Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 109099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
“Fine,” I gritted out. “It’s not like I want to spend any more time with you than I have to. Now that I know what a disgusting pig you are, I never want to see you again! I only came over here to get my necklace and then I’ll leave.”
“Your necklace?” He raised his eyebrows and shook his head. “What necklace are you talking about?”
I clenched my hands into fists, my nails biting into my palms.
“You know damn good and well what necklace I’m talking about! The same necklace I’ve worn to every single special occasion since you’ve known me. The one that was found with me when I was a baby. The one you decided to lock up for ‘safe keeping’ and then wouldn’t let me have when you kicked me out!”
My ex kept the slightly confused look on his face, which I knew damn well was an act.
“I’m sorry, I really don’t know what you’re talking about. You didn’t leave anything of value here,” he said loftily.
“Other than the necklace, I completely agree with you,” I snapped.
I was practically growling with frustration and the Thirst was raking my throat with sharp claws. The bloody window I was looking through was getting redder all the time. But still I tried to control myself. I really tried.
“Christopher, I know you have it,” I told him. “Just give it back and I’ll never bother you again.”
Finally, he dropped the confused act.
“No,” he said, looking down his nose at me. “According to the terms of our divorce, anything you left in the house when you vacated the residence belongs to me.”
“That necklace has been with me since I was found as a baby!” I exclaimed. “It’s literally the only thing I have of my heritage!”
“Your heritage?” He gave me a disbelieving look. “What are you talking about? You don’t have any heritage—you’re just an orphan that got left at the fire station because nobody wanted you. You’re acting like you’re some kind of princess or something!”
His words were so hurtful—and at the same time, so on-the-nose—that I didn’t know whether to laugh or scream at him in rage and frustration. But just at that moment, a little blonde girl (who looked more like seventeen than twenty) came around the corner.
“Daddy-bear?” she said, taking Christopher’s arm possessively and nuzzling her cheek against his shoulder. “What’s taking so long? The pizza is getting cold.”
“Sorry, Honey-bunny,” Christopher apologized, never taking his eyes off me. “I’m finishing up now.”
“No, you’re not,” I snapped. “Not until you give me my necklace!”
“Daddy-bear, who is this lady?” The blonde girl’s eyes got wide. “And why is she dressed like that? It’s not Halloween.”
“She’s nobody and there’s nothing to concern yourself with, Honey-bunny,” he said tightly. “Just go back in the other room and wait for me, okay?”
“Well…okay.” The girl shrugged, obviously willing to accept whatever he said.
Just like I always did, I thought. Just like—
But when Christopher’s new wife shrugged—(I couldn’t believe he had actually already married the little skank)—the motion opened the collar of the white silk button-down shirt she was wearing. And there, winking at me from the hollow of her skinny neck, I saw the necklace. The intricate silver filigree and Royal Purple jewel couldn’t be mistaken for anything else. It was the Jewel of Lolth—my special necklace and he had given it to his side piece!
Suddenly my rage flared out of control. Like a freight train jumping the tracks, I felt the Thirst take hold of me in a vice grip and drive me forward. I’d been fighting it for hours, trying hard not to hurt anyone. But now I wanted to hurt. I wanted to kill and maim and rend and tear and bite!
Lunging for Christopher, I grabbed him by the shoulders and shoved my face into the side of his neck.
He gasped in shock but before he could react and try to push me off, my seeking fangs had found the thick vein pulsing just under his skin. With a single bite, I pierced his flesh and then the fresh, hot blood was flowing into my mouth.
My ex gave another strangled gasp and belatedly tried to push me off. But now that the blood was pouring down my throat and finally slaking the terrible Thirst that had been driving me crazy, I wasn’t about to let go. In that moment I was nothing but a mindless drinking machine—a starving animal fixated on getting nourishment in any way I could.
I shoved his flailing hands away contemptuously. I was much stronger now—even more than I had been earlier. I found that out when Christopher finally managed to wrap one hand around my arm…and I peeled it off, breaking two of his fingers in the process.
He howled and tried to get away from me again, but by this time I had my arms wrapped around him and I was bending him backwards and forcing him down as I sucked and swallowed…sucked and swallowed…sucked and swallowed.