SEVENTY | THIRST

*My world is doused in red. Shades of red taint the surrounding trees, painting the night sky a stomach-churning scarlet. My slick hands clench and unclench at my sides as I face off with the man before me. He's breathing hard, eyes trained firmly on me, his solid form half-crouched and ready to attack at the slightest provocation*

*"Red," He calls to me, trying to refocus my mind perhaps. No matter what he says, we both know how this is going to end. "Red," He tries again, his emotionless face tightening the longer we stand here. I feel my shaking hands continue to flex, feeling over and over the too-slick feel of the thick liquid clinging to them. Each breath is faster than the last as the change settles in - surging through my bones from the top of my skull to the tips of my bare feet.*

*My toes wiggle over the soaked ground. The still-warm slickness sliding between my toes and forcing the reality of what's happening even deeper into my too-lucid mind. Flashes of the last five minutes replay in slow motion in my mind's eye. Spurting blood, the screams, the look of absolute terror in the eyes of those I love- loved*.

"*Red, stay with me," Blue* *growls, narrowing his eyes as the mask falls from his face. It's been a while since he's been this guarded around me*.

"*Who were we kidding?" I ask myself, feeling a fresh wave of horror break through the red curtain and sending spears of heat bursting along my spine. "This was a tragedy fifteen years in the making." I breathe, tearing my eyes from his and letting them fall on the reflective puddle of nearly-black red- "Ridiculous." I mutter bitterly as the change slips from my body and the tremors begin*.

*My eyes trail over the mess around me - over the scattered forms of the dead- massacred. Mixes of ashy blonde, inky black, and burning crimson haired-heads are barely visible under all the blood.*

"*We can change the future, Red," Blue says firmly, suddenly standing right in front of me, gripping my shoulders so I have to look at him*.

*"What future?" I ask bitterly, feeling an overwhelming sense of desperation bubbling and surging up from my heart*.

"*Nothing is set in stone," Blue says again, his eyes burning bright silver and boring deep into my soul.*

*"Aren't you listening to me?" I snap at my mate angrily. "It's too late!" I scream at him, fighting against his suddenly iron-like grip. "I killed them all! They're all dead now! There's nothing we can do now!*"

*"I don't know when it all went wrong-" Blue ignores me, clasping my face now instead of my shoulders and forcing me to keep staring at him. "But you can figure it out. We tried to fix it once already, but it didn't work. It's up to you now. Fix it." He says slowly, firmly - but it's not even like he sees me anymore - but through me. There's a sharp pain in my neck and the world falls from under me-*

- - -

I gasp, falling back into my body with the usual jarring impact of the present. This time, there's no leaching of happiness, but a resounding shiver of terror and horror that echo hollowly inside. Blue eyes me warily, sitting back now - his gaze icy. And I don't blame him. Not after getting such a shocking vision. My mind's racing, trying to recall and absorb the events of the vision and carefully cataloging them for review later.

I'm rubbing my hands absently, reminding and grounding myself in the present since they're not covered with blood. My muscles are achy as usual, and there's a slight tremor to my movements that's more than a little unsettling. And with each swallow, there's a painful tightness - like it's being squeezed. Mikyle and Yuri are close by, hovering until I draw myself out of the curled-up position I was in.

"How are you feeling?" Mikyle kneels in front of me, trying to block me from Blue. The gossamer-like touch of my shadow brings me back to the present - away from the troubling vision. His cool touch dances over my wet cheeks, something I hadn't even noticed till now.

"Fine." I mumble, pushing the vampire away as I get to my feet. I can't look at Blue or Yuri right now. "I think I should go home now." I tell Yuri, giving him a muted smile before walking in the direction of the house.

"Hold up, babe, I'll walk you-" Yuri begins.

"Not you - Mikyle," Blue cuts his cousin off sharply, a note of panic in his voice that he can't disguise. I suck in a deep breath, pausing just long enough for Miklye to catch up as I begin to walk faster. My shadow is just as silent as ever, walking with only enough distance between us that we never physically touch. I keep my mind blank as we travel, ignoring the stiffness and pain that ricochets through me with each step. I don't allow myself to think about the vision or Blue's reaction after it. I can't right now.

"Wanna talk about it, princess?" Mikyle asks once when we get home. He waits a few steps behind me, carefully giving me space as I shuffle dazedly.

"No." I croak back, not even bothering to look at him as I walk past the kitchen and into my room.

"I'll be out here if you need me-"

"You don't need to stick around, Mikyle. You're not my babysitter anymore." I snap at him icily.

"You had a traumatic experience after that buffoon gave you a double-dose," Mikyle argues back - just as testily. "Then something obviously freaked you and the Alpha pup," He dumps the cooler onto the counter. "I have some reservations about leaving you alone right now."

"Whatever," I grumble, shaking my head. Then freeze as a through echoes in my mind. "Can I ask one favor of you?" I turn to face my shadow. He's hanging in the doorway of the room, eyes narrowed cautiously. "Can you be my sponsor?"

"What did you say?" Mikyle blinks rapidly, his eyes widening more after each bat of his dark red eyes. The look of panic seems to ignite the color and bring the glowing embers to life.

"Sponsor." The word tastes foul on my tongue, but I swallow my pride and level him with an unwavering stare until he finally looks away. "I want you to be my sponsor."

"I don't know if I'm the best person-"

"Sponsors are supposed to be someone the vamp trusts implicitly to- to take care of things if-" I suck in a breath, ignoring the nausea rising in my gut. "If I ever lose control." Saying it aloud after seeing the results in the vision not half an hour ago churns the acid in my stomach to a nearly painful level.

"Princess-" Mikyle begins carefully, his cautious tone patronizingly gentle.

"I trust you to take me out if I start slipping. I'm trusting you, Mica." I tell him firmly. "I can't think of anyone else and-and after what I saw-" I shudder. "I might need you someday." He stares at me, bright red eyes glowing like beacons even as he searches my face.

"Give me some time to think about it." Mikyle finally says, running his hand over his face. When he looks back at me, the light's faded back to its usual ember-like glow.

"I'm going to need an answer before I Bloom," I remind him, feeling the lips of my lips rising a little. "Can you give me your response within the next," I frown as I mentally calculate the time left. "Two weeks?" I croak out weakly, sitting on the edge of my bed heavily as my knees give out. It's so close...I nearly forgot all about my birthday.

"Yeah. I can do that." Mikyle nods and turns, leaving me alone - but also leaving the door open as his footsteps fade. Two weeks for me to learn control. Two weeks before the possibility of the vision becomes a probability.