Chapter 17 - Counting Down the Seconds

Chapter 17 - Counting Down the Seconds
Minutes earlier...



Under the Master’s order, Jerome fetched the Vitalis doctor again from her laboratory. Mera immediately knew why. The odd couple were going to New Zealand by tomorrow and most likely, her Master was getting impatient with the cure of his so-called attacks.

Truth be told, she was working like crazy to find it, but it wasn’t just that easy. She needed both Science and Medicine to come up with an answer, and even that not-so-common Metaphysics too. They were vampires after all. Everything was out-of-the-ordinary for them.

If she were to be honest with herself, she’d say Cord had given her another absurd task along with one other previously requested. It was to find a cure for their curse without requiring Amanda’s blood sacrifice. She hadn’t gone far into her research with that one. It was a challenge and one that she was willing to take. After all, she had her immortality to do all kinds of experiments.

“I’ve heard you’re drinking often now. How many times exactly?” she asked the moment she stepped inside Cord’s throne room.

The latter was alone just listening to the beautiful heartbeat of Amanda when the doctor walked in. He glanced up and from the shadows of his dais, he gave her an answer.

“Twice, thrice a week.” The drink in question was next to him, on a coffee table that Jerome placed earlier. He couldn’t stomach watching it, let alone drinking it, but he knew he had to.

“Make that daily, Cord,” Mera suggested, giving him a serious stare.

Cord cocked a brow and scoffed.

“Why are you regulating my meals now?”

“It is the only way to ensure that you don’t hunger for Ms. Amanda again,” she replied pointblank. “It is a basic concept of Nature, Cord. The more full you are, the less likely you crave for food. Unless...” she routed her eyes on the crimson liquid and cringed her nose, “You prefer her blood.”

Cord didn’t show any reaction, but answer he did without missing a beat.

“I always prefer Amanda’s blood. I crave it.”

“But you don’t have any choice. Do you want her to die?” she bit out.

She already expected his answer, so she had no choice but to be frank. Besides him being a hardheaded vampire, she was well aware of his apparent preference of the witch’s blood. Back then, they didn’t know the owner of the said blood bags. Now, they do. To her, it was a cruel twist of fate. For her master and for all those affected with the curse.

Cord was silent for some time. It was a no-brainer question. Of course, he didn’t want Amanda to die, but something on Mera’s words made him think thoroughly.

“You know what my answer is, so yes, I’ll drink daily,” he stated, giving the doctor a cool stare, “every morning and evening even, but still, my diet doesn’t answer why I’m having these attacks.”

She released a long sigh in response.

“I’m still looking into it Cord, but by my initial assessment with your blood through a microscope, the cells are responding to an outside contamination, and when it does, it shivers and shrinks, hence the seizures and the pain you’re feeling.”

“What is this outside contamination you speak of?” he asked.

“It is unfortunate to say that I don’t know it yet, Cord.”

A muscle on his cheek ticked. He paused for a moment, honing his attention on Amanda’s heartbeat. It was growing closer and louder. And with the scent of her blood, he knew it was only seconds before she breaks through the throne room double doors.

“We are running out of time, you know that,” he stated, double meaning in his words.

Mera heard Amanda’s heartbeat too and understood him.

“I know. If you don’t want to harm Ms. Amanda, then I suggest you don’t accompany her to New Zealand. Stay here. Let Pamela and Calvin be her guard,” were her final words before the doors swung open.

“Cord, may I speak with you privately?” Amanda announced, disregarding the presence of the doctor.

“Of course,” he stated and with a final glance at Mera, he signaled her away.

Both women nodded at each other before the latter waltzed out of the room.

“You are avoiding me again?” Amanda started as soon as the door closed. She stayed at the base of the dais, choosing not to climb up just to touch him. The last time she was in this hall was when she still didn’t know Cord was a vampire. She didn’t know when he said ‘honeysuckle sweet’ he was pertaining to her. And she didn’t know then that he was exercising fasting and that he was very hungry...for her.

“Only temporarily, Amanda. I can’t harm you again,” Cord stated, choosing to sit on his throne too instead of giving her a kiss.

Amanda crossed her arms and gnashed her teeth. “You do know what tomorrow is, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then, will you accompany me or not? I could always take Jonathan with me if you’re that worried with my safety.”

Cord quickly shook his head.

“No, I will come with you, Love,” he stated and then, despite his restraint, he stood up, climbed down the dais and neared her, “but I’m going to have to impose a no-kissing, no-touching, no...making love rule.”

His eyes were on her, feasting her, unclothing her all the while he walked in circles as if he was laying claim on his prey.

Amanda felt the heat rush through her. She felt cognizant with every step he took; felt cognizant with the heat of his gaze; but utterly feeling ambivalent over what he just said. Were their self-restraints really that strong?

“I am torn, Cord. You know I want to touch you, kiss you, and make love to you. Are you sure that’s a wise decision to make?”

He replied by stopping in front of her and giving her a fixed stare. It meant ‘yes’.

Amanda chuckled lightly in response. “Huh, your ridiculous rule will definitely fit when you meet my step-father.”

“Meeting your step-father for his approval is the least of my worries, Amanda,” he remarked. “I need to think about your safety, both from me and our unknown enemy.”

He stepped closer to her and reached out to lightly touch the plane of her neck where he made two puncture marks three days ago.

“I really am sorry about what I did to you.”

Amanda touched his face too and pressed her chest against his.

“Cord, give yourself some slack. Do you think I would have stayed here if I believe you truly pose a threat to my life?”

A smirk broke out from his lips then.

“You did that in the past,” he reminded, remembering her jumping out of her room’s balcony into the garden below just to escape him.

Amanda nodded. “And I can do it again, but I didn’t.”

“Why didn’t you use your powers on me that time? You had the freedom to do so.”

Her hands traveled down his chest and placed a palm on top where his unbeating heart lay.

“I didn’t want to hurt you,” she stated and then hauled a deep breath. It was time; time for her to say the damnable words a witch wasn’t supposed to say to a vampire. “I...love you, Cord.”

The latter, upon hearing it, clenched his teeth tightly. He squeezed his eyes shut and took in a deep breath of his own.

“Damn it,” he said after some time. He looked at her again with warmth, with love. He wanted to touch her, but he kept still.

“You’re making it hard for me, my witch. You don’t know how much I’ve yearned to hear those words from your mouth. And to hear it now, tempts me to shower you with kisses.”

“Then, kiss me and make love to me again, Cord,” Amanda offered.

Cord steadied his breath.

“You really are testing my self-restraint, Amanda, but no, I can’t.”

She relented, nodding and giving him a smile, but deep inside, a prick of disappointment hit her.

“I’ll respect your decision, Cord. I just wish this is the right thing for the both of us,” she said, managing to hide the disappointment in her voice. “I’ll see you tomorrow then?”

Cord nodded.

“I’ll be counting down the seconds, Amanda.”