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Ashwin finally entered a shallow cave and set them down. “We’ll night here.”
“Many people have gone missing of late,” Alexis said. She wanted to know what was happening and of Ashwin’s involvement.
“The tide is coming in and no one will be able to reach us here for a while.”
“I’ve heard of the investigation and more recently talk of Stoker Manor involved in the disappearances.”
Intent on ignoring the accusations Alexis seemed determined to make, Ashwin turned to look out at the ocean.
“All those nights you’ve gone out. You're the one Dr. Franz was looking for, aren’t you?”
Ashwin continued to stare at the ocean.
“You’re the one.” She touched her neck. “Is this what you did to them?”
“Don’t move from here.” He headed to the opening of the cave.
“Where are you going?” Alexis felt panicked by the circumstances and reluctant to have Ashwin leave.
“The tide might not be enough to deter them. I must divert them and keep them from you.”
Before Alexis could argue, he disappeared.
With the sound of the waves crashing nearby, the girls huddled close and allowed their bodies to rest and recoup. Their ordeal with Ashwin had left them drained and though Alexis wanted desperately to stay awake to await his return, fatigue took over.
It seemed only moments had passed when she was violently stirred from sleep. A fist held a tight grip of her hair as it pulled her to her feet.
“Get up, you slut.” The growl accompanied the enraged gesture.
The sound of footsteps outside the cave caught the man’s attention and he quickly dropped her, letting her hit the stone floor with a painful thud. His footsteps echoed in the cave as he rushed out.
Alexis crawled to the entrance and was shocked by what she faced. Harold Bennett, the town baker, had plunged a wooden stake deep within Ashwin’s chest.
Without thinking, without even knowing what she was truly doing, Alexis took a solid grip of her skirts and sprinted towards Harold. She heard the wild cries of a mad woman and only realized it was her own voice once she’d tackled Harold to the ground and knelt over him.
His eyes widened with confusion, fear then anger. Harold tried to shake her off. But her movements were fast, her instinct strangely sharpened and in tuned to his every motion. With the hunger of a beast and her teeth now prominent in her mouth she lunged forward and sank her fangs into the tender skin of his whiskered neck.
He let out a cry, fearful, panicked and almost feminine in quality. But it barely seeped into Alexis’ consciousness. Her thoughts were consumed by her act. Both bewildered and intrigued, she let his warm blood trickle down her throat and was strangely aroused by the sensations that filled her.
When sated, she rose and looked around her. Only a puddle of blood remained where Ashwin had lain dying. Perhaps he’d gone inside, she thought.
The moment she turned and faced Sadie’s horrified expression she felt the full weight of what she’d done. She should feel guilty, or at least ashamed, but she felt invigorated and alive. She brought her fingers to the corners of her mouth and was fascinated by the sight of blood. With a knowing grin, she glanced at her sister and licked her fingertips. “Tis not as bad as it seems,” she said as her smile broadened.
Sadie’s heart sank, as she took in Harold’s body. She approached him, reached out a hand to touch him, but his arm shot up to grab a hold of her throat. With fluid animal reflexes, Sadie didn’t think, she didn’t flinch as she sank her teeth into his neck, succumbing to her first initial thirst as a vampire.