Hello Darkness

Chapter Forty-Two

Talum folds his arms and locks ice-cold eyes with me.

I frantically search the crowd for any sign of Victor. Where the hell is he? He had to know this was a possibility. Whatever is left of my heart thunders in my chest, and I take a few steps back. I can't deal with this now. The darkness creeps in, blurring my vision—heavier and darker than ever before. Like it's taken on a life of its own.

I count the people around me... five... six... seven... but the darkness continues to creep. I press into the wall hoping it will hold me up. Of all the things this new body couldn't do—it can't stop a damn panic attack. The room fades—where the hell is Victor? I don't know exactly how our bond works, but I try to find it and scream out for him.

The room shifts and sways, until it fades into black.

I blink, and the room is suddenly clear, but my body moves on its own. Like I've been left behind and something else took control.

A sly smile forms on my lips as my body moves toward Talum. No. That's the last thing I want. Is he using some sort of vampire skill to control me?

I scream, but nothing escapes my lips. Talum watches, his eyes a cautious sapphire. Dark circles sink low under his eyes and his cheeks are sunken and sharp. He studies the new creature I've become. My body now inches from his.

"Ooo..." my mouth cooes, but it's not my voice. "She really doesn't like you." A wave of excitement trembles in a thin layer over me. My panic still screaming for Victor, and it's because of Talum. Something has taken control of me and I can't escape.

Talum's blue eyes narrow. "Demon." Vampires throughout the room stop moving and their gaze falls on me. Everyone stiffens with Talum, his fists clenched at his sides.

"Oh, don't stop the party for little ol' me." The sly smile stays on my face. No one speaks—no one moves. Even the humans are staring now.

My body circles Talum. "So, tell me. What did you do to this poor human to make her hate you so much?" My body rounds in front of him and jumps in place. "No, let me guess. You broke her fragile, human heart? Is that why she screams for Victor and not you?"

Talum's jaw flexes.

The thing's sweet voice floats through the room. "Oh, you didn't know? This is too good," it squeals lifting my hands to cover my face. "So, maybe it was her that broke your heart?"

Finally, there's movement to my right and Victor pushes from the crowd. His eyes solely focus on the thing that took over my body. Talum's eyes flick to him and then back. Each of their breaths measured.

She moves my body toward Victor. "And look at you." She squeezes Victor's bicep. "No wonder she chose you for her guardian."

Victor rips his arm from her grip.

Talum growls a deep and low warning.

She spins toward Talum. "Oh, something to say vampire?"

"Release her, Demon."

It laughs, sending a rumble over me. "It's funny—after all this time, you vampires still think you're the ones in control. I am curious though..." She sets her attention back on Victor. "Why you chose her? She's a little weak. She basically handed herself over to me—begged me to take her really."

Victor watches her under a heavy brow, shoulders tense. She traces my finger across his chest, over his bicep and around his back. Though it's my finger touching him, it feels wrong—this thing feels wrong. I want to scream—to object—to rip her from him. But I can do nothing.

"Ooo. I see now... she's got a fire in her. She doesn't like it when I touch you. Yes, you're definitely her guardian." She steps behind him. My fingers slip over his shoulders and knead in circles. "So tense."