The feeling of a steaming rag being placed over my gaping wound awaked me. I winced, but was almost immediately over come by the feeling of relief. I relaxed my muscles and let my eyes flutter open.
Hiram was kneeled beside me; eyes alight with fear, concern, and hopelessness. He wore no shirt for it was wrapped around my wound and had been dyed the same golden color of his fabulous eyes, because of my blood. When he had his shirt on I could tell that he had good muscles. But now, when it was off and so close to my face I could see them much better. He had a perfectly shaped eight pack encased by skin the color of caramel syrup. I had the sudden urge trace my finger along the outline of his muscles, but stopped for I knew any movement would be excruciatingly painful. As his eyes swept over my face, he saw that my eyes were partially opened, and he smiled, his flawless teeth outlined by his perfectly sculpted, full lips.
“Morning Sleepyhead,” he murmured while brushing his hand along my jaw line, removing the wet hair from my face. I shivered at his gentle touch. As I gazed into his eyes, I found that they seemed to be swirling with different shades of gold. The look was impossible to break. My head was swimming with confusion when he finally turned his back to me in order to get more water for the rag. His uncovered back was just as beautiful as the front, and it took all of my self-control not to just to stare in awe.
When he returned my thoughts had cleared and my mind was working right.
“Where are they attackers, and how did you get the water warm?” He looked behind him and I followed his gaze to the faint line of smoke in the air.
“I made a fire a little ways from here, so you wouldn’t be scared. As for the others… they make for good firewood.” An involuntary shiver ran through my spine even though my instincts told me it was absolutely necessary.
“How am I?” I stare at my shoulder. His face dropped.
“Not good. You lost a lot of blood, but you might make it if you get something to drink…soon. It defiantly didn’t help your circumstances at that you hadn’t drank in a long time. Also the wound is too big to heal fast enough on it’s own, so I am going to have to stitch you up once I find something that could work.” He looked up and we locked eyes, “Don’t worry…I will not let you die.” I believed him with all my heart for its sincerity ran like bells in every word.
Truthfully, I was very worried for myself, but it hurt me to see him worried too.
“Enough gloomy talk…what is the bright side?” He chuckled.
“How about that you single handily took out four of the five experienced vampires, and delivered the final blow to the leader of them?” He looked at me with wonder and awe. “That is what I call good fighting skills.”
“No,” I shook my head, “that is what I call good teaching.”
“Skills,” he said still chuckling.
“Nope…teaching.”
“Skills.”
“Teaching.” Suddenly we were laughing our heads off. But when I laughed my shoulder shifted and severe pain came exploding from my shoulder. I screamed in agony once and then started whimpering while squeezing my eyes shut and grinding my teeth together.
Hiram was beside me quicker than I could have ever asked for his help. He was suddenly on all fours, blowing onto the wound, which surprisingly quickly relived most of the pain. With his help, I was able to win my battle over the unwanted whimpers, but was badly losing against my tears, because they still came, free flowing down my face. I willed them to stop, but they didn’t seem to want to listen. I was relieved to know that just the tiniest amount of blood had escaped my body.
Hiram was jumping up, as quickly as a flash, to go get some more rags.
“No,” I said trying to regain control over my voice, “I am fine.” He stopped, turned, and stared at me…confused.
“But you just…”
“I said I am fine.” I had won the war over my voice, and found myself glaring at him, daring him to try and help me when I didn’t want to be helped.
He was growing quickly annoyed with my stubbornness. His eyes narrowed.
“You don’t have to be brave you know.”
“Yes I do!!!” I shouted back.
“Why?” He was angry now.
“Because I won’t give up on Kit…I can’t give up on her. And I have got to be brave, or she will suffer the consequences.” I started mumbling a string of words that twisted together, but were supposed to mean something like, “I can’t give up, I won’t up,” over and over again. All my incoherent words stopped abruptly as Hiram was suddenly at my side, all the anger dissolved from his face. The only emotions left were concern…and love, I noticed with a sense of merriment.
“I will not let you back down, you will be brave.” He spoke with such surety that I almost believed it myself.
With that he scooped me up into his powerful arms, (being extra careful with my shoulder), brought his face close to mine, and kissed me for the second time, but this time I knew that he loved me…I had no doubt.