Sabrina.
I knew I shouldn't be doing this, every bone in me screamed as I ran faster than the wind tearing through the empty forest with that vampire speed that scorched through my veins.
In the middle of nowhere, I'm sniffing, my senses sharp, I could smell blood,
'I hope it was the blood of the wolf I was chasing' I thought to myself.
The night was still young, cool but offering no promises. I couldn't afford to let my prey slip away again. Azrael, my little brother, followed me like a shadow, his red cloak flapping with the speed of his steps, he leaned close, his voice alluring and annoying at the same time.
"You must take your shot, sister!" he urged.
I drew out my pistol swiftly, ready to shoot at the fast shadows darting ahead of me but my chest tightened not from fear but from doubt. It's not that I haven't killed before, I have, so many times. But what if he wasn't the one? What if I pulled the trigger and spilled blood for nothing?
I saw the underbrush snap and then he stumbled into view, the wolf I had been hunting, his claws were already out ready to attack me, his glowing eyes locked onto mine intensely, he was going to be so fierce and merciless especially since it was a full moon.
"What if he isn't the one we're after?" I whispered, my gun still fixed on him. I couldn't risk lowering it now, either I kill him or he kills me. I think I prefer the former.
Azrael's lips turned up, " Then we will never know will we?" his green eyes shimmered as he massaged my shoulders slowly. "Take the shot, Sabrina. Prove to father that you are the rightful heir or he'll never stop doubting you."
I swallowed hard, my fangs pickling against my lips out of instinct, my palms were already wet with sweat, the gun trembling in my grip. "It's not that simple Azrael," I muttered, lowering the weapon as my breath shook. "What if he's innocent?"
Azrael let out a dramatic sigh, clearly frustrated, he had always been the brutal one, not me. " Compassion is weakness, we are the Veylors, we are not meant to be merciful, we are brutal people, it's embedded in our DNA so if you truly crave father's favour, if you badly want the throne then you must be brutal!"
And before I could respond he ran swiftly past me faster than the wind itself. The wolf lunged just as Azrael prepared to strike, my instincts took over and I shot at the wolf immediately. He transformed into a n*ked man. Azrael sank his fangs into his neck. I heard the cry, followed by a loud thud as the body hit the ground.
Azrael didn't stop until he drained the man until nothing was left, he then licked the blood from his lips, his eyes glowing red with satisfaction. " Wasn't that hard, was it? That's what courage looks like."
I crouched towards the lifeless body, my fingers trembling as my fingers scraped across the skin until I saw… nothing. No snake tattoo. He wasn't my target. Now my worst fear has come to pass.
"Sh*t!" I cussed through clenched teeth standing over the body frowning hard as anger and disappointment simmered under my skin. " I was right all along, he wasn't one of them."
Azrael licked blood off his fingers, " Doesn't matter, father doesn't care how many go down, he only wants the twins to be dead before they find and destroy us."
~
We are back at the villa, my father is seated in his favorite chair, his gaze cold as frost, his presence is intimidating, forcing me to fear even without him speaking, his silence was loud enough to tear me apart.
Finally, he cleared his throat loudly, smoking his fat tobacco, "We don't have enough time Sabrina!"
"I know father…"
"I don't think you do. Every night you waste, the twins wherever they are hiding grow stronger bringing us closer to our deaths!"
My head is bowed all through, I'm afraid to meet his gaze. "I'm trying my best, Father. I've rummaged through every corner of the Bayou. Most of them have gone into hiding."
His hands slammed the wooden armrest it's echoing like thunder across the empty living room.
"Then you need to try harder!" He barked, "Or accept that Azrael your younger brother will take your place as heir. Perhaps I was foolish to think a girl was ever fit to rule."
His words pierced me deeper than any new blade. My lips parted but no words came out. Instead, I stared at Azrael who stood at my side with a smug look on his face.
My father's final words felt even more painful, "Do not return to me without the head of the twins!"
~
I'm staring at my reflection in my room as Kali combs through my golden hair. Her touch is the only soothing thing I could feel right now yet my heart won't stop raging with anger and failure.
"Maybe he's right," I began my voice so small I could barely recognize it. " I would never be good enough for him, Azrael is better."
"No!" Kali says, her grey eyes shining in the mirror reflecting, her short black bangs framing her face. "You are the strongest person I know and he knows it. That's why he put you on this quest, you just need time."
I scoffed, "Time is what I don't have! And if I'm so strong, why do I keep failing him?"
"Maybe the twins aren't even born yet!" She packed my hair up in a ponytail, forcing me to meet her gaze. "You can't continue to hunt what doesn't exist."
I wish she were right, but she wasn't, I shook my head. " They're here. The witch Isolde confirmed it. I overheard her telling my father last week, They are hidden among us."
Silence fell in the room, it was heavy and bitter, or maybe that was what I needed to think clearly. But the silence wasn't helping either, I felt suffocated being in here. I needed a distraction.
"I can't stay here tonight, Kali."
Kali raised an eyebrow, "Sabrina, where would you go?"
I winked at her as I rose to my feet, stripping off my leather training leathers and sliding into a long red crimson gown that clinged to my slender curves like a second skin, its plunging neckline revealing enough cleavage and there was a slit that ran up one side.
I smiled in the mirror, then I turned to face Kali, "Don't worry I'll be fine, I just need a little bit of distraction."
But that was a lie and she knew it but didn't press, deep down I was just tired of the responsibilities that came with being an heir for once I just wanted to be a normal woman drowning her sorrows in a bottle of vodka.
~
As soon as I step into the club the music hits me, it's loud and consuming, everywhere is crammed as always, light flashed on my face and I could smell the sweat and alcohol, even the s*x. The humans around me were intoxicated by the rhythm. Perfect for me.
I slid onto the stool crossing my legs elegantly as I fondled the red daylight ring on my ring finger. " I need Vodka!"
"Huh?" The bartender said, It was probably too loud to hear me so I yelled a little.
"I said, vodka!"
"Bottle or glass?"
"Glass please."
"Coming right up!" He nodded, one glass turned to two then three till it became endless. I gulped them down my throat like water, not minding the burning effect it gave me. I felt like I deserved it anyway for being a failure.
My vision had started to get blurry but I could still see perverted men leering at me from the corner. Their gaze irritated me so much that I was tempted to suck out their bl*od with my fangs but I didn't come here for them. I sat up rolling my eyes, " I need another glass… please." I said, my speech slurred.
"Another?" the bartender hesitantly asked.
"Are you slow?"
And then…. Someone close to me says,
"That's your twelfth glass? Going to stop at Lucky Thirteen?"
The baritone voice slid into me like sweet smooth velvet. I turned sharply and swiftly ready to rain insults on whoever dared to intrude on my sulking.
But the words died on my lips because beside me sat a man; he was tall, lean with eyes like the ocean, so piercing like glacial fire. His smile? It was charming despite my drunk state. I was still bewitched and swayed by them.
So I shut my mouth and sat straight. I could still feel his gaze lingering. It was curious, daring yet hot.
I've seen handsome humans and vampires in my lifetime but this one? He was extraordinarily hot.
"Careful with that drink darling, those men already see you as a pr*y….and I don't intend on sharing." He smirked, his icy blue eyes shimmering with burning desire.