Page 25 of Crimson Devotion
“No.’’ Her response is immediate, and it shocks me. The determination in her voice, and the way she almost seems offended I’d even ask it makes me more confused.
“Then…should I leave?”
“Also no,’’ she says. “Besides, I can’t leave the bracelet on you forever. When Lucifer wakes up, he’ll want it back.’’
“How did you acquire these, anyway?”
“Witches enchanted them.’’
My eyebrows lift to my hairline. “Witches? As in, the same species you killed? How the hell did that happen?”
She rolls her eyes. “A long time ago, Lucifer used to think with his dick only. And a lot of witches hadn’t heard that we were responsible for the death of the very first coven, so when Lucifer charmed them, they enchanted them, no questions asked.’’
“They can’t reverse it?”
She shakes her head. “Not without having the bracelets to work with. And they are long dead, since we’ve had these bracelets for centuries already.’’
“Do you plan on getting me one?”
“Why don’t you ask Yvonne for one? I doubt it would take her more than a minute.’’
I wince.
If anyone hates vampires with a burning passion, which is justified now that I know the reason why, it’s Yvonne. When she finds out I’m a vampire, I doubt she’ll want to make me one. In fact, I can bet she’ll kill me in a fit of rage.
The thought of losing her as a friend hurts. Although we’ve spent many years bickering and fighting, it doesn’t erase the fact that when I need backup, it’s always Yvonne. Whenever I need someone to vent to, she’ll listen, and although her advice is shit, it matters that she’s simply there.
I bite the inside of my cheek. “What are your plans with me, Ophelia?”
She pauses, eyes burning into mine. Her throat bobs when she swallows, and for a moment, she lets the silence eat me alive. It’s thick, and I’m tapping my bare foot against the hard floor, impatiently waiting for her answer.
“I won’t kill you, that’s for sure.’’
Somehow, that doesn’t make me relieved in the slightest.
“But I can’t let you go, either.’’
“Why not?”
“Because…’’ She looks away. “When I bit you…something happened.’’
“What happened, Ophelia?”
“You know how one turns into a vampire, right?”
I nod, my mind immediately drifting to the early days of vampire education I received at the agency. It was similar to high school classes, and although I was never a particularly good student, I found interest in this specific topic. I always found the entire whole process of a human turning into a vampire fascinating.
“Yes, a vampire needs to feed first, then inject their venom into the human.’’
“Correct, but the action is always wanted by the vampire.’’
I blink in confusion. “I’m not following.’’
“Meaning, the vampire needs to want to inject the venom. It won’t come out on its own.’’
“Alright?”
“I didn’t want to turn you into a vampire, Faith. In fact, I’ve never turned another person into a vampire. But you? When I bit you and fed on you, the venom was sucked out of me, and I couldn’t stop it. By the time I realized what had happened, it was already too late.’’
