18
VAMPIRE
Irene
After Myrtha left, I was alone with the menacing stranger. I stood up, ready to bolt out if he tried anything. “Prove that you’re Alex.”
He remained still. “I stole your father’s wallet, and he knocked me out. You welcomed me into your house. We went to St. Mary’s Hospital together because I had wounds on my neck.”
With a lot of good food and imagination, this man might be Alex. “You had break-bone fever.”
“No, I didn’t. Have you read Polidori’s story?”
The change of subject puzzled me. “The Vampyre?”
A story written more than seventy years ago by a close friend of Lord Byron didn’t add credibility to Ravenhill’s claims.
He nodded. “Vampire bites made me sick.”
I was about to dismiss his comment with a scoff. A creature who drank blood to survive and possessed uncanny strength and speed? It sounded impossible. That word again.
But I should be dead. When Sean had left me, I’d been bleeding heavily, and then he’d set fire to my house. My fate had been decided. And if someone like Myrtha was real, why not a vampire?
The room spun, and I staggered. He leapt but then stepped back without catching me.
“Careful.” He pointed at the bed.
“You’re Alex, and you are a vampire.” I sat down, ignoring the pull in my chest.
“I wouldn’t lie to you.”
The crackling of the fire emphasised the silence between us.
“You’ll get used to this new life.” He poured a glass of water and placed it on the nightstand. “I’m sorry for your loss. Lord Mansel was a good man.”
“I’m a…”
“Wili. A spirit of vengeance. Myrtha is the wilis’ queen, but you’re a special case.”
I sipped the water, surprised a spirit of vengeance needed it. I hated Sean and wanted justice, but killing people to survive was overwhelming. Right now, the only emotion I felt was grief for my papa.
Then Alex’s words sank.
“Why am I a special case?”
“Usually, a wili belongs to Myrtha. She creates one and takes care of her, and the wili obeys her. But I’m responsible for you.” A muscle in his jaw twitched. “You need help to train and use your powers.” He seemed about to add something else but didn’t.
“I must kill at least one man each year to remain alive. I don’t think I can do that.”
“Killing is easier than you think.” He sounded composed and detached.
“Have you ever killed someone?”
“Yes, to defend myself or Darius, but never by drinking them dry. I’m not going to hide who I am from you. I’m a predator, and not killing the prey requires every ounce of my control.” He sounded forcibly calm. “But I would never hurt you. Never.”
I wished I could see his aura. “How did you become a vampire?”
“I have no recollection of that. The vampire was capable of meddling with my memories. But he bit me more than once and gave me his blood. Few people survive the transformation. Mine was particularly painful thanks to Riley beating me.”
