I lie back down, tell myself it’s just for a few moments, but before I know it, my eyes drift closed and a
very different kind of darkness envelops me.
Chapter Four
My eyes flutter open, and the world is a lot darker than it was before. I wonder how long I slept for? And does it really matter?
I think on it for a moment, before deciding it does. If I’ve slept for a long time, then maybe some of it was just a bad dream. Maybe all of it was a bad dream.
Reluctantly, because I’m pretty sure I know what I’ll find, I run my tongue over the inside of my teeth. Sure enough, the two extra pointy incisors are still there. So long as I don’t start munching down on any unsuspecting humans I guess? I can just imagine that being a little bit icky.
Or really tasty. As their blood slides down my throat, I’ll lick my lips, savouring every moment of it.
I spring to my feet. I really need to get out of here if I want to keep my sanity. I wonder if they locked the door while I was sleeping. But as soon as I turn the handle, it swings open, so obviously not. The fools. What kind of vampire leaves the door open when they’re holding a vampire hunter hostage? That’s just asking for trouble.
The corridor is deserted. So they didn’t even think to put a guard on me. Well weren’t they getting stupider by the second. I wouldn’t think that was possible, except for the fact I’m seeing it with my own eyes. In the words of one of the older hunters, they don’t have the sense they were born with. I think this is the first time I’ve ever truly understood that turn of phrase.
There’s a door at the end of the hall, and I debate whether not to open it. Considering I had no idea of my way around the house, or if this even was the same house, it was as well opening this one as it was finding somewhere else. Mind made up, I turn the handle, expecting a squeak, but getting none. Okay then, they were finally actually getting with being sensible and looking after the place they apparently inhabited. Things were looking up. At least it means they won’t hear me slipping through it.
It’s brighter in this hallway, and I shield my eyes when the light kind of stings. Yes, definitely not a fan of that one. I’ll have to find some sunglasses when I get back home.
Home. An odd concept really. I don’t think I’d go as far as truly calling the guild home, but it’s where I live, so that might make it so? Who knows. Basically, I have a roof over my head every night, food to eat and I’m safe. I frown to myself. I’m safe most of the time, I amend in my head. Though, really, I guess it isn’t good if you have to change the safety bit when you’re talking to yourself. It’s a little red flagish for sure.
I take a few more steps, my feet clattering against the floor and sounding far louder than I think they should. I hope no one hears. Usually, my stealth is so much better than this. It has to be to catch my targets unawares. Targets I hope aren’t paying any attention right now. Otherwise I’m dead. A capital d, not a capital v, type of dead too.
There’s another door, and as slowly as I can, I twist the knob and pull it towards me. Knowing my luck, this’ll be the only one that hasn’t been oiled. As it cracks open, sunlight starts to stream through into the hall. Good. Once I’m through there, the vampires won’t be able to follow me. I can get back to the guild and regroup. Well, okay. I won’t go back to the guild. They’ll just judge me there for failing, but I can go regroup. Come up with a better plan. Kill even more vampires to make up for it.
Yes, that sounds like a good plan.
I take a step into the light, and an odd itching sensation covers my bare arms. Hmm. Not ideal, I wonder if Dimitri did something to me while I was sleeping? Maybe he thinks a little bit of itching powder will weaken me enough to stop me from kicking his ass. Or maybe it’s something to stop my other power from working. I still don’t quite get how he knows about that. But he does, and has clearly done something to block them from working.
I step further into the sun. The itching intensifies. I really hope a hot shower will sort it out. Another step. More itching. This time I can’t stop myself from scratching at the skin. I want the sensation to stop. Maybe I should go back and find a shower first? But no. The more time I spend in the vampire’s den, the worse it can end for me.
Despite the irritation, I step even further into the sun. The itching changes. It almost burns. I glance down at my arms, surprised to discover the little hairs there are smoking slightly. How odd. Even so, I carry on. Its really not worth my time to stop. I don’t want to be caught. I dread to think what they’ll do.
I can feel my mind going around in circles, but there’s very little I seem to be able to do about it. Each time I try to tell myself to stop, my head doesn’t seem to want to take that. As if it knows there’s something I’m hiding from it. No, there isn’t. Why would I be hiding from myself? I think I might actually be going a little crazy.
The burning intensifies. I try to stop the scream that forms on my lips, but the pain is too much. And when I say too much, I mean too much. My pain threshold is insanely high. I know, because they tested it while I was still a child at the guild.
It feels like little flames are licking at my skin, and my shrieks continue. I drop to the floor and curl into a little ball, desperate to stop the pain, but unable to do anything about it.
My skin is dying. I can feel it. Deep down I know it. Which is when my mind finally processes what it’s known since I first woke up. Tears I haven’t felt since I was six, begin to fall as it sinks in further.
I’m Ashryn Barker, one of the deadliest vampire hunters around. And now, I’m one of them.
My name is Ashryn Barker. And I’m a vampire.
Chapter Five
Cold. Oh so cold. I shiver, completely unaware of what’s happening. I think I was outside. I think I was burning.
Oh.
Right.
Yes.
I’m a vampire.