Sacrifice in Blood

Chapter 1: Fight or Flight

I was frozen in place. I couldn't move if I wanted to. Right now running in the opposite direction seemed like a good idea. Except that I'd promised to help him and this was my house. He knew where I lived. With the wooden bullets gone, he'd be at full strength soon. Even if I made a run for it he'd catch me in a second, kill me in the next.

On the other hand he hadn't done anything to harm me so far.

He's weak, not really a threat...

He's a bloodthirsty evil monster, have you not been listening to your mentors? They kill witches as if it were a sport. Whispered the voice in my head. My grip tightened on the tweezers, my only weapon against this monster. I repressed a shudder, trying to calm my frayed nerves.

My eyes drifted from the wooden bullets only to lock gazes with the predator. His eyes were open. He was very much awake and aware of me now; he had been staring at me, as if watching my internal monologue. A deadly fear made my blood freeze. I squeezed the tweezers so tightly, my knuckles turned white.

His dark eyes were expressionless as I stared back, unable to look away. For a second I saw fear and sadness flash in his eyes, but it disappeared before I could be sure it wasn't just my own despair reflected in his eyes.

Had I imagined seeing that? No, I was sure I hadn't. Still, I couldn't look away.

I adjusted my already iron grip around the tweezers, trying to steady my racing heart. I needed to make a decision and fast. Oh Goddess, do I make a run for it, or stay, help him and take my chances?

I don't know what came over me - perhaps temporary insanity? - but my gut was telling me I couldn't run away, I needed to help him. I couldn't just leave him to die.

And so I carefully inserted the tweezers into the hole in his chest and carefully pulled the last bullet out. He grunted in pain and then the last wooden bullet was out.

It happened so fast; one second I was looking at the tiny piece of wood that had caused so much pain and then I was thrown against the wall, the tweezers falling to the ground.

I cried out in surprise as my head hit the wall behind me. He had my wrists in a death grip, pinning me to the wall.

"Wha-" I started but he interrupted me;

"You know this is over. You can't win." he said, his face contorted in anger, sweat still lined his forehead. His irises had turned pitch black and I knew his sharp teeth would be visible if he opened his mouth any further. "I could kill you in a second." he threatened, his grip brutal. Like I needed a reminder. My heart was beating like crazy.

His stance was off-kilter and his eyes, though fierce, were a little unfocused, telling me that he was not yet at full strength and probably still a little delirious. I didn't say anything as I tried to remain calm.

I knew it, temporary insanity! I should have listened to Ava. No witch ever comes face to face with a vampire and lives to tell the tale. My frantic mind thought of all the gruesome stories I had been told about the horrible things vampires did to witches. Technically I wasn't a witch yet, more so a trainee, but somehow I didn't think this detail would matter to him.
My eyes must have shown my fear because his anger subsided ever so slightly.

"But why did you take the bullet out, I wonder? I know you know what I am. I was watching you... saw the realisation on your face.... So why?" He asked, confused.

Because I'm an idiot with a death wish. I thought. "Do you work for The Brotherhood?" He demanded. What the hell was "The Brotherhood?"