20 - Paul
And now I have to choose
“What was that?”
I ignore Tristin. My eyes are closed. I’m tired from feeding the scions and there are still three to go. If I open my eyes, I’ll see them looking back at me with the blood lust and I’m just not in the mood.
“Paul?”
“What?”
“What was that noise?”
“What noise?”
“Don’t you hear it? Listen.”
“All I hear is the disgusting slurping of the scion latched on to my wrist.”
The scion’s eyes open. Well, try to. He’s gone. So while he might hear the irritation in my voice, he’s in no condition to care about it.
“Listencloser,” Tristin snaps.
So I do. I tune out the scion’s irritating mouth noises and let out a breath. After a few moments I do hear something. “What is that?”
Tristin is so done with me. “That’s what I just askedyou.”
“Sounds like…” I listen again. “Battle?”
“Fuck. They’re up. It’s starting. We have to goright now.”
I push this feeder off me, stand up, and look over at my scions—not the hungry ones, but the fed ones. Every single one of them is sleeping.
Even the one I just fed is about to go unconscious.
I point to the mass of bodies on the floor. “Do they look like they’re ready for a battle of the ages? I have three conscious scions, Tristin, and they’re starving.” When I look over at them now, they are using every ounce of self-control they have not to attack me for my blood.
Not that they would get far. These three are no match for me.
But they’re no match for Josep’s army, either.
“How far away are they? How soon will they find him?” There’s real panic in Tristin’s voice now. But it’s understandable. He’s not a vampire, he’s a worthless rogue. Though he does excel at logistics, which came in handy.
I listen again, trying to determine where they are. Then there is a great screech that vibrates the whole valley.
Tristin and I look at each other. “Ryet,” we say at the same time.
“I thought you said you drugged him?” Tristin’s panic has turned into full-blown horror.
“I did.”
“Then why is he awake?”
It didn’t work.
I look at my tiny, slumbering scion army. All oblivious to the chaos that is coming. None in any condition to help me.
Once again, the inhuman screaming from across the compound beckons me. “I have to go.”
