Free Web NovelChapter 101: Bloodthirsty III
In the caves, there wasn’t a measurement of how much time had passed in the outside world. All I had to keep me company was the tick of the water droplets that echoed through the cave whenever they landed on the stone ground below. It was rhythmic and consistent, repeating itself in a never-ending pitter-patter that was slowly driving me insane.
Petral kept his promise.
He returned shortly after with some food and water― it wasn’t much, just a couple of fruits and a bottle of water. However, it was enough to satiate my starved belly. I finished everything that he brought over within seconds, gorging myself on the fruits as though I hadn’t had anything in years. The sugar in the fruits was much needed. It replenished plenty of the energy that was lost when Petral and Ariana fed on my blood.
Of course, there was no need for them to know that.
"Don’t try anything funny," Petral warned as he picked up the empty dishes, scowling as he watched me lick my lips. "If I hear you messing with the chains again, we’ll just drain you dry on the spot."
"I thought you guys needed me alive," I reminded.
Instinctively, my hand came up to my collarbone, playing with the stacked necklaces there. There was Damon’s unique spider web necklace and there was also the ruby pendant my mother left me. I played with the stone, massaging the jewel with my fingers. It felt cool under my touch. freewebnøvel.coɱ
Petral’s eyes narrowed at my actions, trained on the pendant that I wore around my neck. When I lifted it slightly higher, his eyes followed― he wasn’t looking at Damon’s necklace after all. His lips twisted into a sneer and he huffed, rolling his eyes when he realized I was testing him.
"You won’t be useful forever," he said. He gave one last glance at the necklace before he turned with a huff.
Everything Petral and Ariana let me know was a little odd. For starters, why was I bait? How did they know I was even coming to the border with Damon? They couldn’t have known, and if they didn’t, their plan would’ve never worked.
I definitely served more than one purpose than just to lure Blaise and Damon here into the silver caves. That reason was also something that was keeping me alive for now. What was it, then? Was it just my blood? But even so, Ariana and Petral weren’t sure of its properties until well after I was captured.
There were too many questions and too few answers to go around.
My hands instinctively touched my mother’s necklace. Petral had paid this little trinket a little too much attention. It was a pretty charm, but nothing extraordinary. If they were vampires that had lived for hundreds and maybe even thousands of years, they definitely would’ve seen their fair share of beautiful jewels. A mere red rock on a simple chain wasn’t going to wow them.
Did they know my mother when she was alive, then? Perhaps that was why Petral had so much interest in what would otherwise be an ordinary accessory. freewebnovёl.ƈom
"What am I really here for?" I asked, squinting through the dark at where Petral stood. He fiddled with the plates, then rummaged through his pockets for objects I could not quite see. At my words, he turned, scowling.
"Didn’t we already tell you?"
"Bait," I said, "I know. But there’s more to it, isn’t there? What aren’t you telling me?"
He laughed in disbelief, scoffing as he ran a hand through his silvery hair. Shaking his head, Petral took slow but long strides toward me, the heel of his loafers clicking against the ground.
"Aren’t you a curious little one?" he asked. He reached down, placing his fingers under my chin to tilt it upward. His face was disturbingly close and that was when I realized he wasn’t breathing at all. "Some questions are better left unanswered, especially if you value your life."
As he spoke, I felt a tingle around my neck. The little diamonds on the necklace seemed to gain heat, turning slightly warm over my skin. It wasn’t enough to burn, but it certainly drew my attention to them. I tried not to let my surprise show on my face.
There was no definite sign clearly written in black and white, but somehow, I knew this feeling could only mean one thing― Damon was nearby. He was looking for me.
"But you need me alive," I said once more, suddenly filled with courage knowing that the brothers were close to finding me.
A muscle ticked in his jaw. "Yes, you have reminded me of that," he said. "But plans can change at any time if you continue proving yourself a nuisance―"
A howl interrupted his words. My heart raced. There was no mistaking it― my predictions were right. Damon was here.
Petral bolted upright, straight as a rod as he stared in the direction of the sound. His frown deepened, the skin between his eyebrows folding and creasing together as he clicked his tongue in annoyance. I could catch the eerie screeches of bats crying out, their wings flapping loudly as they headed straight to the entrance of the cave.
"Finally," he said with a sneer, clenching and unclenching his fists. Claws began to elongate from his previously normal fingernails, turning them into talons that matched birds of prey.
I scooched a little back, wriggling on my butt and using the commotion to mask the rustling of the chains. Even so, Petral turned back and snarled, grabbing the chains and yanking me to my feet. I cried out in pain, the metal digging into my skin painfully as he pulled me up.
"It seems like your guests are here," Petral mused. "Shouldn’t we be good hosts and welcome them?"
My eyes widened with horror as his lips parted, showing me his glistening fangs.
"But first, I’ll need a top-up of that sweet nectar of yours―"
Before he could move his lips over my neck, I threw my head back before banging it hard against his forehead, a resounding thwack echoing through the cave from the impact.
