Hidden in the Immortals (Book #1)

Chapter 1

This thirst was like nothing I had ever experienced. My throat was beyond the point of burning. I was almost certain someone had just forced an entire furnace full of hot coals down my esophagus. I couldn't stand this pain a second longer. If I couldn't relieve this thirst soon I was most definitely going to rip my throat out. It felt like I had been out in the desert for years without a drop of water; but it wasn't water I was craving.

It was blood. Image after image of me running at impossible speeds toward scared, helpless people and tackling them to the ground ran through my head. Then I sunk my teeth into their necks and mercilessly sucked the blood from their bodies until they went limp. The look in my eyes terrified me. There wasn't an ounce of goodness in them. I was pure evil.

And then, my eyes opened. I was down on my knees with my hands tightly gripped around my throat. If it were even possible, the burning in my throat intensified. The pain was so crippling I wasn't even aware of my surroundings. I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't see.  I was conscious, but I was certain my life was about to end.

"Thirsty?" The sound of a familiar voice seemed to bring me back to reality. I looked up and saw one of my best friends standing a few feet from where I knelt. It was pitch dark, aside from the light of the moon; but for whatever reason I could see him clearly from where he stood. My throat clenched violently when I saw the dead rabbit he held by the ears. I glanced around and noticed the tall trees that surrounded us, then I instantly remembered that we had been at a bonfire out here with some people that we went to school with. I was shocked when I noticed the extreme detail I was able to make out on the moss and bark on the trees and the leaves and branches that surrounded us.  

I couldn't respond to his question; in fact it felt like I'd never be able to speak again. He tossed the dead rabbit in his hand toward me. The smell of the blood inches away seemed to give me enough strength to reach over and snatch it.

I didn't even have to think about it; it was instinct. At that moment I realized that the sharp pain coming from the top of my mouth were fangs; and I ferociously sunk them into the dead animal's neck. I drank and drank and drank until there wasn't a drop left. After I had finished, I set the battered, very pitiful looking rabbit on the ground and looked back up.

"What's wrong with me, Chad?" I wiped the blood around my mouth with the back of my hand. "W—why did I do that?" My voice trembling as I spoke. He gave me a small smile and strolled over to where I knelt; then he crouched down in front of me. I could see the multitude of freckles that splattered his face clearer than I ever had before; his hazel eyes flickered with what appeared to be excitement.

"You know exactly what you are," He spoke in a light tone; his small grin still playing on his lips. "I know we've played dumb all these years, but you know." Exactly what I am? What did that even mean? I hadn't a clue what on earth he was talking about.

I shook my head quickly back and forth. "No, I really don't." He always had a smug, sarcastic attitude, but this was not the time and place for it. I had just drank the blood from an animal—I needed answers. "What are you talking about?"

He shook his head and chuckled. "Look, Julianna. Whatever game you're playing is cute and all, but I have to tell you that I do feel sorry about doing all this," He had an apologetic tone in his voice. "Just a little bit, because we're best friends and I love you," He added. "But I couldn't live with what your dad did; I needed to avenge mine." He growled as he said this. Chad's father had been murdered a couple months ago and they still hadn't found who did it.

"What exactly are you suggesting?" I asked in an offended voice. "That my dad killed yours? Why on earth would he do that?" This was the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard. First of all, my father and Chad's hardly even knew each other. They'd only had a couple, very short conversations the entirety of mine and Chad's friendship—which dated all the way back to kindergarten.