by Chloe Grey
The temperature dipped lower still, and soon enough, fogs of vapour formed in front of me.
The next thing I knew, Tobias was flung across the other side of the room, crashing into the flat screen television on the wall, sending shards of glass everywhere.
Dave nursed his neck with his hand. I watched in horror as the bloody black gash on his shoulder began stitching itself up, the wound closing within seconds.
As Tobias groaned, trying to get up to his feet, Dave suddenly fell forward, landing on all fours, groaning and gritting his teeth, struggling at an invisible opponent, his purplish skin slick with sweat.
He looked sideways at me, my name coming out in a strangled breath.
“Cass...”
Dave fell forward again, screaming in pain. I came towards him, calling his name over and over, but he wasn’t responding, just thrashing wildly as I held him.
Then he was gone. His writhing body grew still, and when he looked at me again, the fear in his eyes had disappeared, the blues now completely consumed by evil.
I let Dave go, as he got up, straightened himself, leaning his neck from one side to another, then he looked back at me.
I readied myself for anything, but he just sniffed, his fangs gleaming at the slight movement, then refocused his attention back to Tobias.
And for the first time since meeting him, I saw fear flash in the smug vampire’s eyes.
Tobias crouched low again, the muscles in his legs rippling, his body tensing, preparing to leap. I didn’t know what happened next, but there was a spill of dark blood, a spine curling scream, then a body being hurled across the room, the same way as before.
Tobias smashed into the concrete wall, gasping audibly as the air was knocked out of him, then screamed again, clutching his right hand. Except there was no more right hand.
Dave threw the detached arm over his shoulder, and I covered my mouth as it landed to my right, the fingers still twitching relentlessly, black liquid pooling on the ground, making the frozen air thick with the musky scent of iron.
Was Dave still Dave? Was he still in there somewhere? I flinched when he growled—a deep, low animalistic snarl. His claws twirled back and forth, eager to draw more blood.
Despite the missing limb, Tobias recomposed himself quickly, then vanished again. Dave saw it this time. With a swift jab forward, he struck his target, spearing his opponent through the ribs, then twisting his arm, goading out a chilling scream. Dave made use of his other hand, grabbing Tobias’s shoulder as leverage to pull his other hand free, a sickening sound blanketing the room as he did so, then stabbed him again, this time through the heart, ending it just as quickly as it started.
I stepped backed when Dave shoved the purple-black corpse away like it was nothing. Then he turned around to face me. And even as I watched, his fangs retracted, his claws shortened, and his skin turned back to its golden splendor. He was Dave again.
Dave, but with a crooked smile and eyes that still remained a horrifying violet. And when he opened his mouth, I knew that this wasn’t the man I loved.
“Got a lighter?”
HE STEPPED FORWARD. I stepped back.
“Relax,” he said soothingly, in the exact same way Dave always did. I almost believed him.
“Cass...” he said, not leveling his eyes at me. I followed his gaze, going silent when I realised my nails had lengthened and sharpened. “Relax.”
Amazingly, I did. My heart steadied itself, my breathing returned to normal, and I stared in astonishment as my claws retracted by themselves.
“Get back,” I shouted, when he inched forward again. My back hit the concrete wall, and I quickly extended one of my arms out, jabbing an imaginary claw in his direction when he took another step forward.
He sighed, wiping his hand on his jeans, smearing it black. He stalked away. “I guess you don’t have a lighter then.”
I knew what he was going to do. I looked away, gritting my teeth as I heard the sick all too familiar crackling sound.
My gaze snapped to the exit, multiple thoughts forming in my mind. But no, I couldn’t. I couldn’t leave Dave.
“Cass.”
I inhaled sharply at the smooth roll of my name. I wanted to scream, cry, but I steadied myself, finally leveling my gaze at him. I mustered much as my courage as I could. “Who are you?”
His violet eyes glimmered. “Who do you think, Cass?”
My lips trembled, and my fist automatically clenched up. “Stop saying my name like that.”
“You look so hot when you’re all riled up like that. Did he ever tell you that?”
“He?” I needed to confirm. I had to.
His lips curved. “Yes. He.”
I went silent, my breathing becoming ragged again, my heart beginning its steady pounding. I didn’t know what to do.
“Come here.”
My body immediately came to life. The deep rumbling velvet of his command coursed through every inch of my flesh, surging into my soul itself.
Despite all my efforts not to, I took a wobbly step forward. I screamed then, digging my claws into my feet, trying to fight whatever hold he had on me.
It didn’t work. I was weak, my will was sapped, and before I knew it, I stood before him.
“I’m not going to hurt you, babe.” He wrapped his hand around me, smearing me in black, bringing me in closer. I was helpless. He sniffed. “You smell so good. So flowery.”
I tried to pry myself away. That didn’t work. I tried to kick him in the balls. That always worked. This time, my legs wouldn’t obey me. This was bad. If he had this much control over me, he could—
“You think too much. Just relax.”
“Please,” I begged, tears staining my eyes, my grip around him tightening. “Don’t.”
He tipped my chin up with his index finger, exposing my collar. “I wish I could. You have no idea of the things we want to do with you.” He sighed. “But I don’t have much time. He is coming back. Really fighting for it.” He pointed to his right eye, and I could see a bare glimpse of deep blue forming at the edges of his iris. Hoped surged through me.
“I don’t know how I came to be,” he said. Brushing his thumbs slowly across my bottom lips. He exhaled, his breath hot on my cheeks, then continued, “My first memory was just maybe over a year ago. David thought of himself as a human then. You made him forget. Heartbroken as he was, you made him forget who he really was. I’m really grateful for that. The blowing-up-shotgun-shells-in-my-mouth phase was really getting to me.”
He chuckled uncharacteristically, then tasted me, a light brush of his minty lips. I pulled away, but he held me close, my body relenting to his will. I can’t. This wasn’t Dave.
“He still thinks about Mom, you know? Everyday. Blames himself for her death. He isn’t strong, Cass. As much he portrays himself on the outside, inside, he’s in pieces. Trust me, I know.”
With that, he let me go and took a step back. I was still frozen on the spot, my muscles refusing to obey me.
He looked around at the wreckage, at the headless corpse, then back at me, his lips curving, then slowly parting in a final farewell.
The air was getting warmer. The piercing blues that I loved so dearly were almost fully formed now.
“Take care, Cass."
Author's notes
Hey! I see you've made it to the end of my book. A HUGE thank you for reading. It took a lot of blood (heh), sweat, and tears to first gain the courage to work on my debut novel, then finish it.
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r /> Chloe Grey, Bitten (Blood Bonded Book 1)