Read Online Destiny (Absent Shadows Trilogy Book 1) by S.M. Spencer - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: S.M. Spencer
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fading once again.
‘Erranase told us why he’d created us, and we weren’t afraid … or angry. He’d been one of a group of four vampires that had travelled all through Europe and Asia for hundreds of years. They’d developed great power in East Prussia. But Erranase had grown tired of the power and control that Zunios, their leader, had over them so he boarded a ship bound for what is now Western Australia, eventually making his way to Melbourne.’
Again I shook my head, but it refused to clear. I simply listened to Sam’s mesmerising voice, wondering if he’d slipped me drugs somehow. It was the only way I could justify how calm I felt.
‘Erranase feared it would only be a matter of time until the other three would come looking for him, so he wanted to create a small group of his own—for protection. Tom was exactly what he was looking for—strong and feisty. Me, well, I was there, and I was obviously Tom’s friend, so he decided I would do too.’
Sam looked down for a moment, but just before he did I saw that the defeat I’d heard in his voice was now written all over his face. He seemed so sad that I found myself feeling sorry for this young man, who through no fault of his own had become a vampire. Or at least, thought he had. Was he the one that was delusional? My heart started to race, but when Sam looked up into my eyes again I felt the calm return. When he began speaking I was once again focused on his story.
‘Erranase stayed with us, teaching us his ways. He wasn’t a bad vampire, as far as vampires go. He mostly preyed on evil people; thieves and thugs.’
A noise in the hall outside caught my attention. I looked away from Sam, and as I did I could feel my heart rate begin to quicken. This time I refused to look at him.
‘Okay, okay. Wait just a minute. Sam … if what you’re saying is true, then Claire is going to become a vampire, right?’ The realisation of what had happened tonight began to race through my mind.
He reached up, and stroked my cheek, turning my face back to him. He gazed into my eyes.
‘No, Lili, don’t worry about Claire. That’s not how it works. She didn’t drink his blood—the contagion hasn’t spread. Really, she’ll be fine.’
‘Claire will be fine, you say. She’s been bitten … by a vampire … but she’ll be fine, because she didn’t drink his blood. I see. Well, actually, I don’t see …’
I didn’t know what I believed. And I didn’t know who was more insane; Sam, for telling me all this, or me, for thinking that maybe he was telling the truth. And if he was telling the truth, shouldn’t I be frightened for my own life?
Sam continued stroking my hands, trying to keep eye contact with me, but this time I looked down at the floor.
‘So, when … I mean, how long ago … how long have you …’
‘Tom and I arrived in Melbourne in 1853, almost exactly one year after my family died.’
I drew in my breath, and held it for a moment, then let it out slowly before I spoke.
‘1853 … right. So, let me see if I’ve got this straight. You’re a vampire. And you’re, like, over a hundred and fifty years old. And you kill people and drink their blood. Have I got that right?’
The logical side of my brain was still convinced that this was all an elaborate hoax. And on some level I knew this disbelief was the only thing keeping me from being paralysed with fear.
‘Lili, firstly, know that you are safe. Everything will be fine. Now, look at me. Stare into my eyes and tell me what you see.’
I hesitated, knowing that staring into his eyes would make me calm again, but it wouldn’t answer anything.
‘Lili, please,’ he pleaded softly.
I felt I needed to do as he said, not for me … for him. I looked into his beautiful, dark eyes, waiting to feel the calming sensation come over me again. Only it didn’t. Instead, as I watched his eyes they changed. The blue turned to red. They were still dark and beautiful, but they were red. I
‘Erranase told us why he’d created us, and we weren’t afraid … or angry. He’d been one of a group of four vampires that had travelled all through Europe and Asia for hundreds of years. They’d developed great power in East Prussia. But Erranase had grown tired of the power and control that Zunios, their leader, had over them so he boarded a ship bound for what is now Western Australia, eventually making his way to Melbourne.’
Again I shook my head, but it refused to clear. I simply listened to Sam’s mesmerising voice, wondering if he’d slipped me drugs somehow. It was the only way I could justify how calm I felt.
‘Erranase feared it would only be a matter of time until the other three would come looking for him, so he wanted to create a small group of his own—for protection. Tom was exactly what he was looking for—strong and feisty. Me, well, I was there, and I was obviously Tom’s friend, so he decided I would do too.’
Sam looked down for a moment, but just before he did I saw that the defeat I’d heard in his voice was now written all over his face. He seemed so sad that I found myself feeling sorry for this young man, who through no fault of his own had become a vampire. Or at least, thought he had. Was he the one that was delusional? My heart started to race, but when Sam looked up into my eyes again I felt the calm return. When he began speaking I was once again focused on his story.
‘Erranase stayed with us, teaching us his ways. He wasn’t a bad vampire, as far as vampires go. He mostly preyed on evil people; thieves and thugs.’
A noise in the hall outside caught my attention. I looked away from Sam, and as I did I could feel my heart rate begin to quicken. This time I refused to look at him.
‘Okay, okay. Wait just a minute. Sam … if what you’re saying is true, then Claire is going to become a vampire, right?’ The realisation of what had happened tonight began to race through my mind.
He reached up, and stroked my cheek, turning my face back to him. He gazed into my eyes.
‘No, Lili, don’t worry about Claire. That’s not how it works. She didn’t drink his blood—the contagion hasn’t spread. Really, she’ll be fine.’
‘Claire will be fine, you say. She’s been bitten … by a vampire … but she’ll be fine, because she didn’t drink his blood. I see. Well, actually, I don’t see …’
I didn’t know what I believed. And I didn’t know who was more insane; Sam, for telling me all this, or me, for thinking that maybe he was telling the truth. And if he was telling the truth, shouldn’t I be frightened for my own life?
Sam continued stroking my hands, trying to keep eye contact with me, but this time I looked down at the floor.
‘So, when … I mean, how long ago … how long have you …’
‘Tom and I arrived in Melbourne in 1853, almost exactly one year after my family died.’
I drew in my breath, and held it for a moment, then let it out slowly before I spoke.
‘1853 … right. So, let me see if I’ve got this straight. You’re a vampire. And you’re, like, over a hundred and fifty years old. And you kill people and drink their blood. Have I got that right?’
The logical side of my brain was still convinced that this was all an elaborate hoax. And on some level I knew this disbelief was the only thing keeping me from being paralysed with fear.
‘Lili, firstly, know that you are safe. Everything will be fine. Now, look at me. Stare into my eyes and tell me what you see.’
I hesitated, knowing that staring into his eyes would make me calm again, but it wouldn’t answer anything.
‘Lili, please,’ he pleaded softly.
I felt I needed to do as he said, not for me … for him. I looked into his beautiful, dark eyes, waiting to feel the calming sensation come over me again. Only it didn’t. Instead, as I watched his eyes they changed. The blue turned to red. They were still dark and beautiful, but they were red. I
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