Chapter 43: Chapter 43 BLOOD IN A CUP

SJ tried to get into the joyous mood and block the nagging sound out of his mind but he couldn’t. He tried to make sure that Scarlet didn’t realize that something was bothering him. He watched as the embers of the fire leaped around the burning logs as the sound buzzed engagingly in his ear.

“It’s a relief to be out here. The cold night breeze and the dark sky dotted by the stars.” She took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

“I’m glad you are doing well mum.” SJ sat by her side and draped his arm over her shoulders.

“Me too, but you seem to be somewhere else. Is something bothering you, baby, you know you can tell me.”

“Don’t worry about me, I’m fine. I’m just thinking about school.” He lied.

“First day around humans for more than just a couple of minutes. I was nervous too and I was human. High school is brutal but you’ll do fine remember you are immortal.” She playfully elbowed him in the side.

“I’ll suck their blood if they dare try and bully me.” He teased.

“Uh-huh do that, because your mother hasn’t had enough drama to last her a lifetime.”

“Don’t worry. Where is Dad, oddly, he isn’t with you? Lately, he is glued to your side.” SJ pointed out.

Scarlet looked around and couldn’t spot her husband anywhere. She could see how everyone was having fun in each other’s company. Eric had managed to mount the huge steak of meat over the fire and was roasting it perfectly.

Solara and Kayla were sharing a private moment far away from the others. Lovingly looking into each other’s eyes having a conversation that only they could hear.

The rest were playing around the fire slicing pieces of meat to eat or sipping on their tall glasses of blood. But Stephan was nowhere in sight and Scarlet didn’t know what could be so important that he would choose to miss this time with his family.

“Go find your father for me. Tell him to come to sit with us.” Scarlet implored.

SJ quickly followed his father’s scent into the house and the kitchen. For a second before he was noticed he stood by the door and watched his father. Confused and flabbergasted at what he saw he stepped out of the shadows.

“Come in.” Stephan didn’t look up he already sensed his son’s presence, and he knew he was caught.

“What are you doing?” his eyes were fixed on his father’s torn wrist.

“Your mother didn’t want you to find out about this.” He groaned when he bit deeper into his wrist making the tear wider.

“With good reason. What exactly are you doing?” he moved closer to the kitchen counter.

“I’m bleeding into a cup.”

“Thank you for stating the obvious.” SJ rephrased his statement when Stephan looked up, the expression on his face bemused. “I mean I can see that. What I want to know is why.”

“Because I have to. It’s for your mother and the baby.”

“Wait a minute is this why she looks so- for lack of a better word, healthy?” SJ had been able to connect the dots and part of him wasn’t so sure of how he felt about it.

“My blood, our blood is different from any other. It helps the baby and gives your mother the strength she needs. So yes your mother is drinking my blood.”

SJ stared at his father for a moment, his eyes darting from his bleeding wrist to his composed face.

“I’m sorry but doesn’t this seem a bit off to you. Mom is feeding on you.”

“Now who is stating the obvious? She needs it and she is going to get it until the day she has the baby.” Stephan wrapped a cloth around his wrist.

“What happens if she can’t stop?”

“Stop what, stop feeding off me? I don’t mind as long as she is with me for eternity.”

“Wow, you have a lot going for you. Your looks, charming personality, two kids and let’s not forget the blood. Because once she gets addicted to it, she is chained to you for life.”

“Don’t be sarcastic. Just ride this out with us. This is what we need to do and let’s just try handling one huddle at a time.” he handed SJ one of the mugs he had bled into.

Reluctantly SJ took it. He raised it to his nose and took a sniff and even he couldn’t deny the power it had.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Your mother turned into a junkie after one sip.” Stephan teased but SJ wasn’t amused.

***

“There are my two-,” Scarlet’s trail of thought was abandoned once she caught a whiff of Stephan’s blood in the air. “I thought we agreed not to tell him.” She was on her feet one hand balled into a fist at her side while the other rested atop her belly.

“He found me bleeding into a cup and I couldn’t explain it,” Stephan explained.

“You can smell a goat a mile away you want to tell me you couldn’t sense your son walking into the room.”

“That’s right my son and that means he is like me. I don’t want to argue about this with you. Could you just drink this please?” He gave the mug to her.

“Dad is right, you shouldn’t fight about this. If this is what keeps you on your feet then you should drink it.” SJ tried to be supportive but he could see the look in his mother’s eye when Stephan put the mug in her hands.

Scarlet closed her eyes as she brought the mug up to her nose. She loved the smell of it, how it tasted, and the energy it gave her once she drank it. She could still the blood she had drunk earlier pumping in her system. She didn’t need to drink anymore but she wanted to.

“Drink it.” Stephan eased her elbow up.

Scarlet swallowed hard and brought the mug to her lips. Not opening her eyes she sipped the blood waiting to feel its effect. With each drop that coursed through her system, she could feel her body get stronger and electrifying.