Page 53 of Blood Bond

"Am I to touch her?" I ask, aware of the numerous tests and understandings we need to unravel.

"You will," Seth replies. "But first, we need to see what happens when we give her this." He motions Elena.

Between them, Naneve and Seth hold the thirsty's arm, extending it as Elena prepares to administer my blood. The thirsty hisses and struggles, her glazed eyes fixed on me with a deep hunger.

I shift slightly, drawing her attention, guiding her gaze away from Seth and Elena's actions. I don’t want her to lash out at them.

Killian's voicebreaks through her hisses, "She's following you, just like the others."

"Yes," I reply, anticipation lacing my words, "I'm hoping she will."

Elena swiftly insertsthe needle into the vampire's arm, her movements precise and calculated. As she depresses the plunger, the creature struggles, its body tensed against the unknown intrusion. But then, unexpectedly, the resistance fades. The fierce snarl that had been etched on its face begins to distort, gradually dissolving into an expression of confusion.

Seth moves to put Elena behind him, unsure of what the thirsty is going to do. We all watch her intently, ready for something, because she’s stilled. She frowns, her gaze darting around in bewilderment, landing on us but devoid of the usual savage hunger. Her mouth, normally agape in a feral snarl, now closes quietly.

We stand together, holding our breath, witnessing a flicker of humanity wash over her.

"Should we open the other blinds?" Naneve asks tentatively. The creature, bound to a chair beneath the window, seems less of a monster now and more of the woman she must have been before the sickness claimed her. .

"Just a little," Seth instructs, his voice a blend of caution and curiosity. "We're not trying to kill her. We're trying to understand."

As Naneve cautiously adjusts the blind, sunlight slips into the room, casting a revealing glow. The creature doesn’t flinch or recoil but watches the light touch her skin with a mixture of fear and wonder.

Elena covers her mouth in disbelief, her eyes wide. Her bewilderment mirroring everyone’s."It's not burning her."

Seth steps closer, an air of fascination surrounding him. The creature looks up, her eyes locking with his. There's a moment of silent communication, a shared understanding.

"What does this mean now?" Naneve asks, the room now bathed in sunlight. "She should be dead."

Seth’s doesn’t take his eyes off the woman, "What it means is that we need to protect Payton from my brother. With her blood …"

"He’d be stronger," I finish for him.

I edge closer, drawn in by the woman's presence. Who was she before this cursed existence? These thoughts always stir a sense of sorrow within me.

Seth doesn’t stop me but stands tall, watching over both of us.

"Can I touch her?" I ask, the urge surging within me. There's a pull, a need to connect, to feel her skin and understand her transformation.

Killian steps beside me, his blade at the ready for any sudden strike. Seth nods at us, a silent signal of readiness.

The vampire, once thrashing in her bonds, now sits eerily still. I'm puzzled by her sudden calm. Crouching, I bring myself to her level, our eyes meeting. Her gaze is haunting - empty yet seemingly all-seeing. The filmy glaze over her eyes suggests blindness, but she appears acutely aware of my presence.

Gently, I extend my hand towards her, enveloping her cold, fragile hand in mine. It's an experience reminiscent of my encounter with Layla. I catch my breath, my eyes fluttering shut, as her vivid memory transports me to another room, another moment. I steady my breathing, feeling the pressure in my chest, fighting against the pull of the memory.

"Hold my hand," I murmur. Seth moves to respond, but I shake my head, gesturing to Killian instead. His strong grip around my hand anchors me, his living essence steadying the turmoil within me.

"What do you see?" he asks.

Closing my eyes again, I let the vision envelop me. "She's in a hotel room," I describe, my voice a whisper. "There's a fire safety sign on the wall, the usual impersonal hotel decor. But she's not just lying there - she's tied to the bed, her body a canvas of horror." My voice breaks as the scene unfolds, each detail sharper, more grotesque.

"She isn't alone. There are men, five vampires, and they're restraining a young one, about her age. He's struggling, resisting them. They're forcing him towards her. One of them lifts her skirt, carelessly slices her skin, letting the blood trickle down. He drinks from the wound. They all do, one after another, cutting, drinking, biting. Her screams fill the room, but there's no salvation. They drain her life, her essence, and then ..." My voice trails off, the horror too much to bear.

I release my grip, the vision fading, leaving behind a chilling echo of despair. I stagger backwards, my balance faltering, but Seth is there in an instant. His hands grasp mine, a steady anchor in the storm of emotions. The connection with Killian is severed; I've recoil from both him and the vampire.

“They forced her transformation,” I gasp, the words heavy with realisation, “then exploited her.”

Elena's voice cuts through the tension. “Is that all you see? Just the moment of her turning?”

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