Page 19 of Fated

I couldn’t move, frozen in place, my whole body shaking uncontrollably.

Ash moved, closing the distance between us, his breath ghosting over my skin.

He stopped right in front of me. “Now, Areya, I went to the trouble of finding you something nice to wear, and this is how you thank me?”

It sickened me how my body reacted to the closeness of his,the way his unearthly beauty, paired with his intoxicating scent, overwhelmed my senses.

When he took another step toward me, fear kicked in, flooding my body. Tears broke free as he lifted my chin with a single finger until my eyes met his.

“You will take the dress, then you will sit down, and you will not open your mouth. Do you understand?”

I nodded, unable to stop myself. My hands moved against my will, reaching for the dress. I took it, then sat on the couch, shivering head to toe.

My eyes flickered toward Calyx who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the show.

Ash turned his attention to Sophie, still sitting on Calyx’s lap.

“You will be quiet, too,” he commanded.

“Really, man?” Calyx whined.

“We aren’t here to play,” Ash said sharply before turning back to Krissy. He placed a finger on her lips. “Not a sound from you either.”

I couldn’t speak, couldn’t move, couldn’t do anything but look on in horror.

Ash’s expression shifted, his eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger as sharp, needlelike fangs sliced from his gums.

Before I could comprehend what was happening, he sank his teeth into Krissy’s neck.

Krissy’s wide, terrified eyes locked with mine as Ash drained the life from her body.

My heart was on fire, desperate to help her, to tear her away from the monster at her neck and take her somewhere safe and far away.

But all I could do was shake my head, helpless tears spilling down at seeing her so afraid.

I’m so sorry!I wanted to scream,I’m so sorry I can’t help you.

Her eyes rolled back in her head, and inside, I was now screaming and thrashing against the command quietly holding me in place, but it was no use. Her body went limp, hitting the floor with a sickening thud, another following from behind me: Sophie.

Ash’s eyes were now solid black, the face of a demon staring back. Slowly, he licked the blood trickling down his lip, his voice low and chilling when he finally spoke.

“You can go to your room now, Areya.”

Chapter 5

Iwas pretty sure Ash and Calyx were arguing over who would deal with the bodies. They sat at the bar, drinking some type of alcohol. Huh; I guess vampires could drink alcohol.

I must’ve been in shock. Ash had told me I could go to my room, yet I still couldn’t move. My body remained frozen on the couch, my eyes locked on the crumpled, lifeless bodies on the floor. I was still clutching the black dress, gripping it so tightly my knuckles had turned white.

Those poor women had no idea what end awaited them tonight. Mere minutes ago, they had been young, beautiful, and full of life. Now, they were nothing but hollow shells.

I couldn’t help but imagine the families they had left behind, the mothers who would be forever heartbroken, never knowing what had become of their daughters. My breath faltered, seeing my own mother’s face flash in my mind, her eyes filled with love and warmth.

Panic gripped me—choked me—as I gasped through a mouth refusing to open.

I forced every ounce of strength into getting up, but my knees gave out as I rose, sending my body crashing onto the cold, hard floor. Now, I was face to face with the dark-haired woman lying just inches away, her skin ghostly pale, her eyes glazed over, staring into nothingness. There wasn’t a trace of life left in her. I had never seen a dead body before today. Now, I had seen three. How many more would there be before it was all over?

The scrape of a stool against the floor was followed by thethud of footsteps approaching from behind, stopping directly above my head.

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