The Chalice (Luna Vampire Series) (29 page)

             
The cool night air shocked awake a teensy speck of sobriety within me; the lack of noise and blinking lights didn't hurt either.  Still, I felt as though something was wrong. 
Shivering, petrified.
  Weak kneed, I collapsed onto the ground in the alley where we'd left Dawn merely an hour earlier.  She was no longer there. 
The poor innocent girl.
 
Jesus, what had we done?

             
Placing my coat around my shoulders, Lucien flopped down next to me.  He squeezed me in tightly against his warm body and started rocking me gently from side to side.  "Everything's gonna be alright, girlie.  You're safe.  Nonetheless, I can feel you more strongly than usual.  A bit ago, the energy you were emitting was amazing, although, out of nowhere the vibe changed.  Now all I sense is your fear.  What happened?"

             
"I can't, I can't think.  Too many vamps.  It's all muddled..."  A couple of minds slammed their doors on me, cutting their white light cords with force. 
A slap in the face.
 
Foggy.  A random idea here, an unwanted emotion there. 
I couldn't discern who they came from and my temples throbbed at the consequent enormity.

             
Decapitated heads on pikes, blood everywhere.
 
Bodies lining the muddy terrain.
  Tsedaka on horseback in front of the castle, a proud victory.  The depravity of his malice. 
He intends on breaking me; he'll stop at nothing.
 
Jealousy over my emerging power.
  "Daddy's really mad..."

             
Unexpectedly, Adrian's memory of feeding with Isabella surfaced.  A rocking ship.  The smell of ocean air.  The lust and sex that ensued afterward. 
Jaw clenching, teeth grinding.
 
MINE...

             
"Luna, you're sifting through my subconscious,"
Adrian thought to me.
"And, don't be mistaken, I'm an open book for you.  It's only that your energy's different.  Are things alright?"

             
"No, it's not alright.  Leave me alone, fucking leave me alone!  Everybody quit talking, thinking, feeling!  Too many..." 

             
Swiftly, my attention drifted away from my tirade on Adrian. 
More doors slamming in my face, more threads breaking.  Huh, perhaps that's how Amelia and Lucien were trained to block eavesdroppers. 
Oh, and Lucien, what'd transpired between us during the feeding?  Was I meant to be with him or Adrian? 
Crap, Adrian! 
Had he heard what I just thought? 

             
"Adrian, are you still there?  Uh, I got a little distracted."

             
"Yes, I'm here, darling.  Lucien's on your mind,"
he replied, hesitating for a moment before pressing on.
  "Is he well?  Do you require my assistance?"

             
"He's here with me in the cold.  Attention's jumbled, wouldn't kiss me.  Quiet!  Please!  Everyone shut up!  I can't concentrate!"
  Upon finishing the thought,
I discharged a gut wrenching scream, no longer able to conceal my frustration.

             
"Luna, it's okay.  I'm here.  You're safe," Lucien soothed, unaware of my telepathic conversation with Adrian.

             
Steadily, salty tears began making their way down my cheeks.  "I'm connected to all the vamps," I sniffled, not caring if he saw me as weak for my babyish blubbering.  "Their minds are mine."

             
"Okay, sounds like you've run into a spot of trouble.  I can send someone for you,"
Adrian interjected, adding another layer to my confusion. 
"First, you must explain what were you doing prior to becoming this disoriented."

             
"It's the white butterfly's fault,"
I thought to him.

             
"You're rambling nonsense.  Show me where you are so I can help."

             
"No, I can't trust you!" I shrieked.  "Get the hell out of here!  Leave me alone!"  Aggravated, I tore the wig, bobby pins and all, from my head and threw it across the alley.  Shortly thereafter, I started flailing my arms around. 
A total crazy woman.

             
As a result, Lucien gripped me more tightly.  "Who can't you trust, girlie?  It's only me."

             
"I, um, I'm scared," I whimpered, gazing at him with frenzied eyes.  "Help me."

             
"We'll find our way past this, I promise," he murmured, kissing me on the forehead and sending me a calm, loving feeling.
  Sadly, his efforts weren't helpful in the slightest.
  They got lost in the multitude of sensations, ruminations, and nonsensical memories that struggled to make a home for themselves in my psyche.

             
For awhile, both Lucien and Adrian carried on in their attempts of getting through to me.  However, I lost the ability to comprehend what they said.  Their words, along with all the other vamp's, were a chaotic blur.  My overworked brain felt as if it might explode, and then my vision gradually faded at the edges.  Moments later, my world eased into blackness. 
Thank the heavens, peace and quiet....

Chapter
20

             
"Luna, thank god!  You're awake!" Amelia squeaked, concern making her voice shrill.

             
Feeling groggy, I gradually pried open my eyes.  My last memory was of vamp telepathy hell in the alley beside the club.  So, I hastily glanced around, relieved to find myself tucked in snugly underneath the fluffy comforters of my bed at the hotel.  After which, I eventually groaned a sleepy, "what happened?"

             
"Lucien brought you back unconscious, you've been asleep for almost twelve hours."

             
Shifting my position, I noticed the softness of the silk pajamas I'd mysteriously been changed into.  Then I inspected my face, finding no clip-on nose ring or itchy glitter. 
Hmm, probably Amelia's doing.
  And, of course, I was wigless because I'd torn it off in the alley; I remembered that much.  Regardless, the events beyond there were a little hazy. 

             
"Eehhemm," I gurgled, clearing my throat in a lame attempt at sounding a bit more together.  "Um, can you grab me a drink, my throat's really dry?"

             
"Here, you should feed," she murmured, promptly rolling back the sleeve of her red flannel shirt and holding her wrist to my nose.

             
Knowing she was right, I tried to sit up for a better angle.  Although, even the smallest movement made the room spin.  So, from my prone position, I sunk my eager fangs into her skin.  And, let me tell you, drinking blood while lying down was kinda weird.  It reminded me of being sick and sucking chicken soup through a straw as a kid, except it lacked the loving affection of my mom's care giving. 

             
Now, don't get me wrong, Amelia was thoroughly blissed out; her positive vibes were literally bleeding into me.  Still, she wasn't my mom. 
And there's nothing better, more comforting, than a mother to take care of you when you're sick.  Sadly, there's no chance I'll ever see mine again...

             
"Luna, that's all I can give," Amelia whispered as she pulled away from me slightly.  "You have to let go."

             
"Oh, um, I'm sorry," I apologized, instantly turning her loose.  I'd gone so deep into my own self-pity that I'd forgotten to pay attention to her energy level; I must've drank more than I realized. 
Damn.
 

             
Shamefully rolling onto my opposite side, I came face-to-face with Lucien who'd obviously been lying next to me the entire time. 
Why hadn't he said anything?  Was he pissed off over my bad trip the night before?  Poor guy, he'd definitely had his hands full.  I shouldn't have bought that stupid pill.  A freaking awful mistake.

             
"No worries, girlie," he replied warmly, auditing my internal babble as usual.  "I've merely been waiting for you to awaken fully.  I'm interested in what occurred last night.  You were quite scared and appeared to be spreading out, feeling many people's thoughts."

             
Feeling people's thoughts, yeah, sure.  A complete understatement
.  "Well, if you consider inadvertently perusing the minds of every vampire in the country as being
spread out
," I quipped.  "Then I was an oil slick on an ocean of vampire consciousness."

             
Reflecting upon the night's escapades, I quickly grasped that my memories were jumbled, scattered here and there. 
Fractured.
  Yet, I distinctly recalled Tsedaka's raging, blood boiling anger.  My stomach lurched in response to the recollection of the severed heads on pikes. 
And, believe me, it's not the same as in the movies.  Far, far more gruesome. 

             
I also remembered that several of the vampires were capable of expelling me from their minds.
  And, by the way, I simply had to
learn how they'd accomplished that feat; it'd make my life a whole lot easier.  Perhaps my sidekicks could teach me...

             
"Did the others perceive your subconscious in return?" Lucien asked, crawling from beneath the sheets to sit with his legs folded Indian style.  Like Amelia and me, he'd changed from last night's attire into something more sleep appropriate. 
A white t-shirt and a pair of blue boxers.

             
"Um, I'm not too sure.  It's all bits and pieces."  Rubbing my eyes, I desperately wished I could uncloud my screwed up memory.  "I'm glad it's over, though.  I felt horrible, can't put it into words."

             
"It's crucial for you to provide me with more information.  Did you join with any specific vamps?" Lucien questioned, his voice edged with urgency.  "Or were you more or less floating about aimlessly?"

             
"Prior to fainting, I was having a conversation with you and Adrian.  Um, you know, Adrian telepathically and you out loud.  It totally sucked."  Pausing, I took in the tense set of Lucien's shoulders and the blank stare on Amelia's pale face.  "So, yeah, I guess I connected with Adrian.  Granted, that's not unusual.  However, while that was happening, I also sensed most of the vamps I've met and loads of others."

             
"Oh, thank heavens!"
Adrian exclaimed, invading my head in a flurry of anxiety and relief. 
"Are you well?"

             
"I'm fine,"
I replied curtly, sending along a hint of my irritation at having accidentally said his name. 
"No need to stress.  And, um, yesterday.  I was on drugs.  Disregard anything I thought, or said, or whatever." 
I can't believe I let him see my jealousy over his shared feeding with Isabella.  An event that'd occurred a few hundred years ago, I might add. 
Severely humiliating.

             
"Don't feel embarrassed.  I'll be loyal to you and our friendship, no matter what."

             
"Yeah, loyal to the stupid prophecy."
  Damn, did I just blurt that out?  And since we were communicating mind to mind was blurting even possible? 
Screw it.

             
"I see Lucien and Amelia filled you in..."
  He faltered, allowing me to perceive a hint of uneasiness.
  "I'd intended on explaining it myself, once we were more familiar with one another.  I didn't want to add unnecessary pressure when you already had enough to deal with."

             
"Well, I wanna clarify a couple things.  In spite of your ridiculous prophecy, my life's not set in stone.  To be honest, I don't trust you as far as I can throw you." 
Plus, what about Lucien?  I still haven't decided whether or not the attraction's bond-related or genuine. 
Crap! Adrian probably heard that too.  Sigh.

             
"Living for more than six hundred years has helped me outgrow petty jealousy, darling.  I sent Lucien to be at your side, knowing a situation such as this might occur.  It's understandable that you'd grow close.  You'll receive no pressure from me.  All I ask is for you to give me a chance as well."

             
Sarcastically, I envisioned an eye roll in his direction.
  "Well, all I ask is for you to quit barging in on me.  For real, whenever I think your name, or anyone speaks your name, you invade.  Can't you try ignoring me?  To give me a little space?"