  He sounded worried.

"Mmhmm."  I responded.  He opened the door and came into the room.  Seeing me sitting in the tub with the water running over me, he frowned lightly and shut the water off.  Alexandre grabbed a towel, wrapping it around my shoulders and lifting me from the tub as if I was a small child.