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Chapter 5

"Gavriel!" I croaked out.

I felt really thirsty, but more extreme than when you simply need water. It was like a mix of hunger and thirst, but with an absolute need to quench it.

I ran to the nearby stream and cupped my hands. The water practically evaporated when it hit my tongue. It didn't turn hot or to steam, but simply disappeared. I stepped back, astonished.

I could see in the dark easily. The cold no longer nipped at my skin. I looked at my reflection in the crystal water of the small stream that ran around my villiage.

My skin was very pale and my eyes were blue, but I didn't see them gleam red in the moonlight.

I heard every movement of the animals in the wood.

The thirst gripped me again and I growled. Where was Gavriel?

I swore I would kill him.

As I thought about all I knew about the demons, I recalled that their thirst could only be quenched with blood, but if they were newly turned and could avoid drinking any for a certain amount of time, they would return to normal.

I focused on my hearing and hunted down a large deer. I could see it was alive and healthy because I could feel it's steady heartbeat.

I silently crept close to it while its heart sped up a bit and its ears perked up.

I swiftly tackled it and bit down on the creature.

When my fangs broke through the skin in my mouth, it hurt, but healed quickly.

Before I realized what I was doing, I drank the animal's blood, but it did nothing to sate the thirst. It was sickening and coppery like when I was alive.

"That's not very appetizing." I heard Gavriel's say.

I immediately growled and jumped up to meet him. I tried to kick him hard but couldn't.

"You are weak. You need some real blood."

"Get away from me! Leave me alone!" I screamed at him.

"I'm here to help you. I wasn't just going to turn you and leave you to go completely mad."

"Thanks." I said sarcastically.

"You need human blood to sate the thirst. Nothing else will work. Mortal food turns to ash in our mouths, water dreads even the thought of our tongues, and animal blood provides no essential life force that we need to survive."

I ignored him and ran away, this time, much faster than when I was alive.

"This is much more fun." He called to me.

He almost tackled me to the ground, but I swerved to avoid a tree. He gracefully bypassed it and caught me by my stomach.

"Let's get you something to eat." He announced quietly.

Because I was too weak to fight the thirst, I could not resist.

He took me into town. The lanterns were all lit even though everyone should have been sleeping.

"Who are you willing to kill?" Gavriel asked.

"What? No one! I will only take what I need."

"That's what we all said before we ever tasted blood."

There were so many people. I felt every single one of their pulses. It took everything I had, not to go and drink someone.

Gavriel dragged me along the cobblestone and tossed me into a crowd of people. I need to stay right here. I can't move, or I'll attack.

I felt every single mortal heartbeat. One of them leaned down to my level. "You alright miss?" I remain still except for a short nod.

Eventually, I had stayed there long enough, that the crowd went away. Only one remained and bent down to see if I was alright.

I could not resist any longer.

I pulled the mortal down to me and sank my fangs into their neck. The blood was sweet and perfect and made me feel so alive. My vision went red as I continued to drink.

After the mortal's heart stopped pumping blood, I let go.

I was still thirsty. I needed more.

Gavriel saw me, grabbed my waist, and pulled me back into the forest.

"How was that?" He asked.

"Wonderful, I need more Gavriel."

He easily carried the body of the towns person away before anyone noticed it, and took me back into the forest.

"I'm so thirsty. I need more." I pleaded with Gavriel.

"We will get you a bit more, then we must leave before the town notices. They will soon call hunters."

I nod and he leads me back to the town.

"Go into the tavern. There are many that will be there tonight, asleep, vulnerable."

I followed his advice and entered the tavern.

There weren't many people in the front, so I snuck into one of the private rooms.

A man slept on the bed, so I crept up close and bent over. My fangs sunk into his neck, and he awoke. As I drank, I felt stronger and better. The man woke and tried to shove me off, but his strength was insufficient. He went limp and fell against the bed. I wiped my mouth and exited the room.

I went into the next one, and left nothing but a corpse. I kept visiting rooms in the large tavern. Eventually, I heard Gavriel call, and open the door.

I was leaning over a man who's heart was failing and he raised an eyebrow.

"Yes?"

"We must leave. You've killed enough men that it is noticeable. Is your thirst sated?"

I nodded reluctantly and he held out his arm for me to hook mine in.

I took it and he led me out of the tavern.

"Let us go to another town, before the sun comes up."

"The sun?"

"Its rays are enemy to our kind."

"Where will we go."

"To the town east of here."
"Let me go to the convent, there are many girls there and I know my way around."
"Sure. Do whatever you like."
I ran to the convent and opened the door. I tried to get in, but it was as if an invisible wall was blocking the doorway. I heard footfalls down the stairs and bright red hair follow. I recognized her. In the back of my mind, there was some sort of familiarity.
As soon as she saw me, she ran toward me.
"Kayella!"
Once she was closer and got a better look at me, she froze.
"Why are you so pale? And what is that all over you?" She studied me and brought a candle close to me. "Is that, blood?"
I tried once again to get into the house, but to no avail. "Priestess!" She called out. I caught a glimpse of another human. She arrived at the door very soon after.
"What's wrong with her?" The red headed mortal asked.
The priestess looked at me and her face fell. "She's been turned. She is now a demon."
I slammed my hand on the strong doorframe. "Why can't I get in!" I yelled.
"Because, my dear Kayella, it is warded against evil." The priestess told me.
"We need to help her." The red headed girl voiced.
"There is nothing we can do. Her lust for blood controls her now. But the sun will protect us."
I could sense Gavriel behind me. "Hello love, what's going on?"
"There's two of them?" I felt the girl's fear.
"We'll be out of town soon, you ladies have a pleaseant night." He grabbed my arm and dragged me away.
We traveled for an hour or so, walking along the path.
"That was foolish." Gavriel reprimanded. I rolled my eyes.
Soon we found a town, and within it, a large tavern where we bought a room for the day.

Gavriel made sure any windows were covered well and that the door was locked.

I laid on the creaky bed and tried to sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about how many men I killed. Now that the priestess and Giselle knew I was a vampire, I was beginning to remember how I knew Giselle, but I thought she was lost. Did she find her way back? I suppose so. Gavriel came and lied next to me while I was deep in thought.