The Children Of The Night (Book 1, The Bloodline Chronicles)

6. Taste

Camilla

Camilla could now distinguish the difference between Vampir and human blood. And to put it bluntly, it bored her. It was nothing special compared to Kassan's blood, but it did provide a certain strength she couldn't deny, one that provided sustainability, as they had all promised her.

But she didn't see any memories when she took her fill of the human blood. So different from feeding on Alexandre, even more so than Kassan. It seemed Kassan's blood was the only tempting one to begin with. Now, the human blood seemed, well, just plain in taste.

All sane thoughts came rushing back through her head, all hallucinations vanished. She only had one wish in that moment—to pull his throat out of its encasing.

She pulled her mouth from the bag, licking her lips clean. She hadn't made a mess, but she tastes the blood on her lips.

It wasn't what she imagined. The only difference between feeding from Kassan and the human blood was the amount of strength she had gained. It was all-consuming. She felt tight all over, strong, like her skin was impenetrable.

"How do you feel?"

"I feel... good."

Her eyes shots up to his, lips pressed tightly together. Rage spread through her like wildfire.

"I should pull your throat out."

"Ah, back to reality then... you came out stronger than originally thought."

"Strong enough to kill you."

"You don't seem to want to, you would have done it by now if you did."

"Believe me, I should."

"There are lots of things you should be doing right now, none of which are ending my being."

She detached from him, blood forgotten. She was confused, why didn't she have the urge to kill him? Why didn't she feel the way she once had? Had human blood changed her? Was that all it took for her to be somebody else... or somebody else's.

She felt too docile.

Camilla whipped around, fury covering her every feature and word. "Is this that bond you were blabbing on about?"

"You finally understand."

"No. No, I don't understand. I don't understand why all it took was blood."

"Human blood."

"But what does that—!"

"It's an answer for another day."

"It's a question that can be answered now. Tell me."

Kassan quirked a brow. She felt a pull toward him. He wanted her to ask politely.

"Please."

A smirk took over his mouth.

"There now, that was not so difficult."

Her hand shot out and gripped his throat.

"Just because I don't want to kill you, doesn't mean I can't hurt you."

"Touché." He smoothed his hand over hers, too gentle. She pulled it away. "Human blood starts and ends the cycle of life. You were born from it, and you start your eternal life with it. Because I was the one who made you, that transfer—the bond—laid dormant in you until you completed your transition. It is the way our Goddess made it. I do not make the rules, but it is my duty to enforce them. As it could be yours one day."