125 | GETTING BRIGHTER

After Nikki’s not-so-helpful talk, I’m alone in the house for a few hours. A smart person probably would had called it quits, had some blood, in my shoes, but the feeling of the clock ticking down has me anxiously starting my training. I take the time, even though I’m physically worn out, to do what Nikki said: try to activate my powers with a clear head and gentleness when dealing directly with the chords.

It’s easier said than done.

I freak out the moment the air begins to hum and the chords seem to peel apart in midair. I shudder and cringe, pulling on the chords - again without meaning to - and get a visit by Death. The dark-clad figure has the usual scythe and hovers at the edges of my vision so creepily, I think it’s the Revenant for a terrifying moment. Of course, when I felt the being’s aura, I realized who/what it was stalking me.

By the time I get my heart to stop beating into my throat, I’d released my hold on the chords, and been subjected to the usual slam into normal time.

I try to the vamp-thing: meditate. I close my eyes and picture the effects of the power and manifesting it without freaking out or forcing Death to ponder the kill-order. Over and over, I concentrate until I can feel my brain starting up a searing headache and the chords have begun to vibrate around me.

The light thrumming of the chords laying, waiting, in my palms, are a good sign, I decide. I don’t tighten the grip I have on them, just watch as the nearly-transparent things hum along my skin and move to a breeze I can’t feel. Death is nowhere to be seen - or scented - and I just stay like that. Calm and in control, for the first time, without the excessive use of force or fear charging through me. I forgot how beautiful the chords were, shimmering and dancing along neutrally.

After a little while, I let my grip loosen further and feel the usual pace of time slither into shape around me, not slamming painfully and knocking the air from my lungs. But gently, like I’m stepping out of a pool.

*Holy crap… Did I just-?* I stare at the far wall incredulously for a beat, breathing normally and feeling the usual drag of time all around me.

With a too-loud squeal of delight, I spring up from the position I’d taken on the floor and let out a whoop. Exuberance and relief have me doing an impromptu happy-dance in place, forcing myself to celebrate the small victory. The positive emotions explode out of me, like they’ve been trapped too long and now are too large for me. This is how Blue finds me when he gets home, his super silent ability to block out his own scent allows him to come right up behind me. I nearly shriek before I realize it’s him and whirl around.

I laugh and throw my arms around him.

“I did it!” I tell him, grinning wildly at my mate. Blue raises his eyebrows at my sudden bright mood, but a moment later, he seems to catch up to what I’m saying by mentally sifting through my thoughts. His arms tighten around me and his dazzling smile matches mine.

“That’s amazing, Red. I knew you could do it,” His praise sinks into me, but I still feel the slight undercurrent of worry hovering in the depths of his thoughts. I ignore it, know his worry is the usual over-protectiveness of a mate and isn’t going to go away just because I get stronger. I explain to him, aloud, about the training with Hale and how I spoke to Nikki, bringing him up to speed on this new break through with my power. Blue listens intently, offering a few comments here and there.

“I’ve never had such a peaceful experience with the vamp-power.” I tell him as we make our way to the kitchen for a late dinner. Blue and I continue discussing the possibilities surrounding this new way I can activate the power and how that - with the Guardian training should work. It’s going to be difficult, but Blue thinks it’s doable.

“I think you should keep practicing, but don’t forget that you need to refuel after.” Blue reminds me, pulling more ingredients from the refrigerator and setting them on the counter. I nod reluctantly and reach for one of the blood bags we have stored, but Blue gently places a hand on mine and redirects it to the side of his neck. I freeze, almost jerking back when I realize what he’s saying.

“I’ve got perfectly good fuel there,” I pointedly look to the blood bags. Blue shakes his head, letting out a small sigh as he takes a step closer to me.

“Don’t think I’ve forgotten just because things have happened since you last drank from me,” Blue murmurs, boxing me in at my spot by the counter with his arms. I feel my breath catch in my throat as his parchment and pine scent co-mingles with that of his blood. It’s something I’ve noticed over the last few months, sure, but I’ve ignored it - like before. Right now, though, at the reminder that I have indeed had a taste of him before… “We wanted you to learn control, remember?” He asks me softly, nuzzling the side of my neck.

I shiver as the barest hints of stubble scrape against my skin, my face dipping into the crook of his neck without me thinking. I breathe along the side of his neck, my mouth grazing against the pulse in his throat. My jaw burns internally, throat tightening as my fangs descend and scrape along my mate’s skin. And then I freeze, a the barest hints of self-control blurring the bloodlust haze in my brain and allowing me to think.

I tip my head back to look at him. Our eyes catch and hold, his bright and silvery with an equally dark tone in the grey. His smile comes slowly, dangerously intoxicating in the seductive quality of it, the way that one smirk turns the thirst in me into a different sort of hunger. I reach up, but instead of going for his neck I glide my palm up along his cheek, letting the rasp of his stubble prickle at my flesh.

My fangs disappear a second before I lean up and press my lips to his. The kiss starts intense, but quickly become slower, sweeter - and over way too fast. Blue pulls back first, his eyes slightly unfocused and blinking rapidly. We almost go right back to kissing when I press a hand to his chest, forcing myself to focus against the lusty haze and tension between us.

“See, my control’s great,” I tell him after a beat, unable to stop the smirk that warps my kiss-swollen lips. Blue’s eyes clear and he lets out a huffing laugh before he takes a big step back, returning his attention to the ingredients on the counter. He’s still breathing erratically as he leans over the counter, looking over the various items like he’s not sure what to do with them now.

I hide a triumphant grin as I pull a blood bag from the still open refrigerator and close the doors. I force myself to chug a few sips cold before letting the thing dangle from my mouth as I go about helping prep the stuff for dinner. Blue’s still a bit thrown off by the kiss and my incredible control as we finish cooking and eating. Though he doesn’t say it, I can feel the disappointment that I didn’t take a bite out of him. It makes me wonder if a vampire’s bite can become addictive to the donor. It’ probably something I should have asked Hale about before, but I make a mental note to speak to him about it tomorrow.