The Art of Darkness (Part 15)
“Death smiles at us all; all a man can do is smile back.” -Marcus Aurelius
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14
Previously on The Art of Darkness:
Despite Amber's growing anxiety, a small glimmer of hope emerges when Amber and Morvinus are successful in their demonstration for Lady Umbria. The hope soon fades, however, as Lady Umbria brings to her attention a very real concern, and her departure finds Lord Cawston in a fit of rage, fingers wrapped around Morvinus' throat.
Part 15
“Lord Cawston, what are you doing? Let him go!” I screamed. But he ignored me, his eyes scorched by fury.
“I told you to protect her. You gave me your word.”
“Lord Cawston, please, stop this! You’ll kill him!”
“Perhaps he deserves to die.”
Morvinus grasped at Lord Cawston’s fingers, struggling to get a word out. “I- I have- only…done as you asked.”
“Do not take me for a fool! I know very well what you have done.”
I rushed over to them, trying to think of what to do, my brain scrambling. I knew my strength would never match either of theirs, but I had to try something. So, I went after Lord Cawston's arm, biting into it as hard as I could.
“Argh!” I barely injured him. Shock more than anything. But it got him to relinquish his hold before he threw me across the room, my side colliding with the corner of the stone wall. A loud crack echoed from somewhere nearby and a sharp pain followed suit making me cry out.
“Amber!” Morvinus stumbled to my side as my breath staggered.
My ribcage ached with every gasp and I coughed, a familiar metallic taste seeping into my mouth.
Lord Cawston looked horrified. “Analise- Analise, I never meant to-“
Morvinus picked me up, cradling me against his chest as he rushed back down the corridor. “Hang on, Amber,” he whispered.
“Wait, where are you taking her?” Lord Cawston ran up beside him.
“I need to lay her down.”
“Here,” he said, pointing to another door.
Before Lord Cawston could open it, Morvinus took his foot and kicked it in, the door swinging violently until it crashed against the wall behind it, nearly ripping it from its hinges.
He placed me gently on the bed and I sank into the soft comforter as he pulled up a chair beside me. My breath was still sharp and shallow, with every one bringing more pain and tightness, as though my chest were a washcloth one would ring the water out. My heart couldn’t keep up and I felt the tightness beginning to spread.
“Divert your eyes,” Morvinus uttered.
Lord Cawston looked perplexed. “I beg your pardon? Whatever for?”
“I am going to remove her dress.”
“So you can lust after her naked body? I will not-“
“I need to assess her injuries, now divert your eyes!”
Lord Cawston huffed, turning his back.
“Amber, can you hear me?”
I nodded.
“Do you think you could sit up for a moment, help me remove your dress?”
I chuckled, instantly regretting it, “Gladly.”
He eased me up, inch by aching inch, managing to tug the dress over my head. I laid back down, the chill of the cold air on my bare skin sending a fresh wave of shivering down my spine.
“Where does it hurt the most?”
I took his hand and placed it against my ribcage on my left side, coughing violently.
He sat still, closing his eyes. For a moment I could feel the heat in his hand intensify, as Lord Cawston’s had done when he helped me with my dislocated shoulder. When he opened his eyes, he looked again at me, a worry in his gaze I had only seen once before.
“Lord Cawston, I assume you have iron serum on hand?”
“Morvinus, she is only half vampire. We have no idea how it will affect her. She needs a hospital.”
“Need I remind you the last time we were at a hospital, we were nearly killed. With all due respect, we do not have time to debate the effects, Lord Cawston, please. Fetch me the serum.”
The fear in his voice was audible, strained. A fear that must have rattled Lord Cawston as well for his animosity faded quickly.
“All right.” He hurried out the door, shutting it fiercely behind him.
The pain was growing more intense by the second. Stabbing. The sting of hundreds of glass shards shoved into my lungs. I couldn’t breathe.
“Amber.” He tried to get my attention, but I was too overwhelmed by the agonizing pain. Finally, he put a hand on my head, forcing me to look at him, his voice beginning to waiver further. I had never heard so much terror in his tone. “Amber. Amber, I want you to listen to me very carefully. I believe you may have broken your ribs. I can not say for certain but there is the possibility you have internal injuries as well. The iron serum should help cease the bleeding and keep your heart beating, but since I have no experience using them on someone with human blood, I can not say what will happen.”
The world around me began to fade, my vision growing blurry.
“Morvinus, am I going to die?”
He took my face firmly in his hands, “No. Do you hear me? No.”
“I can’t-“ I coughed again, a horridly wet and stifling cough, “I can’t feel my toes.” I was getting sleepier, drowning in a haze, a numbness more frigid than his icy skin.
“No. Amber, stay with me.”
“I- I’m trying.”
Once more, Lord Cawston returned, holding out a small brown vial, much like the one I saw Mrs. Barnette use. Morvinus unscrewed the lid, removing a built in dropper.
So tired. I tried desperately to keep my eyes open but the task was becoming more difficult with every labored beat of my racing heart.
Morvinus cradled my head, bringing the dropper to my face, releasing a small amount through my parted lips onto my tongue.
The strong metallic taste was so jarring I nearly gagged, the cool liquid slithering down my throat. What happened next, was something I was unlikely to forget anytime soon.
First came the sting, subtle in the beginning, like a tickle, it became more intense, turning from a minor annoyance to a burning flame, throwing its torrid needles all the way down into my stomach. When it hit my abdomen, it wrenched and toiled my muscles, pushing and pulling without much say from me. Soon, it was spreading, down through all my limbs, thrusting violently into every artery and vein. This pushed the pain from hardly bearable to excruciating. Tears erupted from my eyes and I grasped Morvinus’ arm, screaming.
“Morvinus, I can not watch this, we have to help her.”
“Lord Cawston, please, that is what I am trying to do. Amber, I need you to focus. I know it hurts. But you must not fight it. Instead, let it flow through you. Use the power it provides to strengthen you.”
“I- I can't-”
“Yes, you can,” he said, taking my hand firmly in his, “Yes, you can. Focus.”
It took all I had, every ounce of strength I could find, to try and pull together my embattled army. One by one, I went through the ranks, sending troop after troop to my injury. What started as a chaotic cascade of agony, slowly morphed into a hardened battle cry as I began to feel something new, something…powerful taking over.
With one last wave, I released what little grip I had, letting it rush through my veins, gasping with the overwhelming surge. I wreathed and twisted under its influence, not knowing if I could contain it within. This newfound force was profound. It spoke with a booming voice, shaking my bones, drumming on my heart. And despite the immense pain I was in, I had never felt more powerful than I did in that moment. The injuries were healing, my blood returning to where it was needed. And the world went blank.
The stress of it all had me in and out of consciousness at times. But with every awakening, no matter how brief, he was there. His hand never waivered, never loosened its hold. He sat, still and patient. Whether it was minutes or days, I couldn't have said for sure.
When I finally came around for good, a soft blanket had been pulled up around me. Every muscle in my body ached. Reeling. But, my breath had returned, and my injuries all but gone. The taste of the iron serum still lingered on my tongue but it had changed somehow. Less metallic and more sweet, like that of ice cream on a hot day. I was alive once more, my heart beating steadily again, my stomach rumbling.
“Amber?” Morvinus’ hand came unclasped with mine as he realized I was awake, uttering a heavy sigh, “Thank God. How do you feel?”
“Like I've been sat on by an elephant. Other than that, okay I guess.”
He still wore the white button down, though the sleeves were all askew and it had come untucked. He rubbed his face, his eyelids a bit slower than normal, as though he hadn't slept in a while. His eyes were sallow, sunken in, circled by a color almost as black as the night sky. He hadn't eaten either.
“How long was I out?”
“A couple of days.” He stroked my face softly with his thumb. “Are you hungry? I could fetch you something to eat.”
I put my hand on his, cementing it to my cheek. “I'm sorry.”
“Whatever for?”
“Putting you through all of this.”
“Amber, how many times do I have to tell you, I chose this when I chose you. You are all that matters to me now. You getting hurt is not your fault, but mine. I am merely relieved you are alive.” He stretched a warm smile across his face before leaning down to kiss me. His lips were dry and rough.
“Morvinus, have you eaten?”
“I will be all right.”
“No. You need to eat.”
He let out an exasperated breath, “Then I will go out and hunt, do-”
“No.” I pushed myself up so I was seated, straining through the ache.
“Amber, take it easy.”
Once sufficiently propped, I glared at him. “Feed from me. You promised, no more.”
“Amber, you are far too weak.”
“I will be fine. Morvinus, you need to feed.”
He gave a slight grin, “I do not suppose there is any changing your mind, is there?” It was more a statement than a question, but he seemed too tired to argue further.
I merely smiled.
He sighed. “This is a very bad idea, you know,” he said.
“Wouldn’t be the first time.”
Despite his hunger, he was soft and gentle, holding back as though he feared taking too much. And, while I got a bit lightheaded towards the end, I kept it together long enough for him to get what he needed. Or at least as much as he would take. When he pulled away he looked at me, gracing my cheek with his hand, wearing a strange expression. The circles had lightened, his face regaining some of its luster.
“What is it?” I asked.
He shook his head, “Nothing.”
He gave me a small reluctant smile. And it was then I noticed it. A tiny droplet of blood sat perched on the corner of his mouth. A second later, he swiped at it with his tongue, very cat-like, staining his bottom lip. I was mesmerized. I had seen blood before, on more than one occasion. But it had never glistened like this, never beckoned me so heavily to take it in. In that moment, that tiny minuscule moment, I felt something new begin to stir within me. My breath began to waver again, the thumps of my heart catching up. What is happening to me?
Disregarding my aching muscles and my tired lungs, I lunged for him, throwing him back against the bed, my mouth bearing down on his, my tongue doing its best to lap up what was left. I knew it was my own blood, yet, in that instant, I wanted nothing more.
“Ouch,” he gripped my arms, pushing me away, “Amber, what are you doing?”
I sat up abruptly, putting my hand over my mouth. He held a finger to his bottom lip, tracing the blood from a fresh cut I had just given him.
“I'm sorry. I don't know what happened. I saw blood on your lip and I-”
“You had an urge.”
He wiped at it a few more times and I watched as it slowly disappeared, thanks, no doubt, to his little army. His expression, however, was still worrisome.
“What does it mean, Morvinus?”
“I am not certain. Have you ever felt like this before?”
“No. Do you think- Oh God, Morvinus, I can't stomach- I can't- That would be too much.”
“Stop, stop. We do not know what this means. It could merely be a residual effect from the iron serum. Give it time.” He got up from the bed, giving my forehead a small kiss.
“I will leave you to dress. If you are willing, Lord Cawston would very much like to see you.”
I nodded, “Tell him I'll be ready in a moment.”
“All right. I will go and fetch him.”
“No. I'll go to him. Where is he?”
“In the library. Would you like me to accompany you?”
“Actually, I think it's time he and I spoke alone.”
“Very well. When you are ready.”
“Thank you.”
“Always.” He turned out one more smile before disappearing behind the door.
Coming out to the hallway felt strange, in a way. I went into that room an inch from death, and emerged something else entirely. Though Morvinus sounded positive it was temporary, I was less sure. The animal I had unleashed still lingered. I could feel it within, lurking, waiting. For the first time I wasn't worried so much about being the victim anymore. On the contrary, I couldn't help but feel it may be they who need protection. Not from the Curiae, but from me.
Continued in Part 16
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Uh oh. Did she just get a little more vampirey?