Page 78 of Fallen Thorns
You did.
I was struck cold. It really was him. It always had been.
Having read my expression, he threw me a look of pity. “So, you agree with me, don’t you? If I had not been there toaidyou, who knows what you might have ended up doing?”
“I drank your blood.”
He smiled fondly. “That you did.”
“You’re like me?”
A shrug. “Not exactly.”
Then what are you? And why does my head hurt so much?I was going to vomit.
“Don’t look so horrified. I did nothing but look after your health. You will thank me later.”
I’m going to be sick.
I ran over to the river’s edge, beneath the willow petals and fell to my knees, vomiting up my insides into the stream. Even in the dim light, I watched as thick blood effervesced in the water, staining the stony edge a deep crimson.
A tight grip tugged on my coat collar, and I was aggressively hoisted back onto my clumsy feet. “Oh dear,” he said over my shoulder, an angry tinge of disappointment prevalent in his tone. “I didn’t think this form would weaken you this much. Maybe I chose wrong. Hmm.”
You didn’t.
I’m not weak.
“Have you fed tonight?” he asked, still pressing close behind me as I looked out hazily across the moonlit water. His breath was warm and sweet smelling.
Fed.
I had. I had a dose before we left, as did Mars. We did it together.Call Mars.No point now, what will they say?
“Can’t you keep it down?” He shook his grip loose, forcing me to lose my balance slightly.
I didn’t turn back around. “I can.”I’m not weak.
“I suppose you’ll learn.” His voice settled, and he dusted off my jacket, forcing me to turn around so that he would stop touching me.
His face mirrored mine, emulating one of confusion. “Oh dear,” he said again.
What now?
He grabbed me by my collar once more, this time his firm hand snaked around to hold my neck still as he came up close. I didn’t have enough time to register what he pulled out of his pocket until a cloth pressed over my mouth, and he wiped away the excessblood.
His eyes were crystal blue, so clear they were almost pure white. This was novampire.He wasn’t like us. He may have looked human, but he was nothing of the sort. What he was was no parasite or infection. His mind and soul were not of this earth.
I stared, limbs unmoving and slack by my side.
“How they have let you down.”
“What do you mean?” I yanked myself away finally, shocking him.
“Your potential. Don’t you realise what you are capable of? Have you not figured out what you are now?”
My potential.
He isn’t making any sense. I’m just me. Just Arlo.
