Eternal Damnation

Chapter 8

-Aurora POV- 

I wait in what is called the waiting room of the hospital with Wolf while Ezekiel is now with Theo. They only allowed one person to see her and I am so glad that she is okay. But the doctor said that she would have to stay in the hospital for a couple of weeks. 

“I don’t hate you.” Wolf says in nearly a whisper. 

I almost missed what he said and I look at him starttled.

“I was just angry and said some stupid stuff.” He says, looking away. 

I look around me not sure if he is talking to me or not. 

“Sorry.” He says. 

“... are you talking to me?” I ask. 

“Yes! I’m talking to you!” He snaps at me, making me jump.

I am not used to his outburst.

He takes a deep breath. “Sorry.” He says again. 

“It is alright.” I say, accepting his apology. 

(Ezekiel is right. Werewolves are moody.) 

One of the nurses comes over and turns on one of those big rectangular flat boxes called television and images appear. 

“Oh shit.” Wolf says and turns around as if he was hiding. 

“What?” I ask, startled. 

“We are on TV... well, our car is.” 

(Car... the automobile. Gertrud used to call it like that but I see they are called cars now...)

I look up and see the images as if they were from high up and the car that Theo was driving is in the bottom, being chased by other cars. 

“This is a television, right?” I ask. 

“Yes. A TV.” Wolf says glancing at the TV. 

I am amazed by this TV thing. 

“What does it-” I suddenly feel that pain again. A sharp pain in my stomach but now it is more constant. I have been feeling it here and there since I woke up. 

I get up. “Is there a water clo-” I stop, trying to remember the right word. “...bathroom?” 

Wolf nods. "Yes. The restrooms are this way." He says and leads me to a door.  

I go in and the moment the door closes, I hold my stomach, squinting in pain.  

“Could it be the food in this time? Maybe I am not used to something they put in it now.” 

I lift my shirt up and my eyes widen. The mark that was on my stomach in a darker flesh tone is now black-colored. It surrounds my belly button and now I can make out unrecognizable symbols. 

“Is this a hex? Wait... is this... the price to pay for the spell?” 

I stare at myself through the mirror.  

I squint again as pain goes from that mark towards all directions of my body. Last time, I didn't have any pain but then it wasn’t this color either. 

Knocks on the door disrupt my thoughts. 

“Ezekiel is back.” Wolf says. 

I quickly put the shirt back down and take a deep breath. When I come out, Ezekiel is talking with Wolf. 

“She said that?” Wolf asks. 

“Yes. She told us to go without her. She is barely awake now and she is going to be here for a few weeks.” Ezekiel says. 

Wolf nods. “s**t. What are we going to do now?” 

“We are going to have to rely on Marco to give us the information we need.” Ezekiel says. 

“Okay... so... what now?” Wolf asks. 

“Well... right now we are on a standstill-” 

“I have a problem.” I say deciding that it is best to tell them. 

They both look at me and I feel intimidated as these two men look at me and wait for me to elaborate. 

“Well... do you remember when I told you about the note my mother left me and my sisters?” 

They both nod. 

“She said that there was a price to pay for powerful spells...” I lift my shirt up as I say this.  

They look a bit confused and shocked. 

“What happened?” Ezekiel asks. 

“I don’t really know but that mark I had has turned darker and I am starting to have a horrible pain come from it.” 

Ezekiel kneels down and brushes a finger on the mark. My skin shivers at the contact. I assumed that it would be cold but it is not. It is colder than most but not completely, there is still warmth coming from him though it is not strong.

"Does it hurt when I touch it?" He asks looking up at me.

I shake my head. "No."

“So, you think this is from that spell?” Wolf asks, leaning in, also getting a closer look.

I nod.

“Well, it can’t kill you, right? I mean the whole point of the spell is that it makes you immortal... so, it shouldn’t be something to worry about.” Wolf says. 

I am about to argue that but suddenly a wave of burning pain goes through my body. I bend over grunting, hissing, and whimpering. This time it is really strong.  

My vision darkens and what seems like a blink of my eyes must have been me losing consciousness because I open my eyes to see Ezekiel carrying me out of the hospital. 

“And what are we supposed to do?” Wolf asks walking behind us. 

“The book...” I say in a whisper. 

“The book?” Ezekiel asks. 

“Wait... that spellbook?" Wolf asks.

"Yes." I whisper.

"But... how the hell are we supposed to find that?!” Wolf asks now sounding agitated. 

Ezekiel puts me on the back of the car and my eyes close. When I open them again, I am on a couch looking up at Ezekiel who is looking at that computer thing Theo always stares at. My eyes drift around the unrecognizable room. 

“Hey, how are you feeling princess?” Ezekiel asks. 

“Better. The pain has stopped.” I say, blushing at what he just called me. 

“Good. I am working on locating one of the people that works in the lab. I heard them talk about a book so that might be a lead.” He says. 

I nod and look around. This place looks a bit of lesser quality than the other place we were staying in before. But I don’t mind because everything here is better quality than what I had in my time.  

I then notice that we are alone. My eyes drift to Ezekiel as I sit up on the couch. 

“Wolf is out for a run.” He says and gives me a wink. “So, we are all alone right now.” 

I try to hide my face of panic but I can’t. I have always been a strong head woman and have never been intimidated by men or their advances but the way Ezekiel makes me feel is different than all those other men before. I crumble at his feet. I act like a pure teenage girl who does not know a thing about men or intimacy. 

He sees me panic and starts laughing. 

“Don’t worry, I won’t bite... unless you want me to.” He gives me a smirking smile. 

I suddenly feel this hot, burning sensation go through my body as my mind betrays me and puts the image of Ezekiel with his mouth on my skin. My skin prickles up and I shiver. 

I start to look around, trying to keep myself distracted. "Are we in a different place?" 

"Yes, we are just outside of London." 

"Wait? The old world?" I ask. 

He laughs. "Yes, but no one calls it like that anymore." 

"Oh, so just Europe, then?" 

He nods.

"Oh!” I look at him with amazement while he smiles at me. “Last time I woke up, I was in a place called Los Angeles." 

He nods again. "L.A." 

I look at him completely confused. 

He smiles. "I forget that many cities in America weren't founded in the sixteen hundreds yet." 

I nod. “My grandparents brought my father to the Americas when he was only one and Massachusetts was just settled. They were puritan refugees from England.” I look at him. "Are there many now? Cities I mean." I ask. 

He smiles and motions me to walk over to him so I do. When I am next to him, he pulls me and sits me on his lap. 

I gasp and start to panic. 

He puts a hand on my waist, holding me in place. "Relax...” He whispers in my ear. “... look." He says pointing towards the computer where I see a map of the Americas. 

I gasp again. "So many! And this Washington D.C. is now the capital?" 

“Yes.” He says. His breath tickling my neck. 

He starts showing me pictures of how the old cities look now.  

"This is amazing!" 

And then he shows me my old town and how it looks now. This is when it hits me. Seeing that, I don't say anything. 

He looks at me. "Are you okay?" 

I nod. "It's just... so much change has happened but to me, it's only been about a week or two. To me, it's only been a few days that I lost everything. That my sisters died. I got buried and put to sleep and then unburied and just...” 

I don't feel them, but I know tears are falling down my cheeks. 

Ezekiel turns me around and hugs me. 

"I'm not good at comforting people, but I hope this helps." He says. 

And it really does help. He lets me cry, caressing my head. 

“Maybe... maybe there is a spell in that book that could... maybe take me back. I could change things.” I say buried in his arms. 

“That sounds dangerous Aurora. And imagine what the price to pay would be.” 

“I would pay any price to see my family again. To see my sisters and prevent their deaths.” I feel determined now. “I need this book. If there is a chance that I can go back. Then I will.” 

He takes a deep breath, still hugging me. 

The door opens and Wolf suddenly walks in without a shirt on, looking sweaty. He looks at us and squints his eyes. 

"What are you two up to?" He asks giving us an irritated expression. 

He then smells the air and I am confused as to why he does this. 

I wipe the tears from my face and get up from Ezekiel's lap.  

"You ain’t smelling a thing. We didn't do anything... dumb dog." Ezequiel says also looking irritated. 

Wolf growls at him and heads to what I assume is the bathroom. 

"Damn wolves always showing their damn abs." Ezekiel mumbles under his breath. 

I smile and watch him for a few seconds.  

"So, you don't bite people?" I ask. 

He looks at me. "Not to feed unless I really have to." 

"So, you do bite people then?" 

“Not really, there are much more pleasurable things one can do with a mouth. No need to bite.” 

I stare at him for a few seconds, my face slowly heating up and I swear that at any moment now, steam will start to come out of my ears like steam comes out of a kettle.  

"Tell you what...” His eyes slide up and down my body. “I'll show you someday." He says and has a mischievous expression.

(What am I supposed to say to that?... Yes, please? Because that is exactly what I want to say right now.) 

I am not naive to men but to vampires and this new world... I am at a loss. 

I change the subject. “What about you Ezekiel? How did you become a vampire?” I ask changing the mood. 

“I got bitten by another vampire.” He says without elaborating. 

“How old are you?” 

He smiles but I can tell it is a bitter smile. “I was born on fifteen fourteen in London. Died on fifteen thirty-six and was made into this.” He points at himself. 

This seems to be a bit of a bitter subject to him. 

“Do werewolves live long too?” I ask trying to change the focus from the vampire thing. 

“No. They live as long as humans do.” 

“Are all vampires and werewolves like both of you?” 

“Not really. Most vampires do drink human blood and though I do as well, I prefer it to be from a bag than a meat suit. As for Wolf, he is also different. Werewolves live in packs or they are rogues. Wolf comes from a pack but he’s chosen to live away from them. He is what you call a lone wolf... or a mutt.” 

“Fucker!” Wolf shouts from the bathroom. 

I look at Ezekiel surprised and Ezekiel just laughs. 

“How did he hear us?” 

“That’s one of the werewolf abilities. They can hear from far away.” 

“Oh.” I say nodding while I think and look down. “I apologize for asking so many questions, is just that I am curious-” 

“Don’t...” He says. I look up to see him staring at me. “You have no need to apologize. I am not insensitive. I understand what you are feeling.” 

I smile feeling relieved. He is kind and he makes me feel safe. If not for him, I think I would be feeling lost right now and overwhelmed.

He looks back at the computer for a few more minutes while I just watch him. I am... taken with him. I know this. 

“Found the address!” He suddenly says.  

“Adress?” I ask.  

“A good friend of mine...” He smiles with mischief. “... Ron Pelesky.” 

(Ron Pelesky?... Am I supposed to know who that is?)