Chapter 57 Hunger
Aloria
I awaken slowly, the world coming into focus like a painting being brushed vividly to life. I’m cocooned in warmth, a soft, comforting haze surrounding me, cradling me as I drift between dreams and reality. The air is heavy with the scent of herbs and something sweet, a fragrance that feels both foreign and familiar. But amidst the comfort, there’s an unsettling emptiness in my stomach that gnaws at me… a hunger that feels primal, almost feral, clawing at the edges of my consciousness. I blink, trying to piece together the fragments of my memory. The last thing I recall is the sharp pain, the suffocating darkness that enveloped me, and then… River.
I turn my head slightly, and there he is… my steadfast guardian, my anchor in this storm. His intense gaze is locked onto me, a mixture of relief and concern playing across his handsome features. Relief washes over me, but it’s quickly overshadowed by a surge of hunger that twists my insides in a way that feels almost unnatural. I sit up suddenly, the quick motion causing River to jump to his feet, his eyes wide with alarm.
“Aloria!” he exclaims, rushing to my side, his hand hovering protectively near my shoulder. “You’re awake, Thank the Goddess. How do you feel?”
“I’m… confused,” I admit, the words tasting bitter on my tongue as I try to process the weight of my circumstances. “And hungry.” The admission feels like a confession, a vulnerability I’m not sure I want to expose.
He studies me, the tension in his jaw taut, the muscles working as if he’s trying to suppress something. “You’ve been poisoned,” he explains carefully, his voice low and steady, as if he’s reluctant to shatter the fragile moment of clarity we share. “From the vampire's bite.”
“Poisoned? I am not getting it.” I admit.
An elderly woman, with a warm smile steps into my field of vision, “vampires give off a kinda poison, some if their essence so to say. it’s going to take time to rid your body of the vampire’s essence. But you should be safe now.”
“Should be safe?” I repeat, my brow furrowing as I process his words. “But I’m starving.” The admission feels like a cry for help, underscoring the urgent need that thrums beneath my skin.
River glances at the door, his expression shifting as he weighs his options. “Let’s get you something to eat. You need your strength.” The determination in his voice gives me a flicker of hope, but the word ‘eat’ ignites something inside me, an instinct that flares to life with a ferocity I cannot ignore.
I nod, feeling the urgency of my hunger wrap around me like a suffocating blanket, urging me to act. We both Thank the healer, who tells River to keep an eye on me till I am back to myself.
River leads me out of the healer’s hut, and as we step into the cool evening air, my senses sharpen, the world around me bursting with color and sound. The scent of food wafts through the air, rich and tantalizing, and my stomach growls loudly in response, a low, primal sound that echoes in the stillness of the night.
As we walk, the moon hangs high in the sky, casting a silver glow over everything, illuminating the street ahead. Shadows dance along the edges of the roofs, and I can hear the distant sound of laughter, the soft murmur of voices from a nearby gathering. Each step feels like a rediscovery of who I am, the hunger within me pulling me forward, guiding me toward something I desperately crave.
River glances at me, his brow furrowed with concern. “I know it’s hard, Aloria, but we need to be careful. The essence of the vampire… its poison… still lingers in you. You may find that your cravings are more intense than before.” His words send a shiver down my spine, a stark reminder of the darkness I’ve just escaped.
“I understand,” I reply, my voice steadier than I feel. “But I can’t ignore this hunger. I need to feed.” The words hang in the air between us, a declaration of my newfound reality, a reality I’m still trying to comprehend.
He nods, a mixture of admiration and concern flickering in his eyes. “Then let’s find you something that will satisfy your cravings without putting you at risk. The healer mentioned that there are foods rich in blood essence… things that can help you heal without drawing too deeply on the darkness.”
At the inn, the atmosphere is warm and inviting, but my focus is singular. I approach the innkeeper, my voice firm with an edge of desperation. “I want meat. Red and bloody.”
The innkeeper raises an eyebrow, but River speaks before I can say anything else. “Bring her what she asked for.”
I watch as the innkeeper nods, a hint of concern flitting across his face. Moments later, he places a generous stack of very red meat in front of me. The crimson juices glisten under the candlelight, and my mouth waters. I dig in immediately, tearing into the flesh with a fervor I didn’t know I possessed.
But it is not enough, and soon I am on my third portion, each one more raw and bloody than the one before.
“Aloria, slow down,” River cautions, his tone gentle yet firm. “You need to pace yourself.”
But I can’t stop. Each bite sends a rush of warmth through me, a satiating satisfaction that drowns out the last vestiges of confusion. I devour another piece, barely pausing to breathe before I’m reaching for a new, the taste of blood igniting something wild within me.
“Are you sure this is wise?” River asks, his voice laced with an edge of worry. “You have already had a lot.”
“More,” I demand, my voice sharper. “I want more.”
I can see the conflict in his eyes, but the hunger is a ferocious beast clawing at my insides, and I won’t be satisfied until it’s quelled. When the third portion arrives, I can’t help but feel a sense of triumph. I slice into the meat, relishing the red, dripping juices.
“Aloria, that’s enough,” River says, reaching for my plate with a look of concern etched into his face. “You need to stop.”
But my instincts take over, and without thinking, I snap. I bite down on his hand, hard. The taste of iron fills my mouth, mixed with the salt of my own desperation. I can’t believe I’ve done it, but the hunger is a powerful force, and I’m unwilling to let anything stand in my way.
“Damn it, Aloria!” River yells, pulling his hand back, surprise etched across his features. “What are you doing?”