The vampire who attacked the driver lifts his bloodied face from the dead man’s neck and stares at me. Hell. I’m next.
“Stay away from me, motherfucker!”
Desperately, I search for a rock I can use as a weapon. But there’s nothing near me besides dirt.
The vampire smiles, showing me his long-ass fangs right before he pounces on me. I close my eyes, bracing for the vicious attack, but it never comes. Instead, the vampire howls as if in pain. My eyes fly open again and see that Rikkon has stabbed the bloodsucker in his back. Unfortunately, all the small dagger did was annoy the vampire. He goes after Rikkon with bared fangs and clawed hands.
I don’t think. I jump on his back, my arms snaking around his neck as I lock my forearm against his throat, squeezing with desperate strength while my legs wrap around his torso, clinging as he bucks and twists beneath me. Adrenaline makes me forget my wound. It does not give me superstrength, though. Thevampire grabs my arms, digging his razor-sharp nails into my skin, cutting deep.
A ragged scream rips out of my throat right before he tosses me over his head. I hit the ground hard, and for a second, my vision becomes blurry. I don’t even see the vampire before he’s on top of me and tearing my body with his claws. Pure agony runs through me, and tears roll down my face.
“No!” Rikkon yells.
He must have done something to the vampire, because the slashing stops. Too late, though. I know my body is broken beyond repair. I can feel myself getting weaker with each breath I take.
This is how I’m going to die, then. I close my eyes and pray death comes fast.
The pain has stopped. It feels like I’m floating on air. Am I dead? Voices sound around me, but they’re muffled, as if I’m hearing them from underwater. I open my eyes, and at first, all I see is the starry sky. Then Vivi’s face appears above me like an angel.
“Vaughn, how are you holding up?” she asks.
“He’s not in pain anymore,” Aurora replies before I can. “At least that much I could do for him.”
I smile, relieved that she’s unharmed. “Vivi. You’re all right.”
“I’m fine, hon. And you will be too. The ambulance will be here any minute.”
Karl and Cheryl appear in my line of vision, and they both halt suddenly when they see me. Karl pushes his hair back, anguish twisting his features.
“Oh my God.” Cheryl covers her mouth with her hands and starts to cry. Vivi is crying too.
Boy, I must be in bad shape.
“Hey, why are you all crying? I’m gonna be fi—” I cough, tasting blood in my mouth.
“One of you bloodsuckers, do something!” Cheryl yells.
“What do you want us to do, Cheryl?” Ronan asks, frustration lacing his words.
“Turn him.”
Vivi looks at Lucca, and I’m not sure what he sees in her face, but he looks hella guilty now.
“You have to try!” Cheryl insists.
“You don’t even know if Vaughn wants to be turned,” Rikkon interjects, openly glowering at her.
“Am I dying?” I ask, even though I know I am.
“Yes,” Aurora replies. “I’m sorry.”
A deep sense of regret takes hold of me. Now that the moment is near, I’m afraid. I close my eyes for a second, letting out a shaky exhale. “I’m not ready to go. I can’t leave my mom and my sisters behind. They need me.”
“I’ll do it.” Lucca steps closer.
“Luc…,” Manu speaks up. “You know that’s not possible anymore.”
“If anyone here has a chance of succeeding, it’s me,” he retorts.
