Chapter 11

chapter Eleven

*Ariya*

Slowly I blinked my eyes open. What happened? Was it all just a dream? Or did it really happen?

"Hey, sleepy head. Finally waking up?"

I looked over. "Caleb?"

"Yeah, Ariya. It's me. What? Did you think I was dead?"

I threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly, "I don't even remember everything that happened."

"I figured as much. I'll explain everything, but first, how are you?" Caleb smiled, his face softening.

"My whole body hurts. It feels heavy, like I couldn't move fast even if I wanted to. Also I feel like I haven't eaten for weeks." I let him go and leaned against the wall.

"Ariya, I want to test something but I need you to resist your eyes changing and your fangs coming out. Once you can't resist anymore and they do change then you can feed from me."

"What?! No!" I said angrily. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt Caleb.

"Why? 'Cause you're worried you're going to hurt me?" Caleb laughed.

"Yes." I nodded.

Caleb laughed. "Ariya, I'm sorry. There's a lot I forget that I hadn't taught you."

I looked at him with confusion.

"Ariya, you can't hurt me or kill me by feeding on me. That's why our two groups lived together. It is part of why I was sent with you that night."

"But" I started to say.

"Not right now, Ariya. I'll explain later. But right now, will you let me test something?"

I was torn. I didn't want to hurt Caleb but I knew what he said was true. I just didn't know how it was true. But I trusted Caleb. He practically raised me.

"Ok." I nodded.

"Alright then. Try to resist for as long as you can. If you happen to resist everything, then I'll tell you to let go. That will mean you don't have to resist anymore. Trust me, Ariya. Everything will be fine." Caleb explained.

I nodded. I tried to focus on what he told me. Caleb pulled out a knife. Wrapped his hand around the blade and sliced his hand open. The smell of blood hit the air and immediately I realized what Caleb was testing. How much I could resist showing who I really was. I could smell the blood in the air and felt it coaxing me. I knew I needed it but I forced myself not to go after it. Instead, I tried to get used to the smell. The sweet and metallic smell for some reason called to me. Trying to pull me towards it. But I ignored it. I felt as though my body became lighter somehow.

Satisfied with how things were going, Caleb opened his hand to let me see it. I really didn't think there was going to be a difference. But once I looked at his hand I realized that it was a whole new level of resistance needed on my part. I stared at his hand and could see the blood pumping out with each beat of his heart.

That was when I heard it. The thump, thump of Caleb's heart beating. Staring at his hand my eyes started narrowing. No! I tried to focus. I tried to ignore what was going on. I tried to ignore the coaxing feeling that pushed me to feed. I could resist more.

Caleb, deciding that I could resist that too, moved and placed his bloody hand across my mouth. My breath quickened. The sweet, metallic, coaxing smell was closer. I could feel the warmth of the blood and knew that I could taste it if I just gave in. But I wanted to fight. I wanted to resist any temptation. I clenched my jaw shut. So I couldn't open it to taste anything. I stared at Caleb, glaring. I wasn't mad at him. I just wanted to fight against my nature. I could feel it though. That it wasn't going to be long before I lost control.

Caleb pulled his hand away momentarily. Using two fingers from his other hand, he wiped blood onto them. I watched him carefully, unsure of what he was going to do. Then he shoved the fingers into my mouth. The blood on his fingers hit one of my canines. I opened my mouth in response. Quickly breathing in and out, I fought a losing battle. Once my mouth was open my tongue touched the blood on Caleb's other finger. I was losing it. I pulled away from Caleb. I clenched my jaw. I realized it was over. That I was seconds away from losing control.

Caleb smiled at me. Using his hand that was sliced open with the knife, Caleb wiped the blood on his neck.

"It's ok, Ariya. You did really well. You can stop fighting now. Let go. You can't hurt me. So don't worry." Caleb told me, standing up.

I could feel my eyes changing color. My eyes narrowed as I focused on Caleb. I felt my upper lip curl above my canines as they grew into fangs. My body tensed. I growled in response and then lunged at Caleb, sinking my fangs into his jugular. Caleb gasped. I could hear his heartbeat quicken. Then, just like with Drake, the strength in Caleb's body started to drain out of him as he slid to the ground. With that, Caleb's heartbeat slowed as well. Thumpthump