Dark Needs at Night's Edge

23

"Maybe I can reach it," Néomi murmured as she gazed at the paper. "And maybe I can't."

In the end, she decided it wasn't worth the trouble. She was turning her back on a possible paper, and she didn't care. As she floated down the drive, a placid breeze blew and the stars were out in a cloudless night sky, and she couldn't stop smiling over last night.

She'd decided that she was going to give Conrad the key this eve, because she believed that he would make the vow never to harm his brothers.

And that look in his eyes... She thought he truly wanted a future with her, impossible though that might seem.

Just as she wanted more with her fascinating vampire.

Would he be angry about the key at first? Without a doubt. But after a rage, he'd soon calm. And if his brothers were trapped somewhere else, there really was no other option... .

As she closed in on the manor, she spied movement near the toolshed. She frowned to see Conrad. What was he doing out there?

She blinked for focus. Because it looked like he was holding an ax at the cutting stump. What the devil is he doing? Why would he—

The horrific answer dawned on her; the ax dropped.

Everything began to spin.

The sound of the strike was still echoing as the blood spurted... he staggered silently. Silent, doesn't want to alert me with a yell, doesn't want me to stumble upon him quietly removing his own hand in the dark.

Mère de Dieu. Her energy flared and dimmed. He shoved a towel to the wound. The white cloth was red and dripping with blood in seconds.

Madness... A storm soon boiled overhead. Too much. Just as the rain began to fall, she finally had enough air to scream.

His head jerked up, and his big body lurched. He was gritting his teeth against the pain as they made their way to each other.

"Don't be upset, koeri," he bit out, his eyes rapt on her face. His expression was drawn in agony—but not over his own pain. "It will... regenerate."

She could barely hear him over the roaring in her ears. "But... but... "

"I did this for us."

"Oh, God... " The pain he must be suffering!

His face was wet from the growing storm, his black hair lashed over his cheeks. "Can you... do you think you can help with the other one?"

"Conrad, no!"

"You can do this, Néomi. It will save days... of healing time. Have to get these goddamned things... off me."

"Why?" She began weeping in earnest.

"This is the first step. I made a conscious decision. You're looking at me... like I've gone completely mad again." His voice faltering, he asked, "H-have I?"

"I... that's not why I'm so upset!" Rose petals swirled around her body. Her hair began whipping, yet not in time with the strengthening wind.

"Then why are you looking at me like this?" He narrowed his eyes, realizing her reaction was more than horror. "What is happening to you? To the sky?"

She gazed up at him, her eyes awash in tears. "Conrad, c-come inside so I can tend to you. I have to t-tell you something. D'accord?" Lightning struck close by.

"No. Tell me now." Even after what he'd just done, he got that stubborn look on his face.

"S'il te plait, let me just tend to you—"

"Now, Néomi!"

"I... I'll be back." She unsteadily traced to her studio. It took three tries before she could get hold of the key. When she returned, fear for him sat cold and heavy inside her. "I-I was giving it to you tonight," she whispered, offering the key.

His brows drew together as if he couldn't comprehend what it was. Then his eyes went wild. He threw back his head; his unholy roar of fury echoed in the night.

She gasped, energy funneling out of her.

"What is this? Néomi, what the fuck is this?"

She focused on his face, trying to keep the world from spinning. "J-just let me help you."

"Don't come near me!"

"Conrad, please, listen! I was going to give it—"

"Bullshit! Cease your lies!" he bellowed.

She squeezed her eyes shut, only opening them once she heard the rattle of chains. He flung the manacles to the ground in front of her.

And then she learned what rage truly was.

Can't comprehend... what I've just learned...

Fury threaded through his veins, drowning out the pain. She'd willfully kept him here. Lied about the key. Again and again.

Not her. I didn't want her ever to betray me.

He could hear himself beginning to speak, but didn't register the words, just had this rage he had to unleash before it seared him inside.

As the rain fell harder, the sparks glittering off her grew more intense. With each word, her face paled, her image flickering even more. Her lips parted as if she was horrified, as if she didn't recognize him at all.

He dimly heard her say, "Y-you're going to say something you regret, something you can never take back... ."

And then he must have.

"Oh," she murmured, looking like he'd struck her. Tears spilled from her eyes. Just before she disappeared, she whispered, "Good-bye, vampire."

Somewhere out in the night, he heard her crying harder. An answering roar of pain was ripped from his chest.