"I hardly had any of it," I say, shifting on the bed, trying to find a position that doesn't hurt. "Did I drink enough to become addicted?"
"Yes," he says. "Because you lost so much of your own, mine had that much more effect on you. You felt fine for a while, but now you're starting to feel unwell again."
A sense of dread washes over me. "I thought it would take more than one feed."
He says nothing for a moment. "One big feed will do it."
"What happens if I don't have more?"
"You'll feel sicker and sicker."
"Will it kill me?"
He clears his throat. "No, but you'll wish it would."
"It's not permanent is it?" I say. "I can get clean?"
"I'm sorry," he says and shakes his head.
I cover my face. Nausea rises up inside of me at the idea that I'd need to drink blood to keep from feeling sick, like some junkie.
"I had no other choice," he says "I had to save your life."
I turn my back to him.
"Are you sure you didn't drink too much of my blood accidentally on purpose?"
He leans over me, his arms around me.
"Remember, you gave yourself to me. As much as I want you, I never wanted any of this for you."
"Leave me alone," I say, pulling away from him, the pain when I do growing by the moment. He sits up.
"Just drink now. You'll feel better immediately."
"Go away."
He does nothing for a moment, but finally, leaves the bed. "Call me when you can't take it any longer."
He leaves me to my misery. And misery it is. I roll around on the bed for hours, sweating, pains in my arms and legs, my stomach aching, my muscles all jerking. I fight for as long as I can before calling for Vasily.
He sits on the bed beside me and feeds me some tea.
"Give in, Eve," he says. "There's nothing else you can do. It'll only get worse."
"He ruined my life," I say, tears of frustration running down my cheeks.
"No, he saved it. He saved you from Soren. He saved it again yesterday."
"Only after he put it in danger."
"You offered yourself to him."
"Because I had no choice," I say. "It was him or Soren. Or every damn vampire in the county."
"You're right, of course, but he had no choice either. He could leave you to Soren, or other vampires, or take you himself and at least protect you."
I can't argue any longer. My nightgown's soaked with perspiration. My gut feels like I have burning coals inside. I roll over on my side and bring my knees up to my chin.