Chapter 5

Jace opened his mouth to respond, but a vampiric shriek ripped through the air before he could utter a word. Everyone froze in their tracks. Children began to whimper in fear while their mothers tried to soothe them. The sound was distant, but it was like a warning. Sorcerers ushered people to move forward with greater urgency, and some civilians frantically began running to the tower.

My mind was racing- I was worried about Lucah's family, Lucah, and the other mages out there. I jumped off of Jace's back and began to step in the direction of the scream when Jace snatched me back.

"What do you think you're doing?!" He hissed.

"What does it look like? I'm going to help!" I snapped back. Jace glared at me in disbelief.

"You don't even have the protection of the Crest. I am not letting you go near vampires in this state." He said, dragging me by the arm towards the tower with his brute strength. I fought against him but it was no use. I knew he wouldn't forgive me for doing this, but he left me no choice. I manifested my akri into an electric shock, running it down my arm. Jace yelled out in pain. He let go of me and I made a run for it.

I snaked my way through the crowd of people rushing for the tower. For once, my small stature gave me an advantage as I quickly lost Jace. Several more monstrous screeches came from the left, and I headed straight towards it. The screams of civilians mixed with the shrieks of the vampires as people ran past me in an attempt to escape imminent danger.

Just as I was about to turn the corner into a neighborhood, I heard a high-pitched scream and watched dark fresh blood splatter onto the wall across from me. I came to a rapid halt behind one of the houses as I heard sickening sounds of gurgling and swallowing. Without making a noise, I peered out from the wall.

I laid eyes on a lifeless body on the ground and a vampire with her cold gray arms snaked around it. The vampire's long, blond hair obscured her and her victim's face as she burrowed her teeth into the poor person's neck. Blood was pouring out in heaps from the body. Holding my breath, I looked past the vampire immediately behind the wall and scanned the street for more threats.

Just then, one jumped from the rooftop and landed beside the female. My eyes widened; It was the one who had tried to bite me earlier.

"She's dry, Megara. The poor girl lost half of her blood with her little magic act." The male mused, kicking the body with the toe of his boot. I watched in horror as the female raised her head. Her blonde hair was matted with blood and dirt and she looked just as terrible as her partner. But what made my heart stop was the sight of the woman laying on the floor.

It was Kaylani.