03

A hand wrapped around Talita's pale neck. The stranger pushed her forcefully against the wall. Talita instinctively grabbed the stranger's wrist, but even with all her strength, she couldn't make the man move away.

"Treating me like this when I even brought you your boy toy," the charming accent didn't sound pleasant when it came from the man who was choking her.

Talita tried to think quickly, searching for a way out of the problem. The stranger clearly knew her... well, not HER, but that body, and they clearly weren't very good friends. Or perhaps violence was his twisted way of showing affection. But did he also bring her a gift? Man, he was ainsane!

Talita pulled her foot back and pushed against the man, sending him flying to the other side of the corridor. He sank into the wall upon impact.

 — How do I treat you? You're the violent one here!

Talita had never seen such a look before—pure rage. The stranger's eyes, which she couldn't discern as either blue or green due to the poor lighting in the hallway, bore into her. Instinctively, she backed up against the wall where just seconds ago she had been suffocated.

The stranger was shaking, visibly trying to control himself.

"Rebekah, just behave yourself for once in your life," he admonished, rolling his eyes at her as if she were a naughty child. God, she hated guys with pretty faces like his.

Rebekah was supposed to be the name of the body's owner, a beautiful name she hadn't had enough time to get used to. The stranger grabbed her wrist, pulling her along as if she were a child who might get lost along the way. She tried to wrench her wrist free, but he wouldn't let go.

"You're upset about the stabbing, I understand, but I have something like an apology for you."

He picked up his pace, and within seconds, they were back at the warehouse where she woke up. It was the same dusty and dark warehouse. At her feet lay a corpse—not the man she drank like a milkshake; this one had its neck twisted in a strange position.

That was it; her guy was crazy.

"Are you giving me a corpse?" Talita blurted out, unable to think of anything else, too horrified at the prospect of being handed a dead body.

She was utterly terrified.

"Come on, little sister. I know your neck is a little broken, but I'm sure your toy boy will survive," he remarked casually. Talita—or Rebekah, she needed to address herself with the new name to get used to it—swallowed hard, trying to steady her nerves.

"Sister?" Talita wondered aloud, her mind racing. Was this crazy guy her brother? She scrutinized the man again; he was tall, and upon closer inspection, she could discern a certain resemblance between them.

The grip on her arm tightened, pulling her attention back to the corpse.

"Now that you have your boyfriend, do I need my necklace?" he asked cryptically.

What necklace? Rebekah's mind raced as she realized what he was referring to. She quickly pulled out the pearl necklace she had tucked into her cleavage and showed it to the man.

"That?" Rebekah—referring to herself as Rebekah wasn't difficult; in fact, it was absurdly easy—watched in disbelief as the corpse moved. Shit, right. Vampires. She would still have to get used to it.

"Don't act like a fool, Rebekah!" he scolded, rolling his eyes again. Letting go of her hand, she took a step back, seeking safety away from the crazy person who was apparently her new brother.

"That's the only necklace I have! I swear!" Rebekah's voice trembled with fear as she spoke, noticing his increasing anger. She pushed the necklace into his hands, terrified at the thought of being the next one with a broken neck. "Please don't hurt me, I don't know..." Brother or not, he was terrifying. It felt like a cruel joke from the universe—could she never have the loving family she had always dreamed of?

The man looked at her, his expression shifting. Rebekah's words seemed to have disarmed him completely.