Page 51 of Prey

“No.” I stood, closing off her thoughts again. It was stupid to even have done it to begin with. Once I fed, I’d stay in my room. Julius would have his wish and I’d let Tessa live. We’d make love, we’d cuddle, make love again…and then, when the sun rose, I’d do it. I’d kill her.

Chapter 23

Tessa

Darkness settled around me as I gripped the flashlight tighter. Light broke through at my push of the button and I could feel my skin crawling as I forced myself through the tunnel Marko and Marie had brought me to before. Coming alone was the scariest thing I’d ever done. Scarier than going through the large house Marko had ordered me to...was it only weeks ago?

My deep breaths surrounded me and I jumped as I saw a rat scatter past my foot. A scream almost broke past my lips but I held it in, making myself go faster. Sounds echoed from far away and I let the realization that it was the band I’d come across with Marie to help ease my fears. I was meant to be here. Marie had said so herself. Fear wouldn’t keep me away. Even now, shaking, I still felt the relief of getting closer.

Illumination shone in the distance and I turned off my flashlight, trembling as the darkness swallowed me whole. Small sounds had me looking over my shoulder, regardless of whether I couldn’t see anything.

The lyrics grew louder and I felt myself humming to the tune. I didn’t know it, but their style had a way of sucking me in. Noises grew, telling me that life in the city was well underway. The sound of voices only grew with every inch I got closer. I stopped, easing the flashlight to rest just on the edge where the light shone through. I’d grab it before I left. Just the small act helped fuel my positivity over the situation. I could do this.

As I broke past the walls of the tunnel, my feet came to an abrupt stop and my whole body froze. The tables that sat within the large space were full of vampires feeding. I immediately spotted Marko at the smaller one and his head turned toward me, along with everyone else’s. Silence left me unable to run or move forward. With so many vampires focused on me, my whole body shuddered. What would they do? Was this the end for me? God, what had I been thinking? It had never dawned on me they had a schedule. And here I was, interrupting it.

As the faces stared, one man rose from the end of the shorter table. Marko’s head snapped over to him and I saw the worry reflect on his face. Long, black hair rested over his lean shoulders and he looked dressed from another time. Power pushed against my skin and my eyes immediately lowered as he walked over to me. The closer he got, the more my knees gave out. He wasn’t within ten feet before I dropped, hanging my head at his arrival. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think as I kneeled and waited for the worst.

“You are not uninvited. Stand.”

I glanced up, somehow managing to get to my feet. As his hand came out, I eased mine forward, hesitating before sliding my fingers along his pale palm. He paused, pulling my hair to the side to look at my neck, now free of the wrapping. A smile pulled at the corner of his mouth, and it didn’t look very nice. He let go, adjusting the dark strands back into place.

“You want to be here, yes?”

Only then did I let my stare connect a little longer with his. “Yes.”

“Come. You will kneel by me while we feed. Then, you are free to roam as you wish. You will be aware that you are responsible for yourself here. Expect no one to help you. You chose this. No one else.”

I swallowed hard, nodding. “Thank you.”

His face stayed devoid of emotion. “Do not thank me. You may soon regret coming here. After tonight, you may never want to come back.”

Whispering increased and I glanced around the large room as the vampire led me to stand next to the chair he had risen from. I immediately fixed my red sundress so I could kneel, noticing many others in the same position. Was this how the blood slaves behaved as they waited for their bonded to finish?

Marko shifted in the chair and my eyes took in his feet from underneath the table. He didn’t speak to me in my mind and I took that as I sign not to speak to him, either. Music began to play again and I listened to it while I stared at the floor. Had I lived a life here, would this have been how it would have turned out? Marko sitting in his chair and me kneeling? Life going on as everyone took their place at meal time? Or, if I didn’t belong to Marko, but stayed here on my own, what then?”

“You’d be on top of this table,” the man said, from beside me.

It took a few seconds to realize he was talking to me. My head lifted and I blushed as it became clear he’d read my thoughts. I’d seen the nude women on the table, even though I’d tried to avoid it. But…

I lowered my head back down. So that was the price of staying here without a vampire to take responsibility for me. I’d become a slave to all if I chose that route. Not that I’d live, but if Marko somehow allowed me and I wanted to stay—

“No,” he cut in, quietly. “You’ve exchanged twice. No matter how tempting your smell, your blood will not taste good to others. You’re damaged goods for anyone but Marko, Tessalyn Antoinette.”

At the sound of my first and middle name, I couldn’t stop the slight fear that encompassed me. My mother only said that when I was in trouble, and it wasn’t often. And, damaged goods? Another thing I associated with my mom. She’d said that exact thing to me when she discovered the blood on my sheet from my first time—with Hunter. I’d been damaged goods then. I didn’t like the thought that I was put back into that place all over again. If I was damaged, it was Marko’s fault. He’d done this to me. Forced his blood upon me for no other reason but to evoke passion where it hadn’t belonged. Now, I’d die because I wasn’t worthy enough in his eyes to become his blood slave. I hated him almost as much as I loved him.

Love…I shouldn’t even call it that. What he made me feel wasn’t worthy enough to be considered love. It was like he said—an illusion. We didn’t know each other enough to love, and what we did know was nothing other than an unstoppable force, hell bent to tie us into a situation we didn’t want. Or, him, anyway. I was past the point of being able to decide. I knew the person I was now wanted this life and him. Or more, needed us to be bonded while I stayed here. But I couldn’t let it happen. I refused.

A sigh left me and I interlaced my fingers as I continued to stare down. Maybe I’d talk more about it to Marie. Surely, she might have a solution. A sputtering in my mind had me looking back up. Another feeling of déjà vu settled over me. Had I talked to her about it already?

A few vampires rose from the long table and walked away, their slaves following behind. Minutes went by while I let myself stay consumed. It wasn’t until dark hair appeared in my peripheral vision that I let my stare rise.

Marie smiled and I returned it, jumping as a hand settled over my shoulder.

“You may go. Remember, you’re responsible for yourself.” His lids lowered until they were slits as he stared down at me. For the life of me, I couldn’t break our connection, but I knew he wasn’t pulling me under like Marko had done. I still had control over my mind. Seconds went by before he nodded. “Go.”

“Thank you.” I stood, trying not to wince as I straightened my legs and fixed my dress. My eyes went to Marko’s intent stare and I quickly turned, racing toward Marie. The moment she slid her fingers through mine and led me toward her room, calmness surfaced. Friends weren’t something I ever had a lot of, but I felt a kinship with the dark haired female vampire and it had come fast and hard. Something about her put me at ease.

“I wondered if you’d come,” she said, looking back as her men moved in behind us. “I’m glad you decided to.”

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