Aspens Vamp by Jinni James Page A

has lost her voice. I never thought of that until just now. With this many bite marks all over her body she probably screamed bloody murder but given how deep in the woods they were I'm sure no one would have heard her.
    I finish looking over every inch of her then sit back in the chair next to the bed. Luckily nothing is broken, nothing except her spirit. I decide I am going to find out why she isn't talking. As she lays back down she props the pillow up under her so she is sitting up a little more.
    "Can you speak?"
    She shakes her head no.
    "Can you write?"
    She nods yes.
    Avalon hands me a pad and a pen that I immediately hand over to her. She takes the pen with her fragile slightly shaking hand and assumes her writing position as she sits up more.
    "What is your name?"
    She leans down as she holds the pad with one barely capable hand and then begins to write with her shaking hand. It only takes her a second; even though it is scribbled I can read plain as day. Iris Stanton .
    "Iris?"
    She nods yes.
    "What a beautiful name."
    It is a lovely name and matches her green eyes, although right now they are almost white instead of green. We really need to get some food into her system. It probably wouldn't hurt to get some blood in her system either. It looks as though she has lost a good bit probably from JR feeding from her. That is more than likely the only reason she is still alive. He kept the last woman alive so he could feed off of her.
    "So , Iris, are you choosing not to speak or can you physically not speak?"
    I watch as her frail fingers pick up the pen and scribble on the paper in front of her. He told me if I speak he will kill me. Oh dear God.
    "Iris he is not here and we will not hurt you. You can speak to us."
    I watch as she begins to scribble some more. I can't .
    I see the tears begin to form in her eyes. One by one they begin to fall down her white cheeks.
    "Iris, it's okay. It will be okay. Here, just lay back down."
    I fix her pillow and press lightly on her shoulder so she lies back down.
    "I am going to get some blood so we can transfuse some into your body. You are terribly weak and are lacking blood. Is that okay?"
    She nods yes.
    I cover her then walk towards the door with Avalon right behind me. We will start with blood first then hopefully she will be strong enough to eat.
     
    While Michael, Avalon, and John decide to order in some food Daniel and I decide to go out and feed ourselves. Food can wait, however blood sometimes cannot. We need to go out before everyone makes their way back to their home, cabin, or hotel room. It's easier for us to feed when the streets are full of people.
    Daniel and I start walking around downtown Aspen. I smell the wilderness in the distance. It is almost intoxicating. It reminds me of home back in Maine. While I love Aspen I am ready to go back home. I will be happy when we catch JR and maybe Avalon, John, and I can go back home , which reminds me, I have the situation of Michael and Daniel to handle first.
    How do I choose between these two men? They are both wonderful guys, generous, caring, loving, and passionate. I just so happen to feel more for one over the other. Had I not seen Michael I bet Daniel and I would be perfectly happy together right now. Would we have stayed that way? Or just stayed that way until the one day I did see Michael? That could have potentially been worse. Daniel and I could have developed a full relationship, living with each other, or God forbid married when I saw Michael and then my world would really be flipped upside down. I suppose I am going to have to break it to Daniel but not right now. I can't right now.
    As we are walking I realize Daniel is being very quiet while mostly looking at the ground as we walk.
    "Are you okay Daniel?"
    He kicks a stand-alone stone in the road then looks up at me then back at the road.
    "Is she going to be okay Jaci?"
    It takes me a minute to realize who he is asking about.
    "Iris?"
    Daniel nods. "Yes.