After the massacre and Ethel’s banishment, I headed back to my room to be left alone. When I noticed that pieces of Adele’s flesh had littered my clothing and my skin, I quickly undressed and showered to wipe away what I just witnessed from not only my body, but my mind. The warm water soothed my skin and afterwards I rested on my bed, staring at the ceiling, as her death replayed over and over in my mind.

  Yes, Finley had stood up for me along with the twins, but at what cost? It was my fault that the sanctuary now stood half empty and those who remained behind didn’t know what the future held for them. I wanted to thank Silvanus but I felt that I also had signed his death warrant. What price did they pay to secure my future?

  Finley’s pungent odor traveled from the hallway and into my room before he appeared, standing in the doorway with his blood-covered head lowered. He picked at the pieces of flesh peppering his hair and he dropped them to the floor. “Can I come in?”

  I raised myself from my bed. “Of course.”

  He stepped into my room and shook his head in disgust. “I’m sorry for the way I acted to you.”

  I shook my head. “It’s okay. I understand.”

  “I don’t think you do,” he replied. “I just don’t like being here just as much as the twins don’t, but I couldn’t just allow Ethel to rally up the others to kill you.” His tongue slithered out his mouth, gliding over his stained lips.

  “She’s right,” I replied.

  His face filled with discontent and sadness. “No, she isn’t. Like all of us, she’s frightened of you because you’re so important.” Finley quickly looked at me, whispering. “Whatever we do from here on doesn’t matter because you control our future.” He sat on my bed. “But I don’t care, Maris. I would never allow anyone to take you away from me.” He wiped his face and stared at the blood on his palm. “Our bond is stronger than that. I would give up my life for you.”

  “You almost did tonight.” I wanted to tell him badly about my feelings toward leaving for America but I feared that would only give him an excuse to make more irrational decisions. Would he let me go if he had to? Did he even have a choice or say in the matter?

  His eyes had turned black and he spoke with stained teeth and the smell of blood on his breath. “I’d do it again if I had to.”

  I wanted to freeze his image in my thoughts so I would never forget him and he would never forget me. “Believe me when I say this, Finley. I want to be alongside you, forever.”

  He eyed me suspiciously. “You’re saying this as if we won’t be?”

  “Have you forgotten about America?” I asked him. “Our time together won’t be forever.”

  “It will be forever.” He spoke in confidence. “I will find a way.” He opened his arms to me. “Come here.”

  I nestled my body close to his blood-soaked shirt.

  “I’ve bonded with you, Maris.” He kissed me on my forehead.

  I looked up at him. “And what about your bond with Anastasia?”

  “That’s a sire bond,” he replied. “Lay with me.”

  He climbed into my bed and I wrapped my arm around his waist. He began to play with my hair and he kissed me on my forehead again. “I have the right to fight for what is dear to me and you mean so much to me.” His human features returned. “I think...I think I love you, Maris.”

  My smile disappeared at the thought. Love? What did Deamhan know about love? How could he, who had just slaughtered a human, talk about love? Whatever the case, I didn’t question it. I just wanted to cherish my next moments with him.

  I could smell the sun rising and the fear of it overcame me. I felt it every sunrise since I was turned. Our blood feared the sun just as much as it feared sharp wooden objects.

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  The sun had risen. On the floor, a few feet away, I saw a sliver of sunlight that managed to peek through the window curtains. Instead, I forced myself to continue to stare at it. Maybe by looking at it, I could learn how to not fear it so much. I continued until the sliver slowly disappeared. Clouds set in, blocking the sunlight. I don’t remember what time I actually fell asleep.

  ###

  When Finley told me he loved me, I should’ve felt something. Anything. I expected warmth or the excitement of a potential relationship. I questioned and doubted the concept. I didn’t want to believe it.

  No one ever loved me except for my mother and even to call the way she felt about me ‘love’ was asinine. I felt our bond strengthen while we slept that day. I guess a bond between two Deamhan was like love between two humans.

  What he said didn’t leave my bedroom. Days came and went and soon only one week separated me from the day that Silvanus had scheduled me to leave for America. I wanted our remaining days together to be perfect and without drama and disruption. After Silvanus followed through on his word—sending Adele’s remains back to the vampires in tiny chests—everything in the sanctuary calmed down and returned to normal. No one heard anything about Ethel nor Anastasia. Hunting resumed and Finley and I spent our nights outside, lying on the lawn and gazing at the stars. He frequently spoke about what he wanted to do once the drama settled. He wanted to leave London and visit other places in the world like India.

  One weekend night, shortly after sunset, we walked down the staircase, eager to head out and spend our night under the stars. Before we reached the main floor we saw a man and a woman standing next to each other with their arms chained behind their backs. As I got closer to them, it dawned on me that they weren’t human. They smelled ripe and I covered my nose. I realized that I had smelled their stench before. Blood streamed down the side of the male’s face and onto his clothing. The woman didn’t look any better. She had stringy waist-length dark hair which matched her caramel-colored skin. She wore a tattered and dirtied white dress. It wasn’t her appearance or smell that garnered my attention. The color of her eyes impressed me. Her left eye was blue and her right eye was brown.

  I turned to Finley. “Are they—” I caught my whispered question.

  Silvanus appeared from down the hall accompanied by a female Metusba. They stopped short of the two individuals and he pulled out a white rag from the breast pocket and covered his nose.

  “Ugh, they always smell atrocious up close.” Silvanus turned to her. “Are you sure these two are Dorvo vampires?”

  The Metusba nodded back to Silvanus. “I’m sure of it.”

  “Well then. Shall we start?”

  The Metusba carefully walked around the vampires and opened the front door. Slowly she reached out, as if she didn’t want to touch them, and she freed the male. “Go. Run.” She stood aside.

  I didn’t bother blocking any Deamhan from my thoughts, which questioned their identities. Finley and I watched as the Metusba then freed the female and told her to run. However, the captives didn’t move.

  “You’re free to go,” Silvanus said to them. By this time Branda and Brandy appeared to our left and they also took notice of them. The male vampire retreated and he pushed his female companion out of the way. Soon he ran out of the sanctuary. Brandy’s eyes turned black and she launched herself at the female, pinning her to the floor.

  Silvanus grabbed her by her shoulder and tossed her off. “No cheating,” he said in a calm voice. “That’s rude.”

  “Why are you letting them go?” Brandy lifted herself to her feet. “They’re vampires!”

  “Because these vampires are our entertainment for the night.” Silvanus nodded to the female Metusba who walked away and returned later, carrying a glass of blood. She placed it on the floor in front of the female vampire and stepped back.

  We all watched and waited patiently until the woman grabbed the glass and placed it up to her lips. Her eyes cautiously moved around the room, watching us, and she finally began to drink, consuming the remaining liquid.

  “I refuse to be your entertainment.” She then stood up, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

  “This one...she has the pride of a lion,” Silvanus said. “And maybe the bite of a jackal.” He pointed to the door. “But pride won’t help you. Only your speed will. Now run. This won’t be any fun if you don’t run.”

  By now more Deamhan had made their way over to see the two vampires. The vampire opened her mouth, exposing her fangs. They didn’t appear like the fangs of a Ramanga. They came out quickly and they were a bit longer and sharper. In return, Finley hissed back at her.

  “Are those fangs supposed to frighten us?” Silvanus laughed and soon every Deamhan watching the spectacle laughed along with him except us.

  The vampire slowly closed her mouth. “I’m not running.”

  Silvanus hastily approached her. “You’ll run.” He grabbed her wrist and yanked it up to his mouth. “Or I’ll keep you here and torture you every night for the rest of your immortal life.” He bit into her wrist and pushed her back. He then spat the blood from his mouth. “The Brotherhood and your Dorvo vampires can’t protect you now.” With his foot he kicked her in the ribs, pushing her body out of the front door and onto the porch.

  “You’re letting her go?” Again Brandy questioned his motive.

  “No.” Silvanus then turned around to face us and he held up his hands. “We’re going to have a vampire hunt.”