Read Online IM01 - Carpe Noctem by Katie Salidas - Free Book Online
Authors: Katie Salidas
Tags: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
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stated.
I was a monster now.
Afraid I would burst into a fit of tears, I quickly grabbed some clothes and rushed into the bathroom.
Lysander, probably still angry, said nothing to me, and I was glad for that. I took my time in the bathroom. I didn’t want to talk to Lysander any more or see the annoyed look on his face.
I never asked to be turned into this thing. I never knew vampires existed. I thought they were just fiction stories or characters in horror movies. Now I was one.
I mumbled to myself as I stared into the mirror. Blood-red traces of tears lined my pale face.
Why couldn’t he have killed those men before I showed up? Why did he have to wait until they had already attacked me?
Lysander’s words echoed in my mind. You’re dead to that world now.
I wondered how long it would take before my friends realized I was gone. If the manager at the coffee shop would think it odd that I was no longer coming in for my regular, café mocha. The little everyday things I was used to were all gone now, replaced by this frightening new life.
I wanted to blame Lysander for what happened, but deep down I knew it was my own fault. I had played Russian roulette walking home alone and I was lucky to even be alive, or undead, or whatever the hell this was.
My reflection stared back at me with empty, cold, blue-gray eyes.
But I don’t want to be this thing, this monster!
“You still alive in there?” Lysander called out.
Washing the tears from my face, I called back, “Yeah, I’m fine.” I hurried to change into some clean clothes.
Enough time had been wasted sulking in the bathroom. I opened the door and walked back out to the living room.
Lysander was waiting for me.
“Are you feeling better?” He spoke more calmly now. Gone was the growl in his voice and the fire in his eyes.
“Yes, I’m fine, sorry about that….”
He put his hand to my lips, silencing me; his eyes met mine and again I felt that strange warmth.
“Please, forgive me. I feel we are getting off on the wrong foot. Perhaps I should have told you I was heading out to get your things. I did not realize that you might have woken up so hungry and confused. I’m not use to having…guests.”
This sudden change of attitude came as a complete shock. He sounded sincere and kind. I sensed something strange coming from him. I felt genuine sorrow for how he snapped at me. The feeling radiated in small pulses, like tiny waves, from Lysander. I’d never experienced anything like this before. I felt his sorrow as if it were my own. It was as if our emotions were joined.
“Thank you, Lysander. I’m sorry too. I’m making a mess of things, and I know you’re trying to help. I’ll do better, I promise.”
We stared awkwardly at each other for a few quiet moments before Lysander took hold of my hand. “Now that you have a little strength, you will need to hunt. Let’s go.”
CHAPTER 7
* * * * *
My stomach sank. His words hit me like a crushing blow. I had hoped somehow to avoid this, but it was inevitable. I was going to have to hunt.
“Where are we going?” I asked as I climbed into the passenger seat of the large SUV.
Lysander twisted the keys in the ignition and the engine roared to life. “We’ll start somewhere easy. Do you know the art district?”
I nodded and shut the door.
The art district was a rather seedy part of downtown. It wasn’t the downtown most people are familiar with, but the area in between the old Strip or Fremont Street and the newer Las Vegas Boulevard. It was an old area, filled with many small buildings: art studios, nightclubs, and a grid of darkened side streets. It had recently undergone the start of a renaissance. Attention had been drawn to the area in the hope of revamping it and making it a more attractive place to go.
“Yeah, I’ve been there a few times for the First Friday art festival,” I said confidently.
“Alone?” Lysander asked.
“No, that’s a place even I don’t
I was a monster now.
Afraid I would burst into a fit of tears, I quickly grabbed some clothes and rushed into the bathroom.
Lysander, probably still angry, said nothing to me, and I was glad for that. I took my time in the bathroom. I didn’t want to talk to Lysander any more or see the annoyed look on his face.
I never asked to be turned into this thing. I never knew vampires existed. I thought they were just fiction stories or characters in horror movies. Now I was one.
I mumbled to myself as I stared into the mirror. Blood-red traces of tears lined my pale face.
Why couldn’t he have killed those men before I showed up? Why did he have to wait until they had already attacked me?
Lysander’s words echoed in my mind. You’re dead to that world now.
I wondered how long it would take before my friends realized I was gone. If the manager at the coffee shop would think it odd that I was no longer coming in for my regular, café mocha. The little everyday things I was used to were all gone now, replaced by this frightening new life.
I wanted to blame Lysander for what happened, but deep down I knew it was my own fault. I had played Russian roulette walking home alone and I was lucky to even be alive, or undead, or whatever the hell this was.
My reflection stared back at me with empty, cold, blue-gray eyes.
But I don’t want to be this thing, this monster!
“You still alive in there?” Lysander called out.
Washing the tears from my face, I called back, “Yeah, I’m fine.” I hurried to change into some clean clothes.
Enough time had been wasted sulking in the bathroom. I opened the door and walked back out to the living room.
Lysander was waiting for me.
“Are you feeling better?” He spoke more calmly now. Gone was the growl in his voice and the fire in his eyes.
“Yes, I’m fine, sorry about that….”
He put his hand to my lips, silencing me; his eyes met mine and again I felt that strange warmth.
“Please, forgive me. I feel we are getting off on the wrong foot. Perhaps I should have told you I was heading out to get your things. I did not realize that you might have woken up so hungry and confused. I’m not use to having…guests.”
This sudden change of attitude came as a complete shock. He sounded sincere and kind. I sensed something strange coming from him. I felt genuine sorrow for how he snapped at me. The feeling radiated in small pulses, like tiny waves, from Lysander. I’d never experienced anything like this before. I felt his sorrow as if it were my own. It was as if our emotions were joined.
“Thank you, Lysander. I’m sorry too. I’m making a mess of things, and I know you’re trying to help. I’ll do better, I promise.”
We stared awkwardly at each other for a few quiet moments before Lysander took hold of my hand. “Now that you have a little strength, you will need to hunt. Let’s go.”
CHAPTER 7
* * * * *
My stomach sank. His words hit me like a crushing blow. I had hoped somehow to avoid this, but it was inevitable. I was going to have to hunt.
“Where are we going?” I asked as I climbed into the passenger seat of the large SUV.
Lysander twisted the keys in the ignition and the engine roared to life. “We’ll start somewhere easy. Do you know the art district?”
I nodded and shut the door.
The art district was a rather seedy part of downtown. It wasn’t the downtown most people are familiar with, but the area in between the old Strip or Fremont Street and the newer Las Vegas Boulevard. It was an old area, filled with many small buildings: art studios, nightclubs, and a grid of darkened side streets. It had recently undergone the start of a renaissance. Attention had been drawn to the area in the hope of revamping it and making it a more attractive place to go.
“Yeah, I’ve been there a few times for the First Friday art festival,” I said confidently.
“Alone?” Lysander asked.
“No, that’s a place even I don’t
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