I jerked at the admission when he spoke. He must have known all about Marik.
“We were always planning to ruin your kind. James finally slipped up and loved one of you, just like Audrey knew he would. He couldn’t resist, just like his useless father. The minute he fell in love with you, we knew it was time to act.” He crouched down beside me as he spoke and ran his hand over my head. “And now we have the chance to make them all pay. Marik will lose his precious line and James will be punished for taking their side.”
My tears stung my eyes and fell down my face. He was dead set on his plan, and no one was still around to save me.
“Now, let’s focus, shall we?” Lukas’s voice cut through the angry façade I was hiding behind for strength. As I struggled to get away from his grasp again, a wave of true fear overcame me.
“That’s useless, Ariya. You have no power. You’re weak from the poison as well as being human. Don’t you worry, though. I’m going to make everything all better.”
Lukas pushed down again and there was nothing I could do. I moved my head back and forth, trying to resist but it really was in vain. I felt his mouth on my neck and I screamed. He was drinking my blood! Not like when James did it. Not at all! It was painful and I was getting more and more frightened.
“I can taste your fear. It’s rather delicious,” Lukas said as he brought his mouth away from my neck. His lips were dripping with my blood.
He lunged again at me, but I could already feel myself growing woozy, nauseous even. After a bit longer, he brought his wrist up to his mouth and bit it. The blood started to pool around his self-inflicted wound.
“Open wide.”
I locked my jaw while moving my head back and forth vigorously again. I wouldn’t be turned. I couldn’t. I had to fight and resist at all costs.
He grabbed my face and pushed my lips open. Holding my head in place, he shoved his wrist onto my mouth.
Don’t swallow the blood! Don’t swallow the blood! I closed my eyes and tried to avoid letting that happen. His other hand came up and his knees were holding my arms down. He was too strong. I whimpered, but still refused to swallow any of his blood.
He clasped my nose shut, laughing with glee. “You deserve this for killing her.”
I couldn’t breathe. My vision instantly became speckled before it went dark. My body was straining to get air.
It happened involuntarily, just as Lukas knew it would as soon as he stopped me from breathing by holding my nose. My throat opened and his hideous blood spilled into me.
No! I thought. Tears continued to fall from my eyes as my body grew weaker. This was it! Exhaustion drained me. Lukas’s laugh echoed in my ears.
My eyes drooped, but the tears didn’t stop. The next time I woke up, I’d be a vampire. That was the last thought I had before everything went black.
I felt like I was in a wind tunnel. The air rushed past me. Where was I? Wherever it was, it sounded unbearably loud.
Opening my eyes to see where I was only intensified my shock. I could see… well, I could see everything. There was a slim crack in the wall on the other side of the room and directly in my line of sight. How did I know that?
I could hear water running somewhere, animal noises, and the sound of crunching. Everything began flooding my senses and sounded so loud. Lifting my hands up to my ears, I was startled by the speed and strength of that simple motion. I yelped, trying to block out some of the noise. Then I remembered…
I had become a vampire.
I gasped, moving backwards. My body flew effortlessly farther and faster than was ever possible. I felt the wall hit my back moments later.
No! This isn’t happening.
“My, my! Aren’t you a beautiful vision?” That voice caused an intense rush of anger that almost overcame me. James told me that everything was enhanced and felt much stronger to vampires. What I once would have called anger, I now had no words for at all. Anger would have been a mild sensation compared to the rage now welling up inside me.
“And still so determined to resist, I see.” Lukas’s smile shone from the doorway. He stretched out his arm, holding something that hadn’t come into view yet. I could smell what it was though. Human. My stomach clenched and my throat dried, shriveling up like I hadn’t had a drop of moisture in days.
“You won’t survive the transition without blood. Lucky for you, I’m feeling generous at present. I want you fully alert when I kill James. It’s blood you need, so, it’s coming right up!” Lukas’s spirited tone taunted me. I growled when he pulled his arm closer to his body and froze.
He was holding Riley.
“No!” I protested, getting up to rush at him.
“You have to drink blood, Ariya. You won’t survive long if you don't.” As he said it, I knew he was right. My thirst was fast becoming all I could think about again. I shook my head, as though that could have somehow freed me from the unrelenting anguish in my throat.
Oh, my gosh! Is this what it would always be like? My throat burned and I could smell Riley. My eyes met his and he tried to smile at me.
“It’s okay, Ariya, I know you won’t hurt me.”
Why did he always have to be so damn brave? I watched his Adam’s apple bobbing in his neck and another pang of painful hunger shot through my core.
Sinking to my knees, I was trying with all my strength to ignore what was happening around me.
“She won’t hurt you, no. She’ll just kill you. She’s new, you see, and once she feeds, I’m afraid there will be no controlling her. The first feed always dies unfortunately. Such a pity, yet it’s only a small sacrifice.” Lukas smiled wickedly.
My thirst wavered when I thought about Riley’s imminent death. He was always in trouble because of me. My sadness replaced the anger I harbored for Lukas. He was right though, and Caroline had said as much. She killed her first feed, and so did Nick. James and I rarely discussed the lives of vampires since he was adamant about keeping me human. I knew, however, that if I tasted Riley’s blood, he was as good as dead.
Lukas watched me, sensing the hesitation, and he drew a pocketknife out. “Either you will feed from him, or I will simply kill him and get someone else. Either way, you must complete the transition. You’re lucky I’m offering you a chance to take his life after all the damage you’ve done. He should have been at the top of my list with the others.” There was no time for any type of response. Lukas touched the blade to Riley’s forearm and dragged it down. Riley only flinched slightly.
“Time. To. Feed,” he said, articulating each word with a dig into Riley until he finished drawing the line.
Riley was thrown in front of me and I scurried away, trying to hide myself in the corner. I pulled my knees to my chest and rocked slowly back and forth to avoid looking or even thinking about what was in front of me.
Lukas was on Riley again once he saw me cower away. His knee shoved into Riley’s back and he pulled his face up, holding his hair with his hand. Pressing the pocketknife against Riley’s throat, he said, “Let’s try this again. Feed now or he dies. We are running out of time.” He pushed Riley’s face back down to the ground very hard.
The smell of Riley’s blood was already changing me. I was being overpowered by a force much greater than my own and rapidly losing the will to resist. My gums pinched slightly, not enough to hurt, but I could feel my teeth growing.
“No, no! Riley I’m so sorry,” I whimpered.
“Ariya,” his voice washed over me, bringing me a moment of calm momentarily. “Ariya, I trust you. You can do this.” Riley held his hand out to me and the arm that wasn’t dripping with blood. “Hold my hand,” he said evenly.
I was his only hope for survival, and the odds didn’t seem too good that I’d succeed in keeping him alive.
“I’ll stop you if it’s too much. I’ll help you, don’t worry.”
His voice was like a beacon of hope. I had no idea how he was staying so relaxed right now. How he had so much faith in me when
I must look terrifying to him right now. I had to trust him. I hoped he could stop me, and I also had to trust myself.
“Hurry up,” Lukas ordered through clenched teeth. Patience, apparently, was not in his vocabulary.
Riley slowly approached me before sitting directly in front of me. He tilted his neck closer to me.
“Riley…” I said hesitantly.
“It’s okay.” He reached over, touching my face. “It’s always okay. It will be okay now.” He smiled and I felt his fingers tremble momentarily. I couldn’t let him down.
My best friend was so brave. I leaned into his neck, and in no time at all, the tremors of desire coursed through me. The pulse beating in his neck was an irresistible temptation and one I’d never experienced before. The smell of his blood was heavenly. It was suddenly too late for me to stop, even if I wanted to.
I bit down and Riley jerked once before he relaxed. It was intoxicating. The blood tasted like nothing I’d ever known. I moaned softly, basking in the utter euphoria that easily overcame me. All my senses were focused on the warm, delicious taste running down my throat. The burning in my stomach subsided with every gulp I took. Something tugged on my hand, but I couldn’t identify or focus on it. A faint touch from someone else couldn’t stop me from this rare gift.
After a few more moments of uninterrupted bliss, the blood began to flow less freely and I frowned, eager for more. Arms latched around mine but I fought them off.
No! I needed more. I needed more from Riley.
Something overcame me that was almost as powerful as the lustful euphoria the blood sparked. I could see myself. Really see myself. And not like looking into a mirror. The image I saw was of Riley; he was carrying me out of the bar in Germany and tucking me into bed. Then something flashed in my mind.
What was this?
Another memory appeared. I was sitting on Riley’s bed in his old college dorm room. I was laughing and watching something, with my head resting in my hands. I could hear Riley speaking.
The vivid images kept coming one after another. I was lying on Riley’s chest while he comforted me and Caroline smiled at him, sadly. It was right after my last breakup before I met James. I heard Caroline’s voice say, “You should tell her.”
“Now is not the right time,” Riley whispered, watching me pass out from crying.
I was snapped away again, to something that happened more recently, an argument I wasn’t a part of. “You love her,” a small, sad voice said and I saw Helen.
“Not the way I love you,” Riley stammered.
“Yes, you do. Maybe it’s not as much as you did before me. I knew you loved her when we met. But I thought things would change. I love you, Riley, but I deserve to be someone’s first choice, not a consolation prize.” Helen touched Riley’s face lovingly and walked away.
“Helen,” I could feel Riley’s pain. It happened right before we were taken by Audrey.
The next memory seemed different. The feeling towards me was different. We were dancing in Germany. Riley was wishing I was Helen, but I knew he still loved me.
In every moment, I could see myself, but only from Riley’s point of view. He loved me. He cared so much about me. A new feeling followed the visions. One of unconditional love, what I felt for all of my friends, only this wasn’t the same as my feelings towards James. It was aimed entirely towards me.
Realization finally dawned on me. Riley wasn’t in love with me anymore, but he did still love me deeply, with a love I knew we’d always share. But it wasn’t enough for either of us, and it never could have been. That love was reserved for someone else for each of us. The joy snapped me out of my blood lust; and fear replaced the love I had known only moments before.
Riley managed to get through to me somehow, but was it too late?
His body lay limp in my hands. Tears pooled in my eyes and I placed him on the ground. Stroking his hair out of his face, I kissed his forehead.
“Riley? Riley, I’m so sorry,” I whispered as I continued to stroke his hair and clutch his body to mine.
With stunned gratitude, I realized I could still hear his heart beating. Although it was very faint, it was still there and he was strong. He might live! If we could get help, he could live. I breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn’t gone yet before I heard a low growl behind me.
“Impressive, Ariya. This is a remarkable first. He should be dead.” Lukas’s voice shattered the good feelings I received from reliving the memories I saw through Riley.
“I’m glad you were wrong about me,” I said, standing on my own two feet. For the first time since my battle with Audrey, I felt strong again.
Lukas made a move towards Riley’s unconscious body and I jumped in front of him, protecting him.
“Don’t even think about it! I will fight you to your death if you even dare try to touch him!” I warned him.
“You will lose,” he retorted back at me.
We stood unmoving and my eyes narrowed. I didn’t want Lukas anywhere near Riley’s body for fear he’d finish him off.
“It’s not him you love. You shouldn’t mind if he’s gone. James’s death will hurt you so much more,” he chuckled.
Lukas started to make another move towards me, but he didn’t get any further. The door to the one-room shack we were in flew right off the hinges. James stood in the doorframe, looking like an avenging angel, or in his case, an avenging vampire.
“Lukas!” he shouted as he rushed towards him.
I lunged at Lukas as well, ready to fight to the death and kill him. James stopped me.
“Let me go!” I roared at James who stared at me in shock and panic.
“My turn.” Lukas raced towards us and James threw me out of the way. They were caught in a battle but I couldn’t tell who was winning.
I had to do something. They were both inflicting severe wounds on each other. I heard vicious growling and gnashing of teeth. Geez, they sounded more like wolves, not vampires. Another blur streaked across my vision. Only this time, it wasn’t a blur. I could make out the face with my new vampire vision.
Marik had arrived!
Knowing how Lukas felt about Marik, he could only be an asset to our side. We were hopelessly wrong about Marik’s involvement.
I moved to join the fight, but Marik shoved me out of the way and went after Lukas.
Marik fought Lukas. He really wasn’t a traitor at all.
Lukas stepped back and the three of them stood and stared each other down.
“Finally figured it out, did you?” Lukas asked Marik.
“I knew all along about the affair. What I didn’t know was that she was still alive.” They seemed to be in their own world, like James and I weren’t even there.
Marik and Lukas began circling each other in what would have been a beautiful choreographed set-to if it hadn’t been such a deadly conversation.
“You never loved her, and you didn’t deserve her!” Lukas shouted.
“You’re right. I didn’t love her. But I trusted you and the man you used to be. Even after the affair, I looked past it, because we had a bond that I believed was much stronger than all of that.” The two engaged each other again, fighting it out.
I could see them punching, biting, and flashing in split-second motions. It was like watching a karate movie in fast forward except now, I could follow every move. Lukas stopped and they stood again, poised to pounce on each other.
James was watching too, letting his father fight this battle. Perhaps it’s what Marik would have wanted.
“You’ve never known true love then,” I heard Lukas say to Marik.
“If you think she was capable of anything truthful, I feel sorry for you, old friend,” Marik’s voice replied.
Lukas stopped and finally glanced back at me.
“It’s not ideal, but it’ll work. And your precious line is already finished.”
He pulled a gun out of his pocket and pointed it towards James. I screamed, but then I saw his plan. It was
just a distraction. Another gun whipped around and fired, all in rapid movement. The bullets were coming towards me. I didn’t have enough control of my body yet and could not move faster than the bullets. They were wooden; I could at least see that.
Could wooden bullets kill me?
James and Marik might have been able to finish Lukas off if he were distracted by shooting me. It would be okay. I wasn’t supposed to survive anyway, according to Ivan and Ingrid.
Another motion registered and I shielded myself with my arms. I saw James running towards me. If he made it in time to protect me, the bullets would surely get him.
No! My mind raced as I tried to dive towards him. I was stopped, getting wrapped up in someone’s arms. Whoever had me jerked backwards.
The past few moments seemed like slow motion instead of fast forward. Marik was on top of me now, unmoving. James turned and I saw him fighting Lukas. Marik had wooden pellets all over his body. If they penetrated deep enough, he could be dead.
Hearing a loud snap brought my head up again and I saw James standing alone. Lukas’s body was crumpled on the floor. I rolled Marik over and saw that his eyes were closed.
James brought his hand up and fell to his knees. He touched Marik’s body before turning towards me, “He’s gone.”
“I’m sorry, James, I’m so sorry,” I said.
“It’s over. Come here.” He wrapped me up in his arms, taking my face in his hands. Looking me squarely in the eyes, he whispered. “You’re safe now.” His expression, however, looked so torn. The noises began to hurt my ears again and I brought my hands up to cover them as he held me tight.
“I’m so sorry, my beautiful girl. I failed you. I’m so sorry.” James began rocking me back and forth, tormented just as Lukas had wanted him to be by my transition.
“It’s not your fault. Will you still love me?” I trembled.
“Shit!” I heard Nick’s voice at the door.
“Ariya?” Caroline said at the same time.
“You’re all right!” I yelled, running towards them. Only my run was much faster than I was used to and I arrived instantly before her, nearly crushing her in seconds.
Sacrificed Page 19
