Vampyre | Book I of Bloodlines

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE CATCHING & SLAYING OF VAMPYRES

Viola

The transformation Darius undergoes after drinking the blood is nothing short of magical. His eyes, now a crystal shade of blue, dominate my thoughts, completely captivating my mind as I sit at my dressing table, braiding my hair before going to bed.

I had hoped to start re-reading my Vampyre book, but my eyes are tired from poring over medical journals in the dim light. I'm still uncertain which parts of the novel are based on truth and which are fiction. Most of all, I'm curious about what Darius looks like in his "normal" state. I'd rejuvenate him purely to satisfy my curiosity.

Stealing fifty bottles of blood before William returns is out of the question. I'll need to devise another plan to save him. Additionally, I must find a way to release him from those chains, but how can I do that if I'm unable to get close enough to examine them? If I can't get close enough to even touch his shackles, I'll never be able to hold him. He wanted to hold me.

I fear I may be losing my mind, consumed by impure thoughts of him like this. There's something undeniably beautiful about his spirit that draws me to him. Regardless of what I hear about his past deeds, good or bad, I feel an inexplicable connection to him. I almost wouldn't care if he set the world ablaze with everyone still on it—I would still care for him deeply.

It's clear that he cares for me as well, or perhaps he cares so little for himself that he would prefer to perish than to accept help from anyone.

I try to envision Darius as a human warrior clad in ancient armor. There's a book on Korean history in William's library that I started reading before diving into the medical journals. The culture there is so different from that in England—I yearn to travel to that part of the world and experience it firsthand.

Now that I think about it, the name "Darius Kane" doesn't sound like a foreign name—it must not be the name his father gave him. I'll have to inquire about it soon.

After tying off my braid, I inspect my swollen eye—it's painful, and tears threaten to fall, but crying earlier only intensified the pain. hoping my bed would open beneath me and swallow me whole. It doesn't—another disappointment. Instead, I find the escape I desperately seek in thoughts of Darius.

The image of his eyes stirs a deep longing within me, and without a second thought, my hand wanders between my legs. I fear I'm losing my mind—Darius isn't even attractive, he doesn't look strong, and there's nothing physically appealing about him. Nothing except for his soul. And his voice today was richer and fuller than ever before—almost familiar.

As the tension builds, I exhale deeply and inadvertently let out a moan that surprises even myself. I'm unconcerned about who might hear, not even Darius with his heightened senses. In the fleeting moment of release, my world shrinks, and my worries dissolve. The ache of heartbreak, the apprehension of the unknown, and the sting of loneliness all recede into the background.

When I wake up, I check the clock and see that it's already past noon. How nice, even Mrs. Norris has left me in peace.

I bury my face into my pillow and decide that today will be a day of reflection and planning. I need to get out of this situation before William gets back, which would make everything more difficult. But first, I need to free Darius—I can't leave him here—I'm his only hope. Besides William, I'm the only other living being who knows he's a prisoner here, and even then, if others discovered his true nature, they'd likely abandon him to die or take his life—William might even receive a reward for capturing a demon from hell.

Perhaps if I were to uncover evidence of William harming my father, I could have him arrested. If what Darius claims is true and William did indeed harm my father, what I truly desire is to set Darius free and watch him tear his limbs from his body and leave him a useless, powerless lump of meat reliant on others for survival. Healed, he would be a glorious sight, I'm sure.