The whole house was dark. He as right; everyone was asleep. We walked cautiously through the dark domicile. We climbed down the winding stairs to the bottom chamber where I believed Alec to be. We opened the door, and I felt like my heart would be beating with anticipation, ready to burst out of my chest, if it still beat, that is. The door opened with a loud creek and it was even darker and more eerie inside.
“Alec?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. My throat felt dry.
“Mmmm, Gwen?” I heard Alec groan.
I followed the sound of his strained and tired voice and found him in the exact spot where he was when I left.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” I asked, carefully helping him to his feet.
His eyes were glossy and his skin was cold. He kept closing his eyes and tilting his head forward, like he was falling asleep.
“Alec! Alec, open your eyes. Alec….” I tried to keep your voice calm, but a twinge of panic and despair was evident.
If Tavien’s bite was too aggressive, Alec could die.
“Dane….what do we do. Do think he’s been changed?” I asked. Dane looked at Alec for a minute.
“I’m not absolutely sure, but…..I think he might be becoming a-”
“No!” I cut him off, “I won’t let this happen. I won’t let Alec go through this. I…..” I trailed off, unable to find words to convey my emotions.
I laid Alec down on the floor on his back and kneeled down beside him. I saw the bite mark on his neck. I lowered my teeth to his neck, just above the original bite.
“What are you doing?” Dane asked.
“I’m going to suck out the venom,” I reasoned.
“Gwen…it’s too late for that. He was bitten hours ago. The venom has already made its way through his blood stream. If you bite him now….you’ll only give him more venom…and it’ll kill him.”
“But…I….” I looked back at Alec who kept drifting to and from consciousness.
“Alec, can you hear me?” I asked softly.
He looked at me and moved his hand up to my face. The movement seemed to hurt him, for he winced in pain. He cupped my cheek with his frail, weak hand and smiled.
“Gwen…” He said. His voice was barely audible.
“I’m here,” I said, scooting closer.
“Gwen, I love you,” He said, “I enjoyed the time we spent together,”
“Alec? Alec, no. You’re not going to die….don’t say goodbye….I won’t let you die! Do you hear me?! Alec….” I choked back tears determined not to cry anymore.
Alec closed his eyes, and his hand that was on my cheek feel to the floor. I looked at his face through my teary, blurred vision. I felt Dane’s hand on my shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” Dane said.
“No. He’s not dead. He…can’t be. We….” I looked back at Alec.
I put my head on his chest and listened for a heart beat. His heart was still beating, but it was very faint. If I didn’t act now, he would surely die.
“Dane, he’s not dead, but he doesn’t have much time left. I need you to stay here with him while I go to the lab,” I said, already formulating my plan.
“The lab? Why?” Dane asked and then realized what I was thinking, “Oh no, you’re not seriously going to-”
“It’s the only way!” I said, “Please, just stay here with him. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
I ran from the dark room up the dark staircase and through the dark halls. I made my way to the lab and went itnside. Tavien and others in the house were always conducting experiments. I knew there had to be some kind of formula to reverse venomous effects. An antidote of some sort. I opened every cabinet and read every label until I found what I was looking for. I knew that the antidote would only work on venom that was recently injected. Alec had only been bitten about a day ago, so I hoped it wasn’t too late. I ran back to Alec and Dane as fast as I could, not even bothering to make as little noise as possible. I got to the chamber, kneeled down beside Alec, and propped his head up on my lap.
“Alec, this might be a little painful, but don’t worry,” I said.
He didn’t respond. He didn’t open his eyes or moan or anything. I pulled off the cap with my teeth, revealing the long needle, through which the antidote would flow. I ran my fingers down his neck, trying to find his aorta, the major artery in the neck. I found in and carefully stuck the needle into it. I pushed all the antidote into the vein. When it was done, I pulled the needle out and waited for a response, but I didn’t get one.
“Alec? Alec, please! Say something. Alec can you hear me?” I looked up a Dance, not sure what to do now.
“Just give the antidote time to work,” He said.
“Right,” I looked back down at my unconscious love, “but Dance, where can we keep Alec safe? I mean, I’m pretty sure Tavien will come back to finish him off. We need to keep Alec safe before that happens.”
“Hmm…” Dance was thinking, “ I know what to do!”
“What? Tell me,” I said.
“I….I cant. Not yet,” He said looking down
“Why not?” I was confused.
“I just cant. You‘ll just have to trust me,” He explained
I was a little worried of what he was thinking of. I was nervous too. I knew Dane wouldn’t purposely hurt Alec, but anything could go wrong.
“I need you to go back to your room now. Tavien will probably check on you in a few minutes. I’ll stay here with Alec. Don’t worry,” Dance smiled at me reassuringly, but there was something double sided to his smile.
Maybe I was just imagining it due to all my panicky nerves. I nodded and went back to my room. I sat on the floor again and waited for morning.
