Moon Blood

"Isaac," Ven repeated, nodding slowly. He swallowed. His head still had that unpleasant feeling that made Ven suspect that his eyelids could betray him at any time.

"Thanks again, Isaac," Ven said, and he tried to sit up more but his arms still felt too weak. He took a few slow, deep breaths and just let it happen. Ven was tired, but not tired enough that his eyebrows didn't dart up in surprise when what Isaac said really sunk in. A vampire, huh? That was kind of cool. And he wanted to drink his blood?

"Does it hurt?" Ven asked, though he sounded more curious than afraid.

He was also wondering if, maybe, it would turn him into a vampire. Ven wasn't exactly opposed to that idea, though he'd been aiming for werewolves.

"I mean, I guess I'm not going anywhere, either, now for a few more minutes," Ven said, frowning as he considered it. "Would it, like, kill me or something?"

Ven considered both of these pieces of advice. It was highly possible Isaac was lying to him, but Ven didn't think so. Why would he bother lying to Ven when he was clearly unable to defend himself, sprawled out on the barn floor like this?

When Isaac said it wouldn't turn him, Ven snapped his weak fingers and tried to look disappointed, "Oh, damn, I was looking for a reason to be able to sleep in past noon."

Ven was, regretfully, very familiar with shots and bloodwork. And it really didn't hurt--Ven always thought it was going to be worse than he expected.

"Alright, well, I guess go right ahead," Ven said, and as soon as he said the words he wondered if he'd regret it, but it was too late to back out now.

Ven hadn't kissed a lot of people. It was kind of embarrassing to go out on a date and suddenly pass out face first in your partner's french fries which, unfortunately, was what happened to Ven more than once. Ven didn't go on a lot of dates. He didn't kiss a lot of people.

But Isaac's cold hand on his shoulder and the press of his lips against Ven's neck reminded him of the last tie he'd tried to go on a date. He had the same, fluttery feeling in his stomach that he did when he snuck out with Veronica behind the diner and she kissed him exactly the same way.

And that's when Ven knew he was in trouble, because when Isaac's tongue scraped against his neck as he pulled his teeth out, Ven sighed and just said, "Oh."

At least Isaac could help him get back to the dorms. Veronica couldn't have done that.

His eyelids were too heavy for him to fight anymore.



When he blinked, he was standing on all fours back at the foothill to the dorms. If he knew how to speak, Ven would have been screaming, because his body was still lying in Isaac's arms, but his soul was three miles away.

Ven-the-wolf stood at the foothills for a long time. Ven didn't know how to talk in this form, but he did know how to howl, and the wolf tilted his head back and let out a long, drawn-out howl of frustration.

And a little bit of embarrassment. Gods, his body was lying back in the stable with the other boy. Ven had a brief moment where he wondered if the other boy might be dangerous. Isaac said he wouldn't take more than he needed, but Ven had been conscious then....although, if Isaac really wanted to hurt him, he could have done it right then. Ven decided he was going to trust the other boy.

Because really, what other choice did he have?

Ven sighed. He really, really needed to get his body back. He had his student council speech to work on, and while he could do a lot in his wolf shape, planning the right outfit and preparing his notes was not really something he could do.

Oh god, what if he passed out in the middle of his speech?

Ven wondered if he could ask Isaac for advice, but realized again that the question would be a pain in the butt. Oh well. Without anything else to do, Ven made the walk back to the stables.

By the time he got there, Isaac was gone, but his body was tucked up comfortably in the stable, covered in a blanket.

And Ven was grateful.