17. Jelly Blood

Chapter seventeen

Jelly Blood

T he next morning, I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. For some reason, the air seems thicker, and the sky is brighter. I feel like I’m floating on a cloud. I’m up early enough to see Kane jump into the pool in the backyard. I certainly won’t be joining him, so I go downstairs to the kitchen to boil some water for tea. I’ll have to leave some money behind for the guys so that when they get food, they can get some for me as well. I feel really bad eating all of theirs.

It’s so surprising to me that Kane can dive under the pool mat and completely disappear for hours. The autumn leaves have almost covered the mat, making it nearly impossible to tell there’s a pool in the backyard at all.

“Morning Amelia.” I turn to see Nolan come into the kitchen.

“Morning, did you want some tea?” He nods as I grab another cup and start pouring one for him as well.

“Hey, I heard you playing the piano last night.” I turn to see that Oliver has joined us.

“Sorry if it kept you up.”

“Nah, it was nice to sleep too. New song?”

“Drama club needs a composed duet for the ending of their play.” I'm distinctly noticing a lack of Oliver actually stating that we are part of the duet singing for the play. As they keep talking, I look out of the kitchen window and see three kittens jumping up and down all over the tree by the pool.

“Hey, sorry to interrupt.” Both Nolan and Oliver stop their conversation to look towards me. “It’s just that I thought no one was supposed to go outside if Kane is in the pool?” They both step towards me and look outside the window. They can see the three brothers playing outside.

“Are you sure Kane’s in the pool?” Nolan asks.

“Definitely, I'm absolutely positive.” Both the boys say nothing more but dash out through the back door. I follow quickly behind them, but Nolan makes me stop as I come outside.

“Don’t come closer.” I hear splashing water, and two of the brothers are standing poolside. They both dive headfirst into the small opening where the pool mat is, with Nolan and Oliver quickly following. For the moment, I'm standing on my own in the backyard where it's freezing cold, and there are people beneath the water's surface struggling to get someone out and keep them from drowning. I understand that the brothers have spare lives, but what about Nolan and Oliver? What happens if he turns on them and drowns one of them instead? I start to hyperventilate, wondering what I should do. Should I call for the others? Is anyone even still home? I have to do something.

Moments later, heads start to pop out of the water, and I see the two brothers and Nolan trying to get Hendrik out of the pool. I run closer, even though I know I'm not supposed to, and help them pull Hendrik out of the water. He's pale and cold, and I'm not sure if he's even still breathing. Niles immediately attempts to perform CPR on his brother. I'm freaking out. Even though they have spare lives, what if they miscounted, or something happens and he doesn't wake up again? Hendrik doesn't deserve this. Just as I'm assuming the worst, Hendrik spits out some water and starts coughing. He's okay.

“Hey, did you lose life that time?” Nolan pats Hendrik on the shoulder as he leans him up. Hendrik shakes his head no but doesn't answer straightaway. I suppose it's hard when you've just had a lungful of water. I turn around and realize that neither Kane nor Oliver has returned from beneath the water's surface. Nolan must have had the same thought because Oliver's head pops up from under the water with Kane's nearby. As Oliver comes to the pool's edge with Kane under his arm, Nolan helps them both get out of the water. Kane seems completely unconscious, but something seems even more wrong with Oliver. As he stands away from the pool, he collapses nearby. I want to dash to him, but Nolan raises his hand to stop me.

"Hey dude, just cough it up. You’ll get sick if you don't." As if on cue, Oliver, down on all fours, spits up what looks like more than just a mouthful of blood. In fact, it doesn't behave like blood; it reminds me of something he once said about fish blood turning into goo. I look over at Kane and see that the scales are slowly disappearing from his skin as he returns to his normal self. But I also notice a sizable bite mark on his right arm. Did Oliver bite him?

Nolan walks over to Oliver and pats him on the back. Richard appears beside me.

"They’ll both be fine, but Oliver is going to need a lot more rest. And probably a bucket," he says. The brothers, including Hendrik, pull Kane further away from the water. I'm surprised that Hendrik is so willing to lend a hand to Kane, who just tried to drown him. But I have to remember that these guys are used to each other and also used to the fact that demons enjoy killing people, even if they don't want to or mean to. I'm still struggling to understand the concept. I'm surprised when Nolan helps Oliver up by throwing an arm around his shoulder and standing him up. I thought Oliver had too much trouble touching people?

I follow everyone inside the house, feeling completely and utterly useless. What am I supposed to do in a situation like this? Who am I supposed to be helping exactly? As Nolan helps Oliver up the steps, he shouts over his shoulder for me to just continue on with my day. Yeah, how am I supposed to do that?

I did my best to concentrate on all my lectures and even stopped by the drama club to excuse both myself and Oliver. I told them that he wasn't feeling too well and that, instead of risking everyone else getting sick, we would just work on the duet at home and present it on Thursday. It was probably a bit presumptuous of me to assume we would get it done by then, but it was the best excuse I could come up with on short notice.

For some reason, I found myself rushing home, even though I didn't quite know why. It was still early, and most of the guys would be in their final lectures of the day. Since I didn’t have a lecture, I felt obligated to help around the house or somehow assist Oliver or Kane in recovering from what happened earlier today. When I arrived home, I was surprised to find Kane and the brothers sitting around the living room, chatting with each other. Despite my curiosity about their seemingly relaxed behavior, especially considering one of them almost died, I decided to brush it off and let them be.

I went upstairs, put my bags away in my room, and quietly sneaked up to Oliver’s room. I knocked gently, just in case he might be asleep. I heard him moan a faint ‘come in,’ so I did.

He’s sprawled himself out on his bed wearing just his tracksuit pants, even on his stomach I can see his back muscles. But I shouldn't really think about that right now. I approach him and sit on the edge of the bed without touching him.

“Hey.” I say just so he knows it's me. Gradually he rolls around to his side and faces me.

“Hey.”

“I just wanted to let you know that I spoke to the drama class. They're not expecting us there today, obviously, but they do want to hear something from us by Thursday.”

“Thanks.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Like I bit into a cold fish.” He pauses for a moment. “Is Kane okay?”

“He's perfectly fine. I was a little surprised…he's downstairs making peace with the brothers, I think.”

“It's not the first time he's tried to drown one of them.”

“So I've heard. It's a very weird kind of friendship if you ask me.”

“Yeah, but who wants to be normal?” His hair is flopped and covering some of his eyes. I don't know why, but I go to move it out of his way so I can see him properly.

“I still don't really understand what happened.”

“Unfortunately, mermen are almost impossible to stop. If they wanna drown someone, they usually succeed. But last time when we tried to stop him and he knocked into me I ended up biting him. It was enough to render him unconscious. We figured that's just the best way to stop him.”

“So you dove in intentionally to stop him from drowning Hendrik, even though you knew it would make you sick?”

“Would you rather Hendrik just die?”

“Of course not. But I was… worried about you.”

“Did you just admit to being worried about a vampire?”I can hear the mockery in his voice.

“Hey, I came up here to comfort you, but I can leave.”

“No, I definitely would rather you stay.” He uses a lot of effort to push himself backwards, giving me enough room to get on the bed alongside with him. I'm not sure why it doesn't feel strange, but lying down next to him, even though we're not touching, seems like where I need to be right now.

“How long does it usually take you to get better?”

“A few days normally. Less if… doesn't matter.”

“Please talk to me. I swear I'm less freaked out about things than I used to be.”

“I'm a vampire. Blood makes me normal. The reason that I live away from my family is because I'm not very much like them. Where they might drink once a week, I might only drink once a month. Kane's blood…it makes me weak, and not myself. It's not easy to explain.”

“But no blood is gonna make you sicker for longer.”

“That is true. But I'll be fine. It's not going to kill me.”

“Oliver,” I begin not really sure where I'm taking this, “, I owe you a lot for saving me last weekend. I owe you because of what you had to do for me. So if blood is really what you need then why not take mine?” He inhales sharply before shaking his head.

“I know you haven't been told, but something you shouldn't do is offer a vampire blood. At the moment I have no syringes, no bags, and no needles, which means I would have to take blood directly from you and I'm not doing that.”

“Does it leave a mark?”

“Without meaning to sound crude, if I lick the wound afterwards, the bite marks will heal.”

“Then I don't see why not.”

“Amelia-”

“Oliver, I'm totally useless in this house.”

“You're already afraid of vampires. I don't want you to be more afraid.”

“You're right, I am afraid of vampires, but I'm not afraid of you .” For a few moments he just stares at me. He doesn't say anything and he doesn't move. Have I perhaps just suggested something that is completely wrong in this world?

“Close your eyes.” He says to me, and I oblige. I can feel him shifting closer to me on the bed. I'm lying sideways, so I assume when he moves his hand across my neck to move my hair out of the way, this is where he's going to do it. I'm trying my best not to tense up. The last thing I want is for it to hurt or to be uncomfortable for him as well. As he finishes moving the hair away from my neck, I can feel his hand trail down my arm and around my waist to pull me into him swiftly. But I don't feel his face on my neck. Instead, I feel the heat from his lips touch mine. He uses my startled gasp as an easy way to gain entrance, and I let him. Is he doing this for himself? To prove that he can handle it? As his free arm leaves my waist and goes up my back, he pulls me in closer to him.

His skin is hot to the touch but I’m enjoying his taste so much. The kiss is desperate and needing, as I feel his tongue explore the inside of my mouth. Pulling my arms out from between us, I wrap them around his neck, but he doesn’t break apart. This time, it’s different. This time, he really wants it. I’m feeling light-headed, like I’m forgetting to breathe. He pushes a knee between mine, splitting my legs and giving him the opportunity to spin me above him before rolling back on top of me with my legs spread either side of him. I let out a stifled yelp, but it just seems to rile him up more.

Suddenly he pulls away from me, leaning up on his hands. I take my hands away from his neck. Was it too much for him? “Sorry.” He says to me, puffing and trying to catch his breath. “I…shouldn’t have taken advantage of the situation like that.” Although he is strong, if I wanted to resist, I certainly could have tried . But it seems to me like he only stopped for my benefit. Maybe he doesn’t know I want him to keep going?

“So you’re feeling okay right now?”

“If you’re asking if I have the sudden urge to do something violent, no. I’m fine.”

“Then why did you stop?” I stare up at his eyes. I’m not sure what’s happening to them, but rather than the brown they almost appear light amber. Looks like I’ve caught him off guard.

“I-I, um…” I lean myself up and brace myself by wrapping my arms around his neck, taking his lips gently in mine and pulling him back down toward me. My arms unwrap from around his neck and trail down his chest, his hard, solid chest. He lets his weight down on me and even though I feel trapped, I’m enjoying every moment that he takes with parts of my body. He breaks the kiss once more to lean down further and kiss my neck. Even though I told him he could, I have no fear of him biting me. If the movement beneath his tracksuit pants are any indication, then my blood is the last thing on his mind right now. It doesn’t stop him from sucking hard on my neck, forcing me to release a moan. He takes a hand and begins to slide it up my top when I hear him whisper, “You tell me when you want me to stop.” If he keeps sending goosebumps like these up my skin, I’m never going to ask him to stop. Moans escape from my throat as he caresses my skin with his lips. My fingernails dig into his forearms and he releases a short hiss, but he is absolutely enjoying it. As his hands pull up my shirt, he lifts me up gently to remove it, and tosses it somewhere in the distance. I’m unfortunately reminded I don’t have the worlds nicest bra on, but his lips return to the skin on my chest with little care as to what I’m wearing. As his mouth moves over my chest, his tongue dances around my left breast, but is hindered by my bra. Oliver’s hand finds its way up my back to unclip the bra behind me and pulls it slowly from my arms. It’s not that I didn’t expect to do this with someone eventually, but I feel so embarrassed. What if I don’t look – I don’t have a chance to think about how I look as he takes a nipple in his mouth and starts to play with it using his tongue. Oh god, I had no idea they were that sensitive! I arch up into him without meaning to and let out a yearning gasp as he nips me a little bit. He starts to move further down, using his hands to unzip my jeans. I’m glad I’m wearing the baggy ripped ones, because skinny jeans would make this far more awkward than it already is. Regardless, I still help him by pulling them down off me and he tosses them away, but I feel more air down there than I expected. I inhale sharply – my underwear already came off with the jeans! He leans back down to kiss my stomach and I buck into him. Am I ticklish?

I hear him chuckle as he moves around my waist, planting kisses that make me jump. “You’re doing that on purpose!” I exclaim, though mindful to still keep my voice down.

“Of course I am.” He looks up at me and grins. I can feel my cheeks flush as he looks up at me, lying there between my legs. “Alright, I’ll stop.” I could just die happy right here from the look in his eyes. He lifts my legs over his shoulders and lays them over his back. This isn’t something I’ve done before – but my body reacts almost violently as he moves his fingers over my clit, pinching lighting between his fingers. I don’t know if I can stop my body from arching but I absolutely don’t want him to stop. I want more. I moan as he continues to play, but when his face disappears from my sight, I feel something wet, hot and thick down there and it makes me yell out. He grabs onto my thighs as he repeats his tongue trick, attempting to stop me from moving too much. The pleasure is intense, but it doesn’t last long. He leans back up and crawls back on top of me. Without words I start to tug down on his pants, and he helps me to remove them before grabbing my waist and turning me over on top of him sitting on his thighs. The hint of playfulness in his eyes, I just hope he doesn’t pick up how new I am to all of this.

I give him a wide smile and lean up to kiss his lips. This time, a moan escapes him. I keep my right hand on his shoulder to keep him down while I move my left hand down his chest, stomach and slowly I wrap my fingers around his thick, hard, and surprisingly lengthy dick. And here I thought porn sites lied to people. Another moan escapes him and I can’t help but smile a little. He closes his eyes as I kiss his neck and stroke him gently. I can’t be too rough, I think? His breathing is heavy, but I want to let him know that I’m okay with whatever he needs right now. So at the bottom of his neck before it becomes part of his collar bone I plant a light bite on him and he reacts by gripping my waist. I guess he liked that. I’m stroking him a lot harder than I was before, but this isn’t enough for me anymore. It’s not enough to tease him, kiss him, not even to bite him. The pain between my thighs is becoming intense and relentless. His expression changes as he notices I’ve stopped.

“Amelia?” He asks. I lean forward to plant a sweet kiss on his lips as I take his dick and sit up a bit, putting it towards my entrance. His hands move down my hips, gripping onto the sides. As I lower down onto him, the wetness only providing some ease, a light pain hits my body. I let out a short whimper as I go down on him completely. Oliver does his best to distract me with a deep kiss. The pain subsides marginally, and I start to move a little, adjusting to his size. It’s unexpected, but I can feel his tip hitting the furthest wall inside me and it feels fantastic . He uses his hands to aid me in moving up and down. I sit up, placing my palms on his chest and I can feel him thrust inside me, starting to move faster. But it’s not enough. He groans, using his arms to bring me closer to him so that he can flip me onto my back and lifts my left leg partly around his hip. He uses his other arm to prop himself up as he begins to pound into me… hard . I want to scream. I mean I knew he was strong, but I didn’t think he was going to try and break me. The bed shakes, and I move my arms over his shoulders to grip onto them. Repeatedly this overwhelming feeling creeps over my body, and a feeling of pleasure was getting closer and closer together. He picks up speed and groans with almost every other thrust. That’s when I feel a climax so close, my body thrusts upwards as I exhale a loud moan. Oliver doesn’t stop though, and the sensitivity pushes me beyond a limit I didn’t know I had. He groans one last time as I feel him slow, and his dick is throbbing. He falls a little on top of me, his head resting gently on my breasts. I brush my fingers through his hair gently as we both attempt to catch our breathing.

He gets off me and crashes beside me. As I attempt to close my legs I feel intense pain coursing through them, but I don’t want to let Oliver think he’s hurt me. After all the passion and the heat, I’m starting to feel cold, but mostly exhausted. He must be thinking the same. He leans over me and pulls a blanket over both of us. He pulls me into him and holds me.

Neither of us speak, but I do wonder what he’s thinking. “What are you thinking?” Bastard got me first. I swallow hard, I don’t even know what to say.

“I’m thinking it’s hard to think right now. I wasn’t expecting that if I’m being honest.”

“Did I hurt you?” He asks me, solemn in his question.

“I don’t think any more than any other guy would have.” He jolts a little as I say that.

“So you were a-”

“Yeah.”

“Thought I smelt blood.” I lift my head back a little to look at him and he shoots me a cheeky grin, “Sorry.” I exhale, I’m not even a little afraid.

“Speaking of…aren’t you still…?”

“Hungry? Yeah, kind of. But fishy blood does have an unusual impact. At the moment, it’s easy to resist. Tomorrow when I feel better, perhaps not too much.”

“So, you did this because you could?”

“It’s not the reason why, but it was convenient timing.”

“What was the reason?”

“Because you are… completely intoxicating. I want to touch every part of you, know every part of you. Emotionally, mentally, and physically. I’m enticed, fuck it, I’m enchanted . Do you have any idea how hard it was to resist when we kissed before? But I can’t trust myself not to hurt you.”

“So what’s going to happen tomorrow?” His expression darkens.

“I guess, go back to practicing. I’m hoping like crazy this…experience has helped.” I smirk a little at that.

“What is it you’re trying to avoid? Just biting me? I’m not that afraid anymore, I’m sure I can handle it.”

“There’s a reason I don’t bite anyone. I don’t have much capability to stop. If something happened to you because I couldn’t control myself…I’d die.” Does he really think that much of me already? Is that a vampire thing? How do I feel about him…Oliver, aside from one singular flaw, he's absolutely amazing.

“You know, since you’re okay right now and not feeling too…hungry, any chance that vampires have really good stamina?” He grins wickedly and captures my lips in a kiss, rolling back on top of me.

I know I shouldn’t get used to this, but I’ll do whatever I need to get us back to this again.