“I told you! What did I say!?” Lyssa shouted as they sat in the living room of her house.

“Lyssa you’re hurt,” Bex said, though she was still in pain as the searing sting continued to course through her veins.

Lyssa sighed and looked to Bex. Bex was trying her best to look okay.

“This is going to hurt both of us.” Lyssa kneeled in front of her.

“What do you mean?” Bex asked.

“I have to get the silver out.”

“Well, where is it?”

“It’s in your blood, lucky for me the cut isn’t that deep. It shouldn’t take too long. Come on.” She helped Bex to her feet.

Bex could feel the burned skin on Lyssa’s hand. It made her naturally soft hands rough and brittle feeling. Bex gave a worried glance to Lyssa’s hands. Lyssa paid her no mind and led to the bathroom.

“Silver in my blood, wouldn’t that kill me?” Bex asked.

“Depends. Seems like they didn’t use that much. Hardly detectable. The only reason why it is burning you so bad is that your blood is filled with my essence. Once I get it out you should be okay.”

Bex nodded.

Lyssa sat her on the edge of the tub and tiled her head so that she could get a good look at the slash on her neck. Then she took a deep breath and began to suck the blood out. Instantly the sting intensified. Bex cried out.

Lyssa took in gulps but the blood did not heal her as it usually did, instead, it burned her. Not as bad as a burn as touching silver directly, but a burn none the less. The more gulps she took the more the pain subsided for Bex.

Lyssa waited until the blood drinking became pleasurable once more for Bex. Only then did she know it was all out.

She didn’t have to wait long as Bex sighed in relief as the familiar euphoria washed over her.

Lyssa pulled back and began to cough. Bex watched as she vomited up all the blood she just drank into the tub. Her lips were burned. Bex turned the tub on and washed the blood down the drain.

“Now you, you’re hurt.” Bex held her wrist out to Lyssa.

“Whose fault is that?” Lyssa snapped at her.

“Just shut up and drink my blood. You can say told you so all you want once you’re better.”

“No, I can’t. I just drank your blood a couple of days ago, not to mention my snack last night. Too risky. You will lose too much blood.”

“Well, how are going to heal up?”

“Slowly, as usual. It will just leave scars.”

“Wait, those scars are because you healed up slowly? How come you didn’t just drink someone’s blood?”

“You are pissing me off, you know that? Drinking blood is what got me into these situations in the first place. Did it ever occur to you that I absolutely detest drinking blood and being a vampire?”

“Well no, you look like you like it to me.”

“Yes, I admit I love the taste and the feeling that comes with it. What I don’t like is this!” she gestured to the tub in which she was slumped over. “The mess I always find myself in. The people. The Killing. I hate it! I hate all of it!”

Bex gave her an apologetic look.

“I’m sorry,” Bex said.

“If you would have just listened to me. Why don’t people ever listen to me?” Lyssa whimpered and hit her head on the tub edge.

“Just drink my blood. If you don’t your hands and face will be scared.”

“What does it matter? The rest of my body is already ugly might as well complete the package.” Lyssa sighed and got up off the floor.

Bex got up and followed her to the big bedroom.

“Please, it’s the least I can do.” Bex tired again.

“It will be too much for you. You will pass out. Your parents will wonder where you are. I need to get you home.”

“No! this is my fault, I have to make up for it somehow. I’ll call my parents, I’ll tell them that you are having a family emergency and need me. They already think you are my girlfriend.”

“You aren’t taking no for an answer are you.” Lyssa sighed.

“No, I won’t. I feel guilty. You warned me but I didn’t listen. This is my fault.”

“You can say that again.” She rolled her eyes.

“So it’s settled then.” Bex pulled her phone out and called her parents.

After explaining how Lyssa needed her and promising she wasn’t having sex with her they agreed. Then Bex climbed onto the bed and tilted her head, ready to become a meal.

Lyssa sighed when she looked at her. She pulled the blankets back and then covered Rebecca up, moving the pillows under her head to be more comfortable. Bex just stayed silent as she watched her. Then Lyssa got on top of her.

“Just don’t kill me.” Bex laughed nervously.

“I won’t,” Lyssa said more seriously.

Bex gave a tight nod and once again tilted her head. Lyssa leaned in; her fangs bared she stopped just short of biting down.

“Are you sure?” She asked, her English accent coming through just a little.

“Just do it.” Bex snapped.

She sighed once more before biting down. Bex winced before her face relaxed as the haze came over her. She let out a shaky breath. Lyssa took large greedy gulps making sure not to waste a single drop.

Bex could feel herself fading fast.

As the warmth left Bex’s body, Lyssa could feel her cold body thawing out. The warmth of the blood filling her with a sensation she loved more than anything. The sensation of being alive once again.

“Lyssa,” Bex warned.

Lyssa’s wounds were healed up already but she could do nothing to stop herself from sucking the life from Bex.

“Lysss….” Bex passed out.

Lyssa yanked herself free taking in a deep breath as she struggled to get herself under control. She licked the wound before blood could drip on the pillow. Her lips lingered on Bex’s skin for a moment as she fought the urge to bite down again.

Lyssa whimpered as her fangs grazed the skin of Bex’s neck. She wanted to feel alive, she wanted it more than anything.

“I’m sorry Rebecca.” She whispered.

Just before she could bite down again Rebecca let out a sigh in her sleep. Her lips upturning in a smile at something in her dream. Lyssa pulled back and looked at her peaceful face. She took a calming breath before pulling herself off of Rebecca completely.

“Just kill her and get it over it with.” Her reflection snapped at her.

“I can’t, her parents know where she is. If she comes up dead it will be traced back to me.” Lyssa reasoned with herself.

“You are just making excuses and you know it.” Her reflection accused.

Lyssa frowned at her reflection before her eyes traveled back over to the sleeping Bex.

“You are allowing yourself to get attached. You know where this will lead.” The reflection said.

“I am not attached.” Lyssa defended herself.

“Then kill her, before she gets you killed.”

“No, she can still be useful.” Lyssa turned on heel and huffed, marching off towards the restroom.

“I knew it. You are allowing your weaknesses to cloud your judgment.” The reflection said from the bathroom mirror.

“So what if I am!?” she shouted at the mirror.

“How many times must we go through this? How many times must you allow these follies to control your life? Using the human to feel some semblance of life only ends one way and you know it. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” The reflection walked away and disappeared.

Lyssa stared at the mirror but nothing stared back to her.

She huffed in frustration and turned to turn the shower on. She made the water scolding hot and stripped off her once again ruined clothes. Then she stepped under the pulsing shower head.

“What am I doing? She’s right. I am setting myself up for failure. But…” She watched the water drip down her skin.

She grabbed a soap bar and began to scrub her skin. Her hand running over each scar on her body almost as if they mocked her. Reminding her where the road she was on led. The same place it always led. She was brought back to a memory.

Over a hundred year ago. She was laying in bed with a girl, The Girl.

“How come you haven’t killed me yet?” The girl asked.

“The truth?” Lyssa asked her.

“Yes please.” The girl laughed. Her English accent strong.

“If I did who would I have to keep me company? Our friendship is all that keeps me going. I get lonely you know. After all who would want to be friends with a vampire?” she smirked.

“Ah, friendship. Even vampires need someone I suppose.” The girl drew Lyssa in her arms.

“I’m glad it’s you. To think I would find myself in this mess with you. I tell you some days I really regret biting you.” Lyssa teased.

“Lair. I know you’ve never regretted it. You can’t resist me.” The girl kissed her on the neck.

“If that were true then I would have killed your husband a long time ago. I’m a modest girl.”

“Oh, how lucky am I?” The girl teased.

Lyssa turned in her arms and leaned in. 

Just as their lips touched Lyssa tore herself from the memory. Her hand rubbing the large scar in her chest. Tears stung her eyes which were still burning red with old fury.

She clenched her hands into a fist and the soap bar in her hand turned to mush.

With a new resolve, she stood straighter and quickly finished her shower. She walked naked into her room knowing Bex would still be out. She got dressed and inspected her reflection which was back.

They eyed each other before she turned and looked at Bex. Her steely resolve instantly wavered as Bex had a stupid grin on her face, a drop of drool hanging from her mouth. She looked to be having a good dream.

Lyssa sighed and found a smile spreading on her face. She walked over to Bex and laid in bed next to her. She moved under the covers and let Bex’s warmth wash over her body as she rested her head on Bex’s chest. She liked to listen to her beating heart.

Bex mumbled in her sleep before turning and snuggling into Lyssa.

Even with little blood in her body, Lyssa could still feel how warm and alive Bex felt. The warmth is what she liked most about humans. The warmth that could penetrate even the thickest skin and coldest of dead hearts. She let her eyes flutter close as the warmth radiating from Bex warmed her up causing her to feel human if only for a moment.

Lyssa could not fall asleep, not truly unless she laid in her coffin, but she refused to do that. So mostly she just faked sleep. Letting her body relax as her mind wondered. This is what she did now. Laying on Bex she faked sleep and allowed herself to relax into the girl who was unaware of the whole situation.

Bex woke about 4 hours later. It was dark in the room, nearly pitch black other than the moonlight coming from the window. She was confused by the weight she felt on her chest. Her eyes adjusted to the dark and she saw Lyssa snuggled up to her, resting her head dead center of her chest. Her eyes went wide, her heart rate sped up.

Lyssa’s eyes shot open at the sound of the speeding heart. She quickly shot up and moved away from Bex. Bex sat up and the two stared at each other.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude.” Lyssa stuttered out, her English accent coming through strong.

If Lyssa could blush, her face would be bright red with embarrassment.

Bex, on the other hand, could blush and the blood rushing to her cheeks made her go a deep shade of red.

“What were you doing?” Bex demanded.

“N-nothing.” She lied.

“Were you cuddling with me!?”

“No!”

“You were!”

“No, I--”

“I saw you.” Bex accused.

“Just drop it. That’s an order.” Lyssa snapped at her.

Bex opened her mouth but no words came out. She frowned. Then her stomach growled.

“I’ll get you something to eat, just wait here,” Lyssa said. Then in a flash, the light was on and Lyssa was gone.

Bex straightened her shirt which was riding up and huffed, completely flustered at the situation. She got up off the bed but felt dizzy and lightheaded and sat back down. Now that Bex was alone she took a moment to take in her surroundings.

The bed was extravagant. Expensive velvet red sheets and a bunch of fancy looking pillows. The walls were covered in fancy art pieces that Bex didn’t quite get as it just looked like colors spattered or spread mindlessly on a canvas. The curtains on the window were also a velvety red. The furniture was made of wood and had intricate carvings in it. The wood was stained black. The dresser was very organized with a necklace rack and a makeup station. There was also a big bookshelf filled with many books.

In the corner of the room was a small table and a couple of chairs. The same place Bex sat and ate at the last time she was here. The floor was an ivory colored carpet. Not a stain in sight. She noticed a remote sitting on the nightstand next to a book. She picked it up and clicked the first button.

She was startled when classical music began playing from speakers that she couldn’t see. She looked at the remote and pressed the button under the first one. Hard rock music came on which caused her to jolt again. She smirked at the remote and pressed the next button. The music once again changed to smooth jazz. She pressed the next button and it changed to 80’s pop.

“What are you doing?” Lyssa asked running back into the room with fast food bags in her hand.

Bex jumped and juggled the remote before quickly turning it off.

“Nothing.” She laughed nervously.

Lyssa raised an eyebrow at her but shrugged before setting the food at the table.

Bex got up and walked to the table before sitting down. Staring at the fast food. It was from her favorite place. She opened the bag and sure enough her usual order was inside. She eyed it in confusion.

“Have you been stalking me?” Bex asked.

“No.” Lyssa crinkled her nose.

“Sure, sure.” Bex rolled her eyes.

“Look now that you are awake we need to talk.”

“About?”

“Blood bonds.”