The Madman of the Woods | ONC 2024 Shortlist | Vampire Romantasy | Supernatural

15 Bloodlust

If you skipped chapters 13 and 14, all you need to know is that River is Lailoken's descendant and that he's proven he's the oldest vampire in the world. There's an unfortunate side effect to the blood trials though—bloodlust.

It's time for some blood and gore. Enjoy!

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Fuck my luck, Josie thought to herself once again. She should have gotten her affairs in order before stepping into The Red Den because the chance of leaving the club grew slim.

For a moment there, she thought it was time to celebrate. Lailoken proved to all of those pompous bastards he was the oldest vampire on the record. How cool was that? Philip Leonardo was livid. Seeing the head vamp aggressively berate Banshee about how she shouldn't have brought Lailoken there at all was a joy. Seeing Banshee cower in fear and beg for forgiveness was a double joy.

Filled with that joy, Josie shouted to Lailoken, "I knew it. I fucking knew it. What did I tell you, Lai? You're the oldest living vampire in the world. Woo-hoo!"

When the head vamp huffed with disappointment at Banshee, she turned around, channeling her embarrassment and fear into hatred... toward Josie. "Shut your yap, hunter." She came charging at her, foaming at the mouth. "Or I will shut it for you."

River put herself in front of Josie. "Stay away from her." Her voice lacked any confidence though. She was visibly trembling as Banshee approached. The older vamp tossed her aside as if she wasn't even there. Josie tried to run, but it was pointless. Banshee caught up with her without an effort and bared her fangs. That would have been the end of her if not for the distraction of alarmed voices.

"Why is he glowing?

"What's happening?"

It happened in a matter of seconds. One moment Lailoken sat cross-legged on the floor with his head drooped, looking like he was about to pass out, and the next, he disappeared, replaced by a fog that spread around until it reached the nearest vampire. Lailoken reappeared, sunk his fangs into the vamp's neck, and turned into fog again. The vamp he bit dropped to the floor with a thunk.

"Shapeshifter!" someone screamed.

The crowd went frantic while the fog traveled between them, grabbing random victims, and ravaging their necks. Everyone scattered in all directions. The head vamp and his son used others as shields to save themselves from Lailoken's hunger, which had no end. As if inspired by her grandsire, Banshee used Josie as a human shield.

"Here, take the hunter. She's tasty."

Lailoken paused in the middle of a feed and looked right at them. Blood dripped down his chin and was smeared on his face. He looked absolutely feral.

Josie squirmed in Banshee's vice grip. "No. No. It's me. Remember? It's me."

He came so fast and so wild, there was no stopping him. She shut her eyes, expecting the bite, but instead, she heard a scream right in her ear. Banshee staggered, and Josie was able to free herself. She turned around and saw that Lailoken had come from behind and bitten her captor. Before draining her, though, he whipped her around so they were facing. She made a terrified whimper, holding a palm over her bleeding neck wound. He bared his fangs, and Josie thought he would bite her again, but instead, he plunged his hand forward.

He tossed Banshee's body aside like trash. In his bloody hand was a heart. He sunk his fangs into it and sucked it dry, producing a horrible slurping sound that would haunt Josie's dreams till the end of her days. He tossed the heart aside and looked around him.