Page 51 of Their Blood Rite

Dusty.

Apparently, Shaw’s bed is just like everybody else's. Underneath, anyway. Not sure how many other beds are stained with my blood or regularly have three monsters biting a girl as they finger fuck her into oblivion.

Part of me hoped I would wake up and find myself home at my father’s house. That this was all a nightmare. That the Blood Rite hadn’t happened yet.

‘Hello,’ says a soft voice.

I turn my head to see a set of orange eyes peering back at me and a mop of black hair.

I scream. She screams.

I sit, whacking my head on the bed, and she falls backwards.

‘Sorry,’ she squeaks, dropping a plate and hurrying back. ‘I didn’t mean to startle you.’

‘Ow. My head…’ I groan, clutching my forehead.

‘Why are you under the bed?’ she asks.

‘Who are you?’ I counter.

‘I brought you some food.’ She gestures to a plate on the floor. ‘I’m not going to hurt you or anything. I swear.’

She stands and steps back, giving me room to slide out. The sun has risen. The curtains are open, and the light hurts my eyes a little.

By the door is a young and slight female with pure orange eyes. Her hands are knotted together as she stands watching me. Her dark hair falls to her waist, and her skin is littered with dark veins.

She looks like a demon.

‘I don’t want any trouble.’ I step back, but the chain around my neck tightens, keeping me tethered to the bed.

‘Oh. I’m not trouble,’ she insists. ‘Well. Unless you hear me start to scream,’ she giggles, waving her hand through the air. ‘Then we might be in some trouble.’ She leans down and picks up the plate. ‘Bread and an apple. Sorry. There’s no human food to eat here. Not that you’re exactly human. Unless you are? Tell me. What are you?’

‘What did Shaw or the others say I am?’ There is no way I say a word, not after their warnings. Not after I know everyone wants me dead because of my type of magic.

She just giggles and hands me the plate.

‘What areyou?’ I ask, seeing those vibrant orange eyes look me up and down. ‘What’s your name?’

‘Piss off, Banshee!’ Archie says as he walks into the room, picking at his teeth.

‘I was just saying hello,’ she croons.

‘You’ve said that. Now go.’ He stands between us and nods to the door. ‘Unless you have a wail in you, I’m not interested in anything you have to say. And neither is she.’

She pouts. ‘You know. If you three get a plaything, I think it only fair I do, too.’

‘You want to be back in your cage, Banshee? Cos I can arrange that.’

‘I would rather be returned to my marsh.’

‘Losing patience,’ he sighs.

‘Can I at least watchyouplay with her? I’m so bored.’

She looks me up and down with a hungry little smirk.

‘I’m going to count to three,’ Archie replies. ‘If you’re still standing there by the time-’

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