“You…” I growled, my eyes trying to close. I was so very tired. I slumped against the back of the couch. This was it. Couldn’t even do one mission.
“This isn’t…” I slurred, breathing heavily. My heart was thumping wildly in my chest. Shallow, rapid thumps as it attempted to push more blood around. I pulled my hand from my neck and saw my arm completely covered with warm red liquid.
My head lolled to the side. I was going to pass out. I’d lost too much blood.
Professor Wolfe was suddenly on his knees in front of me. His face had transformed into the ugly monster I saw at night, waxy with ridges, a mouth filled with sharp teeth. He was the ugliest vampire I’d ever seen.
“We’re vampires, Sebastian.” He cradled my face and I peeled my lips from my teeth in distaste. “And you will be too. I couldn’t let them take you away from me,” he admitted. He pulled his wrist to his mouth and bit into it. His mouth came away bloody as his wrist dripped black liquid on my pants.
“You’ll live forever as a creature of the night. The only other choice is death now.”
I looked at his shiny eyes. My thoughts were thick, like sticky mud, layers of it slogging around in my mind. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Dead by vampire, just like my parents. I’d always had a feeling this would be how it went.
“There isn’t much time,” Wolfe said. Slowly I peeled my eyelids open. He looked at me with twinkling eyes, excitement clear on his face.
“I’d rather die,” I croaked before spitting in his face. His excitement dimmed for a moment but then he threw his head back and laughed.
“You will be such a delight tobreak,” he said darkly and I felt nauseous.
“You bastard,” I hissed. A moment later his bloody wrist was shoved against my mouth. I tugged my head away and he rolled his eyes as if I were a petulant child not eating their vegetables. His blood was cold on my lips. I ran my tongue over it, tasting it. Hunger flared to life, overwhelming me. My eyes zeroed in on his wrist.
I couldn’t stop myself. I didn’t want to be one of them, but I couldn’t fight my instincts. I latched on and drank.
“That’s better,” he cooed like I was a pet. I didn’t care. Strength filled me as I tugged the bloody wrist closer and sucked on his skin harder. He tried to tug himself away but couldn’t.
I smiled against his wrist. I’d try to drink him fucking dry.
“Enough,” he commanded and instantly I released him and gasped for air.
My tongue darted out, relishing the taste of blood on my lips. My body was humming, my teeth on edge. I tipped back, falling into the loveseat. Euphoria blazed in my mind. My gums tingled and itched.
“Fuck,” I said, laughing for some reason. All this time I was being fed on as a nightly treat by a vampire. What a joke of a vampire hunter I was. Then again, no one bothered to mention an ancient master was here.
“You nearly drank too much,” he snapped, leaning against his desk and glaring at me. The line of his mouth revealed he didn’t seem too pleased.
“Yeah, well it’s still a lot less than you’ve been stealing from me,” I said. Simmering anger began to bubble and grow, sparking out hot. I gritted my teeth and leapt up from the couch.
“You’ve been fucking tormenting me,” I spat as I stomped up to him.
“You should be honored,” he said, dropping his bloody cloth on his desk. “I haven’t sired another vampire for fifty years.” He smoothed out his shirt and looked it over for blood. Not a spec was on him. Obviously, he was an experienced drinker.
“Honored?” I snarled. My emotions felt unhinged and frantic. I was unnaturally manic. The blood in my veins hummed louder and louder until it felt like it burned. Pain swam through my body–searing and powerful.
“No,” I gasped, doubling over as I gripped the edge of Wolfe’s desk.
“You’re becoming a vampire. It’s a process that takes some time but you’ll be fine in my care.” I started scratching at my gums, they itched. God, I was turning into a monster.
“We’ll put you in the ground tonight,” he said, reaching out to grasp my neck. I peeled my lips back from my gums and gave him an ugly grimace.
“You’remine, Sebastian. I’m your master and the rest of them here can’t do anything about that now,” Professor Wolfe said. I shook my head. My heart strained in my chest, the beats irregular. My chest hurt.
This society, this catacomb, would not be my cage and Professor Wolfe would not be my master.
“I’d rather die,” I growled. I flung myself at him and clawed his face. He hissed in pain, pushing me off him.
“No one can help you now,” he growled. I ignored him and escaped from the room. I had to get away from him. I stumbled around, sucking in sharp breaths. A group was coming down a hallway, draped in cloaks, and with hoods over their faces.
“Wolfe!” One snapped in a rage when he saw me bleeding. I ran towards the exit but fell to the ground, flipping on my back and wailing in pain before I could reach it. I clawed at my gums.
