Promise Me Anthology by Tara Fox Hall Page B

this is what you’d have to
look forward to: being hunted, alone, and often injured. And that’s
besides having a liquid diet that never varies.”
    “Why didn’t you let me die?” Heather
whispered.
    “Because those hunters hurt you because of
me. Now do you want to go to the hospital or not?”
    “Will I die if I don’t?” Heather asked. “Or
will I turn?”
    “You’ll die,” Devlin said tiredly. “But I’m
done trying to be persuasive. Lash is right about that being of no
further use. You want to turn, I’ll do it next week.” His voice
turned cool. “If you want to die, I’ll help with that, too, here
and now.”
    His words had a chilling effect, shocking her
into awareness. “Hospital,” Heather said.
    * * * *
    Then had come tonight, a week later. With
several transfusions, Heather had felt almost as good as new. But
after so many delays, she half expected Devlin to back out, or not
show. But the vampire was waiting for her, clapping as she sat down
at her table.
    “Did you change your mind?” he said
abruptly.
    “No.”
    “Very well,” Devlin said, offering his hand.
“Come.”
    * * * *
    The next evening, Heather’s eyes popped open.
At once, the vivid colors of her surroundings dazzled her. Then she
worried that someone was in the room with her, only realizing some
moments later that the person she was hearing was out in the
hallway. Her hearing and sight had amplified. What else had
changed?
    She stood, checked the time, then headed to
the bathroom. When she finished, she washed up and got dressed.
Emerging, she checked the clock again and did a double take. She’d
done everything in less than a minute flat. Her speed had also
increased.
    What else?
    Lifting the bed was easy, as if it were a bag
of groceries. As she set it down, Devlin came in. “How are you
feeling?”
    Heather rushed to him, hugging him. “I feel
fantastic! You didn’t tell me how wonderful, how powerful I’d
be.”
    “Because that is relative to humans,” Devlin
said with contempt. “And you must always be aware of that, because
it’s going to be very easy to crack bones if you shake someone’s
hand too hard, or hug a friend. But older vampires like myself will
also be much more powerful, Heather. Don’t let the power go to your
head. You have become a very small fish in a wide and deep
ocean.”
    Heather nodded. “Will you teach me?”
    “Tonight, briefly,” Devlin said, checking his
watch. “Then I have to feed. But I’ve set you up at the hospital to
work the night shift. There are several vampires that work there.
I’ll introduce you. They’ll arrange blood for you as needed, until
you make other arrangements.”
    “Are we robbing the blood bank?” Heather
quipped.
    Devlin gave her an aloof look. “You’ll be
working for me, after a fashion. So you won’t need to do any
thievery, young one.”
    Anger flared up in her at his sudden
condescending attitude. “That’s correct, oh Vampire King,” Heather
said mockingly. “I’m here to serve.”
    Devlin whipped around, then grasped her by
the throat, lifting her off her feet. Heather struggled, but to no
avail, fear coursing through her.
    “That is wholly correct, that you are to
serve me,” he said icily. “Remember you wanted it this way, Bright
Eyes. You wouldn’t take no for an answer, even with all the reasons
I gave you.”
    “Let me go!” Heather hissed, her own eyes
bleeding to red.
    “I will do with you however I want, if you
put one foot out of line,” Devlin said darkly. “And bear in mind
that my discipline is usually harsh.” He shoved her back, making
her stumble.
    “You bastard,” she screeched. “How could you
do this to me and walk away?”
    “Because I don’t suffer fools,” Devlin said
frostily. “And I can see you are one, in spite of all your
learning. I wish you luck in your new life. Adieu.” He placed a
book on her table, then turned and walked away, followed by
Heather’s curses.
    Heather spent the rest