“Unless you’re talking about this power.”
His voice sang inside my head, and I nearly screamed. He did this the last time I saw him too. The gleam in his eyes as he looked at me, knowing I had heard him, was terrifying. He put his hands up.
“Alright, you’ve got me. I won’t move. But I gotta know, what was your plan here? Why are you going around stabbing people?” His voice was kinder then, and I relaxed some.
“I need an evil person to give her,” I said, my voice shaking as I revealed my intentions.
“To give? You mean… sacrifice?” He shook his head. “And you thought… me.”
I nodded.
“Wow, okay. Why don’t you look a little closer at yourself? You don’t even know me. How do you know I’m evil at all?” He stepped forward, and I let him come close. My heart was beating out of my chest as my eyes flicked from his stunningly beautiful eyes to the dangerous knife, still covered in his blood. He saw me, and he lifted the knife up to his lips.
His tongue came out and slid along the sharp blade, lapping at the red liquid. He kept eye contact with me the entire time, and I didn’t breathe as I watched. Arousal suddenly hit me, low in my belly. My core pulsed as I watched his tongue dart out of his mouth.
“Your own blood is never as good as someone else’s. I’d like to taste yours.” He leaned down to whisper in my ear. “Will you let me?”
I shook my head, and suddenly, I remembered to breathe and move. I pushed him away. “No!”
He smirked and flicked the knife around, offering me the hilt. He stepped back when I took it.
“I’m not the evil soul you’re looking for. Good luck.” He turned and disappeared back into the village.
I picked up his shirt and closed the knife. I stuffed it back into my pocket and turned, running into the forest.
I couldn’t believe myself. I had just tried to kill someone. An innocent! How could I do that? That wasn’t me.
I dropped to the cold ground and clutched my knees as I sobbed. What kind of monster was I? I couldn’t live knowing I’d sacrificed someone to have my freedom. Someone who didn’t try to hurt me after I stabbed him.
He let me go.
He was right. I pulled my head up and wiped the blood tears off my face. I was looking for the wrong person. I knew exactly what I had to do to eliminate whatever evil was clinging to me and my village.
I stood then and wiped the earth from my dress. I braced myself and started back to my home.
“Are you sure?” The High Priestess asked. Her face was covered in worry for me. I was fiddling with my hands, but I nodded.
“It’s the only way. No more innocent blood shall be shed in the pursuit of happiness. This is the only way to break the curse.”
She nodded and leaned forward to pour me another cup of warmed blood.
“I was afraid of that. I think you are right. I think this has to happen if we want to save our coven.”
“Once you have my powers, you can turn them into good energy and use them to help the ones I leave behind.”
Magdalena, my precious aunt, smiled and reached for my hands. She was always so kind. “Yes, child. The Young Blood priestess will live on through my blood. Our coven will do great things with your gift.”
“How many days do I have left?” I gulped.
“Two moons.” She stood and reached to take my hand, helping me up. “We must prepare.”
“What do we need to do?” I cocked my head. I couldn’t remember what we’d done in past full moons.
“We are going to have a celebration. Everyone must be told. The more people come, the stronger the spell will be.”
“The servants will take care of you.” She snapped her fingers, and suddenly two Bloodborn women appeared, bobbing their heads.
“The Young Blood Priestess must be prepared for the ritual.”
