Worlds Apart

Chapter 4

"Come." Elizabeth's hiss snakes through the trees bang on time, but still, my fangs fly out at the potential threat. I push into a seated position and glance around the empty space, searching for her. Deciding I was probably hearing things - desperate for something to change - I drop back to staring at patches of the darkening sky.

If I've learnt anything from lying alone in these woods for the last two weeks, it's that vampires like routine. Every three days, just as dusk is blending into night, they collect me to go for a hunt.

Only to leave me alone in the dirt and the filth.

"Onyxia." Elizabeth steps into my line of sight, her white hair framing her pale face as she peers down at me. "I told you to follow me. Come on."

Body heavy with reluctance, I stand. It's a bittersweet moment when Elizabeth and George arrive. I finally get to do something beyond waiting. But the pay off isn't worth it.

Expecting Elizabeth to run deeper into the forest, I turn ready to hunt.

"This way."

My confusion causes me to stutter and stumble to a stop. I might have perfected how to stop falling over, but I don't think my feet will ever be able to keep up with my brain. They're too far apart.

I follow Elizabeth in silence. Today I have no questions. Any excitement or apprehension about this new life I did have has dissipated with each day that passed. Until today, when there's nothing driving me to want to change my life. I've reached a point where I'll let the leaves swallow me back into the ground I dug myself out of.

Elizabeth leads me through the trees until they begin to thin out, allowing the moonlight to penetrate the undergrowth at the edges of the forest. She slows to a human pace, turning onto a trail weaving through the trees.

As usual, the sprint causes a short spurt of coughing that I quickly stop by holding my breath when Elizabeth narrows her eyes at me.

I drop back just enough for her not to notice when I open my hand to examine the blood sprayed across my skin. Still unsure what to do about it, I wipe my palm against the black fabric of my bodice.

I keep my eyes low, locked on the compressed mud that slowly turns into loose stones to gravel to a fully tarmac path. I can feel each loose stone beneath my feet, each imperfection, but they don't break my skin. Don't even bend my solid exterior, designed to be indestructible. Unfortunately.

Between the trees at the edge of my forest, I glance at a road running parallel to us. Street lamps illuminate the row of large, Victorian buildings lining the pavement on the far side.

My first glimpse of civilisation.

The change in scenery causes a hum to buzz over my skin. A newfound excitement that I'd lost in the last few days.

"Where are we going?"

Elizabeth smiles. A wide, beaming smile that splits her lips enough to show her teeth. "I wondered how long it would take you to ask me that." She glances at me, an unusual coy squint in her eyes. "I was actually starting to miss your constant questions."

"I was on the verge of giving up," I admit.

"Well, hopefully, this will change that."

Her grin is infectious, and I smile back. "Are you going to tell me where we're going?"

"We found you somewhere to live."

Before I've processed what Elizabeth has said, my hand flies out to grip her upper arm and yank her to face me, but she doesn't budge.