Page 18 of Crimson Devotion
A shiver runs down my body at the mere thought, and with a deep breath, I walk back into the room.
My heart sinks to my feet — figuratively, of course — when I see the bed’s empty. I’ve been too busy thinking about Aurelia and her antics that I haven’t heard Faith waking up or getting out of bed.
My eyes immediately dart around the room, looking for her. The door of the balcony is wide open, and I don’t hesitate to run over there. It takes me less than a second, and when I look down below, I see her.
In a white gown I’d changed her into, her hair messy and still sticky from all the sweat. She’s not moving, and I don’t know why, but the fact that I can no longer hear her heartbeat because she doesn’t have one slowly kills me on the inside.
Faith tilts her head up, and we make eye contact.
Wind gets knocked out my lungs at the blank expression. Unlike the other new vampires whose eyes are pitch black, hers are bright gold. My entire body freezes at the sight, and I don’t know what to do — how to act.
Why the fuck are her eyes gold?
Slowly, as if I’m looking at her in slow motion, she cocks her head to the side, blinking a couple of times. Then, before I can see her coming, she’s standing right in front of me. She’s panting, her body slightly trembling.
Her eyes, though.
Fuck. Me.
They’re filled with a thousand questions, the pure hatred for what she’s become swirling in that deep, intense gaze. She’s not a stupid girl — she knows. She knows that she’s a vampire now, but somehow, she’s not lashing out. She’s calm, almost too calm for my liking.
She inches closer, sniffing me.
Strength wise, I’d have no trouble overpowering her. Not only would she not know how to control her strength, but I’ve been alive much longer. The longer a vampire is alive, the stronger they get, and it’s not something she can catch up to.
“Why?” she asks. Her voice breaks, the tone laced with ache, disappointment, and worst of all, resignation. “Why did you do this to me, Ophelia?”
That’s a question I don’t have an answer to.
And it fucking sucks.
EIGHT
Faith
I’m famished.
My stomach’s empty, the noises it makes causing my body to physically recoil. My throat is dry, teeth clattering together. I’m not cold, yet I cannot control the trembling of my body. The starvation has crept its way into my bones, wrapping itself around them like a cage, and the only way out is to eat.
To feed on something.
Ophelia is in front of me, her face void of any emotion. Yet, I see her clearer. It’s as if I’ve just gotten glasses I didn’t know I needed, and everything is brighter, sharper, crystal. Her face is perfect, her eyes the perfect shade, and those lips — fucking hell, they’re just begging for attention.
“Faith,’’ Ophelia speaks, my eyes snapping back to her eyes. “I know you’re confused—’’
“I’m not confused,’’ I croak out, the tightness in my throatmaking it difficult to speak. “I’m starving.’’
She takes a small step back, and a deep breath. Her eyebrows narrow a fraction, eyes dipping down to the spot on my neck she bit. That small motion is enough for the anger to start building, and I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to hold it all back, because it’s getting next to impossible to control the rage that’s poisoning my veins.
“I know you are,’’ she says, voice dropping an octave. “Let’s feed you.’’
“Food,’’ I grit my teeth. “I want real, human food.’’
Something akin to sympathy flashes behind her red eyes, but it’s gone in an instant, leaving me to wonder if I just imagined it. She purses her lips briefly, her gaze taking me in from head to toe.
“Alright. I’ll give you human food.’’
I blink, taken aback by her quick agreement. My mouth opens to speak, but no words come out. Somehow, I’m paralyzed to the spot, and even my body stops trembling. Her stare is intense, terrifying, almost. Not once have I seen the depths, the darkness in her eyes so prominent and obvious.
