Page 20 of Vampire so Virtuous
Eve sat back, giving Cally space to rise. Though her face still held concern, it was tempered with relief.
“You had a vision,” Zara declared from behind her, an almost academic air to her words. “The mystic energies in my apartment have always been significant.”
It was difficult to believe apartment 21A was more aligned to the occult than the others on this particular floor, but Cally was still reeling from her experience, and let the comment slide.
“What did you see, Cally?” Lily asked, eagerly leaning forward.
“Uh, nothing,” Cally said. “Just blacked out for a second.”
“Nothing?” Lily said, disappointed. “You were gone for so long.”
Cally looked at Eve. “How long was I out for?”
“About five minutes,” she replied, her words laced with relief. “We were about to call an ambulance.”
“No we weren’t,” Zara contradicted firmly. “You were breathing fine.”
But Cally ignored her, frowning. It had gone so fast it had felt like… a minute? Barely that.
“We were all so worried,” Priya blurted from Cally’s other side, her large brown eyes wide and glistening as she stared.
“Iwasn’t worried,” Zara thoughtfully clarified, in case anyone was in any doubt.
“I think I’ll go home, if you don’t mind,” Cally said, rising unsteadily.
Eve and Priya rose with her, offering support.
“I’ll walk you back,” Eve said, her concern returning.
“No need, I’m fine,” Cally said, feeling stronger with each passing second. Eve looked dubious, and Cally squeezed her hand. “I’m fine, honestly. I can look after myself. I’ll head home.”
“Are you sure?”
“Call you tomorrow, okay?”
Seven – Antoine
Antoine let the unconscious body slide down to the grass and looked around. He was still alone in the park.
He swallowed hard, grimacing.
This one was a student, a young man in his prime. No wayhis blood should taste like rusty nails steeped in stagnant water—bitter, acrid, and devoid of life.
Antoine turned in a swirl of shadows and strode off across the park.
The blood was working—the craving abated, at least somewhat—but where was the strength? The flavor? It was almost like feeding on dead blood—except that would come straight back up again.
Was he ill? Could vampires evengetill?
He’d never heard of such a thing.
He reached the edge of the park and leaped for the nearest building.
That student had been his second feed since the woman, and both of them had tasted like shit when neither should. Neither had suppressed the craving as fully as it ought to. Hell, after the mugger, he’d been hungry within two nights. It had beenyearssince he’d needed to feed so often.
The woman’s blood had lasted a week. More—he hadn’t needed to take the mugger; he’d chosen to. Such inferior blood compared to hers. She’d tasted so unbelievably good that he could still remember every nuance of her flavor.
He paused in mid-step on the rooftop.
