* * *
Ryker
I don’t know what I’m doing here. I’m not the type to hold someone’s hand while they’re awake. So, why am I holding the little temptress’ now while she’s unconscious? She doesn’t look like the wildfire I banter with at all. She’s clammy, her skin all red like she has a nasty sunburn, and there are lacerations along her body. I’m grateful to hear that the nurses have been coming in and soaking her with cooling agents to keep her fever down.
It took six of us to carry her in with us rotating out because her body was burning through our cooling spells, searing us with her touch. I was shocked that her skin wasn’t peeled off from the heat. I’m still sporting a burn on my inner forearm, but that will heal over time. Dad threw me some burn cream that stopped the worst of it just before he jumped on taking care of Rez here.
As soon as I found out Rez was the overhead stat call, I texted Zeke for help. He dropped everything to rush over, and he hasn’t left her side since, even against the medical staff’s protest.
Only someone who has it bad would do that. My eyes find his profile, and he’s a mess. He’s paler than usual and his eyes are red from crying.I wonder when was the last time he ate? He didn’t finish all of his shake at lunch, so he must be hungry since it’s past dinnertime. Knowing him, he’s going to starve himself until Rez wakes up. I need to text JP. Maybe he can swing by and bring him a smoothie.
Speaking of being hungry, I’ve been on a damn diet without my own consent. I haven’t been ‘functioning’ like I should and picking up second hand sex vibes of the lust being thrown off around campus is barely keeping me going. I’ve heard about a disease or a curse that older males tend to get that same effect. Although, this shouldn’t be happening to me. I’m twenty-five damnit! I want to get my dick wet. Hell, I would be happy with getting a semi, I swear I think it’s broken. That’s actually why I was with dad when he got the call. I wanted to make sure there wasn’t anything physically wrong with me.
Thankfully, we didn’t get to the embarrassing part of what the real reason for my presence was. Although I did ask dad if there were different types of ailments that could cause problems of the physiology to the body. Dad mentioned that some curses could cause the body to function improperly, but anything he would have said afterwards was interrupted with the overhead page. My first thought was Rez, since my dick stopped working after I ran into her. But that couldn't be right, since I actually feel my best around her. It was a misconceived notion that you can’t find out who places a curse on you. It’s a proven fact that if you get close enough to the person that performed the spell, you’ll become sick and can’t get closer.
So if anything, it rules out Rez putting a curse on me since one, I can get close to her and two, I actually feel like my normal self when I’m in her presence. Crazy huh? I just wish I knew why or if Zeke was experiencing the same thing. I’m really worried about him.
“How are you holding up, Z?” I ask, even though I know he won’t answer me. He surprises me by at least shrugging his shoulders, never taking his eyes off of Rez.
Movement by the curtain catches my attention and I spot Levi at the entrance, a look of horror on his face. His mouth is agape as he takes in her lithe form. I watch in my own stunned silence as he clenches his jaw and furrows his eyes into a scowl as his eyes take in the room.Shit.That’s the most I’ve ever seen him look emotional in years. Hurrying in, he conjures up a chair to sit by me without saying a word. He finally notices Lynx and squints his eyes at her Familiar for a moment before he’s drawn back to Rez again. As he reaches for her arm, he pulls back and thinks better of it.
I hate to say it, but I’m glad Levi is shaken up. Being the closest to him, I know what he’s going through. The constraints that people put on him, hell, the ones he puts on himself, are just too much sometimes. I feel as though he will lose himself one day and no one will be able to stop him from his self-destruction. Though, seeing how he’s become so flustered in the few days Rez has been here, I think there might be a storm coming that Levi can’t hide from and that’s a great thing. No matter what I’ve done to try and pull him back to us, trying to include him in game night, or throwing parties at our dorm, it just hasn’t worked. Hell, just sitting down and having a one on one with him hasn’t worked. I miss him. I miss having my big brother. I think having Rez here will be just what I’ve been hoping for.
“Ryker,” dad calls, pulling me from my thoughts.
Looking up, I spot my dad beckoning me over. “Can you help me, please?” He asks. It must be severe since he never uses manners. Giving Rez a parting look, I plead with her one more time.Please get better, Temptress. I’m not done playing with you.I give her hand a squeeze and run off to see what dad needs.
* * *
Levi
I barely notice as Ryker follows his father out of the emergency bay. The doctors aren’t hovering, but they still haven’t moved Nerezza out of the open bay area yet. This means she’s either not safe to move, or they’re not sure what’s going on. I wish mother would have given me more information than just to go check up on her latest ‘project’. How did she evenknowabout Nerezza being here? Maybe Ryker’s dad told her since he was here when Rez showed up. Damnit. I would have come sooner if I had known. I blame myself for not paying attention while she was talking about her plans at lunch earlier.
“How long has she been like this?” I ask Zeke. I know we haven’t been the closest lately, and I’m sure he blames me, but I hope he won’t snub me on this. I can’t help it if I actually want to do what my family asks of me. Yes, I tend to do what’s asked and ‘check in’ with Lilith all the time. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing, but that’s not how Zeke sees it. He’s constantly nagging me that I’m ‘reporting’ to Lilith and not being the big brother I should be.“You need to be here and with us now, not attached to your phone like it’s your fucking limb.”That was our last argument as he stormed out of the living room last night, throwing my phone at me.
“Ever since they brought her in, three hours ago.” He answers me, but he doesn’t take his eyes off of her.
Three hours ago? Why wasn’t I told sooner?
I feel another wave of sorrow and pity rolling off her Familiar, and I give him another curious look. I shouldn’t be able to feel his emotions at all. Hell, I didn’t even think Familiars were able to change forms either, but he seems to do that too. He’s definitely something I’ve never come across before. Maybe it’s because of his size today. His Lynx form looks to be twice his standard size.Like he’s puffing up to protect her. Hmm. That might be it.Pulling out my phone, I make a quick note so I can relay that back to mother.
“Can you not go a few minutes without that device glued to your hands,” Zeke spits out.
Looking up, I meet his bloodshot eyes, and his anger hits me directly in the chest. But that’s not the only feeling that’s pouring out of him.Fear. I look back at Nerezza, and it clicks. He likes her, more than just a friend. I thought catching them in the apartment was just a quick romp in the sheets, but now that I see it, I realize she means more to him than I initially thought.
Lifting my phone to type that in, I freeze. He’s right. Now is not the time to be on my phone talking to mom and giving her the information she’s begging for. Resolved now, I sit my phone up on the bed and Zeke looks over at it in disgust and annoyance. I need to be here, present for both of them, and for me. Getting comfortable, I move the chair closer to her upper body and take off my blazer, laying it over the back. Sitting back down, I reach for my phone, and Zeke tracks the movement as I turn it off before I grab Nerezza’s hand.
Looking back up, Zeke gives me a small accepting smile and nod. When I return it, he goes back to focusing on his ‘woman’. I’m not sure how everything plays into what mom wants, but I’ll keep this to myself for now.
* * *
JP
My phone chimes and I see a text come through from Ryker.
Fuck boy:Hey, man. Can u make up 1 of ur smoothies 4 Z?
Like he has to ask, I enjoy making those for that sexy vamp.
