Elizabeth
“Chance!” I whisper yelled for the fifth time in ten minutes. I don’t think I’ve ever blushed this much in my life.
Jesse growled as Chance laughed. “I’m just saying,” Chance said as he stopped laughing, “I’m going to be thinking about that taste all night.”
Jesse growled a little louder. “Yes, we get it,” he said shortly, “Her blood was amazing, now shut up!”
“Is someone jealous?” Chance teased.
Jesse grumbled. “You know, it’d help us run from the murderous group chasing us if you would shut up!”
“Would both of you please shut up?” I asked, taking a slow breath and pulling my hair to the side as the blush finally completely left my face.
Jesse let out a calming breath and Chance chuckled, but they didn’t say anything else. I sighed at the silence and listened to their footsteps as I followed them, happy they were actually letting me walk on my own.
My hand subconsciously moved down to my wrist and I rubbed the place where Chance bit me. My eyes widened slightly as I rubbed my sensitive fingertips over the place again; even I couldn’t feel a thing. No marks, no scars, not a single flaw in my skin. It was like the bite never happened!
“It’s gone,” I muttered quietly.
Chance was suddenly beside me, leaning uncomfortably close. “You sound so disappointed,” he smirked, “Do you want me to bite you again? I wouldn’t mind getting another taste.”
A shiver went down my spine at the thought and I moved away. “No thank you.”
Jesse growled as he lightly put an arm around me, “Lay off already. You’re starting to creep her out.”
“Sorry,” Chance said in a lighter tone, “Forgive me my dear Elizabeth?” I froze as he carefully took my hand, acting very dramatic.
“I don’t know what seems weirder, you acting like this or the fact that you called me Elizabeth.”
Jesse laughed once. “It’s all weird, he’s just a weird person.”
Chance let go of my hand and gave a dramatic huff. “Where’s your sense of humor? Both of you!”
“Maybe I dropped it back at the house when I was running for my life,” I said slowly, emphasizing every word at the end.
Chance smirked sarcastically, “Jeeze Lizzy, you only have every vampire in the area on red alert to kill you. I just don’t see why you don’t have a sense of humor.”
I smiled at his sarcasm and couldn’t help but laugh.
“Hey,” Chance said, sounding genuinely happy, “I made her relax and laugh!”
“Good for you,” Jesse replied, the hint of a smile in his voice.
“How much longer do we have to walk?” I asked, starting to get tired. It felt like we’d been wondering through the forest for hours.
Jesse hugged me closer for a moment. “You can rest soon.”
My heart skipped a beat as I heard something rustle in the bushes behind us. “What’s that?” I whispered, turning toward the noise.
“A rabbit,” Jesse answered in a quiet voice.
“Are you sure?”
“Definitely,” Chance said, sounding disgusted, “I can smell its blood from here. Bleh.”
“You don’t like animal blood?” I asked, tilting my head slightly to the side.
Jesse chuckled. “No, not at all.”
“Really?” I don’t know why this surprised me, it just did.
“Do you like tofu or that other bland, fake food crap?” Chance asked.
I shook my head. “No, not really.”
“Then compare animal blood to that,” Jesse said, his arm still around my waist.
Chance moved closer and put his arm around my shoulders. “It’s just as bland and weird ,”
“and just tastes off,” Jesse finished for him.
I smiled and laughed quietly to myself. “Sorry, it’s just so cute when you two have a twin moment and finish each other’s sentences.” They both made sounds of disgust and let me go, stepping away. “What! It’s cute that you know what the other is thinking.”
“It’s annoying,” Chance answered.
“So!” I said quickly, before they could argue, “Human blood is the good stuff?”
“Definitely,” they said in unison.
Chance stepped closer, a smirk in his voice, “Though yours is the best.”
I tensed slightly and stepped to the side, stumbling for a moment before Jesse steadied me. “Well I hope you got a good taste because no one is biting me again!”
“Aww,” Chance whined, “but it’s so rich and –“
“La la la!” I sang loudly, holding my hands over my ears and trying to block him out.
“Hey!” Jesse called, gently pulling down one of my hands so I could hear him. “I’d say we’ve lost them by now, right?” I nodded and Chance gave an affirmative grunt. “Then look over there, Chance.”
A moment later Chance let out a short laugh. “Cave sweet home?” He half sang, half asked.
“It should be perfect for now,” Jesse responded, “We can rest and think of our next move.”
My eyes widened slightly as the boys lead me toward the cave. “I’m not so sure about this cave thing,” I said, slowing my pace. “Are you sure nothing’s in there? Don’t wild animals usually live in caves?”
Chance laughed. “Lizzy, I think we’re scarier than any wild animals you might come across in there.”
“And stronger,” Jesse added, gently pulling me forward.
I bit my lip, considering the idea. It wasn’t like we were planning on living there forever, just for a little bit. Besides, where else would we go? It was the safest place, for everyone.
“It’s okay Lizzy,” Chance said in a soft voice as Jesse walked up ahead, “I’m not afraid to wrestle a few bears or wild dogs for you.” I laughed a little and he put an arm around me, pulling me forward. “Nothing’s going to get you, I promise.”
I smiled and relaxed slightly. I knew that they wouldn’t let anything happen to me and after fighting off several vampires, a few angry animals would be nothing to them. But it still helped hearing him say it out loud.
“Fine, I’ll go in the cave.”
“Yeah!” Chance cheered. “Party in the cave!”
“How about silence in the cave?” Jesse asked from a few feet away, his voice echoing ever so slightly.
As Chance led me forward, the ground beneath my feet turned from soft earth to hard stone. I took slow breaths as they lead me farther and farther in.
“Isn’t this far enough?” I asked, the anxiety apparent in my voice.
“We need to make sure we’re far enough in to not be seen,” Jesse replied, his footsteps stopping, “Though I suppose this is far enough.”
Chance let go of me and took a few steps away. “Yeah. It’s pretty dark back here though so be careful.”
I turned toward Chance, raising an eyebrow. “Are you talking to me?”
“Uh-“ I cut him off with a small laugh before he could say anything else.
“It’s always completely dark for me, so the lack of light really isn’t a problem.”
The sound of someone getting smacked echoed off the walls, followed by Jesse muttering, “Idiot.”
Chance laughed sheepishly. “Oh yeah, forgot.”
I smiled but the realization that we were far into a cave came back to me. The thought of being stuck in here with the small stone walls all around made my heart rate increase slightly.
“Are you still worried about animals?” Jesse asked.
“Because I already told you we’ve got that covered,” Chance finished.
I quickly shook my head. “No, I’m fine.”
“Then what is it?” Jesse coaxed.
“Nothing,” I answered, trying to sound calm, “I said I’m fine.”
“El,” Jesse said, moving forward and putting a hand on my arm, “We can hear your heart beating faster, we know something’s wrong.”
My eyes widened slightly as I thought that over. Of course they could hear my heart beat, they were vampires! So of course they would pick up on it when I got nervous. Dang their super senses!!
“It’s just,” I turned my head to the side. “Promise you won’t laugh.”
“I won’t,” Jesse said softly.
“I might!” Chance yelled from the other side of the cave.
I turned and glared in Chance’s direction, though I’m not sure if he could see it. Jesse sighed. “I’ll hit him if he does, now what’s wrong.”
“It’s just that . . . I’m kind of . . . a little bit . . . claustrophobic.”