SHADOW

Broken Image

A glare penetrated the side of my face as I sat on a cold rock that looked over a flat plane of damp ground and fallen autumn leaves.

"What's wrong with you?"

That had to be at least the third time she had asked me that today, and I was beginning to grow tired of the question.

"I don't have a problem?"

"You've been mean to me all day. What's wrong, Robyn."

I sighed, glancing at the girl for a second.

I was hungry. I couldn't tell her that though.

Being hungry for her was easy thing to rectify. For me it was not so easy. Somebody had to die for me to live.

Well...they didn't have to die, but what was fun about feeding and not draining them dry. I didn't see the point.

I had yet to eat still. It was hard to get away from her for long enough to eat because we had been spending so much time together.

Today was the worst, I wanted to kill her.

She smelled so good, I could practically taste her and she was making it so hard to keep my composure.

I refrained from touching her too much, but she seemed to want to be all over me.

"Robyn," she said, her voice closer this time.

When had she moved next to me?

I was too focused on keeping my fangs at bay to pay attention to her or anything else.

I vaguely wondered why I was putting her and this process in danger knowing my composure was wearing thin. I couldn't explain it.

She asked to see me and I didn't think twice until she was standing in front of me.

Jayde ran her hands over my neck, an action that was usually welcomed, was nothing but a reminder of how easy it would be to eat.

I could feel my eyes begin to revert back to their natural yellow coloring. I couldn't stop it.

I had to get out of there.

I stood quickly, glancing at her for a second. Every ounce of strength that I possessed willed me not to go after her.

But my eyes could not lie to her.

She saw.

I stalked off wordlessly. I hated resorting to this, but I had to stifle my thirst because it was becoming unbearable. This was my only option at this point.

Animals were abundant in this forest, all I had to do was find them.

This had to be quick. I stalked off in search of rabbits. I hated killing animals, I found it inhumane. Animals never committed a single act out of malice, it was just in their nature.

Nonetheless it had to be done. I willingly let my fangs tear through my gums and my eyes be consumed in yellow.

I honed my senses into the noises and scents of the forest around me. I quickly picked up the scent of a lone, male hare. He was hiding in a tuft of wild grass surrounding a tree.

I caught him with ease with my innate speed and broke its neck.

I fed until there was nothing left and dropped the carcass to the floor. It wasn't even remotely satisfying. It was just enough to keep my hunger at bay at least until tomorrow.

I don't know how Vladimir made this the staple of his diet.

I made me way back to the spot I had left Jayde to find her occupying the rock I had been sitting, seemingly frozen in place. She didn't even acknowledge my presence when I sat down beside her.