Page 91 of Savage Sacrifice
“Son? You mean Blaze?” The second the question leaves my mouth, I know it to be true. That's where the familiarity comes from. The shape of her eyes, the sharpness of her nose, and her full lips. She passed all of those genes on to her son.
“Oh, my goodness,” she whispers, sudden tears welling in her eyes as she releases my hand completely, only to wrap me in her embrace a moment later.
It's awkward, but the sense of comfort is there, and I find myself leaning into it, gently patting her on the back in return until she finally releases me again.
“It's so lovely to meet you,” she says, her eyes raking over me from head to toe. Once, twice, three times as she assesses her son's devoted.
Had I known I was going to be meeting someone's parents right now, I probably would have dressed more for the occasion, but I hadn't considered it a possibility when I stepped out of the house. Embarrassment threatens to creep down my spine, but she continues to gush with excitement, unknowingly refusing to let me slip into my old mental state of fear and overwhelm.
“It's so lovely to meet you. I can’t tell you how worried I’ve been that my Blaze would never be blessed in such a way,” she insists, stroking her thumb over my cheek that continues to heat under her touch. I don’t know what the hell is going on, but this woman is even worse with personal space than Blaze is. Anotherthing they share. “Has he been a handful?” she asks, and I blink at her. She cocks a brow in question, and I gulp.
“Well, he's been Blaze,” I managed to mumble, and she snickers, squeezing my arm in comfort, or support, I’m not sure.
“So he's been a handful,” she concludes with a smile, linking her arm through mine and tugging me into her side as she draws me farther into the forest. Each step she takes is poised and elegant, like she’s some kind of royalty. “You must tell me all about yourself. I don't recognize you from within the community,” she states, and I clear my throat.
“Community?” I ask, searching for clarity, and she nods as she pats her hand on my upper arm.
Community? The only community I've been a part of so far is at Trinity Falls Academy, and I've definitely never seen this woman there.
She waves me off. “Yes, Dear, among the vampires, you don't look familiar.”
My brain short-circuits as my feet stop. I turn to her as a chill runs down my spine. “That's because I'm not one.” The truth flows effortlessly from my lips, with fear of the consequences emerging a second later, and I instantly wish I had kept my mouth shut.
Her eyes search mine, an array of emotions flashing across her features as she hums. “That probably explains why I'm not aware you exist,” she states calmly with a sad smile across her lips.
Uncertainty still clings to me as my eyebrows rise. “Sorry?” It's a question more than anything, but she waves me off once more, leading me deeper into the forest, and it seems I'm still happy enough to go along with her because I don’t protest.
“Don't worry, Dear. My son clearly worries about things he really shouldn't. That's for me to lecture him over. Not you. Now, how about you? Tell me all about yourself, Polaris,” she insists,surprisingly unfazed by the fact that I'm not a vampire like she was expecting. “Oh my goodness, and mind my manners, I’m Beatrice,” she adds, making me smile before she nods eagerly. “So, what are you?”
My stomach churns. This question feels worse than the last, cutting through me like a blade, ragged and drenched in poison. “I don't know anymore,” I admit, answering honestly.
Her lips pinch once again as she assesses me, coming to a stop by two small trees forming a perfect arch. “Why do I get the feeling there's more here than what meets the eye?”
“Because you’re smart?” I answer, a hint of jest in my voice, and she smiles.
“I’m also not wrong.”
“No, you’re not.”
She tilts her head once again, compassion sparkling in her eyes as she nods. “Maybe that's what I get to lecture you about then. But luckily for you, I have meetings this morning, so you’ve got some time. Although, you’d better be prepared because, as my son's devoted, that means you’re family.AndI’ve never had a daughter before. We’re going to have the best time,” she insists, gleefully, and I’m starting to question whether she could actually have any connection to Blaze because she’s so… nice.
She’s playful, joyful, and not an asshole. They might look the same, but this doesn’t feel like a similarity… does it?
“Okay,” I breathe, still not entirely sure what I’m agreeing to, but she smiles wider nonetheless. Without another word, she takes two steps, dragging me with her as we pass between the two small trees. However, when we reach the other side, it’s not the forest that remains in view—well, not the same forest.
No.
I blink. It’s the tree line around the vampire dorm. We're back on Trinity Falls Academy grounds.
My stomach churns. The last time I was here, I was dead. The last time I was here, I had fewer answers and fewer things to worry about. The last time I was here, I was definitely still oblivious to the darker edges of the world.
“Hey.”
Wylder's voice cuts through the air, interrupting my thoughts. I turned to him with a smile, but I can’t step toward him because Beatrice keeps her arm locked around mine as she assesses Wylder.
“My son sent you so he could avoid me, didn’t he,” she grumbles with a disappointed sigh. Wylder lifts his hands in a show of surrender and matches her stance, head cocked to one side as he glances at her.
“Blaze’s mom?” he clarifies, and I nod as she mumbles her confirmation. Wylder glances over toward the building, scrubbing at the back of his head before turning his attention back to us. “He didn't send me, but he didn'tnotsend me either,” he says, clearly aware that there's a slight nuance under the surface, but she simply hums.
