Page 1 of An Anomaly of Sunlight

One

Amethyst

The person before me is unrecognizable despite the room being all too familiar. The sun’s setting rays on the horizon filter through the window, highlighting the terrifying vision in the mirror.

“This isn’t real,” the shaky words once more attempt to convince my marred reflection, “it’s just a nightmare.” My gaze shifts from the mirror as I lift my palms into focus. My eyes trail along the length of the pebbled skin of my arms. Whether from the chill of the room or the horrifying realization of what’s happened, it’s impossible to tell.

Questioning reality in my mind fails to change the facts. I am not asleep, and blood still coats my hands.

I clutch my arms to my chest, struggling to breathe while suffocating on the recollection of the evening’s events. Reluctantly, I ease up the hem of my soiled dress revealing thighs still littered with bite marks. My throat tightens as a choked sob falls past my lips. A tear drops to my thigh, mixing with the dried blood along one of the marks.

He killed me.

Dropping the dress, my hands curl into fists at my side. From the bite of my nails, I know crescent-shaped imprints will decorate my palms. I knew better than this. Being human, I knew to stay far away from anything paranormal. They will never treat humans as equals. Just something to be discarded or preyed upon.

Yet here I am, foolishly agreeing to a date with a vampire, and he fucking killed me.

Catching my own gaze in the bedroom vanity, a hundred questions race through my mind. Mainly, how can I be in my apartment — be alive when I remember dying in the shadows behind that restaurant? Taking in the full extent of the damage: my skin far too pale, fiery eyes now extinguished of their light, the blood staining the freshly lightened strands of my hair…

Knowing how I ended up here seems unnecessary. I just need to get the fuck out.

Leaving the city looking like I’d crawled out of a grave was not an option. Steam paints the bathroom mirror as the shower heats. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I peel off the ruined dress. The trash can tilts as the ruined fabric drops inside but rights itself before falling. Nodding once, I step into the shower.

The water runs over me, a sigh escaping as I relish the warmth. The puddle at my feet runs red. My eyes quickly dart to the ceiling as I try to think of anything else. This was supposed to be my last week in Angel’s Rest. One last week in this city long since abandoned by any gods, in my current contract with Evadne. I opted not to renew for another term.

Evadne. My agent turned friend. Would she miss me or wonder where I’ve gone? Lathering shampoo through my hair, I know it doesn’t matter. She doesn’t know me. Not the real me — no one here does.

I carefully crafted my appearance and changed my persona to make sure of that. Still, out of everything I’ve encountered in the past six years, letting go of Evadne will be the hardest. My lips turn down. If only I could’ve known how this would end; I never would have accepted her offer at all.

My mind replays the choices that led me here. Suffering through Tarot Lake’s scorching summers and chilling winters. Knowing I was different from my peers at school, who seemed to have any and everything they could ever want or need, while seeing the weight my mom carried from the stress of finances. Being powerless to ease the load.

I didn’t want to be powerless anymore. I saw how others had found success with social media, some of which were even younger than me. Even though most of the creators I followed were their authentic self on camera from what I could tell, I wanted to be someone different.

I placed an ad in the local paper and worked odd jobs until I had enough cash for a new wardrobe. With my dark hair dyed blond, I started posting videos. I faked my confidence until it became real. Content creation came easy to me and quite quickly my audience grew.

Just before turning eighteen, a video went viral drawing traffic to my Hourglass page unlike anything I’d ever seen. Soon after, Evadne Evans was desperate to recruit me, promising numbers in my bank account I’d never dreamed possible. The only real stipulation was relocating to Angel’s Rest, California to attend monthly meetings on improving views and engagement. While also giving me new brands to work with.

Moving eighteen hours from home seemed daunting. Tennessee was all I’d ever known. Throughout my childhood, I’d never even left the state.

Ultimately, the decision seemed easy. Take the money. My mother had drilled that sentiment into my mind from a young age. Always take the money. The contract failed to mention that those flimsy green papers would take valuable pieces of myself whether I gave them willingly or not.

With a sigh, I begin scrubbing the dried blood from my legs as the vanilla scent of my favorite soap relaxes my tense muscles.

Once my life started picking up in Angel’s Rest, I began reluctantly going to parties with Evadne. Sometimes they were held by brands that would sponsor me. The wealthiest figures Angel’s Rest had to offer would often grace or fund these parties, and they spared no expense.

Unlike me with the intention of saving as much as possible. A pang of sadness echoes through my chest. I was just shy of the goal I set for myself. My plan had been to make enough here to give myself five years without worrying over a job. Allowing me to dedicate all my time to my dream of opening a photography studio.

The money I’d made still makes that possible, but the timeline will be far shorter before I’d need to return to the work force. Three years max. Realistically? More like two. I let the water run down my back as I chew on my bottom lip.

I can’t worry about that now. I need to focus. Though focusing is the last thing my mind wants to do at present.

My thoughts shift back to a particular one of those lavish parties where the monster that is Enzo Hawthorne presented himself to me. He had the striking face, blond hair and baby blues. A body that could rival the intricate statues in museums, and even skin as smooth and pale to match. Enzo could have easily taken home any man or woman. Creators… why did he have to fixate on me?

My dating track record isn’t exactly glowing. A series of situationships with only one serious relationship. Which ended disastrously, both emotionally and sexually. I wasn’t jumping at the idea of getting back into the pool.

Enzo didn’t mind the chase. Showing up with flowers after my meetings, even setting up our own business chats at my favorite local cafe. He always offered an insane brand deal with his largely successful corporation, complete with an offer of a date at the end of every meeting.

Turning him down wasn’t entirely from fear of dating. I simply didn’t want to tangle our professional and personal lives. Not to mention the fact that he was a vampire. As it goes, his pretty words and generous gifts finally wore me down. That’s the last time I go against my instincts. Unfortunately, I learned in the worst way that beneath the skin lies an insidious, murderous heart.