“I’ll explain everything, but drink. I can’t lose you.” Gregory’s lips didn’t move. She’d heard his thoughts. Turning back to the offending wrist she drank down the rancid taste and gagged. She hated the sight of blood, and the taste was even worse.
“Step back, Gregory.”
The instant they moved from the bed spasms wracked her body. Marianna couldn’t control them. She closed her eyes as something miraculous happened to her body. There was no control over it. Her sense returned, and when she opened her eyes she felt … strong. Lifting her hand before her eyes she saw the paleness of her skin, but there was new strength within her.
Placing a hand over her heart, she felt no beat or pulse.
She was dead. Sitting up she saw Augustus stood in front of Gregory.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“Please, look at me. Be the woman I love.” Gregory’s voice whispered across her mind. His lips remained still as he looked at her.
“What’s going on? Why are you stood in front of him? Why do I feel different?”
She stood from the bed with a speed that startled her. Marianna yelped and crashed into the dresser beside the bed.
“Okay, please, I’m freaking out.”
“You’re a vampire,” Gregory said.
“No, I can’t be a vampire.” Turning her gaze to Augustus she saw the truth written on his face. “No, this is not acceptable.”
Before she could stop herself, she charged at the other vampire in the room. The screams coming from her mouth shook her. The sounds were animalistic.
“Marianna!” Her name came from Gregory. She ignored him.
Augustus grabbed her around the neck and threw her away from him. She crashed onto the bed. The hard wood cracked under the impact. Marianna made to attack again, but Augustus pinned her to the bed. He caught both of her arms above her head stopping her. Augustus was stronger, more powerful, and he held her in a grip she didn’t have a chance of escaping.
“I turned you because I fucking killed you. We were in the kitchen. You were laughing, and so was I. You were getting turned on from our dirty talk, and because you weren’t looking, you sliced your finger. The small blood combined with the scent of your cunt was enough to make me lose control.”
She turned toward Gregory, who nodded his head.
“I sucked you dry and tore at your body. Blood was everywhere, and by the time I gained control your heart was already slowing down. I gave you my blood with just enough time for it to get pumped through your system. I did what I had to. Letting you die was not an option.”
Gregory sat down on the bed. He reached out to touch her face.
“Back off, Gregory. She could still attack you.”
Marianna hissed in anger.
“She’s not going to hurt me.” Gregory touched her face. His hands were burning hot. She’d never felt anything so amazing against her skin. “I came home to find you surrounded with blood and death. I carried you upstairs. I showered and dressed you in the shirt you’re wearing.”
“You carried my dead body?”
He blanched at the word. “I couldn’t think of you as dead. I can’t.”
She nodded. “You can let go of me now.”
Augustus shook his head.
“There’s more?” she asked.
“Your thirst for blood will take over. You could risk killing Gregory.”
The thought of blood made her feel sick. “I’m fine. Please, let me up. I need to move.”
He took his time and only let up when he was satisfied. She sat back on the bed, rubbing at her wrists. They weren’t hurt, but it was natural to rub where Augustus had touched.
“You’ll get over that. Rubbing your wrists is a natural response.”
Her throat felt full, but tears refused to come from her eyes. The unfairness of it all wasn’t lost on her. “Why can’t I cry?”
“We don’t waste our time on tears in the early days. You’ll still get turned on. For some reason that never changes down there. I don’t know why, but young vampires don’t cry tears. We can have all the emotions for them, but you don’t actually cry.”
Marianna stared at Gregory. “You must really hate me,” she said.
“No, why would I hate you?”
“I’m a vampire, and you always wanted to be.”
Gregory started laughing.
“If only you knew the truth.”
“What truth?” she asked.
“Today Gregory realised he didn’t want to be a vampire. He likes the sun too much and being able to walk around while we can’t fills him with great joy.”
“Oh,” she said. “You don’t want to be a vampire anymore?”