Page 22 of Fallen Thorns
Fear laced their tone, eyes darkening and brow tensing.They’re right, Arlo. Listen to them. Let them into your life. Learn.
I bit my gum, swallowed, and closed my eyes. “Please leave me alone.”
They didn’t budge. “You had the packet then?”
I took a deep breath. “Yes.”
“And what did it taste like?”
Paradise.“Blood.”
“The hunger. You felt it?”
I said nothing.
“Did the blood satisfy you or did it leave you wanting more?”
More. So much more.
“Please leave me be.”
“Arlo, don’t do this. I know exactly what this feels like. I can’t stand by and watch this eat away at you.”
“Why would you care?” I snapped, anger erupting from nowhere. I regretted my tone before I even finished the sentence.
Mars looked as if I’d slapped them, colour draining from their face. Fear morphed their features, and I quickly learned why. My canines pierced my lower lip, blood dripping from my mouth.
A haunting silence fell between us, interrupted by my own panting breaths as my face cooled and my blurred vision regained focus.
“That’s why.”
They shoved two large, ice-cold blood bags into my hand then disappeared into the street.
ChapterSix
When I first breathed in the earth, I could feel the world burning around me. So much pain and anguish. A millennium of tears.
Acid on my soul.
He will awaken and it will be glorious.
My companion does not know who I have chosen. It is too soon for that, but he will understand.
He reaches out an elegantly ringed hand, his form as exquisite as always.
“Rise,” he says. “You’ve got work to do.”
This is going to be fun.
I’ve got work to do, I thought as I stormed away, my pockets disgustingly full.I can’t let this get to me, I can’t fall behind.Up until this point, I’d managed to stay on top of my studies. Stuck to my routine, as I always did. Never allowing myself to go too slow. And I would let none of this hinder that routine in any way. I would figure it out all by myself, like always. Though I knew I’d burn out soon; my obsessive overworking always caught up to me, but I hated the idea of breaking my streak. Working kept my mind active and reminded me of my goal and how therecouldbe a chance of success in the future.
The instant I got back to my room, I slammed my door shut and threw my duffle coat on my bed; ignoring the weight of liquid within it.
One part of my mind was telling me I was being ridiculous. That Mars was right and that there was no way I would be able to manage on my own. But the other, much louder part screamed that Icoulddo this alone. Thinking about all those faces I met, how each of them will have most likely been turned as I was, would they have all had help? Or were some of them strong enough to get by on their own? They all looked fit and healthy to me. All sane. All thriving.
I refused to be weak. I wanted to be in control, to do something by myself and be in charge of my body and mind.
If I was going to need blood, I’d use my own. Be self-sufficient. There was no harm in that, surely. At least for the time being, until I worked out another source. I wouldn’t allow myself to be discretely handed bags every time I needed to feed, like a baby —spoon fed at feeding time.
