voice
betrays me. They look skeptical but eventually they turn and head back toward the main building. I wait until they are out of sight then sprint off in the opposite direction. I don’t know where I am going but I need to run. Run and run until I run the horrible images right out of my head. My heart is pounding
in my chest with the realization that I am going to die soon and that I’m going to take my friends down with me. I run until I hit the densely forested area at the edge of the island. It is not until the branches are scratching at my arms
that I realize how deep I’ve gone. Sounds echo all around me and not the usual sounds of nature but catcalls: hooting, hollering and whistling. Lily. I hear my name whispered. Lily. It dawns on me how stupid it was to come
here by myself with someone out there trying to kill me, even more so when I don’t know the way back.
“Lily!” Another voice calls to me and it sounds like its closer now. Three figures dressed in black emerge from the trees and I
recognize two of them from the cafeteria; they are vampires and seniors.
“Well if it isn’t Miss Lily Hughes.” The tallest one bares his fangs. “You look delicious tonight, little princess, but what are you doing
out here all alone?”
“You wouldn’t hurt me.” I say shakily and the tall one laughs.
“Who said anything about hurting you? I was thinking more along the lines of tasting you. Just a little sip that’s all.”
“That’s against the rules.” I say, backing up into the tree behind me.
“It is true that fairies are off limits to us but rules were made to be broken, especially when something smells as delicious as you do.” In
a blur he is face to face with me and running a cold finger along my neck to my collar bone. Stay still. Keep him talking. I’m coming. Luca’s voice echoes in my head but I don’t see him. It’s like you have no self-preservation instincts at all. No common sense. A laugh bubbles up in my throat. Am I
actually getting a telepathic lecture while this vampire is about to drink my blood? I am so incredibly angry with you right now. I’m about to answer back out loud with a few choice words of my own when all of the sudden Luca is
standing behind me.
“Take your hands off her, Darius.”
“If it isn’t ‘Luca the Great’ come to save the day? Why don’t you mind your own business, buzz kill.” The tall vampire yawns into his
fist.
“She is my business. Now stop fooling around and step away from the princess.” His voice is calm, but the menacing undertone is hard to miss as he steps in front of me and takes a protective stance.
“We weren’t actually going to do anything to her.” One of the smaller ones leaning against a tree whines.
“Say another word, Silas, and I’m coming for you first.” With that threat the other two scatter into the trees leaving, only the tall
one remaining. “Last warning, Darius.” Darius stands up straight and winks at me.
“I’ll be seeing you little princess.” Then he is gone in a flash.
“You.” When Luca looks at me his eyes are molten with anger.
“Never walk out here alone. In fact, do not walk around at night by yourself at all. Do you not understand that your life is in danger?” Even though I know he is right I can’t bite my tongue.
“Why should I do what you say? You are not the boss of me!”
I can see the muscle in his jaw twitch and I can tell that he’s furious. He grabs me by the elbow and using his vampire speed he pulls me out of the forest and back on to the campus grounds. When we reach the main field he releases me
and slides off his leather jacket to slip around my shoulders.
“It is cold out and your dress is a little short for a forest hike. What are you doing out here?” I ignore him and look back the way
we came.
“Do you think they are the ones trying to kill me?” I ask and he snorts.
“Darius is a lot of things but a plotter is not one of
betrays me. They look skeptical but eventually they turn and head back toward the main building. I wait until they are out of sight then sprint off in the opposite direction. I don’t know where I am going but I need to run. Run and run until I run the horrible images right out of my head. My heart is pounding
in my chest with the realization that I am going to die soon and that I’m going to take my friends down with me. I run until I hit the densely forested area at the edge of the island. It is not until the branches are scratching at my arms
that I realize how deep I’ve gone. Sounds echo all around me and not the usual sounds of nature but catcalls: hooting, hollering and whistling. Lily. I hear my name whispered. Lily. It dawns on me how stupid it was to come
here by myself with someone out there trying to kill me, even more so when I don’t know the way back.
“Lily!” Another voice calls to me and it sounds like its closer now. Three figures dressed in black emerge from the trees and I
recognize two of them from the cafeteria; they are vampires and seniors.
“Well if it isn’t Miss Lily Hughes.” The tallest one bares his fangs. “You look delicious tonight, little princess, but what are you doing
out here all alone?”
“You wouldn’t hurt me.” I say shakily and the tall one laughs.
“Who said anything about hurting you? I was thinking more along the lines of tasting you. Just a little sip that’s all.”
“That’s against the rules.” I say, backing up into the tree behind me.
“It is true that fairies are off limits to us but rules were made to be broken, especially when something smells as delicious as you do.” In
a blur he is face to face with me and running a cold finger along my neck to my collar bone. Stay still. Keep him talking. I’m coming. Luca’s voice echoes in my head but I don’t see him. It’s like you have no self-preservation instincts at all. No common sense. A laugh bubbles up in my throat. Am I
actually getting a telepathic lecture while this vampire is about to drink my blood? I am so incredibly angry with you right now. I’m about to answer back out loud with a few choice words of my own when all of the sudden Luca is
standing behind me.
“Take your hands off her, Darius.”
“If it isn’t ‘Luca the Great’ come to save the day? Why don’t you mind your own business, buzz kill.” The tall vampire yawns into his
fist.
“She is my business. Now stop fooling around and step away from the princess.” His voice is calm, but the menacing undertone is hard to miss as he steps in front of me and takes a protective stance.
“We weren’t actually going to do anything to her.” One of the smaller ones leaning against a tree whines.
“Say another word, Silas, and I’m coming for you first.” With that threat the other two scatter into the trees leaving, only the tall
one remaining. “Last warning, Darius.” Darius stands up straight and winks at me.
“I’ll be seeing you little princess.” Then he is gone in a flash.
“You.” When Luca looks at me his eyes are molten with anger.
“Never walk out here alone. In fact, do not walk around at night by yourself at all. Do you not understand that your life is in danger?” Even though I know he is right I can’t bite my tongue.
“Why should I do what you say? You are not the boss of me!”
I can see the muscle in his jaw twitch and I can tell that he’s furious. He grabs me by the elbow and using his vampire speed he pulls me out of the forest and back on to the campus grounds. When we reach the main field he releases me
and slides off his leather jacket to slip around my shoulders.
“It is cold out and your dress is a little short for a forest hike. What are you doing out here?” I ignore him and look back the way
we came.
“Do you think they are the ones trying to kill me?” I ask and he snorts.
“Darius is a lot of things but a plotter is not one of
Similar Books
