Page 69 of The Vampire’s Prey

"Don't do what? Kill the man who tried to kill me? Dared to touch you?" He looks at me, and pain and hatred swirl in his eyes. I take a step back and force myself to breathe. "I guess you hunters want to be together. Is that it?" He looks back at Simon and sneers. "You deserve each other."

"No," I wail, not even caring how I sound at the moment. My one chance at happiness is slipping through my fingers, and I can't bear it. "I don't want him. I've never wanted him."

"Someone like him then.” His fingers close even tighter. "Your kind always tends to stick together."

"I want you," I whisper, relieved to finally say it out loud.

Adrian pauses for a moment before looking at me. His eyes are dark and cold. My heart constricts as he looks at me so impassively.

"I guess that's unfortunate then, for I don’t want you."

His words slam straight to my gut. What have I done?

"Please," I beg. "If not for me, don't become the monster he claims you are."

Snarling, Adrian whips his head around and pins me with a glare. Simon's eyes start fluttering closed, and I know my time is short.

"I have killed hundreds of people. What difference will this one human make?"

"Please.” The words are barely audible as I slide down to the floor into wariza. "Please sir, spare his life.” Tears drip down my cheeks as I look up at him. His whole frame is rigid and taut. "You don't have to do this. You don't have to be like him. Like me."

Pain blossoms in my chest as the gravity of what I am hits me hard. I judge people based on what they are and not who they can be. Adrian showed me there was so much more to him than a blood sucking fiend.

"I am so sorry. I only did what I thought was right."

The small muscles in his jaw twitch as he stares at me for several moments. I don't dare breathe.

Turning back to Simon, Adrian shakes him a bit to bring his focus back. "You will tell me everything.” I feel the compulsion and watch as Simon actively fights it.

Simon shakes his head, and I rise up from the floor to join them. "He has his contacts in. Hold him still."

Reaching out, I pry Simon's eyes open wide to slip out the contacts. He attempts to struggle, but Adrian holds him firm, making my job much easier. Simon always chose to wear contacts that matched his own eye color, that's why you never know if he's armed or not. Once the contacts are out, I drop them to the ground and squish them with my heel. Nodding, I slip back and give Adrian space.

He peers at my eyes and grimaces. “So that’s how you did it,” he murmurs. “Shit brown. Got it.”

I ignore the sharp pain from his words. I deserve every one of them.

"Now then, let's try this again. You will tell me everything."

Simon's eyes grow wide as everything spills from his lips. He tries desperately to stop it, but it keeps pouring out of him. Most everything he's saying is old news to me, so I tune it out. No need to relive everything from my time back with The Family.

During his rambling, I pause and actually start to pay attention. I knew we killed monsters, but I didn't know that most of those we killed were innocent humans. My stomach churns, and I feel ill. Feeling the kitchen, I make my way to the guest bathroom and heave into the toilet. Not much comes out since I haven't really had that much food, but it feels good to purge nonetheless.

On my way back out, I spot my bunny sitting on the bed. My heart aches as I pick it up and hold it to my chest. Burying my face in the soft toy, I sob as my heart continues to break.

How could I not see? How could I not trust? My Bible lays forlorn on the floor, the blue embossing winking up at me from the dim lights. I was just a puppet in their mission. Nothing more. Now, I have no one, and it's all my fault. A loud cough startles me out of my thoughts, and I look up to see Adrian carrying Simon. His eyes are wide and unfocused.

"I have wiped out his memories of everyone and everything dealing with The Family. It's messed up his brain a bit, but he should no longer be a threat. I'll put him into your car, and you can do with him as you will. He's alive, but mentally, just barely. I hope this is agreeable to you because it cannot be undone."

A small kernel of hope blossoms in me. "You can erase memories?" Setting my bunny down, I quickly swipe out my contacts. Nervously, I look up at him. "Please, erase mine. I cannot live in a world where you're not in it."

Adrian leans in and smiles. His breath fans my hair, and I sigh in relief. Finally, the pain will go away.

"That is your punishment little one. Your way of doing penance. I will not take your memories away from you. Instead, you'll have to live with them. You made your choices, now live with your consequences."

He walks out of the room, and my heart plummets. It is truly over then. Picking up my bunny, I follow him out and watch as he tosses Simon into the backseat.

"Adrian..."