Enticing Blood

chapter twenty-six

Melanie knew she wasn't okay.

Her head was throbbing, her heart was hollow and she felt as if she was walking through a dream that was full of a crowd of people she didn't even know. They all walked around her in a huge swarm of different colors, races and genders.

Melanie tried her damn hardest to keep her head on her shoulders because she knew that one stray thought could leave it toppling over into madness.

Everyone around her gave her weird looks. Partially because she was covered in her father's dried blood-but also because she had a vague look in her eye. As if she had seen a murder-which she had-but to others, it wasn't as...normal.

Melanie scoffed aloud. What was normal anymore? Because it definitely wasn't her life.

Melanie didn't even know if where she was going would be the right place, but there was just something tugging her there, as if two strings were tied to her ankles and walking her there themselves, like she was some puppet. She just had her internal compass pointing her to Wylde and Dean's home, hoping that just someone would be there. She didn't know exactly what was pulling her, but she felt it, and she hoped that for once in her life, the feeling was right.

After a long twenty minutes of walking, she finally reached the walkway that lead up to the home and she took a deep breath, but never hesitated as her feet carried her toward the door. The rune was still painted on the surface of the wood and as she approached, she saw it shimmer before her eyes. She stopped, placed her pale, blood-stained hand on the the marking and felt a warm current enter her fingertips, leaving a warm whisper that flowed through her arm.

Finally, she removed her hand and reached down, grabbing the handle and twisting it woodenly and opening the door and pushing inside. Instantly, Melanie felt something change in the air, as if she stepped through a veil draped in the doorway and she stopped, using her instincts to see if this was a bad thing, or a good thing.

The feeling wasn't warm, but it wasn't cold. It didn't feel unpleasant, but it sure as hell didn't feel pleasant, nor was it inviting.

Melanie slowly closed the door behind her and an audible click sounded from the insides of the lock and handle. Melanie froze, sucking in a sharp breath.

Slowly, she walked forward. She walked heel to toe, making sure her boots didn't make a sound on the hardwood floor. As she walked, she traced her finger on the wall, seeing that if she could sense any vibe that this person had left behind but she was just left with the same feeling; emptiness.

Finally, Melanie reached the end of the corridor and she was now in the open, staring into the empty space.

"Finally!" A voice exclaimed from above Melanie, making her turn quickly and look up, ready for the worst. But she was shocked to see that all she was facing was a young girl who looked anything but harmful. "I thought I was going to pass out-you're really hard to lead, you know that right?"

Melanie stared at her, her mouth agape.

"Don't look at me like I'm dumb." She said, pouting out her lip. "I was sent to come and find you so I could lead you to Dean and the others." She smiled sweetly. "I'm Lorkin, I've heard a lot about you." She twirled on her sneaker and hurried down the steps with her pigtails flying behind her like blonde confetti that was attached to the handlebars of a bike.

"Uh, hi Lorkin." Melanie said, her voice unmistakeably confused. Lorkin was an odd name for a little girl. Lorkin finally jumped the last two steps of the stairs and walked up to Melanie, her head only reaching Melanie's lower ribs, but to be fair, Melanie was pretty tall for her age. She was actually taller than Isabel, and Isabel cursed her for that.