Page 16 of Take Her to the Grave

I waketo moonlight and the lingering taste of power on my tongue. My office is dark, but I can see everything with perfect clarity – each shadow, each subtle gradation of darkness. The night feels alive around me, almost like it’s pulsing.

Torrin is gone, but his presence lingers in the chilled air. Inhaling, I can smell his divine scent of magic and power. It’s almost musky, but there’s a hint of citrus. I touch my throat, finding the puncture wounds already healed to small, sensitive marks.

His claim on me.

Everything feels different now.I'mdifferent now. I can feel it in every cell, every breath, every heartbeat that seems slower and stronger than before. The shadows in theroom reach for me like eager pets, responding to my awakening power.

My phone buzzes – another text from Lisa:

Seriously worried about you. No one's seen you in weeks. At least let me bring over coffee tomorrow?

I stare at the message, trying to summon some feeling of connection to the life I held not long ago.But it all seems distant now, like looking at someone else's memories through frosted glass. My entire existence has changed over the course of a few days, and now there’s a disconnect to the old version of myself. No longer that sad, broken girl who lost her parents, I feel reborn. I feel like I’ve been given a second chance.

Movement catches my eye – a flicker of shadow by my window that feels wrong. The darkness there is... different. Foreign. Hungry in a way that has nothing to do with Torrin.

Every new instinct I possess screams danger.

I rise slowly from the couch, reaching for the shadows around me. They respond eagerly, gathering like a living, breathing cloak. Through my connection to them, I sense... others. Multiple presences moving through the dim lighting around my house.

Predators, but notmypredator.

Run,my human instincts beg. But something inside me refuses to flee. This is my home, and I will not run from lesser monsters.

I pause at that thought, surprising myself.Who am I? Is this newfound confidence or am I just being a fucking idiot?

A voice cuts through the air – smooth, cultured, and completely unfamiliar. "Well, well. T he little Shadow-Kissed, all alone. How fortunate for us."

They materialize from the shadows like smoke becoming solid – three figures in modern clothes that do nothing to hide their inhuman nature. Two men and a woman, all bearing the same predatory grace as Torrin, but twisted in a more sinister way.Wrong. It feels wrong. Their power feels younger,rawer, more savage.

"Torrin's new pet," the woman says, her wicked smile showing delicate fangs. "We've heard so much about you."

I straighten my spine, letting the shadows swirl around me protectively. "I'm no one's pet."

The first vampire laughs – a cold, empty sound that makes my heart race. "No? Then why do you reek of his blood? His claim on you is obvious, little girl. Though it’s notcomplete, I notice. How interesting,” the words are like a pur rolling off his tongue.

They gather around me, circling now as theymove with inhuman grace. My heart beat steadies as I take in the situation I’m in, and I feel oddly calm. The shadows respond to my emotions, positioning themselves eagerly around me like guards dogs awaiting my command.

"What do you want?" I demand. “Get the fuck out of my house.”

"Want?" The woman's laugh is like nails on a chalkboard. Dry and gritty, making my ears cringe. "We want to hurthim, of course. Torrin has ruled this territory for far too long, enforcing his outdated rules, killing any who challenge him. But now..." Her smile turns cruel. "Now that he's given us the perfect weakness to exploit I think it’s about time someone forces him to step down."

"I'm not weak," I spit, not actually knowing if there’s any truth behind the words.

"Brave words," the third vampire finally speaks, his voice carrying a hint of Eastern European accent. "But you're still mostly human. Enhanced by his blood, yes, but not truly one ofus. Not yet, and I’m afraid you won’t live long enough to find out what it’slike to be one of us."

"You're right," I say, and power thrumming through my voice. "I'm not one of you. I'm something else entirely, and I can assure you that you’ll soon regret coming here if you don’t leave in the next two seconds."

Before waiting for them to respond, I reach deep into the well of whatever is manifesting inside me – the place where Torrin's blood mingles with my awakening power. The shadows around us surge, responding to my call with eager violence.

The vampires hesitate, clearly not expecting this level of control. I feel their uncertainty and press my advantage, remembering everything I've ever written about predator and prey encounters. Sometimes the best defense is a strong offense.

"You thinkI'mhis weakness?" Dark laughter bubbles up from a lost primal place inside me. "I'm his chosen. His match. His queen-to-be." The words feel true as I speak them, like blood memory confirming what I somehow always knew. They surprise me enough to make me drop my guard for a moment, but I get it back up before they’ve had a chance to gather their thoughts. "And you've made a terrible mistake coming here."

I lash out with the shadows, using them like whips of solid power. The female vampire hisses as one catches her across the face, leaving a burning welt. The others fallback, reassessing the situation they’ve inserted themselves into.

"Impossible," the first vampire snarls. "No mortal can command shadows like this."

"I told you I’m something entirely different – I'm not just mortal anymore. You’d have been smart to heed my warnings, but you were too wrapped up in your own quest for power." Magic courses through me, intoxicating and familiar. This is what I've been becoming, what all my dark stories were preparing me for. "I am Shadow-Kissed, chosen by night itself. And you are trespassing inmyhouse."

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