Hunt

Lake

The night is lit by a crescent moon as Sylas leads me out of the woods and into a sketchy neighborhood. It’s like something out of an apocalypse movie, all smashed windows, weathered bricks, and vacant roads.

“Where are we?” I look around and sense only a couple of humans dotting the alleyways.

“The worst of the neighborhoods I could remember in this part of the region,” Sylas states. “A lot of bad people live here. I figured you’d feel better feeding from them than a normal person walking down the street.”

“You’re not wrong,” I say reluctantly. “I suppose criminals are better in this case.”

“We have to feed soon, though,” Sylas warns, his hand on the small of my back as he ushers me forward. “This is the territory of a small but deadly pack. They’ve been known to kill outsiders in a matter of seconds.”

My mind flashes to Lynne. If she was around, I’d have no problem fighting off the opposing wolves, no matter their size. Her not being here is affecting me more than I initially thought.

“Kjarni, I’ll do the work this time. Show you the ropes and how to attract a human. Once they’re tranced, you get first dibs.” Sylas’s eyes are glowing a bright, brilliant red. He seems more focused and predatory.

The ground is littered with dirty needles, old baggies, and I think I even spot an old used condom. I almost gag at the sight.

“This pack doesn’t really take care of their territory, huh?” I say with my hand over my mouth.

“They don’t need to,” Sylas says grimly. “They’re the leading sellers of drugged-up humans on the black market.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Nobles in the vampyre community and other packs in the area bid on the weakest humans in order to have slaves. Once in the hands of those people, they’re forced to drink the venom of vampyres until they’re hooked for life.”

“For life?” I ask incredulously.

“Yes,” he says, pulling me to a stop at a corner, looking around for unsuspecting humans. “Venom addiction is no joke. If you take enough, your body won’t be able to function without it.

“The people who buy these slaves force them into venom addiction in order to ensure their complete obedience.”

“That’s vile,” I whisper.

Sylas nods, but raises a finger to stop me from talking further. That’s when I smell it.

The air filling my lungs is scented with the sweet aroma of honeysuckle. My fangs prick at my gums and saliva fills my mouth.

“What is—”

Sylas moves before I’m able to ask my question. He casually walks over to a young woman slumped on an old mattress riddled with mold and bugs. Her body is skeletal and frail, but her eyes light up at the sight of Sylas.

“Hi, stranger,” she coos. “Here for a good time?”

The old rag of a skirt she’s wearing rides up as she spreads her legs, showing her entire glory for anyone passing by to see.

“You know it, baby.” Sylas bends down with a sensual smile, his hands trailing from her calf bone to the top of her knee.

The sight of him touching her ignites a flame of jealousy inside my heart. I know it’s just an act, but he makes it seem so...real. The woman sits upright, shifting to whisper in Sylas’s ear, but I can hear every word she says.

“I’ll give you the special,” she tells him. “Seventy-five for my pussy. And another forty-five for anything else you’d like to do to me.”

The woman takes another look at Sylas’s face. “And since you’re so gorgeous…sixty-five for anything you want ~me~ to do to ~you~.”

I nearly punch the brick wall beside me. This bitch better watch herself.

“Mind if I have someone join us?” Sylas looks back at me. “She’s not very experienced, and I’d like to teach her a thing or two.”

~This bitchass man.~

The woman gives me an assessing look, her bright blue eyes clouded. She curls her fingers in a ~come here~ motion. Sylas holds out his hand, and I walk over slowly.

“You’re gorgeous, too,” the woman says delightedly. “How about forty-five for the extra little thing? I’m not good at math, but you get the gist.”

“How generous,” Sylas says. Then, to me, “She’s willing to teach you.”

I smile awkwardly and watch the magic unfold.

The vampyre’s eyes glow a dark, dark red as he locks gazes with the woman. Her body tenses and her entire face becomes like a brainwashed zombie. Sylas’s demeanor changes as he gets closer.

“You will not remember what happened here tonight,” he states. “The people you see right now are nothing but an illusion. Tomorrow morning, you will think this is a dream.”

“I...will not...remember…” the woman says emotionlessly. “You are...an illusion...a dream...”

“Good, pet.” Sylas smiles. “You will let us drink our fill before sleeping.”

The woman nods, her eyes already drooping low, though not yet fully closed. Her body relaxes and she tilts her head to the side for better access.

“Kjarni, here.” Sylas scratches the woman’s neck and the honeysuckle scent grows even stronger. My mouth fills with a thick, grainy, saliva-like substance.

“Are you sure this is—” My words are cut off by a drop of drool leaking out of my mouth.

“This is your body telling you to feed, Kjarni.” Sylas guides my head to the woman’s neck and encourages me to open my mouth.

I give in to my needs and feel electrified as the thick, enriched liquid slides into my mouth and dances all over my tongue and down my throat.

“Now swallow.”

I do as I’m told and I’m almost gobsmacked. The woman’s blood fills all my veins, nerves, and limbs with a rush of energy. My tongue rubs itself into the cut Sylas made, enlarging it so I can drink more at a time.

Her body tenses as she moans just a bit, but all I care about is drinking more. This human’s blood is everything I’ve needed! It’s addicting and hard to stop.

“Kjarni.”

My fangs pierce either side of the wound and tear it open even further. The woman begins to shake, but doesn’t struggle. The cut is the perfect size for my mouth now.

“Kjarni, stop.”

I wrap my arms around the woman. Her skinny frame could easily break if I’m not careful. She begins to cry from the pain and the continued shredding of her flesh.

“Kjarni!”

~Just a little more, please.~

I’m ripped from the woman’s body. Her blood drips from my mouth and onto her shirt. I stare at her blankly, consumed by my thirst.

Then a bloodcurdling scream escapes the woman’s mouth, startling me out of my bloodlust. Tears I hadn’t noticed until now stream down her face.

“Monsters!” she cries.

I catch a whiff of a wolf or two as a light breeze sweeps the alleyway. Anger boils inside of me. Why can’t I feed in peace?

“Kjarni, we have to go!” Sylas grabs my hand. “Now!”

He jerks me to my feet and leads me back into the forest. We don’t stop until we’re another mile from the neighborhood.

“What was that?!” Sylas scolds. “You could have killed her by tearing that much into her!”

“I—I don’t know…” I stutter. “She just tasted so ~good~.”

“You could’ve killed her.” Sylas looks at me wearily. “I understand she tasted good, but—”

“She tasted a lot like you,” I breathe out. “The sweet, textured blood that even Derrick didn’t have.”

“That’s odd.” Sylas thinks for a moment. “You have to practice restraint next time, though. Killing is not the goal when feeding.”

A sudden, unexpected flicker of annoyance rubs my mind. I know this energy.

“Lynne?”