Page 4 of Poison Sun

What have I done?

On instinct, I reach inside myself to feel the comforting warmth of my sun magic.

Much to my relief, it’s there. Not as strong as it was before the events of last night, but that’s normal. Totally normal. It just needs time to fully recharge. Then it’ll be back, and I’ll train and strengthen it so I’m as ready to fight the shadow souls as physically possible.

Orienting myself, I glance out my window that overlooks Central Park.

The sun’s already high in the sky.

Somehow, despite the nightmares, I slept in. And even though my body feels like a lead weight, I drag myself out of bed, shower, and change into fresh training gear. I ordered food before getting into the shower, so I scarf it down, then head to the gym and make my way inside.

The vampires stop their activities to stare. About half of them are giving me various expressions of respect. The other half… not so much.

Luckily, there are a few friendly faces. Mainly Abigail, and her husband, Xavier. Of course, I don’t find Morgan amongst them. She’s off to who knows where, for who knows how long, trying to figure out how to fix me after what I impulsively did to myself.

Damien’s at the far end of the gym, deep in conversation with a small group. But the moment I step inside, he turns around, as if he physically felt me enter.

His eyes are cold glass, and he gives me a tiny nod of acknowledgment. “Amber. You made it,” he says simply. “I’ve gotten everyone up to speed on the events of last night.”

Well, that explains the looks they’re all giving me.

They already thought I was a circus freak when I got here, since I’m star touched and not a vampire.

Now, with the potion inside me?

I’m a caged animal, capable of destroying them all if they risk letting me loose.

“Given Viktor’s… departure, you obviously need a new trainer,” Damien continues. “I’ve assigned Cassandra to the task.”

Cassandra.

My stomach flips at her name.

The female vampire who was part of the group that came after me in the elevator when I was new to the Fairmont and tried to escape. The vampire who I then went on to attack with a tiny bit of sun magic on my first day of training.

Cassandra steps forward, determination flashing in her beady eyes, her black training gear hugging her lithe frame. She doesn’t smile, but there’s an eagerness in her posture that speaks volumes about what she intends to put me through.

Her gaze locks onto mine, challenging and predatory.

I swivel my focus back to Damien.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I say to him.

“I assure you that I’m far from kidding you,” he says, and heat rushes through me at the fact that he sounds amused.

Cassandra steps forward, watching me with anticipation.

“I hope you’re ready, Amber,” she says, and then she lunges at me, her movements a blur of speed and precision.

It’s basically a repeat of what Viktor tried when he was first assigned to be my trainer.

Good thing I’m a fast learner.

I dodge her strike, rolling to the side and feeling the rush of air as her fist passes where my head was just moments ago.

The other vampires quickly form a circle around us. Some of them hoot, others murmur amongst themselves, and others are quiet.

But I don’t have time to give them any attention.

---