I remember flashes. Being put in a car. Driving somewhere and feeling the bumps in the road sending shocking waves of pain throughout my body. Zeno pulling me from the car, whispering kind words in my ear. "It's ok. It's not that bad, you're gonna be alright." Flashes of seeing Noah, standing farther back, with a hand over his mouth in shock. He looked so sad.
For a moment, I look for Fletcher, trying to push Zeno away. But when I realize the sun was so up I relax into Zeno's arms allowing him to take me into the house where Fletcher was pacing back and forth waiting for me.
He follows Zeno like a lost puppy, watching closely. "Quinn, you're gonna die without my blood." Fletcher says, as Zeno lays me on a bed or maybe a table upstairs. "I need your permission. I won't do it without your permission."
"What?" I breathe out, blinking hard and trying to focus. I begin to fall back into the darkness.
He grabs my face, turning me gently to look at him, "If I give you some of my blood, you will heal faster. I don't think your going to live without it."
My eyes widen as I try to slap his hands away from me, "No. No, I don't want to be a vampire." The world spins around me.
He catches me again, "No, Quinn, I don't want to turn you. Just heal you. If I give you a small dose it won't turn you, but it will help you heal."
"No." I groan. I knew that vampire blood was used to create a fledgling, but I didn't know the specifics of it and right now I couldn't even explain simple addition. My mind was fuzzy and I couldn't concentrate.
"Quinn," Fletcher says in a serious tone, "Please. I would never hurt you. It'll be OK, you won't turn into a vampire. Please, just…" He hesitates, "Please trust me. Just this once."
I stare into his eyes, seeing nothing but worry. No ill will towards me. I already chose to come here. I already chose to trust Fletcher over going to an actual hospital. I just had to follow through with my gut feeling.
I nod.
He sighs in relief, biting onto the flesh of his wrist and bringing it to my lips. At first, I gag, the smell of rancid blood filling my nostril. But as it fills my mouth, I taste something entirely different. It was sweet and salty like candied bacon only better. Much better.
I grab his arm and suck hard, trying to get more, but just as my mouth begins to fill again, he pulls away. "That's enough for now. Sleep."
And just like that, I fall back into the darkness.
"Michelle." I moan, as I wake up, all my memories crashing down on me. "Michelle!" I gasp and sit up, yelping in pain as I realize I was in an unfamiliar room, wrapped up in bandages.
I immediately swing my legs off the side of the bed, "Michelle?" I gasp, searching the room only to find I was the only one in here. Where was she?
I stagger to my feet, using the wall to keep me upright. But, my legs fail me and I crumple into someone's arms.
I shove them away, "Michelle!"
"She's OK, Quinn." I pause. It was Fletcher. I look up at him, panting.
"Fletcher." I breathe out, the last bit of fight in me extinguishing. He hooks his arms under my body and lifts me up with ease. I hadn't gotten far so he merely leans forward to place me back into bed.
"She's OK, Quinn. She's right next door, sleeping. Zeno and Beth are watching over her. I was watching you, but I stepped out to talk with Noah. He was pretty rattled seeing you so beat up."
I let out a held breath, "Thank you."
"How much do you remember?" He asks.
I shake my head, "Bits and pieces."
He nods slowly. "Do you remember what we talked about?"
I gasp as it comes back to me, "Your blood."
He nods. "Yeah."
"Am I?" I begin probing my teeth, looking for a sharp, long K9.
"No." He says, gently grabbing my hand. "No, I wouldn't do that to you without permission. I only gave you enough to help heal your injuries."
"I…" I search my brain, but come up with nothing, "I didn't know vampire blood could do that."
He gives me a sad smile, "It has to be in very small doses. Do you remember what happened before you got here? What were you fighting to end up like this?"
"Uh," I didn't have to think hard to remember the fight, I just didn't know what I was fighting against. "Dogs?"
"Werewolves?" Zeno asks, at the door. All my hairs stand on end. I had no idea he was there. How long had he been listening?
"How's Michelle?" I ask, starting to get up. Fletcher gently blocks me from getting up again and tucks me back into bed.
Zeno smiles kindly, coming to sit on a bedside table, "She's fine." He reassures me, closing his eyes. "I can hear her heartbeat from here. Strong. Determined. Better than yours was. You scared us quite a bit more than she did."
"Good." I sigh, "good."
"Was it a werewolf, like me?" Zeno asks again.
I shake my head, "I don't think so. These were… dead. Like a vampire or something. There were five in total, but two-" I hesitate, wondering what actually happened to the other two. Did they get away? Did that bird man kill them as well? "Two of them may have gotten away."
"Dead dogs?" Fletcher questions, looking confused.
"Quinn, did they look like zombies? Like they were rotting perhaps?" Zeno asks gently.
I nod, "yeah."
"Sounds like they may have been hell hounds. There are many kinds of hellhounds. Some are more dangerous than others." He adds.
"These were pretty dangerous." I state. I hesitate a moment before saying, "What about uh, b-bird people?"
They both look at me in confusion, "Bird people?" Fletcher questions, lifting an eyebrow.
I look to Zeno, then back to Fletcher. Neither one seemed to have any idea what I was talking about. "Nevermind. How long was I out?"
"Two days." Fletcher says. A chill goes down my spine. I was in a house with a vampire and two werewolves, passed out and unable to defend myself for two days.
"What did-"
"Maybe just try to keep the questions to a minimum." Fletcher suggests, "A lot has happened these two days."
"Fletcher," Zeno warns. A slight growl in his throat. "She deserves to know."
I look at Fletcher, "What?" I demand.