DIANA POV
"If it's like a deadly imprint, he should've bitten me or hurt me when he had a chance... He always had that chance", I uttered softly as I fidget with the tube of my own blood. Eagerly, I drew my blood again to find out on my own what's so precious about it.
Calvin may be a vampire, deadly and vicious as what the wolves perceive of him. Nevertheless, at some point in my life, he was my friend who kept me safe and treated me like family. May it seemed to be lies, I felt comfort in his quiet kindness and hushed generosity every time were together. Back in med school, I saw unfeigned affection in his gestures when we share a meal, when he drive me to school or when we have late night studies. It is truly hard to believe how it is now. I deeply sighed remembering all the good memories we've shared. Everything shattered as soon I knew he is a vampire. And no matter how I try, there will always be a lingering fear when he is around. Scott told me never to fall for any of Calvin's kindness, because vampires are great deceivers. When the two met earlier, my heart almost leaped out my chest on the manner they exchanged glares. I thought they would ramble in front of me in the office. I'm glad they didn't. Though, it made Scott stay a little bit longer with three more cups of coffee before he finally left.
I pipetted out my blood from the tube and released a drop on a glass slide. I slid it under the microscope and adjusted the lens to see a clear of view of my blood. Scanning around the slide through the oculars, I examined every cell there is. And finally, there it is. "No way…" I whispered, as I magnify and inspect what's in my blood. Then, I got startled when someone tapped me on my shoulders.
"Doctor, patient 1108 wants to see you.", the nurse said.
"Is it urgent?", I asked, as I go back to the oculars.
"Dr. Murphy didn't tell, Doctor", she shrugged, before she left.
Sighing, I covered the test tube of my blood and slid it inside the pocket of my coat. Without much choice, I hurriedly went out of the laboratory to answer to the call of my duty. Going to the patients' building, I traipsed carrying a rising unease on my way to Dr. Murphy. Maybe it's because Cory, one of Scott's friends, does not even hide himself as he follow me. His presence make me feel as if anything bad would happen. How disturbing.
Reaching Dr. Murphy's room, I opened the door and was taken aback at the dim room. I was reaching to open the lights when the nurse warned me not to open them. That it triggers Dr. Murphy's agitation. Letting it slide, I asked the accompanying nurse for his chart and the list of people who entered the room. No Calvin, as noted. I sighed with relief.
As we went in, I saw Dr. Murphy sitting upright on his bed splurging in his usual hospital room hobby of solving crossword puzzles in the dark. The window blinds were pulled down, not letting any light to come in. The beeping sounds of his cardiac monitor and infusion pump kept going, showing his below normal vital signs and poorly dripping intravenous solution. As I proceed to check on Dr. Murphy, the nurse with me inspected the contraptions attached on our patient to see if there were any loose or dislodged connections. We were both disagreeable to see his low his vital signs given that he should be already recovering well, and consider possible reinsertion of his intravenous line.
"I thought you wouldn't want to see me", he greeted with that sharp tone, and a lower raspy voice. I guess that attitude doesn't just go away. The beeping of his monitors continued, that it was getting bothersome. The nurse unplugged them, thinking it could be the machine which were faulty. She then began to take Dr. Murphy's vitals manually.
"How are you, Doctor?", I asked, as I check on his broken leg, which seemed to be getting a lot better. "This should be good, maybe I can clear you out for a transfer to a regular room. May I?", I asked permission to assess him further. He nodded, lowering his shoulders seemingly tired and exhausted. Up close and even in the poorly lit room, his eyes looked sunken, as if he didn't get enough sleep. "Or maybe, I can get more tests just to be sure. Do you hurt somewhere? Do you feel dizzy? And why is it so dark in here?", by the looks of it, Dr. Murphy might be getting another kind of infection. The nurse kept going, as she struggle to obtain Dr. Murphy's blood pressure.
"M-my neck hurts…", he groaned glancing nervously at the door, where Cory was standing by gazing at us intently, before he continued. I guess, Cory's presence makes him feel uneasy too. "Maybe from lying down too much", massaging the back of his neck. Dr. Murphy's eyes began to look more droopy. The nurse shook her head, as she try to feel Dr. Murphy's pulse on his wrist. I nodded for her to continue checking.
"Didn't you get enough sleep last night?", I wondered, walking towards the windows pulling the blinds open.
"SHUT THOSE CURTAINS!", he lashed at me with great hostility, startling me and the nurse. I'm sure I saw some dark veins running in his neck, under his pale skin in that short glimpse of light that escaped from the blinds.
"I'm sorry doctor", I eagerly apologized, as I start to feel the growing tension inside the room. The nurse, despite highly strung, still continued to assess Dr. Murphy. This time, using a stethoscope to hear his heartbeat on his chest.
"I.. I'm so thirsty", he grappled his own neck breathlessly. Then, he reached for the cup of water right by his bedside. Almost trembling, the cup slipped from his grip that it fell on the floor.
"I got it Doctor", the nurse picked it up in an instant, putting Dr. Murphy's vital sign records on the table. "I'll get you another cup of water, Dr. Murphy", she rushed out leaving me and Dr. Murphy in the room.
Checking Dr. Murphy's vital signs on the nurse's record, I noticed the absence of the patient's pulse, and his severe temperature drop. "Are you cold?", I asked, laying my hand on his cold clammy forehead.
"Would you like to check my crossword puzzle, if I did good?", he handed out his book of crossword puzzles, with his deep heavy breaths.
Unwillingly, I took it from his hand and take a look at the book. Squinting from the lack of light, I peered through the dim light trying to see his puzzle. For a moment, I shifted my gaze at him and noticed how restless he's becoming. His body trembling uncontrollably, his nails digging on his skin clawing his neck as if there's something unseen crawling underneath. When I looked closely back on the crossword puzzle, my hair stood on end at the words written right in the middle of the page.
VAMPIRE.
Cory who was already inside the room grunted warning me about Dr. Murphy. "He is turning, back away Luna", he said, pulling me away, pulling the window blinds open for a little glint.
"Diana.. I don't think.. I feel well", Dr. Murphy snarled softly showing his growing fangs, as his respirations started to slow down. This time, his body stiffened laying flat on the bed, trying to open his bloodshot eyes.
"Stay back, I will toast him with a little bit of sunshine", Cory stood by the window, ready to shed a some light to fry Dr. Murphy in case he attack us.
I took out my phone and informed Dr. Blackwell about the current situation of Dr. Murphy. No one else in this hospital can deal with a patient turning to a vampire than him. Then, I remembered my blood tube that I kept in my pocket. This is the perfect time for me to check my hunch. I asked Cory to close the door, which he immediately did. "Give him this", handing him my blood tube to let Dr. Murphy drink from it.
"What is it?", Cory asked with furrowed brows taking the tube from my hand. I dared not say what is it, for it might worry him more. And so, Cory just did what was told of him. He grabbed Dr. Murphy's jaw forcing his mouth open, and gave him a taste of my blood from the tube right down his lips. Dr. Murphy devoured my blood with his keen appetite.
In a matter of seconds, his bloodshot eyes came back to normal and his fangs completely disappeared. The crimson color on his skin returned, and his labored breathing ceased into mindful ones. "I cannot sense him anymore", Cory said, as he try to sniff on Dr. Murphy.
"I was right... That's my blood", I uttered, as Cory and I state at each other with how magical my blood is to vampires.
Sooner, Dr. Blackwell rushed to take charge of Dr. Murphy. He injected large amounts of sedatives to keep the newborn vampire at bay, Then, he transferred Dr. Murphy to a different room under his care. Cory had to assist Dr. Blackwell for everyone's safety in the hospital. He promised to find me as soon as he's done. I guess it was the best for the majority.
Remembering my unfinished research back in the skills laboratory for interns, I returned up there hoping it hasn't hemolyzed badly so I can continue examining my blood. Entering the empty lab, I dashed on the previous spot I sat in and inspected my blood under the microscope. To my surprise, I couldn't find my glass slide. I searched all over, to no avail... still no blood samples everywhere. Surely, I left it attached on the stage clip of the microscope. Well, someone might have discarded it, thinking I'll have to drew my blood once more.
"It was not love at first sight", Calvin's voice owned the room as I hear a clicking sound. When I turned my head, he was standing by the door, turning the knob making sure the door is locked. "Do you have time for a story?", he asked.
I sat on the stool, unfazed. Fear started to consume me. Feeling my heart pumping quickly, I took a deep breath as I exhale slowly. "I'm all ears", I tried to be brave.
"I was in a library, about to choose my dinner. Hunting in between large oak bookshelves, and choosing which delectable prey behind the books I would savor for the cold rainy afternoon. I sat on a chair and lurked fervently who would fit my taste, when my attention fixated to this girl who has no scent.", he started to narrate as he go near me. He wasn't in hurry with those fine steps. But he did laid his eyes fixedly on me.
"I sat before that teenage girl with sapphire eyes who was scribbling on a piece of paper, and still, I didn't get a whiff of her scent... unlike all the people around us reeking with the scent of humanity", Calvin sat beside me, yet not too close for him to reach me. It felt like the calm before the storm. "She was then fetched by her mother who was equally scentless. And that's when my attention grew", he added. "Her protective mother soon found out I've been stalking her precious little girl. One day, she unexpectedly come up to me and offered a trade to satisfy my curiosity. She offered life, something I've been dreaming for so long. And in return, she wanted a true-blooded vampire for herself", Calvin sighed. "Unfortunately, I am not someone she needs for I was only bitten way back 1854. She's after my maker who was an original vampire to the core." he said as he faced me. "Your blood changed everything about me, Diana. The girl who had no scent. ", he said with his ever spellbinding hazel eyes.