Tainted Souls & Sealed Bounds (A Vampire Novel)

Chapter 1 - Dark & Cold

I killed for it, sinned for it, wrecked for it. Endless times I had been engulfed in the flames of my very own existence. I couldn't hide. Couldn't run. Couldn't resist. I was hopeless, desperate.

The limitless roaring in my ears was unconquerable. I had imagined-often imagined how it would've been if there was no possibility of eternal starvation of blood and flesh in me whatsoever.

I could've merely imagined. The desire was light but the stakes were high. Resistance was one of the things the Curse within me despised the most as I reckoned.

Standing outside the bar filled with people, I just looked straight ahead at nothing as snow laid on my lashes, tickling my eyes. Though deeply lost in the maze of my endless pathetic emotions, my body, however, could feel the bitter cold against my skin.

I hoped the music that played inside the bar-which at some point could've ruined my eardrums-stopped and the people that swayed and danced just left the bar.

I doubt I was any better at hiding my reluctance on going in-with tons of people swarming inside-my dear sister, Kiara, much to my satisfaction, took a suspicion and slightly pulled on the hem of my long overcoat, ceasing all the thoughts and sensation in instant.

I was glad my concentration was shattered and my eyes snapped on her as she looked up at me. Too many emotions tinkered in those distinct pale blue and silver-colored eyes of hers. Frustration. Annoyance. Sympathy.

Nose and cheeks pink from the cold weather and hair as white as snow-identical to mine-hung low on her shoulders. I realized I had stared at her for a second too long when her eyelids lowered and her lips twitched.

The silence before she spoke was appreciated. Very appreciated.

"We don't have the time for your daze-outs. Complete the task beforehand, you know what happened the last time you didn't prepare before the situation arrived. Plus I have a Coffee Shop to attend to."

Situation. She had named it. She wasn't wrong, it indeed was a situation that arrived every month once or twice. The time when I'd lose all my sanity and would go in a mode I couldn't comprehend nor control.

I became helpless. My limbs and my very soul became helpless at that time of the month.

Although she was right, I didn't want to go inside. Regardless of the voices in the back of my mind-the sane part of my mind-screamed at me, telling me to stop because of how poor I was at keeping the Curse in control. I ignored them.

A nod from me allowed Kiara's leg to pace forward and inside the bar. As she was a few steps away from me she turned around. A slight wave from her eventually made me follow, as well.

I sighed, dusting the snow off my shoulder as I took a slow but long step. With each step, the music grew louder and louder.

Loud music filled my head the moment I stepped in. The scent of blood lingered in the air and the pulsation of alive bodies that tease in rhythm, rumbled in my eardrums, inciting my hunger to concentrate on anything other than my desire for cannibalism.