AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Aye, a vampire. He wasn’t like the ones who took you. He was normal, or at least as normal as a vampire can be.”
“What do you mean by normal?”
“I mean, he didn’t kill humans for sport. He didn’t drink their blood. He was a businessman and a member of New Orleans society.”
How is that possible? “If he didn’t drink human blood, how did he survive?”
“Goat blood mostly, and an occasional small animal if no goats are available.”
I stare at Thorne, not sure if I heard him correctly. “He drank goat’s blood?”
“Aye. As I do now.”
I sniff his direction. “That’s why you smell different.”
Thorne laughs. “Maybe. I never thought about it.”
“Does the goat’s blood make you weak?”
“No,” he answers. “I’m as strong as a three-hundred-year-old vampire should be.”
“Is your maker still alive?”
Thorne looks down. “No. He died protecting someone that he loved very much. His name was Viktor, and he was a great man. I hadn’t spoken to him for the last fifty years or so. However, there was no anger or bitterness between us. We simply were living our own lives.”
“I’m sorry,” I confess.
“Aye, me, too. He was not only my maker, he was my friend.”
“He agreed to change you into a vampire to find me?”
“Aye. It took several years of convincing, but he relented. I think it was the story of true love that changed his mind in the end.” Butterflies take flight with his words. “It was during one of those deliveries that I left the ship and never returned home.”
“You’ve only had goat’s blood since turning?”
“Aye…and an occasional cat.”
“Can you teach me how to do that?” Tears escape my eyes. “I don’t want to kill anymore.”
“Aye. I can.” Thorne wipes a tear from my cheek. The warmth of his hand against my skin is almost overwhelming. “You are still the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen. I would do everything over again for this moment, here with you.”
My eyes close with his words. “After Kragen took me, it was the memory of you that kept me alive. Living with him was…” I pause, not sure how much to say. “Living with him was a nightmare.”
Thorne’s hand slides down my arm to my hand, pulling it tight into his, offering strength to continue. “Kragen used me ineveryform of the word. He would starve me to near death, only to feed me enough blood to bring me back to life, and begin the torture again. He got off on the pain he caused.” The energy coming from Thorne changes as I speak.
“I was his plaything—his toy. When he was bored, the others would take their turns. I was nothing more than an object for entertainment and fun.” I sigh before continuing. “Through the years, I lost track of time. Being deprived of sunlight and nourishment took a toll on my body and left me nothing more than a shell of my former self. One of his crew members took pity on me and would secretly bring me blood. I used him. I toiled with his affection while gaining strength every day.” I wipe another tear from the memory. “I used himlike they’d used me for all those years. He was young and naive and thought we were in love.”
“What happened to him?”
“He died.” I clear my throat at the memory. “He was murdered when I escaped.” I close my eyes, reliving Elliot’s death.
Thorne squeezes my hand. “I can’t imagine what you’ve been through. The thought of it…” He doesn’t finish his statement. He stands, moving closer to the water. Anger rolls off him. “I’m so sorry, Elsbeth. I should’ve been there for you.”
“It’s not your fault,” I remind him.
“Aye, directly it wasn’t, but I’m the one who hired Smith. I put my trust in him. He was the one who contacted them and told them about you,” he confesses. “I discovered years later that he sent a message through one of Kragen’s men and told them there was a sick young girl on board. He sold you to repay a debt.”
I stare at Thorne, not sure I heard him correctly. “That son of a bitch traded my life for a debt?” It’s my turn to be angry.
