Page 64 of This Ravenous Fate
“Probably a gangster. They always carry,” Sterling grunted as he slid into a sitting position against the wall, blood falling more rapidly from his middle.
“By that logic, I’m sure it could have been a Saint,” Jamie snapped.
A tight smile broke across Sterling’s face. “I heard Mr. Wayne calling for the police out there. He thinks it was a scorned ex-partner of that Nellie lady. Probably still a gangster—” He coughed roughly and Elise kneeled before him, her hands pressed to her mouth.
“Enough,” Elise hissed. “You’re bleeding everywhere, for the loveof God!”
Layla glared at the mess before her. Already, her body was tensing again. The new blood only further scrambled her senses. “You all know better than to bring fresh blood to a reaper,” she muttered.
Elise, whose eyes shone with panic and hands shook violently, scowled up at Layla. “Is that a threat?”
“Only if you want it to be.” Sighing, Layla kneeled by Elise and Sterling. Jamie leaned against the wall and Elise prodded uselessly at the glass shard in his stomach. “Move,” Layla demanded, slapping Elise’s hand away.
Elise let out a hot breath. “Don’t you dare touch him.”
“I can fix him. I’m the one with healing properties in my blood, remember?” Layla said. She was getting tired. Tired of fighting the natural urge to sip on the blood swarming her senses, and tired of trying to convince someone who actively fought against being convinced. If Elise told her “no” one more time, Layla was going to walk off, leaving her to deal with the mess.
Elise’s teeth chewed on her lower lip. She shared a worried look with Sterling. “I’m not sure…”
Sterling nodded. “Respectfully, Elise, You have no idea what you’re doing. You’re actually making it worse. Let her try.” He let his head fall back against the wall behind him. “Don’t tell your father about this.”
“Oh,please,” Elise laughed, but there was no effort behind her derision. “I don’t dream of being reprimanded any time soon.” The silent admission in her voice told Layla she no longer protested her offer for help, but she glanced at her once more to confirm. At Elise’ssubtle nod, Layla lifted her wrist to her mouth.
Her fangs snapped out and everyone startled.
“No, no, no—”
“What the hell?”
“God, Layla!”
All three of them stared at Layla with gaping mouths. Elise looked a little ashen. Layla lowered her wrist and scowled. She pointed at Jamie first. “You have seen much worse than a reaper biting themselves; you’ve done worse yourself.” Then she pointed at Sterling. “You kill reapers, so, disrespectfully, I don’t want to hear any complaints when I am trying to save your life.” Lastly, she looked at Elise. “You. I’m not sure what you were expecting when I said my blood has healing properties. How do you think I get it to Sterling, by osmosis?” Layla knew she probably should have been gentler; fear glinted in their eyes and she was only making things worse. But her exhaustion continued to grow and the constant fight against her own urges was starting to drive her mad.
Sterling grumbled, “I think I’ll be okay.” He breathed hard and tried to sit up, but only got so far before he winced and slid back down the wall.
“I’m okay with leaving you to test your fate. I know how long it takes a human to bleed out. Trust me.” She bared her fangs and Sterling’s face paled.
Jamie clicked his tongue. “I think it’s safe to say no one here trusts you, Layla.”
“In about three seconds, I will leave all of you to deal with thison your own,” Layla threatened. She raised her fingers as if to count down, but Elise smacked her hand away.
“Do it,” she demanded. “Please, just help him.”
This time, Layla didn’t hesitate while she tore her wrist open. Blood spilled from her artery directly onto Sterling’s wound. In only a few seconds, his mangled skin began to knit itself back together. Layla couldn’t stay to watch the whole process. Already, her head was getting light and her throat was dry despite her own blood filling her mouth.
Layla looked up at Elise, a significant stream of blood still seeping from her eyebrow. “Do you want me to do you next?” Layla asked. Blood coated her lips and dripped from her mouth, but she figured it was worth an offer while her wrist still hung open between them.
“No,” Elise said, her face twisting with disgust. “I will heal just fine on my own.”
The alcove fell silent. Layla’s breath shook while her wound closed. Her blood ran hot through her veins and they pulsed, already craving and needing more blood to fill her. If she didn’t get a feeding soon, she might turn this entire room red.
Layla stumbled to her feet. “I need to go.” She barely managed to get the words out through her gritted teeth.
“Layla—” Elise’s voice followed Layla outside, but she did not stop for her. She did not stop until she was far enough down the street that the sounds of ambulances and panicked people did not muddle her thoughts. Blood still swept over all of her senses; it wasso overwhelming, the saliva in her mouth started to taste like blood, feel like blood—
Layla slumped in a quiet gangway between two buildings, breathing hard. The party was so far behind her now, the nearby streets sat mostly empty. It would be a challenge to get a hunt in. Hard because there was hardly anyone around to hunt. Easy because there was no one around to witness her kill. Layla shook her head. She had taken one human down already this month; to kill another would only draw more attention to her clan.
Blood welled in her mouth, dripping over her lips. Layla hissed. Her fangs were beyond her control now. They had never sunk back into place after bleeding all over Sterling. Her lips tore beneath their pointed ends, scabbing over after a few moments, then tearing again with each breath she took.
