Howl - Brieanna Boyce (free novel 24 TXT) 📗

from me.”

I leaned my head into his neck and pinched the flesh there with my teeth, than I dragged y tongue across his skin. Tristan groaned softly and ran his hand over the back of my thigh and pulled me onto his lap. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, caging his body closer. Than with all the passion and savagery I kept reserved I pierced his flesh, my teeth digging deep as the blood, its ruby fluid flowed vigorously into my mouth. Tristan gasped and ran his hand down my back and started pulling at the dress. I was consumed, by the blood, his sweet life energy surging through me, running through my veins. I could already feel it repairing the wounds in my body.

Tristan ran his hand up my thigh and I had to repress a shiver, I continued to gorge on his blood.

“Skylar… Skylar stop.” I could feel Tristan’s hand weakening but I couldn’t the liquid fire was addicting; I could feel everything in my body healing, and getting stronger. I couldn’t stop now; the sensation was like nothing I had ever felt, no doubt due to the fact that I was so weak.

Tristan shoved me, at first I met with resistance but then I heard his voice in my ear, “please Skylar.” Slowly releasing Tristan from my grip and letting my fangs slip out from his flesh. Reluctantly I traced my tongue over the wound closing it.

“Sorry.”

Tristan touched one hand to his neck, “its okay… How are you feeling?”

I blinked still shocked by his closeness, and looked down at his hand, which was still resting on my thigh, “I’m fine.”

He looked down and seemed just as surprised by his own hand being there as I was. Swallowing hard he slowly removed his hand from its position, than looked into my eyes for a few moments. Then Tristan snapped his head away and grabbed my hips, again, for a moment he hesitated, but he sat me down on the bed.

I couldn’t help but to feel somewhat confused about it, everything was overwhelming. Was this even actually happening? I knew for a fact the day before was not a dream, there was far too much pain, but today, this, it all seemed so surreal. However I figured it wasn’t a dream, I sighed and lay back; if this was a dream he wouldn’t have stopped.

But now that he had, I finally had a chance to realize how many questions I had for him. I looked up at the ceiling, “Why are you here?”

“Well I heard you yelling and I-,”

“No,” I sighed irritably “I mean why are you here at this place? You hate the queen don’t you?”

Tristan paused a moment, knowing how angry I’d be if he did not have a descent excuse. “I came here because the queen informed me she had captured you and Adoni.”

“Why would she tell you, wouldn’t that make things more difficult?”

Tristan sighed and I felt movement on the bed and then felt him lie next to me, “You still don’t really get how a vampire’s mind works do you?”

I rubbed in-between my eyebrows in frustration, “I don’t know, I don’t know what I am supposed to think, I don’t know how I actually think, I hardly have time to think, one after the other these crazy events keep happening.”

“I wish I could say there are no more surprises coming,” Tristan muttered quietly.

I sighed frowning, “me too… Tristan?”

Tristan moved and when I looked over he was lying on his side, “Yes?”

I looked at him, “What are we going to do?” I found it somewhat difficult to even breath, “What am I going to do?”

Tristan hesitated and went to hug me but than his hands fell onto the mattress, he got up, and tried to empty himself of all his emotions. I knew this because he always straightened his posture and straightened his features, but I could read through his poker face. He was battling himself, over something, it seemed to involve me. However, he seemed to have thought better of it.

I looked at him, “you can tell me anything Tristan.”

Tristan looked at me and his blue eyes brimmed with tears but never escaped or trailed down his cheeks, “No Skylar.”

I looked at him and frowned, “How can I trust you when you won’t trust me?”

Tristan walked over and leaned down towards me grabbing my hands, “I will tell you everything as soon as we leave.”

I looked up at him eyes wide, “Do you promise?”

“Cross my heart.”

I looked at him, his blue eyes shining with honesty, and although half the time I wasn’t even sure I could trust Tristan our moments alone together were usually few and far between. I leaned in and pressed my lips to his at first just like a light touch like a butterfly wing but then I grew more impatient but just as my sweet exploration began he stiffened, pulled away gently, and shook his head.

“I can’t. I’m sorry.”

I huffed in frustration, lord forbid I have a few minutes to distract myself from the life or death decision I am no doubt going to have to make for myself and others.

Tristan frowned, “I’m sorry,” he repeated quietly, than left the room without another word.

I blew the hair that hung limply over my face in frustration, there had to be a reason the queen wanted Tristan. Perhaps he knew I’d behave if Tristan was here, maybe the queen wanted to use me to get Tristan like Tristan actually said. However that brings me straight back to the question, why?

Tristan had said “You still don’t really get how a vampire’s mind works do you?” Is that normal? Did she just want to mess with me? With us?

Suddenly, as if she could hear my thoughts, maybe she could. She glided into the room, looking as perfect and pristine as ever. Her gown was long and loose as opposed to the ensemble I had previously seen her sporting. The previous outfit was a scarlet red and clung to her tall thin frame. This outfit was much more relaxed, it was a long violet robe, with intricate and carefully embroidered cuffs and neckline. Her hair was no longer left straight down in its glorious snow white perfection, but rather tied back so that there was more focus on her face. She had sharp, pale, features and light gray eyes, they still held all intimidation and power but for some reason her self confidence had calmed her. Her power still exuded from every pore, but instead of the power she had being loud, obnoxious, and intimidating, it became subtle, quiet, and patient. This made me much more nervous because now that she was calm she would think more easily or try to ensnare me in some way.

“Did I interrupt anything?” The queen asked her voice filled with nothing but timid curiosity.

It was like a rattle hiding in the bushes, I couldn’t find her, or know when she would attack but I could at least make the assumption that she would. Perhaps I could hope that in attempting the attack she would reveal herself and I could avoid her fangs.

“No,” I said calmly composing myself.

“That is good,” the queen said approaching me and sitting on the bed, “I trust you are comfortable, at least more so than you were before.”

I looked around, “the conditions are much more accommodating this time. Can I ask why?”

The queen shrugged a gesture that showed more the easy power than the actual nonchalance it was supposed to. This must have been what Tristan meant; I suppose vampires are very formal almost political creatures than I supposed them to be. They were also much more intelligent than crude legend lead one to believe.

The queen smiled, attempting at least, to feign the kindness of a smile without fully succeeding. The gesture was still beautiful and appealing to the eye, she seemed to have no flaws even considering the usual vampire. However, her kindness was not there, her voice though perfectly resembling softness held an edge, a tiny one, but an edge none the less.

“I wanted to show you,” the queen said, “that you could be on my good side in my good graces, I’ve had you cleaned up, placed in a lovely dress, had a boy sent in here for you to drink to your heart’s content. It is much nicer, and I could show you even more kindness should you chose to cooperate.”

“I told you,” I sighed, “I don’t know why I could kill vampires older and stronger than I.”

The queen sat back and looked at me skeptically, “alright… Then you wouldn’t mind us running a few tests?”

I raised an eyebrow, “what kind of tests? What for?”

The queen smiled innocently, and just like a rattle snake her rattle was going off, she was giving me an ultimatum she wasn’t saying it, she didn’t have to; it was the undercurrent of the conversation.

“Tests of science of course my dear,” she smiled innocently trying to hide her smugness, “If you don’t know what’s going on and why you are capable of killing vampires more skillful and older than you are than we have to run a series of tests.”

I calmed the beating of my heart, in case she was watching for that and shrugged, “you could I suppose,” I said coolly. “However I don’t think that’s the best of ideas, what if I die in the process? Then all will be in vain.”

The queen pondered the argument, “yes I suppose that would be unfortunate,” The queen’s voice became happier, “but I suppose we must all make sacrifices.” The queen got up than looked over her shoulder, “I know you are hiding something you are very different Skylar than any other person I’ve met… you aren’t afraid of me are you?”

She was wrong, for the first time, and even than it did not benefit me. I was terrified of her, she shook me to the core, and she wasn’t one of those villains I saw in cartoons on Saturday mornings. She wasn’t afraid to kill me and the one’s I loved; she can pinpoint my weaknesses and attack them. It was always guaranteed that the good guy always wins, that’s what I was told as a kid that the good guys always won. However, no one would tuck me in, the comic book wouldn’t close, and this nightmare as much as I tried would haunt me long after I awoke.

She left the room and I was left alone, a prisoner in a room of riches, in a lovely gown, I was still a prisoner. I was left alone looking at the ceiling for awhile. After a good period of time I could finally move without pain, I got up and looked up at the sky, it was black, the stars were swallowed whole. Not even the stars could console me with light; they were gone, hopeless just as I was. What would I do? Who would I be willing to sacrifice?

Hours passed, my mind filtered, and tried in desperation to think of something, anything to get me out of here. Who would I be willing to sacrifice?

Finally, a desperate thought clawed its way to the surface; it was petty but it was the only thing left and I had to