Bloodlust

It seems like hours until we make it back, shivering as I pull the apartment key from my pants pocket and unlock the door. I haven’t said a word through the whole walk-Kamryn did most of the talking, telling stories of her tour out of the country. Hayley was the one who asked for the agonizing story that seemed to never end, and after one story, she asked for another. I’m just so glad to be home that my legs are slightly trembling.

I open the door, and walk inside-almost nothing has changed.

Maria is leaning over the map that Max had brought in before we left, and Elliot is saying something to Halo, his arm draped over her shoulders. Max is still where we had left him-There’s no doubt in my mind that he hasn’t moved the entire time we were gone-and Jasmyn is sitting beside Lucifer, seeming to be mocking his angry mood. Edward has his head in the fridge, which should probably annoy me, but if we’re going to leave tomorrow morning, the food’s probably going to go bad while we’re gone, anyway.

But none of them are who I want to see right now…where is Chris? I take the bag with my shoes and clothes and walk straight past them all as they greet Kamryn, into my bedroom, and drop all my stuff onto the bed.

“Hey.”

I jump at Chris’s voice and turn to see him in the doorway of my room, his hair glistening and wet.

“What happened to you?” I ask him.

“Elliot happened.” Chris replies, and laughs. “Payback for the football earlier.” He laughs again and shakes some of the water from his hair.

I smile at him. “So, did you say hi to Kamryn?” I ask him.

“Kamryn?” Chris asks thoughtfully, and then his face brightens. “Oh yeah! I completely forgot about her, truthfully. She’s here?”

This surprises me into a laugh. “You didn’t notice her when you came in?” I ask. “Shocker. I would have thought it would be impossible for anyone not to notice her…she’s gorgeous.”

Chris rolls his eyes at me. “She’s gorgeous to everyone but me, apparently.” He mutters. “I don’t find her very noticeable.”

I raise my eyebrows at him. “Yet I am?” I ask critically.

Chris smirks. “Like a full moon.” He murmurs.

I look away from him and sigh. “Flattery can go a long way, I suppose.” I mutter.

He crosses over to me and hugs me warmly. “The truth can, too.” He assures me, and I can feel his sigh in my hair. “I’d rather have you over anyone. You’re the most gorgeous girl in the world to me…inside and out, so trust me, there’s no competition.”

I breathe in his pleasant scent-the scent of sunshine-and cross my arms above his to hold them there-I don’t ever want him to let me go.

“By the way, I love your dress.” Chris says-I can hear the smile in his voice. I look down at my dress and grin.

“Hayley doesn’t have bad taste, I guess.” I whisper.

He rests his chin on my head.

“All this for getting backstage at a concert, huh?” he asks.

I nod.

“No doubt there are some guys that I’ll have to zap,” Chris murmurs, and I laugh. It’s like he could read my memories…of Eric and Kyle…I shake my head in disgust.

“It’s no one you have to worry about.”

Chris pulls away from me and turns me to look at him-which I very willingly oblige to.

“Are you worried about Kamryn?” he asks me slowly.

I stare up at him, scared that he would think me too clingy or too weak or something like that if I tell him how worried I am, or let the tears that were building up since I met her fall in front of him…the thought makes me tremble a little bit. But his eyes bore into mine, begging silently for the truth, and I know I can’t possibly lie to him.

“Yes.” I whisper. “I’m very worried.”

And just as I’d feared, tears start to fall down my cheeks. Chris gently wipes them away with his warm fingers and kisses my cheek very softly.

“Trust me, Rhea.” He murmurs. “I can’t possibly feel for anyone stronger than I feel for you. You don’t have anything to worry about, because no one can take your place, and no one can be a bigger part of my heart than you.”

I shudder, trying to hold back my tears and sigh. I’m being ridiculous. I don’t even know why I’m crying…I’m being so stupid right now. So what if Chris likes Kamryn more than me anyway? At least he’ll be happy. The thought doesn’t make me feel any better, like it very much should. I’m also selfish.

Chris is staring at me-his eyes are holding mine so that I can’t manage looking away. “Please don’t worry about her.”

I nod shakily, and as if on cue, Kamryn’s musical voice sings out through the silence.

“Chris! You aren’t even going to say hi to me?”

Chris doesn’t even acknowledge that he heard her. His eyes are still boring into mine, and they are becoming that electric yellow again…it makes it harder for me to stay completely coherent. I watch him carefully, because I have to, and I wouldn’t look away if I could. Then he sighs and kisses my forehead before taking my hand and beginning to pull me to the living room.

I stop shyly and look down at my clothes. “You go ahead. I want to change clothes.” I mutter quietly. Chris seems to hesitate, and I make up his mind by giving him a starting shove.

“Okay.” Chris says, and closes the door behind him as he leaves.

I smile softly until he disappears and then let myself frown-it just feels right to me, nothing that’s happened in the past week is worth smiling about. I change into my original outfit-the long sleeved shirt and jeans-before following him out into the living room.

I come out just in time to see Jasmyn and Lucifer asleep leaning on the wall-Lucifer licking his lips, and Jasmyn just being her adorable self, which isn’t very surprising.

Lucifer, on the other hand, can easily pass for an angel in his sleep-and I’m amused at the change something as simple as closing his eyes can do to his whole features…he no longer looks like the son of Hades, even in his dark, tough clothes…he just looks like a lost teenager, lost in every perspective, and an innocent child with a lot of potential.

“Yo, Lu, Jazz, wakie-wakie!” Edward calls out, and Lucifer opens his flaming eyes, suddenly intensely alert.

Well…it was nice the few seconds it lasted.

Jasmyn frowns-her eyes still closed.

“Jasmyn, wake up, and be careful about it.” Maria warns.

Jasmyn opens her wide pixie eyes and jumps up in a chestnut brown blur. She looks down at Lucifer, sitting beside her, and slowly inches away from him, her wide eyes scared and tired.

Lucifer puts his head between his knees and groans loudly-his voice is hard, low and icy-it sends chills up my spine.

I look at Chris, who steps beside me. “Is he okay?” I ask hesitantly.

Chris shrugs. “He doesn’t tell us what it is that does that to him.” He answers. “He does that whenever he wakes up.” I think unwillingly about the moan Lucifer had made and shudder again. Chris puts a hand on my arm, rising goose bumps on my skin as he slides it down and gently intertwines our fingers together. I look down at our joined hands, and look at Kamryn, wondering if she feels anything about this. But she’s got her ice-like eyes pinned on Chris’s face…his electric yellow eyes.

I can’t really blame her…I can’t blame anyone…Chris’s eyes are like the sun to me…they affect me the way the weather sometimes affects others. And I’ve only recently been able to admit that to myself…I love Chris way more than I should…way more than I have a right to. I’m only human, and even if we find Carter, I’ll become his worst enemy by becoming what the closest thing I have to a family is…a vampire.

“Okay, it’s about seven, guys.” Halo says suddenly. “We should be going, now.”

Jasmyn yawns and stretches from her safe place in the corner-a safe enough distance from the son of Hades-well, according to her.

“That was pretty fast.” She mutters, and yawns again. “Time flies.”

Maria has her coat on, but stops at the door, her hand on the knob. “I think we should split up into groups of at least two.” She suggests. “That way more areas will be less attracted to monsters.”

Monsters…I’ve never seen one-I don’t know what to expect, and while Chris’s hand tightens around mine at the thought of running into one, I don’t feel anything as she says this. To me it just sounds like the monsters that little kids find under their beds. I can’t make myself scared.

“Baby.” Edward mutters.

“She’s right, though.” Halo admits.

Elliot shrugs, his hand in hers. “I’m okay with it.”

I look at Kamryn, and she’s still looking at Chris…I wonder if she heard a word anyone was saying. I have to admit…his eyes have only dazzled me that way once. I wonder if other half bloods see more in him than regular humans do…it seems so impossible that anyone can feel for him more than I do, though.

I need my money.

As everyone starts to leave, I walk into my room, forgetting that I’m dragging Chris along with me. I really don’t want to leave the apartment again…but there’s nothing here anymore worth staying for. The half bloods have washed away Carter’s scent. There’s nothing good here for me anymore.

I let go of Chris’s hand, and I can feel his eyes on me as I rummage through my drawers for the extra money that I’d saved up.

“Chris, we should be partners.” Kamryn calls, her voice nearing.

“I think you and Hayley could be partners.” Chris suggests…I think I hear a little snort in his voice. “There’s still Rhea, you know.”

“Oh! She’s coming?” Kamryn asks, her voice right behind me. “Her and Hayley could be partners. I’m pretty sure they bonded well enough on their little trip.”

I can hear Chris’s intake of breath, and I try not to look up-so far I’ve found about fifty dollars.

“I know Rhea better than anybody.” Chris argues. “I’ll be her partner, and you can be Hayley’s. It’s shopping, come on. I can’t go with you…you’re pretty girly.”

“I won’t be, I promise. Please be my partner?”

“No, thanks. There’s nothing wrong with having Hayley as a partner, Kamryn.” Chris says.

“If there’s nothing wrong with it, then Rhea can be Hayley’s partner.” Kamryn says pleadingly. “Please? Pretty please with a cherry on top?” it’s like I can hear the puppy face in her voice.

“Here’s a thought,” comes Hayley’s voice from the hallway. “We can all be in one group.”

Chris’s voice is hesitant. “I’m not sure that’s…”

“I’m game.” Kamryn agrees.

I sigh. I shouldn’t feel so jealous over a stupid shopping trip. I’m getting in over my head-way over.

Maybe it’s best if I go in a group…I consider going just with Hayley…but I can’t make myself say it aloud. If I just take it step by step…