“Stop!” The word fell from my mouth as unease crept along my spine, sending the fine hairs across my body standing on end. “Ridley, stop!”
She didn’t stop because she couldn’t hear me.
“What? What is it?” Rowena asked. Panic hung in her words.
Couldn’t she see what I did? The change in Benji’s demeanor? How tense he suddenly was?
“Benji,” I said. “He’s going to attack.”
I stepped over the crystals and into the room. My eyes never moved from Benji. Darkness had clouded his eyes, and any trace of love or compassion for Ridley had melted away.
He was like a hunter watching its prey.
“Ridley,” I whispered.
She froze. I knew it was because she’d caught on to the change in his features.
What happened next happened so fast I was barely able to process it.
Benji lunged at Ridley with his fangs exposed and an expression of pure evil reflected in his eyes. Julian grabbed hold of him, hindering him from reaching her. He struggled against Julian’s hold, but Julian was able to shove Benji into a nearby chair and restrain him. Rowena rushed into the room behind me, tripping over one of her crystals and knocking it out of place. I watched as it rolled across the hardwood floor of the attic.
“You don’t want to do that, Benji. You don’t want to hurt her,” Julian insisted, snapping my attention back to Benji. Julian’s hands were still on him, securing him in place. “You have to fight what you’re feeling. Know that you’re stronger than your hunger. Believe it. And breathe. Breathe through this moment while trying to think of something else. That’s the only tip I can give for holding on to who you are. You have to learn to fight against the hunger if you want to remain you.”
I moved to Ridley. Instinctively I pulled her behind me, creating more distance between her and Benji. My wolf growled and snapped at him. She was confused as to who to protect—Ridley or Benji from himself.
“It’s not workin’,” Benji said. His voice was caught somewhere between a plea and a raw form of desperation I’d never heard from him before. “All I can smell is their blood. All I can hear is their hearts poundin’. And, I’m so hungry.”
When his eyes lifted to mine, I no longer saw my friend. Instead, I saw a monster. He bucked against Julian, and I forced Ridley to take a step back, positioning us closer to the door.
“Focus on me,” Julian insisted. “Look at me. Don’t focus on anything else. Breathe in. Breathe out. You can do this. You can take back control.”
Benji’s breath shook as it pushed past his lips—past his fangs. His eyes were dark still, reminding me of every other vampire I’d ever seen lost to bloodlust. It was unsettling.
“It’s still not workin’.” His hands came to cradle his head, and his body trembled with pent-up energy as he tried to win against the internal demon he battled. “Their heartbeats are magnified. All I can hear is blood rushin’ through their veins. It’s like it’s callin’ to me. Beggin’ me to taste it,” Benji snarled.
A gut-wrenching growl of frustration spurred from somewhere deep inside of him, and I took another step back, forcing Ridley to do the same. The closer to the door we were, the better.
Benji pressed his thumbs to his fangs. “Why won’t these things go away? They hurt so frickin’ bad!” Another yell of frustration spurred from him.
A lump formed in my throat. I hated seeing him this way. Guilt reared its ugly head inside of me as I thought of how I’d helped twist his fate and led him here. If I’d told him to stay in the field the day I came to him for an object of Ridley’s for Arturo’s spell maybe he wouldn’t be fighting against a hunger so strong it had him wanting to drain us.
“They will retract,” Julian insisted. His voice calm and assertive. “When you relax. You’ll learn to control them. You’ll learn to control it all. I’ll teach you. I promise. Watch me right now. Look.”
From my viewpoint, I could see both of their profiles. I watched as Julian showed Benji how easily he could tap into his bloodlust as well, causing his fangs to descend and his eyes to darken. I held my breath as Julian began breathing deep. My wolf’s fur bristled, and she quickened her pacing. She wanted me to get out of the attic. Two vampires lost to bloodlust was one too many for her, friend or not.
After a few breaths, the color of Julian’s eyes returned to their usual color and his fangs retracted.
“See,” he insisted once he’d gained control over himself. “All you have to do is breathe and focus. That’s how you stay in control. It’s like a muscle. After you’ve worked it long enough, it becomes easier to do. Just like anything else, it takes time.”
Benji let out a slow breath and closed his eyes. Minutes ticked away. Before long, his fangs retracted, and when he opened his eyes again, they were no longer black. My wolf stopped pacing. She still watched him closely though.
“I’m so sorry if I scared you,” Benji whispered. His words were directed to Ridley. “I didn’t mean to. I’m just not sure how to keep hold of who I am yet or who I was. There’s this other thing inside me tryin’ to get out and take over. And, it’s powerful, babe.”
“I’m sorry.” Ridley stepped around me and walked to Benji. Her movements were slow, careful, and hesitant. I could see sadness pooling in Benji’s eyes because of it. He didn’t want her to be afraid of him, that much was clear, but he didn’t seem to blame her for it either. “I shouldn’t have made this decision without you. I didn’t know what else to do. I couldn’t lose you. The thought of you not being here scared me more than you hating me for having you turned.”
“I don’t hate you. I could never hate you. I understand what you did and why you did it. Julian explained everythin’ to me. I know I was knockin’ on death’s door.” He paused and smoothed a hand through his hair. “You don’t have to apologize. If anything, I should be thankin’ you. You saved me, Ridley.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t save you. That’s not what this is.” She gestured to him. “I would never consider being turned into a vampire and going through what you have as being saved.”
Goose bumps prickled across my skin. Suddenly, it felt like I was imposing on a private conversation.
“Do I repulse you?” Benji asked.
My heart stilled. There was so much emotion wrapped in those four words.
Ridley didn’t hesitate in answering him. “No.”
I’d expected her to step forward, to touch him or show some sign of comfort to help better prove her words, but she didn’t. Instead, she remained where she was, which I was thankful for. Benji, even though he seemed all sweet right now, was still a loose cannon.
“Okay. So, would you consider datin’ one, then?” Benji asked. “A vampire, I mean. Even though I’m not alive or whatever.”
“Of course, I didn’t mean it like that,” Ridley insisted. She took another step forward. The hesitation that had been present in her movements before disappeared. When she reached him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a hug.
I held my breath and zeroed in on Benji’s face, searching for any shift in his features that might signify he was about to attack again. Nothing stood out at first, but then pain seemed to contort his facial features, and I swore I saw darkness creeping into the color of his eyes.
He was losing control. Again.
I stepped forward, but Julian held a hand out to stop me. My wolf urged me to ignore him and get to Ridley, but I pushed her away. I didn’t want to hurt Benji, but if he harmed Ridley, I knew I’d have no issue. While they were both my friends, my relationship with her had grown stronger than my relationship with him over the last few months.
A loud breath pushed past Benji’s lips as he squeezed Ridley against him. He opened his eyes. I expected to see darkness clouding the color but was surprised to find they were normal.
He’d gained control of himself. He’d done it.
“Okay.” Benji carefully gripped Ridley’s wrists and placed d
istance between them. “I think I’m startin’ to get the hang of this. It’s still tough, though. Can we keep some distance between us for right now? I don’t want to hurt you. Ever.”
Ridley took a few steps back. “Yeah, sure. Sorry.”
“Stop apologizin’ already. You have nothin’ to apologize for. I’ve already told you that,” Benji insisted.
“Right. So, what now?” Ridley asked not only Benji, but Julian and the rest of us as well.
“I’m still starved. I wasted half that bag,” Benji said. He nodded toward a bag of blood on the floor I’d missed before. “Could I get more?”
My stomach twisted at the sight of blood sprayed across the floor from it. Apparently, he hadn’t enjoyed his first taste.
I didn’t blame him. It had to take a little getting used to.
“I can make a call. I’ll have one of my sisters bring a few bags over so we can get your hunger sedated,” Julian insisted. “Then you should be able to leave the inn just fine.”
“Where will I—?”
Benji didn’t finish what he was saying. Instead, his head tipped to the side as he inhaled deeply. I noticed his eyes grow dark. His fangs descended next. Seconds later, he bolted from the attic in a blur.
The crystal Rowena had stumbled over was never replaced, which meant there was nothing keeping Benji confined to the attic.
“Shit,” Julian snapped. He darted after him.
Ridley ran out the door. “Benji!”
Once I stepped into the hall, I knew exactly what had garnered Benji’s attention.
The scent of blood. Lots of blood.
5
“Rowena!” Julian shouted from the foyer.
I came to a halting stop at the top of the stairs. The scent of coppery blood was thick in the air. I was able to pinpoint where it was coming from immediately. A couple stood together at the base of the stairs, the woman’s hand was cupped against her neck. Blood trickled between her fingers from an open wound, dripping down her arm and onto the floor where a puddle was beginning to form.
“Can we get some help?” the man beside her asked. His voice shook when he spoke. “I think she needs help.” His face was pale and his eyes wide. It was clear the sight of blood made him squeamish. He looked as though he were on the verge of passing out any second.
A few days ago, Benji had been squeamish at the sight of blood too. Now, he craved it. How was it possible things had changed so much in such a short span of time?
“Mina, a little help,” Julian insisted.
I darted down the stairs, heading to where he had Benji pressed against the wall. Guests who’d previously been occupied piled into the foyer to see what the commotion was. Where had everyone been earlier? Out for dinner?
I hoped no one called nine-one-one. The last thing we needed was an audience. How would we explain the things they were sure to see?
“Oh my word! What happened?” an older woman asked.
The man beside the bleeding woman swayed on his feet. It was unclear which of the two was holding the other up at this point.
“We went for a hike on the trail behind the inn after dinner,” he said. He smoothed a hand over his clammy face. “There was something out there. It-it attacked her!”
“What was it?” I asked.
“An animal. It had to be.” Confusion laced his words.
My wolf’s attention piqued. I was sure we were both thinking the same thing—was it Roman? Goose bumps prickled across my skin at the mere thought of him. Why would he be close to here?
“Okay, Lucy, let’s get you to the kitchen. I need to see how bad the bite is,” Rowena said in a calm tone. She ushered the couple to the kitchen, but her eyes remained on Benji.
“What kind of animal could have done something like that?” the older woman asked. Her silver brows furrowed. “We should report this to animal control. What if it’s something rabid?”
Lucy seemed to squirm at the thought. The old woman wasn’t making the situation any better.
A clatter came from the kitchen. I focused my attention there, hoping Roman hadn’t found a way inside. My stomach flipped as my wolf’s fur bristled. She was on edge and wanted free because of it. There were too many unpredictable pieces to the present situation for her liking.
Rowena’s daughter, Raven, stepped into view.
“I’ll put some tea on,” she said.
Rowena nodded. “That’s a good idea.”
“Mina, grab my cell from my back pocket and send a text to my sisters,” Julian said through gritted teeth. He looked as though it was taking everything he had to hold Benji still. “Tell them we need more blood. Also, mention I need to borrow Ivette’s gift for a bit.”
If the old woman peering into the kitchen to watch Rowena tend to Lucy’s wound heard what Julian said, she didn’t let on. I was thankful.
“Mina, my cell,” Julian repeated.
“Yeah.” I moved to where he still had Benji pressed against the wall and grabbed his cell. I shot a text to Octavia and Ivette. It took them each half a second to respond. Had they been on standby?
“Let me go! I’m starvin’!” Benji bucked against Julian, but he held him in place.
“Should I let Eli know what’s going on? Maybe he can send someone over to help too,” I said. “The pack should probably search the area for whatever attacked that woman.”
“That might be a good idea,” Julian said.
I pulled my cell out and attempted to send Eli a text but realized my phone had died. Great. I hoped he hadn’t tried to contact me. I imagined him freaking out when he couldn’t reach me.
“My cell is dead,” I said. “Can I use yours?”
“Sure.” The word barely had time to slip from Julian’s lips before Benji bucked against him again. This time Julian went flying backward.
He slammed against the opposite wall, leaving a dent in the drywall and shaking pictures loose from their nails. Benji bolted for the kitchen—heading straight for Lucy’s bleeding neck.
Julian was on his feet, soaring to the kitchen before I had time to react. He made it to Benji before he could do any harm to the woman. I rushed to help him secure Benji. My wolf was pissed he was trying to hurt someone, that he wasn’t the same Benji we once knew.
“Breathe. Focus on me. You can fight this. Just like you did upstairs,” Julian insisted. He gripped Benji’s shoulders, holding him in place.
“I can’t, damn it! I’m hungry. Her blood smells so good. I can’t win this time,” Benji muttered. His words were muffled, and I knew it was because of his fangs. They were completely descended.
“You can.” I gripped Benji harder, digging my nails into his arm.
The old woman stepped closer, her gaze focused on Benji. A gasp escaped her. I knew it was because she’d either seen his fangs or his black eyes—possibly both.
“What’s wrong with that boy?” she demanded. Benji lunged at her, making it clear he was willing to feed on any human, not just one who was injured. “He’s a demon. There’s a devil inside that boy trying to get out!”
I contemplated releasing my grip on Benji and securing her in place instead, at least until Ivette got here and could wipe her memory and send her on her way.
When the old woman passed out and fell to the floor from the sight of Benji, I released the breath I’d been holding. Roughing up old ladies was not something I ever wanted to add to the list of crazy things I’d done since becoming moon kissed. Gran would definitely not approve.
“Is that kid on drugs?” the guy next to the bleeding woman asked. “I knew we shouldn’t have stayed in this town.”
Benji thrashed to free himself from mine and Julian’s grip.
“I’m fine!” he insisted, but anyone with half a brain could tell he was nowhere near being fine. He was still locked in bloodlust.
Someone dropped something, and my attention snapped to Rowena and Lucy.
“It isn’t as bad as I initially thought,” Rowena said. She contin
ued to clean the wound. “It looked worse than it was. I think you’re a bleeder.” She chuckled. So did Lucy, but no one else. I glanced at Lucy’s boyfriend, or husband, whoever he was to her. He leaned against the counter, his face still pale and slick with sweat.
Raven offered him a glass of water and then pointed to a stool beside Lucy. He took the water and carefully situated himself on the stool. His hands shook as he brought the glass to his lips, spilling it on the front of his shirt.
He was a bigger mess than Lucy, and she was the one who’d been bitten.
Julian’s cell vibrated in my hand. I glanced at the screen. It was a text from Octavia.
We’re here.
“Your sisters are here,” I said. “Got him?”
Julian nodded at the same time Benji said, “Or you could just let me go. I said I’m fine.” His last words came out in a hiss that had the hairs along the back of my neck standing on end.
“Ridley, go with Mina and fill Julian’s sisters in on what’s happened so they know how to help best,” Rowena insisted. She applied a honey-colored paste to the woman’s neck. I had no idea what it was but thought it looked sticky.
“Are they paramedics? Because I think I could use one,” Lucy said.
Rowena ignored her and directed her attention to Ridley instead. “Go.”
“Okay,” Ridley said in a monotone.
Was she in shock?
“Breathe,” Julian coaxed Benji as I started to the front door. “Gain control back. Block out everything else.”
I hoped Julian’s sisters had brought more than a single bag of blood with them. Benji seemed as though it was going to take a lot to sedate his hunger. He was ravenous as hell.
“You can open the door, but I have to be the one to invite them in,” Ridley said. Her tone was still off. This situation was obviously stressing her out to the max. I felt for her.
“Why?” I thought that was a vampire myth. None of the Montevallos had ever needed to be formally invited into our trailer.
“It’s a spell. One my family placed on the house ages ago for protection.”
Moon Captured Page 3
