Sweat dripped from Connor’s brow as he poured his heart into every note of his guitar solo. Amidst the chaos, Diana leaned into the crowd, her face inches from the outstretched hands of admirers. I was amazed at how she could captivate the crowd the way she did.
With a final thunderous crash of instruments, the band finished the song, and the stage lights turned off. I stoodthere, leaning against a pillar, waiting for Connor to notice me as he scanned the crowd once more. But his eyes landed once again on the fiery redhead as he hopped off the stage and walked over to her. She practically threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and giving him a big kiss.
I stood there in shock, watching Connor and this girl make out in the crowd of people. I felt foolish for coming here, thinking I could flirt with Connor for information. And I was mad at him for leading me on, whilst he had a girlfriend.
“Oh boy, there’s trouble,” a sultry voice said next to me. Diana stood there, her arms crossed as she watched Connor and the girl.
“Who is she?” I asked. My thoughts were a swirl of emotions. I wanted to leave, to get fresh air, but I also wanted to know more about the mysterious girl.
“Amber.” Diana pointed at her as she was practically shoving her tongue down Connor’s throat.
“Are they together?”
“Kind of? She’s Connor’s ex-girlfriend, or I guess girlfriend now. We can never really tell. She’s a part-time student and leaves town a lot. They break up, and then she comes back and acts as if nothing happened.”
“Hmm.” I pursed my lips, leaning back against the pillar.
“I’m not sure how Connor feels about Amber, though,” Diana said. “Every time we bring her up, he shuts down our judgement as if he owes her something.”
“He seems to be enjoying himself,” I replied, my gaze still fixed on the pair.
“I thought he liked you,” Diana said. “I heard him asking you out at the lake.”
As I watched Connor entwined with Amber, a torrent of conflicting emotions surged through me. I had convincedmyself that my interest in Connor was purely utilitarian, a way to gather information about the Slayers. But seeing him in the arms of another woman ignited an unexpected burn.
I felt exposed, vulnerable in a way that I hadn’t expected. I scrutinized Connor’s every move, trying to decipher the nuances of his body language. The laughter, the embraces. I didn’t know Connor well enough to figure it out, but I knew humans well enough to know that she turned him on.
Diana’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Did you ever find your friend? The one you were looking for the other night?”
“Yes,” I lied, keeping my voice steady.
“Glad to hear,” she said, smiling. Did she know more than she was letting on?
I smiled back. “Anyway, I should probably get going.”
“Don’t go! We should hang out,” Diana insisted.
“I don’t want to be out too late,” I cut her off before she could protest further. With a quick goodbye, I turned and left before Connor could spot me.
Frustration gnawed at me as I stepped out of the bar. My stomach felt tight with hunger, and my mind raced, a tangled mess of thoughts. I needed to feed.
I hurried to my car. The engine roared to life, and I sped off, windows down, the wind slicing through the air. The rush of the night air freed my thoughts momentarily. I drove until the city lights faded, then pulled off onto a gravel patch beside a forest. The trees were dense, and without thinking, I ran. I’d always felt comfortable being surrounded by trees. The tranquil forest sounds grounded my thoughts in ways nothing else could.
I slowed when I neared a stream, and a flicker of light in the distance caught my eye. I moved toward it, and I emerged into a campsite. The warmth illuminated a couple sitting by the fire. Jealousy clawed at me as I watched them,and the moment I caught scent of their sweat, the hunger inside me twisted. The monster took over.
I felt my fangs grow past my lips as I approached the couple. No one would hear them all the way out here. Seizing the man from behind, I grabbed the scruff of his shirt collar and sank my teeth into his neck. The girl screamed, but her cries were muffled by the rush of memories flooding my mind.
A surprise birthday party. Waves crashing around ankles in the ocean. Stargazing. Soft kisses on skin.
I was too overwhelmed, too hungry to push his thoughts aside. With a sudden, sharp motion, I broke his neck.
I heard the girl run.
Good. Dinner and a show.
Once I had drained the man’s body, I tossed him aside and chased after her. I was faster than she was, faster than any human. I caught up to her quickly, and in her panic, she tripped. Pouncing, I landed on top of her and spun her around to face me.
“Are you afraid?” I asked, seeing the fear in her eyes. Vail would be so disappointed in me, playing with my food. “Don’t be,” I said softly, running my hand down her face, catching a tear on my finger. With a swift moment, I ended her life too.
