Crimson River by Wulfshard (free e reader TXT) 📖

It was too much, to have been so close to biting him again, to feel that soft flesh and smell his delicious blood. It was so similar to Sam...so many memories I didn't want. The story I'd told him haunted me every day I closed my eyes and slept. I dreamed of my mistake every time I drifted off, every time the hunger returned.
So I fled her house, stinking of Fae and human blood, and from her. It was painful, to leave her behind. I still wasn't sure what the hell I did wrong, what I'd done to deserve her anger and desertion. It made it difficult to take myself to the huge mansion, old but well painted and kept remodeled. Feeling alone - always alone! - and hungry again I stepped carefully through the arched stained glass doors into my home.
The first thing I saw completely ruined my night. It was a tall ashen skinned man. He had black, cruel eyes that reached into mine to pull control. A wave of disgust wrapped around me like a cotton blanket; he stank of death and human blood.
I cannot avoid you forever, then, can I you son of a bitch?

His presence alone was enough to make my throat rage like a wildfire. The bite mark I carried on my neck throbbed. The man stood, his cold eyes examining me carefully yet callously. It wasn’t because he cared; it was because of the power he held over me. I struggled not to approach and curl myself around him. How I wanted to kiss him…how I hated the desires that he forced upon me.
“You’ve not been properly feeding. Perhaps since you left my coven you should start your own.”
“Why are you here? I’ve not seen you since that little whore replaced me.”
He laughed. “She’s much easier to manipulate than you. But you’re right; I’m not here to offer you my bed again.”
Good. I don’t really want it anyway. I only feel this because you force it.

The smile was alluring and sickening at the same time, tugging my mind and body in two different directions. He waved his hand to dismiss the thought.
“Never mind that, Aria. I’m here to talk about that hunter. He’s not dangerous, sure, but that means using him is easy. Why didn’t you accept the offer? It will make him like putty in your hands, to have a little hunter spy.”
Don’t start this. I don’t need another Sam. The hunters are leaving us alone for a while. Can’t I rest in peace and feed on who I wish?

“No.” He snarled the word. “And you will do it willingly or I shall force you to bind him. Is that understood?”
“I’m not dealing with another blood slave. Sam is hard enough to stop dreaming about.”
Suddenly he was right in front of me. I felt that instinctive pull. When he grabbed me and pulled me into his arms, it made my muscles melt like spring-time snow. “Come now, darling Aria. You’re a bright child. The dreams will stop if you have her son. He’s in her line. And he’ll stay.”
"F-fine." Though it was almost painful, I was able to break away. "But only under my conditions."
"What if he won't agree to them?"
I glared at him. "I'm still a vampire, Syn. I think I can handle a human not agreeing to something."
It seemed like he paused not to think but to make me wait. It pissed me off that even out of his coven, I still had the need for his permission while he was around.
"Alright. But it must get done; I really don't care how." My master went to brush past me. Feeling a sudden need, I reached up and grabbed him. The vampire paused, looking at me carefully.
It's been so long...since I felt them. Too long...

Again his smile lured me as it sickened me. "Wait for me in the room. I'll bring you a snack."
The shivers traveling through my body as I zipped down the stairs and into my bed weren't any more welcome than his orders or natural than our lives. It seemed to take him forever as I waited in my huge bed for his fangs. I stripped, wanting it to mean more than it did. Finally he was there. One moment he was standing at the door, the next he was over me. Before I could fight the urge any more his fangs were in my flesh.
A moan filled with the pain and pleasure from the bite broke the silence. Instantly my hand burred his fangs as deep as they would go. I felt roaming fingers touch me. The pain ebbed. As if to contradict the laws of the body the weaker I became the more the pleasure grew. Even though my vision was blurring I still begged him for more. It was almost painful for him to retract.
"I love to hear you call my name."
So hungry...

"Come on, then." He heaved me up. I followed him blindly to a dark room with a powerful human scent. There was no way to stop the massacre that went on in that room. Four humans lay dead by dawn.

Since I wasn't given a time limit, it wasn't until Sunday that I approached his house again. Vince was outside on his roof, to my relief. There was no way to run into either his father or mother there. And I didn't need permission to drop by and talk to him.
So that's exactly what I did; I landed right in front of him from the tree above his house. Vince screamed in shock, nearly jumping off the third story like a suicidal deer.
Rolling my eyes at his reaction, I caught the human to toss him back onto his seat. "Honestly, Vince. You'd think you were a little girl. Man up."
His green eyes stared at me with open astonishment. "What the hell are you doing?"
Do they teach hunters and slayers anything at all?

"I decided I wanted to talk to you again." I half-lied. "And tonight I did."
The boy looked me up and down. His surprise grew into a nervous smile. "What's up with the cloths?"
Suddenly glad he couldn't see me very well in the dark, I cleared my throat. "It's easier to hunt." I replied quietly. Then I slipped to sit beside him. It was hard enough to resist biting him. With Syn so close the smell of any human blood was too much. Even if I had to pull down the skirt a little self-consciously.
"Well, I can see why."
"Stop staring at me!"
I don't think men will ever change!

"Why? It means it's effective, right?"
"S-shut up!" His sparkling eyes just embarrassed me more. "Look, I'm here to talk about your offer the other night."
"Really?"
They always sound so happy when I say this shit. And then they realize what it really means. Sam was the only one who didn't come to live with me and I'm not doing that again.

"Yes." There was no keeping the impatience from my voice. "Except I was thinking that maybe you would like to come stay with me. It'll be easier for you to learn about vampires, for me to feed and less likely your association and parents would know."
"How will I hunt?"
I knew that

was coming!

"I can even fucking help you hunt. I'm a vampire; hunting the others is doing me a favor. I think I can improve your skills."
"And how will my parents not know?"
"I don't care what you tell them. Just move in with me. You can go to school, hunt...live normally except that you live with me and I feed from you. There. Simple as that."
He looked thoughtful. "L-look...I'll think about it."
"If you accept it move in by Tuesday night. If not...I'll see if we can come up with something else."
Vince nodded, his eyes full of emotion I would rather not see. "Two days to decide? This is huge..."
Anger rushed throguh me. "You wanted it, right? All I did was suggest a way to make it work."
"No need to yell." He snapped.
I liked his temper - a lot.
I can give him a little clue to why, but I'm not going to directly say it. Besides, he needs riddles!

"Whatever. I may live away from my master, Vince, but that doesn't mean he doesn't effect me. Just work with me here and nobody will get hurt."
Gently taking his hand, I nipped his wrist where I'd bitten. His wrist jerked automatically, but the look in his eyes told me a different tale. A part of him wanted the fangs. His mother's blood would definitely curse him now.
"I will await your answer, Vince."
Then I drew the night around me and leaped off into the trees; to him it would appear I'd completely disappeared.

******

Vince watched the branches wake in the sudden wind as the vampire disappeared. He couldn't help but want her to come back, to ask her anything to make her stay longer. Even to duel her was better than to be on that roof, alone. He'd waited for her, like the man with black eyes and ashen skin said.
What he said is true. I wonder...is that the man who changed her? Is that the man who caused her so much pain?
Did he force her to try and accept the offer I made her?

"Vince? Is somebody up there?" His mother called quietly. "I thought I heard voices."
"I was just listening to some music, mom." He answered, feeling a twinge of regret for lying to her.
So how will I lie to her about moving away?

Retreating inside, he wondered why he would give up his home to let some leech bleed him for a meal at least once a week. If he knew her, she'd make sure the addiction never kicked in - that she only used him when it became absolute. But it still didn't sound logical. The idea was psychotic. But he still couldn't bring his mind away from it.
She likes my blood already, she said. Is that a good thing?

Feeling frustrated and confused, Vince slipped into the house from his window. Pulling out a piece of paper and sitting at his oak desk, the hunter began to write a list of things he would take with him if found a way to tell his folks. The first things that came to mind were his best hunting gear - a favorite knife, his newest gun, a comfortable pair of boots, a warm coat - and his first aid kit. Then a knock rapped on his door, making him jump.
"Time to wrap up the homework, champ. It's lights out; you have school tomorrow."
"I know, but this is important." Vince countered. Then an idea hit him. "Hey, I'm supposed to compose a survival list for a class. Mind looking it over and giving me