The Crimson Hunt: Chapter 11

The Crimson Hunt
Chapter 11
A New Life

Brian woke with a start and noticed he was not  dead. In fact, he had never felt more alive. The world around him seemed to be sharper, more refined. His heart was beating an allegro rhythm. Then, he noticed that he could hear his heartbeat. Slowly, he sat up and took in his surroundings.
He was in a small, dismal room. Dust coated the cheap, wooden furniture. In fact, he could count the individual dust mites that accumulated everywhere. Above him, a ceiling fan let out a steady whir.
"Finally," Sarah exclaimed, "You're awake!"
She flung herself onto Brian and kissed him passionately, to which he responded enthusiastically. That is, until her statement hit him.
"What do you mean," he asked, "How long have I been out?"
Sarah chewed on her lip and replied, "Three days..."
Brian's jaw dropped, "Three days? Three. Freakin'. Days?"
"Yeah," Seth chuckled as he slid through the door, "You drool in your sleep."
Brian fell back onto the pillows, astounded. What happened? He remembered biting into Samuel's heart, the worst pain he had ever felt, then...black.
Suddenly, he noticed the power that coursed through his veins. A power so great, he felt that he might explode from the sheer magnitude of it.
He leaped to his feet and rushed into the bathroom. He looked in the mirror to see a stranger. This man was sharper and too perfect to be him.
"Oh my God," he shouted
"I told ya he'd take it this way," Seth said, snickering. Which was followed quickly by a slap to the face by Sarah.
"I told you to keep your mouth shut," she hissed, massaging her wrist.
Brian came out of the bathroom, shaken, "Please explain."
"Isn't it obvious," Seth blurted, "You're dead."
"Okay," Brian sighed, "Sarah, explain what happened."
"The short version or the long version," Sarah asked.
Brian rolled his eyes, "The short version."
Sarah bit her lip again and said, "Basically, by drinking my brothers blood, you inherited his power. The only way the change process wouldn't kill you is if I changed you."
"So, I drank your blood again, completing the transformation," she finished akwardly.
Brian registered all the information that was being thrown at him, "Why didn't you turn me while we were in Madrid?"
"If I had taken any more blood, you would have died," she replied simply.
"Oh."
"Wait a minute," Seth threw in, "Looks like you finished the job."
All three burst into laughter. It felt good to laugh after everything that had happened.
"Hold on," Brian said, "Where's Brianna?"
"Here," she said as she stepped over the threshold, "You brought him up to speed yet?"
"Duh," Sarah replied, rolling her eyes, "You think I'd let him stumble around and let him find out by himself?"
Brian chimed in, "If I may interrupt. Where the hell are we?"
"Eastern Spain," Brianna said, "In some small, rundown house off the main roads."
"Well, that explains the dust and the boarded up windows," Brian replied, "But how is the electricity on?"
Seth spoke up, "I'm a wiz at everything electric, man. First I..."
Brian cut him off, "As cool as that is, I really don't care."
Seth huffed and plopped into a moth eaten armchair. He sat there with his arms crossed, "No appreciation."
"I appreciate you," Brianna said silkily, sitting on his lap.
Brian went into brain lock, "Huh? What's going on?"
"Oh yeah," Sarah chided, "They're together."
"Well. This is interesting," Seth said, "Two couples, all alone..."
"Don't get any ideas, furball," Brian said icily, "She's mine."
"Well don't you have a dirty mind," Seth chuckled.
Sarah whispered, "Its okay. Just know that he's jealous on missing out."
Brian winked at her and kissed her soft lips.
"So what now," Seth asked.
"We lay low and let Brian fully recover," Brianna said matter-of-factly.
Brian sighed. He had just started his new life, now it was already in danger. Not only was he now dead, but now he had to live a completely new lifestyle.