Chapter 13

It's about nine in the evening and I am famished. The Blood Moon grants us great power, but it also gives us great thirst. We finished the supply of blood we had in the bag and I am still hungry.

"Anastassia," he says, "We can prey on the witches."

"Think I didn't think of that? I am starving," I groaned. "I need something to fill me up or I will lose my mind and run wild."

He held my hand, pulling me to his chest. I could hear his heart beating and his blood pumping in his veins and arteries. Just a taste wouldn't hurt, right? No. I can't. He's a hybrid with toxic werewolf venom. Drinking his blood would be lethal, right?

"Hey," he says, caressing my head. "We could always blood share."

I swear it's like he could read my mind. Sometimes I wonder if our minds are linked together.

"It's lethal to me," I said, turning my head away.

"No, it's not," he said, "The hunger is just getting to you. You're not vulnerable to werewolf toxin." He cut open a part of his neck, allowing it to bleed. The scent of his blood was intoxicating and I bet it tastes just as good. I wanted to do it. I wanted to drink from him, but I can't. Blood sharing is sacred and is usually done by couples. Can a hybrid and a witch vampire really do this?

Was he right? Is it just the hunger? Can I really drink from him and it's not just in my head? "I," I tried to fight it, but my hunger was evident in my eyes and face.

"It's alright, Anastassia," he says, tapping his finger on his blood and rubbing it against my lip. "This wouldn't kill you."

Before I knew it, I was sinking my teeth into his neck and drinking him for all he's worth. His blood was sweet like pastries and makes you feel as though you were filled with overflowing power. I looked up at him and he wiped the blood stains from my lip.

Val turned me around, sinking his teeth into my neck from behind. The sensation was different and even more pleasurable than before. So this is how it feels, huh? If this is what it feels like, then why do humans fight it? It's not like we vampires would drain them. He placed his wrist over my mouth, letting me sink into them again. His taste was as sweet as before if not more.

Blood sharing is supposed to be intimate. Not only is it a sacred ritual for couples, but it's also a way to mark your partner. This ritual is usually reserved for those couples whose goal is marriage. Why? Because as far as I know, the mark your partner leaves on your skin is permanent. This is a greater commitment and a bold move on his part. I'm not sure my father would be pleased about this.

After what felt like years, we pulled away from each other. I turned to face him, seeing the mark I left on his wrist. It's visible, alright. It was glowing in red and beautiful.

He traced the mark on my neck with his fingers, watching it glow golden. "That's beautiful on you," he said, pulling me closer. "Now we're partners for life."

"Was that your plan all this time," I asked, still holding onto his glowing wrist. "How long will this glow last?"

"Not too long," he replied, locking his eyes with mine. He came closer, whispering in my ear, "Why don't we just give the audience what they want? We've done it before, haven't we? In your dreams..."

I gasped, looking at him.

He leaned over, closing his eyes. His soft hands cupped my face, pulling me to his sweet kiss. His lips were soft and addicting like the taste of his blood. Everything felt natural. It's like everything else disappeared and all that was there was him and I. I kissed him harder and he did the same. I pulled away before we got too carried away with it. This is all for the show, after all. None of this is real.

He smiled, planting one last kiss on my forehead. "I love you," he said, making me almost fall off the walls. He caught me just in time, laughing at me. "Something the matter, Princess?"

I punched him in the gut, almost making him fall off. "Don't call me that!" I glared, "Come on. We have to find that passageway so we can finally take a rest." We continued walking in search of what I pray is a safe place for us both. I'm not afraid of bloodshed, but I'm not exactly fond of it. Killing off these other students is unnecessary. The more students we have the more soldiers we create. I still don't understand the purpose of this stupid game.

Earlier when we killed those sisters, I felt a strong wave of guilt filling up inside me. As I said, this is all unnecessary. My father rescues children and still, he holds games like this. I don't understand it. He's good and he's evil. He may not force the children to partake in this, but they'd do anything to gain his recognition. As for us, we're not really doing this for his recognition. We're meant to do this in order to show everyone that he possesses a great private army and that I, his daughter, am just as powerful as he is, and that people should fear us.

"We'll make it out alive," Val says.

"I didn't say we won't," I replied, "We're here to win, remember? This is what we were trained for. A year of training with my father led us to this day and we shouldn't disappoint. It's either death or win."

"Or we could survive and run away together," he joked, winking at me. "But of course, you don't see me that way. I might've gotten to kiss you and share the blood bond with you, but you still don't see me as I am." There he goes putting on the act again.

"Val," I said, playing along. "You're my best mate. That kiss... well... That kiss was probably a mistake. You and me, it's never going to happen, okay?"

"Why not?" he asked.

"Because I cannot in good conscience date the person my friend so desperately loves," I replied, "You know what I'm talking about, Val. It would crush her. In the few incidents from before, I just wanted to hurt her a little. To tease her and make her feel uncomfortable for what she did behind my back. But you know me well enough to know that I wouldn't actually date you. Too many people would get hurt."

He bit his lip. "But do you love me?" he asked.

Carried at the moment, I replied, "I did. A long time ago. But that was before any of this happened and you're too late. To me, you're just a friend. That's where you'll stay. A friend." Everything I stated was true. I did love him silently. I gave him so many signs and yet he failed to see that when we were human. Everything changed, though. He and I, we're just friends. I wouldn't change that. And despite my father pushing us together, I will oblige but I will never let him have my heart. My heart is mine to keep and he can have his.

"I'm sorry," he said, taking my hand. "I'm sorry it took me this long to realize it, Anastassia." His eyes were filled with emotion almost as if he were really pouring his heart out. If I were one of the viewers of the game, I would've believed him too.

"We're here to win this thing, Val," I said, "We can talk about us when we win. Right now, I want to focus on proving to everyone that we are the victors of this year's games."

"As you wish," he said.

We were once again interrupted by another group of women. "Break it up, love birds," said its leader. She has pink hair and she appears to be African American. Her eyes were green in the shade of emerald. It was almost hypnotic. "You must be the girl who has the crown," she says, resting one of her hands on her hip. "Well damn, you're pretty."

"I honestly think you are too," I replied. She looked like a beautiful chocolate goddess. She's the prettiest girl I've met on the island and the first one to captivate my heart. I'm not gay, though. I just have a girl crush on her. I am definitely straight.

"So," she proposed, "After these games and we're both still breathing, you open to going on a date with me?"

"Ah, sorry," I said, "But I am most definitely straight. Sorry to disappoint you."

"Can you not flirt with the enemy!" Val groaned, covering his ears. "Just focus on protecting the tiara!"

"Alright! Geez!" I said, picking up the crossbow. "What are you, by the way? Are you a witch, wolf, siren, or something we have no clue about? This school has surprisingly a lot of factions."

"Vampire," she replied, winking at me. "Now, the crown, please."

"You'll have to take it from us," replied Val.

The woman smirked, commanding her team to attack. She plunged at me, sinking her sharp nails against my skin. "Hypnotized, princess?" she mocked, "I would be too if I was staring at me."

I chuckled, pushing her back. Jumping, I kicked her chest, causing her to fall on her back. "Self-obsessed much?" I mocked.

"You wouldn't stand a chance if you weren't his daughter," she said bitterly, punching my nose.

"And you're jealous?" I said, digging my claws inside her chest. Her heart was at my grasp and so was her life. "I deserve to be here just as anyone is."

She coughed out blood, the struggle was evident in her eyes. "Do it, BloodStone. Do it."

"Look around," I said, pointing at her already deceased squad. "It didn't even take ten minutes for my friend to terminate your friends. Do you seriously think I need your command to kill you?" Before she could respond, I yanked her heart out, throwing it far into the distance.

"That was cold," said Val.

I sighed, looking up at the moon. Less than ten minutes and we've killed plenty... I didn't realize the power we possessed until now. We really are monsters. We're all monsters.