~Chapter 44~

"Gah." I lay curled up on my bed clutching my bed sheets as my neck continued to throb. So this is what it felt like to be bitten by a vampire. I felt light headed as I slowly watched the blood from my neck soak up into my pillow. Turning it a crimson red.

Everyone else had gone to school without me. When Nymph knocked on my door I simply said that I felt a little light headed and wouldn't be in school today. Second day back and I was already calling in sick, this would not help my grades.

I heard a faint rattling on my window as it was pushed ajar. Then I saw the shadow of someone with cat ears jump down into my room and was standing over me.

"Ikuto?" I turned my head slowly and looked up at him.

"Wow you're a mess-nya." Said Yoru as he hovered over my face.

"What happened to you? You're all bloody." Said Ikuto calmly as he walked into my bathroom. "Yoru get a damp cloth."

"Okay." I watched helplessly as Ikuto took out some bandages from my first aid kit that I kept in the cupboard above the sink and Yoru soaked a flannel, they then came back over to me.

"So what happened?" Asked Ikuto as he wiped away the smeared blood on my face. "Attacked by a flying squirrel?"

"Why should I tell you?" I said stubbornly. Ikuto froze as he cleaned the blood from my neck and noticed the two puncture marks.

"Who was it?" He asked as he stared down at my neck.

"It was Ashton. Nymph's supposed boyfriend. He did it to me while I was a wolf though, so I'm not sure what his motives are." I coughed and brought up more blood from the wound.

"Idiot. You let another guy get near you." He took the bandages that Yoru had been wrapping himself up in and bandaged my neck carefully.

"You jerk." I said pouting and buried my face in my pillow. "Why are you always like this?! You tease me and yet you're also kind to me." I felt the bed dip slightly as he sat down and then felt his warm breath down my neck.

"That's because I love you."

"Hah." I sat up. "Yeah right. Now get to school before you get in trouble."

"As you wish. Princess." He bowed and I threw a pillow at him. He dived through the window and disappeared. Yoru quickly following his lead.

"Pervert." I mumbled into my pillow and fell asleep.

"Hey Astria you feeling any better?" I hears Phoebe knocking on the door and I sat bolt upright. They were home already and I still had blood on my pillow and clothes.

"Hold on a sec!" I yelled as I shoved the pillow under my bed and pulled off my bloody shirt. "Okay come in."

"There's someone here to see you." Phoebe opened the door and stepped in, Ikuto closely behind her.

"You again?!" I said in disbelief.

"Nice frills." He said as he stared at my chest.

"Phoebe you should warn me first before you let a pervert into my room." I said angrily as I grabbed a random blue polo shirt off the floor and quickly buttoned it up. "Now what do you want?"

"It's about Ash. Turns out he's a vampire alright and he has a taste for your blood."

"I'm sorry. What?" Said Phoebe confused. "Are you talking about Ash?"

"Somebody mention Asha?" Nymphs head popped around the door.

"It would probably be easier if you just told them about it." Said Ikuto wisely.

"No way! Ash is a vampire?!" Said Amanda in amazement.

"Yep. But I'm not sure what kind." I said as I lay back on the sofa from where we had all gathered in the living room.

"How dare he drink your blood without permission!" Said Vivian furiously.

"I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation for all this." Said Nymph worriedly. "Asha wouldn't do something like that."

"Does this blood look fake to you?" I pointed at the bandage on my neck where two faint red marks had appeared.

"No but-"

"Listen. He is dangerous. And if we don't do something about this soon he may attempt to drink your blood too." I said sternly.

"Already got it covered." Said Dena as she pulled out a stake and wooden hammer. Nymph nearly fainted.

"We're not going to kill him!" I said angrily. I noticed Ikuto quickly shove a bottle of water in his pocket. And I'm pretty sure the label said 'Holy Water'.

"Relax it's just rubber." She squished the stake and it squeaked.

"Then should we just confront him?" Said Vivian.

"Seems like the most sensible approach. Because he's a supernatural being like us maybe we can settle some sort of agreement?" Added Phoebe.

"Not a bad idea." I rubbed my neck thoughtfully. "Okay then its settled. Nymph you call up Ash and have him meet us here ASAP." I commanded.

Nymph thought about it for a few seconds and then obediently pulled out her pink phone. Quickly dialled in his number and asked him if he'd like to come round for dinner.