Page 6

SIX

SEVEN

W atching her flee from the room like her ass was on fire excited me. Turmoil was written into her features, tears streaming down her face. Archer was interested in her, and because of that, I hated her. She’d become his new fucking obsession. The way he watched her with concern as she took off was ingrained in my mind. She hadn’t even noticed him, and probably didn’t even know he existed.

Twigs crunched beneath my sneakers as I made my way through the woods, not caring to keep quiet. It was mid-day—nearly time for lunch, but there was something I needed to do first. Stopping, I leaned against a tree, my head spiraling out of control. Fuck that stupid bitch. She’d only shown her face twice now and Archer was already enamored by her. It sent my pulse roaring through my ears. Why couldn’t he look at me that way?

My hands shook as I brought them to my face, running them through my light blonde hair. A rustling sounded through the underbrush, my head snapping in that direction. After a few moments, a squirrel leapt out, limping as it moved into the opening, its body going rigid when it saw me.

A calculated smirk tugged at my mouth. Yes, little squirrel. You just made yourself vulnerable, and I am that monster. The animal froze, holding its little hands to its chest. It knew, knew that it had just made the biggest mistake of its pathetic little life.

I pushed off the tree, moving forward, closing the distance between me and the rodent. Every step I took had the animal trembling more and more, even as it tried to bolt, the thing couldn’t run. Not with that limp. Right as the squirrel made it back toward the bush it had hopped out of, I reached down and snagged it. The smooth coat of its fur tickled my fingertips as I lifted it up to meet my eyes, my hands firm around its shoulders and neck.

Bloodlust.

The thing that drove me madder than anything else in this world. I’d much rather prefer a human, but Archer couldn’t stop bringing that cunt up and I didn’t want to hear it anymore, and Jordan wouldn’t let me drink from him. Reaching into my pocket, I grabbed the knife Archer had let me borrow. Flicking the blade open, I parted my fingers, so I had more access to the creature’s neck.

I wonder what Rosalie’s blood tasted like.

It was probably sweet. Pure. Innocent. I could just imagine sinking my teeth into her, hearing that pain-filled cry fleeing her lips. Then I’d take and take and take until there was nothing left. My cock hardened at the thought. I’d drink from her until she was weak with blood loss, then I’d fuck her body so gruesomely right before I killed her. Just like I did Courtney—my ex-girlfriend. Though, this would be intentional.

The animal squirmed in my grasp, and I brought the blade of the knife to the side of its throat and sliced. It let out a pained whimper before its body went slack. My tongue darted out, tasting the blood that started to trickle down the rest of its small body. A groan tore from my throat and my eyes rolled as it fed the hunger inside of me. Closing my lips around the wound, I sucked until a small stream of blood flowed into my mouth, coating my lips and tongue. Once there was nothing left for the animal to give me, I dropped it on the ground.

The euphoria that sprouted through my limbs was short-lived. That’s what I hated the most about feeding from small animals. That, and the possible diseases they carried, but desperate times called for desperate measures. My tongue slipped out of my mouth, lapping up the excess blood that coated my lips.

My walk back to the building was shorter than I would have liked. My head a whirlwind of unwanted thoughts and the impending reminder that it didn’t matter what I did, Archer would never obsess over me as he did women. Was it a gender thing? Could he simply just not help it? Or was it because we’d been good friends before he realized he was even attracted to me? My hands curled into fists as I made my way through the doors, checking my pocket to make sure the knife was secured and wouldn’t be easily spotted. I could take the knife to Rosalie’s throat, blame it on one of the twins.

When I reached my room, I grabbed a change of clothes and headed to the bathroom. Stripping out of my clothes, I stepped under the hot spray, bracing my hands against the wall, allowing the water to pelt me and turn my pale skin red. My head was bowed as droplets ran through my hair, slipping through my eyelashes and down the sides of my face. I’d never had to deal with Archer liking someone else before. All the girls who showed him any interest were just a means to pass the time and never anything more. He’d never been obsessed . Once we started hooking up, he never seemed to want anyone else. Now that he did, I didn’t know how to cope with that.

After my shower, I dropped my dirty clothes off in the basket located near the closet within my room and headed to the cafeteria. Chatter filled the large space, the scent of food wafting throughout the room. Today, lunch consisted of grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, crackers, and a drink of our choice. After receiving my tray, I scanned the room until I spotted Jordan on the opposite side. Alina was seated next to Archer as usual, with Rachel next to Jordan. I rolled my eyes at that. Those bitches couldn’t take a fucking hint. At least he didn’t give them the time of day. Striding across the room, I dropped into the seat between Alina and Jordan and placed my tray down.

Rachel perked up upon seeing me. “We were just talking about throwing a party next weekend,” she began.

“And how do you suppose we do that?” I drawled, my mood killed instantly from the variety of thoughts bouncing around my skull. I lifted one of the saltine crackers, dipping it in the soup before biting into it.

The twins exchanged glances before Rachel leaned forward, bracing her arms on the table. “You come from a rich family, and it’s no secret that some of the guards don’t mind turning the other cheek where there’s money involved.” Her light brown eyes glistened with mischief and excitement. On a good day, I’d tell her to go fuck herself—that if she wanted to bribe one of the guards, she could offer up that worn-out cunt of hers. But all things considered, a night away from all of this bullshit didn’t sound too bad.

“Fuck it. I’m in.”

Archer glanced over at me in surprise. It wasn’t that I didn’t like partying. I just hated asking my family for money. Especially for personal reasons. I was a fucking adult, and it made me feel like a child all over again.

The two girls squealed with excitement, the sound making me wince. As they started rambling on and on about the party, I returned my attention to my food. The cheesy bite of the sandwich coated my tongue, sticking to my lips as I swallowed and washed it down with the juice.

Something brushed against my leg beneath the table—a shoe. I glanced over at Archer, heat shining back at me through his eyes. Slowly, he inched it upwards until his foot was positioned between my thighs, and I parted my legs, giving him the access he wanted. Chancing a glance around the room, I made sure no one was watching us, not that they’d even be able to see anything happening beneath the table. The toe of his shoe brushed against my crotch, and he added more pressure, making my body go rigid.

Fuck .

My breath picked up, laboring out as he rubbed his foot against me. This was dangerous. If one of the twins caught on to what he was doing, it was game over, but that just excited me more. I scooted toward the edge of my seat so that he could reach me more easily. My hands trembled as I traded my sandwich in for another cracker, dipping it into the soup as I’d done before.

God. I wanted to bend him the fuck over and take him right here. My cock throbbed painfully beneath my jeans as he worked his foot over the bulge. Electricity rolled through me forcing a moan to get lodged in the back of my throat. Bringing my mouth to the crook of my elbow, I forced a cough to cover it up. Returning my gaze to his, he smiled at me knowingly.

Dick.

He knew exactly what he was doing, and for that, I was going to tear his ass up the next time I got him alone.

Alina’s voice cut through the trance I was in. “What kind of alcohol are we going to be having?” she inquired, making sure to keep her tone low in case someone overheard.

“Jello shots.” I breathed out, trying my best to keep my voice steady. “Whiskey, vodka, wine coolers.”

“Can’t forget about the snacks.” Jordan smirked from beside me, a knowing look etched into his dark irises.

I shot him a scathing glare, but his smirk widened into a full-on grin. Fuck. He was hot, too. My gaze dropped to his lips and Archer withdrew his foot to kick me in the shin before returning it to my dick. I snapped my head over in his direction and he narrowed his eyes at me.

Ah. So, he does get jealous.

Then it dawned on me. Of course he gets jealous. After we left visitation yesterday, he couldn’t shut up about Rosalie’s boyfriend. He made fun of him the entire walk back to our rooms. That reminder had my nails biting into the skin of my palms.

I shifted in my seat, making his foot drop. My mood soured instantly. Archer raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything for obvious reasons. Instead, he returned his attention to his food and made no move to touch me again.

My gaze swept around the room as I continued eating, trying to find anything to keep my mind off the boy seated across from me. If he didn’t chill the fuck out, I’d have no choice but to kill the stupid bitch. Archer was mine and if she got in the way, it would be her last mistake.

Music drifted around the room, the melody soothing me and helping the tension in my body dissolve. I came in here often to watch the choir patients. Just listening to them sing relaxed me. I occupied a chair on the far side of the room, focusing on the lyrics as they drifted through the air. My head thumped against the wall behind me, and I closed my eyes, allowing the song to wash over my mind, dulling it of all the thoughts I’d had previously.

Mr. Dale took the front of the room, walking back and forth as they sang, his face tight with concentration. He was a short, bald man, but he gave me the fucking creeps. There was just something off about him.

As the song transitioned from a soothing melody to something pop, I rose. That was my cue to leave. I wasn’t in the mood for upbeat music.

I made my way back to my room, all my thoughts coming back to the forefront of my mind. Seeing my parents at visitation yesterday was a small reprieve from all this bullshit. I missed them more than anything. Before coming here, I played baseball. My parents went to all of my games—hell, I even had scholarships lined up. I’d always been fascinated by blood. The color, the smell, the way it looked as it bubbled from a cut and slid down flesh. When I got hit in the face with a baseball one day, blood gushed from my nose, trickling into my mouth. That was the first time I’d tasted it, the first time I’d licked it clean, and it left me wanting more .

Archer knew I’d killed someone out of blindness for the bloodlust. He didn’t judge me, and instead, trusted me. I’d had him vulnerable on so many different occasions. He enjoyed it just as much as I did. He was my fucking rock, the person who grounded me, the person who made me feel more alive than I ever had before. For that reason alone, he was mine and only mine.

Anger coursed through my veins, my hands drifting through my hair as I tugged. The small prickle of pain was a welcome reprieve from the thoughts warring inside of me. It was easy to obsess in this place. All we had most of the time were our thoughts. It also didn’t help that I was bipolar. My racing thoughts told me enough—I was on the brink of a manic episode. Fire ignited inside me, warming my blood. When I got like this, all I could think about was the blood lust. It didn’t matter that I’d already helped myself to a squirrel earlier.

My breathing increased, memories resurfacing.

Courtney giggled, leaning back on the palms of her hands as she stared up at me with that seductive glint in her eyes. Her auburn hair fell behind her shoulders, giving me the perfect view of her round, plump breasts. She was beautiful with Milky, white skin and gray eyes—as well as a thin figure.

I rounded the bedside, my dick already hard from the mere sight of her. My parents went out for their weekly date night, which meant I had the entire place to myself.

She dropped her hand between her legs, rubbing gentle circles against her clit. “You should cut me,” she suggested in a breathy voice.

I reeled back in surprise. “What?” I’d opened up to her before about my fascination with blood and how I’d tasted it once. I’d even started cutting myself just so I could taste it again.

Her smile widened and she slipped a second finger inside of herself. A moan bubbled up from her throat and she tipped her head back. “I know you want to. It would be so hot, don’t you think?”

“Fuck yes,” I growled.

I hurried out of the room, not bothering to get dressed again. I made my way to the kitchen and grabbed a knife from the rack before moving back into my room. She was still touching herself, her soft whimpers filling the room.

I placed my palm to her chest and pushed until she was lying flat on her back. Taking the sharp blade of the knife, I slashed it against her shoulder. A small cut, just to make sure this was what she really wanted. She gasped, her hands traveling up over the ridges of my muscles. I situated myself between her legs and entered her with one thrust before lowering my mouth to the wound and licking the trail of blood that had begun to trickle down her shoulder.

Adrenaline pulsed through me at the mere taste of it, a groan expelling from my throat. Easing back, I slammed into her tight pussy, reveling in the way she fluttered around me.

“That feels so good, Seven,” she moaned, scraping her nails down my back.

Ecstasy.

That’s what it felt like. My head spun as the copper substance coated my lips and tongue, my eyes rolling like a new kink had been awakened inside of me. I needed more.

I wrapped my hand around her throat and eased back, only inflicting a bit of pressure, making sure not to hurt her. With my other hand, I took the knife and made another cut along the top of her breast. She gasped as my mouth closed around it and I sucked. My hips moved slowly, hitting deep inside of her body. The pleasure was almost too much. The taste of her blood mixed with fucking her was euphoric.

My head started to spin, dizziness clouding my thoughts and any sense of rationality. I took the knife again, spreading her legs further and settling them over my hips. I made several new cuts along her stomach, her whimpers fleeing from her lips. I licked every ounce of blood, but I could feel myself losing control. My body started shaking. It wasn’t enough.

“I’m starting to get dizzy.” She giggled. “Maybe we should table this.”

Even though I heard the words, they didn’t register. I cut a path along her waist, easing back even more so that only my tip was in.

“Ouch! That one hurt,” she slurred.

I didn’t care, though. Not until I realized how big of a gash I’d made. My heart raced, but the sight of the blood pulling overpowered it. My mouth was on her again. This time, the blood flooded into my mouth. Once I’d licked it all up, I rose again, viewing the damage and winced. The white of the meat stared back at me, telling me right then that the cut had been too deep.

“Seven,” she breathed. “Seriously, we should stop. I’m not feeling well.”

“Just a little more,” I urged. “I’ll stop after a little more.”

Her hands slipped, falling on the mattress at her sides. Taking that as a sign to keep going, I made another slice above the last one. Then another. Once I was sated, I leaned back, my cock twitching as the high flowed through my body. Tossing the knife down on the mattress as promised, I eased back into her pussy until I was buried to the hilt. She didn’t make a sound, though.

I thrusted hard, trying to get a reaction from her, but nothing. Glancing at her face, I realized then that her eyes were closed. She did mention she wasn’t feeling well, maybe she’d dozed off for a minute. Reeling back, I slammed into her over and over again, but her body didn’t respond. Not even her pussy.

Odd…

“Courtney?” I asked.

Not even a flutter of her eyelids.

Horror swept through me, my pulse thrumming loudly. “Courtney!” I shouted, grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking.

Nothing.

Pulling out of her, I placed my fingers to her pulse point. Not even a faint flutter.

Oh fuck. Fuck. Fuck. “Fuck!” I roared. The long gash around her side was continuously pooling with blood, even though I knew I’d sucked it clean moments ago.

I’d been so terrified after what happened that day. At least it taught me my limits, so now I could drink from someone without killing them. Blood loss hadn’t even fluttered through my mind when I was doing that to her. I didn’t expect to take too much, but that cut on her side…

I grimaced.

Courtney was the only person I’d ever loved. Except for…except for Archer, not that I’d ever tell him how I truly felt. We had plans. To go to the same college, to build a life together. She wanted kids, a nice house, stable careers. I took that from her. I took it all.

Sighing, I laid back on the mattress, my eyes drifting toward the ceiling. If I’d never done that to her, I never would have met him . So, there was some good that came out of it. It just sucked that it happened at the expense of her life.