control them, couldn’t even sense when they were out, really ticked me off. I thought that being hungry—for blood, gross—was the trigger, but now it seemed that any sort of heightened emotion could cause me to turn into the monster I really was. I lowered my hand, keeping my eyes fixated on Chance’s face.
“You’re good,” he answered, stepping back and away from me. I, too, exhaled the breath I had been unknowingly holding in my lungs, and the two of us headed back into the building just as the bell rang, signaling the end of a very crazy lunch.
In my next class, I focused on the clock instead of paying attention to the teacher’s lesson, watching the second hand tick away. I could feel each notch passing by like a year of my life. Is this how it’s going to be forever? Will immortality creep by like a second hand, one agonizingly painful click at a time? Just the thought of it made my skin crawl. Living forever sounded like hell. A hell I intended to avoid if at all possible.
I have to kill to survive .
Aldric’s plan re-entered my mind, taking over all my thoughts. I had to kill one hundred vampires—well, ninety-nine more—before I could rid myself of the monster growing within me, before I could become human again. Before I could grow old and one day die. I never imagined wishing for old age at only sixteen, but wrinkles and retirement sounded like heaven compared to the alternative.
“Hey.” I heard Chance whisper from beside me, his face full of concern. “What’s on your mind?” His regard for me was a little flattering and totally unnecessary.
“Nothing,” I smiled, though a bit forced. “Stop worrying about me so much.” I kept glancing at the front of the room, where the teacher was rapidly scribbling notes on the board. I should have been copying down in my notebook what she was writing, but I couldn’t force my mind to focus.
“I can’t,” Chance said with a burning behind his eyes. He looked angelic sitting there, wisps of his curly black hair falling carelessly around his face. I wanted to reach over and brush them away, but refrained. I didn’t want to get close to him, this guy I barely knew and didn’t fully trust. The hugging we did at lunch—even though it was for my safety above anything else—was super uncomfortable—and totally awesome at the same time—and that was more than enough closeness in my mind. So instead, I smiled at him. He flashed another of his charming, perfect smiles before turning his attention to the blackboard at the front of class. He immediately slipped into student mode and began feverishly copying the notes piling up on the board. I figured I could just copy his later and returned to staring at the clock.
I noticed that during our little exchange time had moved past the point I made it to yesterday before being bombarded with that sweet blood smell; when I had to excuse myself from school to go kill someone. I wonder if there’s a hall pass for that? So at least today was now officially better than yesterday. Well, the first part of it anyway. I smiled at my inside joke and lowered my gaze from the clock on the wall. My eyes fell on Lacey, sitting two rows to my left and three seats forward. She was staring at me with fierceness in her eyes and anger on her face. Great, I’ve made her mad again. I knew what it was this time, though. Chance. She obviously wanted him, and she felt I was standing in her way.
I forced another smile, hoping it would cut the tension flowing between us. Her face remained rigid as she spun forward in her desk. I watched her for a few seconds before looking away. I couldn’t believe that I had already alienated one of the most—if not the most—popular girl in school, and it was only my second day. Chance was right, all bets were obviously off.
The bell rang, and I couldn’t get out of that room fast enough. I didn’t even wait for Chance, who sometimes moved at a snail’s pace. I was already halfway down
“You’re good,” he answered, stepping back and away from me. I, too, exhaled the breath I had been unknowingly holding in my lungs, and the two of us headed back into the building just as the bell rang, signaling the end of a very crazy lunch.
In my next class, I focused on the clock instead of paying attention to the teacher’s lesson, watching the second hand tick away. I could feel each notch passing by like a year of my life. Is this how it’s going to be forever? Will immortality creep by like a second hand, one agonizingly painful click at a time? Just the thought of it made my skin crawl. Living forever sounded like hell. A hell I intended to avoid if at all possible.
I have to kill to survive .
Aldric’s plan re-entered my mind, taking over all my thoughts. I had to kill one hundred vampires—well, ninety-nine more—before I could rid myself of the monster growing within me, before I could become human again. Before I could grow old and one day die. I never imagined wishing for old age at only sixteen, but wrinkles and retirement sounded like heaven compared to the alternative.
“Hey.” I heard Chance whisper from beside me, his face full of concern. “What’s on your mind?” His regard for me was a little flattering and totally unnecessary.
“Nothing,” I smiled, though a bit forced. “Stop worrying about me so much.” I kept glancing at the front of the room, where the teacher was rapidly scribbling notes on the board. I should have been copying down in my notebook what she was writing, but I couldn’t force my mind to focus.
“I can’t,” Chance said with a burning behind his eyes. He looked angelic sitting there, wisps of his curly black hair falling carelessly around his face. I wanted to reach over and brush them away, but refrained. I didn’t want to get close to him, this guy I barely knew and didn’t fully trust. The hugging we did at lunch—even though it was for my safety above anything else—was super uncomfortable—and totally awesome at the same time—and that was more than enough closeness in my mind. So instead, I smiled at him. He flashed another of his charming, perfect smiles before turning his attention to the blackboard at the front of class. He immediately slipped into student mode and began feverishly copying the notes piling up on the board. I figured I could just copy his later and returned to staring at the clock.
I noticed that during our little exchange time had moved past the point I made it to yesterday before being bombarded with that sweet blood smell; when I had to excuse myself from school to go kill someone. I wonder if there’s a hall pass for that? So at least today was now officially better than yesterday. Well, the first part of it anyway. I smiled at my inside joke and lowered my gaze from the clock on the wall. My eyes fell on Lacey, sitting two rows to my left and three seats forward. She was staring at me with fierceness in her eyes and anger on her face. Great, I’ve made her mad again. I knew what it was this time, though. Chance. She obviously wanted him, and she felt I was standing in her way.
I forced another smile, hoping it would cut the tension flowing between us. Her face remained rigid as she spun forward in her desk. I watched her for a few seconds before looking away. I couldn’t believe that I had already alienated one of the most—if not the most—popular girl in school, and it was only my second day. Chance was right, all bets were obviously off.
The bell rang, and I couldn’t get out of that room fast enough. I didn’t even wait for Chance, who sometimes moved at a snail’s pace. I was already halfway down
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