It always starts out that way. Kanin’s voice echoed in my mind, quietly knowing. Noble intentions, honor among new vampires. Vows to not harm humans, to take only what is needed, to not hunt them like sheep through the night. But it becomes harder and harder to remain on their level, to hold on to your humanity, when all you can see them as is food.
“Dammit,” I whispered, covering my eyes with a hand. How did Kanin do it? I tried to remember, thinking back to our time in the Fringe. He had some sort of code, a type of moral honor system, that he used when feeding off unsuspecting victims. He left something behind—like the shoes—payment for the harm his actions would bring.
I couldn’t do that now. I didn’t have anything I could give. True, I was helping out, taking the night watch and all, but that was more of a group effort. We were all pitching in to help.
But, I did save that man’s life…
Guilt and disgust stabbed at me. How could I even think about preying on a weak, caged human? Earlier tonight, I’d been horrified to see him locked up like a beast, and now I was thinking of feeding off him? Maybe Kanin was right. Maybe I was a monster, just like he said.
I could hear him now, his deep voice echoing in my head, as clearly as if he were standing beside me. Make your choice, Allison, he would say, calm and unruffled. Will you prey on those you consider friends and companions, or a stranger who already owes you his life? Know that each path is evil; you must decide which one is the lesser of the two.
“Damn you,” I muttered to the empty air. Figment Kanin didn’t reply, shimmering into nothingness; he already knew what path I was going to choose.
*
I WATCHED JEBBADIAH CROSSE finish praying over the wounded man, watched him stride back to the farmhouse, his severe form cutting a rigid path through the darkness. I watched the man in the cage, waited for his coughing and shifting to stop, for his raspy breathing to slow, becoming heavy and deep.
When he was snoring quietly, I glided from the shadows along the wall, walking quickly to the woodshed and snatching the key from where it hung on its nail. Silently, I removed the iron bar across the door, unlocked the padlock and removed the chains, being careful not to clink them against the bars. Carefully, being cautious that the door didn’t creak, I eased it open.
Joe Archer lay slumped in the corner, covered in blankets, his body curled into itself to conserve heat. His leg, heavily bandaged and reeking of blood and alcohol, lay at an awkward angle.
Are you really going to do this?
I shoved the voice aside, burying my feelings of horror, guilt and disgust. I didn’t want to, but it was necessary. I didn’t dare go into the farmhouse; with so many people under one roof, I didn’t want to creep into a room only to be discovered by a light sleeper or someone getting up to use the bathroom. I thought of Caleb and Bethany, Zeke and Darren. If I didn’t do this, they might be the ones in my sights next. I could kill them if I didn’t feed soon. The cage was isolated, out of the way, and no one would be coming to check on him for a while. Better a stranger than someone I knew, someone I actually cared about.
Besides, he owed me for saving his life.
If that’s what you want to tell yourself. Let’s get this over with, then.
Joe stirred in his sleep and coughed, his snores faltering. Quickly, before I had more second thoughts, I stepped up beside him and knelt, easing the collar of his coat aside. His throat, bared to the moonlight, pulsed softly. My fangs lengthened, the Hunger rising up like a dark tide. As the human groaned, eyelids fluttering, I leaned forward and sank my teeth into his neck, right below his jaw.
He jerked, but relaxed instantly, succumbing to the near delirium of a vampire’s bite. As blood began flowing into my mouth, the Hunger drank it greedily, demanding more, always more. I kept a tight leash on it this time, fighting to keep my senses, to not lose myself to the heat and power flowing into me.
Three swallows. That was all I’d allow myself to take, though my Hunger was raging at me for more. Reluctantly, I drew my fangs from the human’s skin, sealing the wounds before stepping back. He groaned, half asleep and dead to the world, and I slipped out of the cage, replacing the locks and chains as quickly as I could.
“Allison?”
Just as I was replacing the last bar, footsteps crunched behind me and Zeke’s familiar voice floated over my shoulder. I turned, and he stood a few paces behind me, a thermos in one hand, a metal cup in the other.
“Here you are,” he said, not accusingly, though he seemed puzzled. “You never came back after Ruth left. Are you still angry with me?”
“What are you doing here?” I asked, ignoring the question. I wasn’t angry, of course, but maybe it was better if he thought I was. He nodded to himself, as if expecting it.
“They’re getting dinner ready in the barn,” he continued, holding up the mug. “If you want something, I’d head over soon, before Caleb and Matthew eat all the soup.”