By the time we made it to the hallway that led out to the elevators my stomach was twisting into a knot.

This alarmed me. I knew that feeling. Thurst. I still walked on my own. I tried to breath normally but there were too many humans.

I smelled them. When one passed us that smelled of fresh mint and daffodils I paused, turned, and stepped towards her.

Jeremy grabbed my arm, pulled me towards the elevators, "Alexis, you have to ignore it."

In the elevator I noticed how good Ann smelled. I could hear her blood. My fangs descended.

I pushed them back. I clinched my fist. My eyes watched her.

She shifted uncomfortably. She looked to Jeremy for reassurance.

"She can handle it." He said.

"Alex, please don't look at me that way." She asked me directly.

My eyes drifted to her throat, my lips felt dry so I licked them. It didn't help.

"Jeremy?"

"I've got her, Ms. Phillips." He assured her. His grip on my arm tightened just a small amount.

"Jeremy, I need to feed." I told him wrenching my eyes from Ann.

"I know." He said as the elevator dinged. The doors slid open.

Suddenly I could smell Beth. She was down the hall but I could smell her Vanilla/Oak like she stood before me. I pulled the scent in moving towards it. Jeremy pulled me back.

"Not yet." We moved towards the nurses desk. His grip tightened everytime I tried to change our direction.

"May I help you?"

Jeremy reached out a hand. The nurse reached up. They shook hands slowly.

"I need you to retrieve a bag of blood. Bring it to Bethany Phillips room, covertly. Loose the paperwork, don't let the missing blood connect to you. I need it quickly. After you've done as I asked you will forget having spoken to me or the blood. Is that clear?"

She nodded. They both dropped their hands and we were moving again.

Yes. Beth. We were going to Beth's room. I was happy.

"How well is she going to take this?"

"I don't know. She doesn't even believe in the paranormal."

I knew I had somehow missed part of the conversation but I didn't care because we were going were I wanted to go. Beth's room.

"She'll learn soon enough." Jeremy said almost glibly.

I pulled my arm, he was moving to slowly, he pulled back.

Ann moved in front of us and pushed open the door. We followed her in.

Beth! She lay on the bed the laptop open on her lap.

Jeremy took charge of the situation immediately. Ann moved aside and stood by Beth's bed. The laptop was banished to a drawer.

"Okay, Beth. If I had my way this would be done differently. Unfortunately that isn't an option.

"I understand you don't believe in the paranormal. This is your crash course, so to speak.

"Alexis and I are vampires. Alexis is ill."

"Oh my god. Your crazy." She whispered to herself but we heard it. "I'm sorry. There is no such thing as vampires." Beth protested. She sounded like she felt bad for not going along with our delusion.

"I understand your reasoning." He nodded. I tried to move closer to Beth but Jeremy held firmly to my arm. "But it is true. Alexis needs to feed, but leaving the hospital would be a bad idea at the moment."

I pulled very hard. He spared me glare but kept talking to Beth.

"The best I could do at the moment was acquire bagged blood." He jerked my arm. I had leaned closer to Beth. I probably looked a little scary and amusing at the same time. I had just wanted to get her scent deeper in my nose. Honestly. I loved that Vanilla/Oak smell.

"It will be here any minute and she'll have to drink it here. She can do it here or in the restroom. Your choice."

Beth was looking at me. It made me feel tingly. I sniffed the air. I wanted closer. I was disappointed when she turned to look at Jeremy.

"Why are you holding her like that?" She didn't seem happy that he held my arm. To me her voice sounded like honey. Thick sweet honey.

"Because I don't want anyone hurt."

"I think you should stop touching her." Beth said. It sounded very much like a command.

"No." Ann and Jeremy said at the same time.

Yes, yes, let me go so I can crawl up beside her. I grabbed Jeremy's hand and pried at his fingers. My brain wasn't working properly. I just knew I wanted closer to her. Vaguely, I still felt that hunger but Beth was much more important.

"Alexis, Alexis you have to listen to me." Jeremy pushed me backwards. My back hit the wall.

"Stop it." Beth said.

"Beth. She'll be okay. He knows what he's doing."

"You can't drink from Beth, she's sick. You could kill her."

I instantly found my voice. "Beth, mine." I growled. In my mind I took his statement as a claim. My stomach twisted.

He held me there till we heard the door open. He didn't let me go but gripped my arm painfully tight.

The nurse from the desk entered with a bulky folded hospital blanket.

"Ann, get the bag." Jeremy directed. Ann moved forward and accepted the sheet. The nurse turned and walked away with out a word.

As soon as Ann unwrapped the bag of blood it became my only thought.

I had never drank bagged blood but I knew what it was and my body anticipated it.

Suddenly his hands were gone and I reached out and snatched the bag from Ann's fingers.

My fangs descended, I opened my mouth, pressed my lips to the thick plastic and pushed my fangs through it. Blood sprang out. I almost gagged.

The blood was cold, thin, and had no emotions attached to it. I retracted my fangs.

Just as I started to pull back Jeremy pushed the bag to my lips.

"Drink it." He ordered.

With an unsatisfactory growl I let it fill my mouth. I could taste the minerals and vitamins. I swallowed. I tasted an anticoagulant that kept the blood usable. My tissues started to absorb the nutrients.

My head started to clear.

Jeremy drew back. But he watched me, he watched my eyes.

I hadn't realized how much I had needed the blood until I was consuming it.

The bag was half empty when I understand that Ann and Beth were watching me too.