Descend into Darkness (BOOK 1)

| 20 | Restraint

From the depths of my heart, a darkness opened up and swallowed my mind. I was caught in an uncontrollable hunger. My throat was set ablaze and the only salvation was the sweet, crimson nectar coursing through that human's veins.

The trembling subsided. Inhale. Exhale. I licked my lips and grinned, looking up through my hair like a veil. 

In that moment, I knew more than ever what I was capable of. I could smell the person beneath the black mask: definitely a man, and someone whom I had crossed paths with before, but couldn't quite determine who he was.

   "Don't hurt her." Evander shouted.

To my amusement, the masked man threw down his blades. I covered my mouth in an empty attempt to conceal my laughter. A mere human is going to attempt to fight me with his hands! 

Then the laughter ceased. I frowned. I reminded myself of Carden. Disgusting. No more amusement, only anger. I pointed the gun and pulled the trigger.

   "Damn it."

Empty.

The masked man dashed towards me. He was faster than before. Had he been holding back? I twisted my body and kicked out. He blocked the blow with his arm, staggered back with the force, then came back with a flurry of fists. 

We exchanged blows; hit, miss, miss, hit, feign, hit. For every attack, there was a counterattack. I was impressed, and soon the thrill of the encounter came flooding back.

The sight of his blades lying on the ground gave me an idea. I tried to weave around him, but he caught me by the arm and threw me back into a group of mannequins. 

How could a human be so strong? I gritted my teeth. I may have lacked physical power compared to him, but I had alternatives.

I stared directly into his green eyes and before he had a chance to realise my intentions, ensnared him under my influence. I laughed to myself. It was all too easy. I took slow steps toward the daggers, but he couldn't break away, he was frozen where he stood.

A blink. A break.

The masked man broke out of the trance and raced towards me. As I reached down to retrieve the daggers, he snatched my wrist and we struggled on the ground. I wrapped my legs around his waist and wrestled his hands away from mine. 

The daggers sliced his palms and I was embraced by warm clouds of blood-scent. My eyes widened and I laughed uncontrollably as the smell spurred on my strength. 

I pinned him to the asphalt, one hand wrapped around his throat, one hand clutching the dagger high in the air, poised to come down.

   "Kelsey!" Pace cried. "Please stop!"

From the corner of my eye, I watched Pace push past Evander. 

A pang of guilt pulled me back to reality. I stood up so fast that I staggered and fell back. Pace's eyes were filled with something between fear and disappointment.

   "I'm... I'm sorry." I breathed. "I'm so sorry."

Evander sighed. "We're heading back."

The masked man disappeared before I could get another look at him. Pace stood there for a moment as though he wanted to say something but, in the end, he simply turned and followed Evander, only looking back once or twice; clearly wary after what he had seen. 

I walked alone, and once we were back in the training area, I changed back into my uniform. Pace was gone by the time I finished changing, and Evander and I had nothing to say as he latched the collar around my neck.