Fallen (Book 3)

Chapter 1

Ivy

The sounds of Gypsy's cries echoed vehemently through my mind as I ran away from the horrendous scene. My emotions were nonexistent, and I was starting to think my humanity, if I had any at all when I previously was a dhampir, had perished in my transformation. I wanted so badly to cry as Zach's body burned, the dagger still embedded in his kind―now lifeless heart―pierced through me like a thick icicle off a snowy roof, but my eyes refused to form any tears from their ducts.

And because of that; I had to run away.

Not far, no, but far enough to clear my head and figure out what happened and what was wrong with me. I felt ashamed, mostly because I couldn't show any emotion, but the fact I just stood there and watched Zach burn, burn until every inch of his body was licked by the flames, had me running faster away from the smoke, back towards the cabin.

That's when I smelt it.

Human blood.

Just hidden under the smoke, it hit me like a freight train, surrounding me like a foreign enemy, ready to strike.

The sweet, delicious aroma floated in the air as I approached the property, invading my nostrils, and consuming my thoughts into sinister acts of bloodshed.

I wanted to rip that human apart and drain every last god damn drop.

And nobody was going to fucking stop me.

I slowed my pace, just at the edge of the property, ready to stalk my prey. The rage began to build quickly as I approached the cabin, my throat burning in anticipation, slithering inside to surprise attack my meal, not giving them a second to react. I could hear the blood pumping erratically through their veins, taunting me, and yet heightening my excitement at the same time.

Finally, a fresh meal.

I didn't care about Sebastian chastising me from my earlier hunt, I didn't care that I couldn't control my hunger, and I certainly didn't give a shit about whoever was about to be my meal. Rounding the corner near the basement door, a familiar smell rose in the air, mixing with the sweat and blood, twisting deliciously up my nose. It was the curly mop of hair in front of the office door, where I found all those files hidden in the desk drawer of every dhampir member, freezing me in place.

"Griffin," I whispered. As soon as his name left my mouth I knew it was him.

He turned around, his eyes landing on me like he finally found the buried treasure. "Ivy." A wide, dazzling smile spread across his sun-kissed cheeks.

Oh. He really is handsome. Not sure if the hunger made me act like this, or if my past self crept in, but I never noticed the beauty of Griffin until now.

He took a step forward, the vein on his neck pumping aggressively underneath his toned body, taunting me, making the saliva in my mouth intensify.

I continued to stay put, afraid to move an inch, the fire burning chaotically at the back of my throat. I don't know how much longer I could hold on without ripping him apart, but he's from my past and important to me, somehow, I couldn't stand to kill him like I did his sister.

And he doesn't even know it was me.

"I knew it was you," he finally said, taking another step forward.

I took a step back. Panic radiated inside me.

Shit, did he figure it out?! My anxiety and the thirst for his blood collided with each other, tightening my hold on my sanity.

Griffin's messy curls flopped lazily on his forehead, as his tall build towered over me, tempting the hunger without even realizing it. Even my body reacted in a way, more than just the hunger itself, to his approach, giving me a sensual vibe I wasn't expecting.