Page 6 of Just One Bite

Chapter Three

Olivia

I tear through the clearing of trees along the lit path, passing a few groups of students till there are none, with the light from the moons casting a glow over the cobblestone.

“Eva! Emma!”

Nothing.

I run till my heeled shoes rub the back of my ankles raw and I heave for breath. Stopping in a dim clearing in the trees, I take in my reality.

I’m alone. The chiming laughter and cheers that were once close have dissipated. There’s music just beyond the trees, but I haven’t run into any new scarers jumping from the trees or lingering first-years. My stomach sours, and I dust off my skirt to get my bearings and catch my breath.

In the dense wood, a twig snaps.

Doxlothia is safe. There’s nothing to be afraid of.

As I turn to the path forward, a shadowed figure strolls in. They’re slender and wearing a blazer, with hands in their pockets.

If Doxlothia isn’t safe, that unfortunately means my dad was right, and I’m not about to come to that conclusion so easily. So I keep my feet firmly planted.

“Well, hello there.” A man with silver hair emerges wearing a plum blazer and slacks, brushing off his shoes as he comes to stand in front of me. He's ghostly pale .

“Ugh, filthy business. I was hoping to catch you here before the festivities.”

He was waiting for me. My brain isn’t working nearly fast enough to form a plan of action, but my body steps back a few feet all on its own.

He sniffs the air. “I see you’ve met Owens. Sweet guy.”

“And you’re …?”

“Darien. Apologies. But you see, I’m not here for anything pleasant, I’m afraid.”

I take another step back, but there’s nowhere to run.

One glance toward the path tells me I’m alone.

The masked guy didn’t follow me. I don’t know why I think he’d be helpful.

It’s not like I know him, but as the silence spreads between Darien and me, I long for that feeling again—the safety and calm his touch brought me.

I blink, then Darien is in front of me, and before I can move, he grabs my wrist and slams a hand over my mouth. Yanking my arm away gives little wiggle room.

“I know. I know. But trust me. Of your options tonight, this is the better one. Plus …” He leans into my neck, and I freeze. “I get to have all the fun.”

I groan, trying to weasel away from his grasp, but his fingers dig into my skin so hard I think they might draw blood.

“Your heart is drumming like a scared rabbit. You’re not used to this, are you? If you were in The Donor Program, this would be an easy act of submission. Didn’t your mother teach you?”

Fire singes through my veins, and I bite one of his fingers, and he loosens his grip just enough.

“Fuck you,” I spit.

Then I’m on the ground faster than I can comprehend. I’ve met vampires, but none of them were like this. My mom’s donees were nice. One she’d donated to for years was her best friend in her ballet company. She’d bring me cookies.

This is evidently nothing like that. The ground is cold as I thrash around while Darien pins my hips with his knees with very little effort.

“You know it’s been a while since I’ve gotten to experience this kind of thrill when drinking. It’s a pity it has to end.”

He leans in, and his teeth sink into my neck. My screams are muffled behind his grasp. A searing pain flushes through me, awakening the adrenaline lingering in my body, and I wrestle past the pain .

Every second, my muscles weaken, but I don’t stop. I can’t. I manage enough room to shove a knee in his groin, and I’m up on my feet so fast I don’t register where I’m going.

Somewhere else. Somewhere safe.