Page 38 of Fallen Thorns
I cried out once more, the body I was trapped in listened to me a final time then collapsed to its knees, staring at the damp ground. I kept staring frantically to the pavement I found myself on, grasping on to that last drip of autonomy I had. A bloody tear fell from my eye, ragged breaths reverberating through my lungs, and then I was gone.
What a sight that befell them as they finally forced open the door. I will never forget the anguished look painted across their face as they ran over to the wide-open window, curtains billowing in the wind, leaning over as if yearning for a lover to free them from the tower.
The humans are not far behind, both equally full of shock and hopelessness.
The three of them silently come to the same conclusion at precisely the same time. They are gone in a second, out into the dead of night.
Where is everybody?Don’t they know this body is starving? My Sun chose this body for a reason and now it needs to be fed.
They call his name, though he will never hear them. The thing they are looking for is no longer there. They should call him by his new name, his real name. Pathetic humans. And the third one should know better. A verbal warning does nothing against fear. Hmm. Blinded by an emotion I will never understand.
There it is.I hear it. My Sun.
He greets me with open arms, canines masterfully elongated. He is such a wonder to behold; I will never deserve this privilege. I pull him close, stroke his brow, his soft curls. I let him feed. Oh, this is so much better than I had hoped. There, there, dear one. Take as much as you need. Choosing a vampire host truly has been a wonder.
He grips on so tight, his eyes consuming me.
“It’s okay, you are safe now,” I mutter, goading him to drink deeper. I would freeze us in this moment if I could. This never-ending bliss.
He is in pain, that is plain to see. I must heal him.
I pat his head, holding him close to my neck.
He grows limp after a time, finally sated. I have done my part for now.
I gently lower him to the ground, yet he still grips tight to my shirt. His actions having decorated it splendidly. One of a kind.
He panics slightly — a child in withdrawal, his breathing sporadic, his ruby eyes searching for compass.
“Rest now,” I say, stroking his brow and his face once more. They’re coming for him. I can sense their cries. I want to steal him away, to protect him. But I cannot. Not yet. There is still time.
So, I leave him, sad to see him fade. But I must be patient.
I’m gone before anyone registers I was ever there.
They called my name,multiple voices at once. I couldn’t see yet; my eyes were sealed shut. Was I alive? What a complicated question. I felt alive, but what does that even feel like? It was hard to tell anymore.
“He’s here, he’s here!” Cold arms grabbed me. Mars’ arms.Mars?
“Oh, dear lord.” A new voice. No, not a new voice. Human.Carmen?
I was lifted up, wrapped in a comforting embrace. This time I sank into it, I had no energy to act otherwise.
“He’s breathing,” Mars said, pressing their hand to my chest.
I’m so cold.
“Is thathisblood?”
“Some of it.”
“It’sblack.”
“I don’t know what was here but that most certainly wasn’t human.”
“What was it?” Another voice, rushed and distant. Familiar.
Mars’ grip loosened slightly. “Let’s just say, it appears the world is a lot bigger than we thought.”
