Page 29 of Captive Hybrid

Evelyn turns, her eyes bugging out. ‘Oh! Shit! No, hey.’ She flaps her arms. ‘Zenna, no. I’m so sorry.’ She claps a hand to her forehead. ‘I have a few boyfriends. They’re willing, I promise. Shit, that must have sounded so creepy.’ She takes a few steps to me, but I don’t give her the chance.

I turn and bolt for the door.

But she’s a vampire.

She’s there before I reach for the handle, head tilted, hands raised placatingly. ‘Hey, I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to scare you.’

I back away, heart pounding. I’m half witch. If that fridge is empty and there aren’t any other witches around, I’m next on her menu. ‘Get away from me.’ Is that why she wanted me here? Something to snack on?

‘Zenna—’

My vines climb up, off my arms and strike out at her with wicked-sharp thorns.

Evelyn yelps in surprise—and pain—as the vines stab into her skin, piercing the flesh of her forearm, hand and shoulder. ‘Woah.’ A low sound of awe. Not anger or hate. Those copper eyes meet mine, full of surprise.

‘Let me go.’ My voice trembles. Honestly, I didn’t expect to be able to make a vampire bleed, but perhaps the witch-magic helps make the vines stronger for all I know. ‘Just let me go.’

Evelyn winces, but doesn’t move to break free. ‘Zenna,’ her voice is soft, as though talking to a wild animal. ‘I’m not going to hurt you. I only drink from a few, okay? The same guys I’ve been with for decades. I swear to you, okay? You’re safe here.’

‘You lured me here to snack on me because I’m part witch!’

Evelyn pins me with a stare that tells me she thinks I’m ridiculous. ‘I really didn’t. Aidan, one of mine, he lives here. I don’t want you. Look, I’ve heard you have visions.’ She holds out a hand. ‘See for yourself. Feel free to keep these in until you’re satisfied,’ she adds with a grim look at the vines worming through her skin.

I have no reason to trust a vampire, I remind myself. But I have nothing to lose by using my Sight on Evelyn, either. Slowly, keeping my vines in her skin—a pang of guilt—I hope I can get a vision and maintain control of the vines at the same time.

I reach out and grasp her hand, letting my eyes fall closed, leaving myself somewhat vulnerable. In a moment of darkness, I feel lost and alone, until the visions come. Scents of blood and magic fill my nose as I get hundreds, perhaps thousands, of glimpses into Evelyn’s fangs, sinking into different men’s necks, wrists, and thighs. Their little gasps of pain, turning to surprising moans of pleasure, their backs arching, hands roaming through her auburn hair, clearly enjoying themselves. I filter through the images, but she seems to have maintained her diet of the same men for a while. I don’t see any other victims, if I could call them that, so I let her go.

Snapped back into the present, I catch the look of pain which flicks over her face. She was telling the truth. I worm my vines from her skin, sending them home. A huge part of me is thrilled that I had that kind of power and control—I can actually defend myself—though, it does seem like Evelyn wasn’t trying to overpower me. I take a measured step back.

Evelyn rubs at the entry points of the vines, pain flashing in those copper eyes. ‘Well?’

I give a curt nod. ‘I saw.’ I fold my arms over my chest. ‘You were telling the truth.’

She exhales. ‘Good. Then you believe you’re in no danger from me?’

‘Not exactly, but at least you don’t seem to want me as a meal.’

Evelyn gives a bitter laugh. ‘I don’t, no. I am really sorry I scared you.’

‘Maybe you can make it up to me.’

Her brows twitch, dubious. ‘How so?’

‘How do I get out of here? To the ground?’

Evelyn sighs, running a hand through her hair. ‘I can’t—’

‘If you want me to stay here, at least help me feel less like a prisoner. Despite what I just did, I wouldn’t make it to the end of the hallway. So, what’s the harm?’

She bites her lower lip. Strangely, it makes her look more human. ‘Why don’t we make a deal? You being here isn’t my choice, you know that. It’s Drusilla’s. But she knows that I can help you feel better about it for now. So, why don’t I show you around?’

I narrow my eyes. I didn’t expect anything from her, but that’s better than nothing. ‘How big is this place?’

Evelyn smirks. ‘Oh, bigger than my apartment, that’s for sure.’ She shrugs it all off, just like that. The conflict between us. She barely glances at the spilled apple juice. Instead, she dips her head back into the fridge and starts piling things on her kitchen bench. Things which, if I’m right, look suspiciously like ingredients for a sandwich.

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