Chapter 3
three
Ivy
“Where are we headed?” Ivy clutched Leseldh’s hand as they moved downstairs.
“I’ve prepared a surprise for you.” Leseldh’s tone held an infectious undercurrent of excitement. A smile spread across Ivy’s lips as she considered the possibilities.
Leseldh moved to a door that opened out onto the expansive gardens at the rear of the house.
There were pathways trailing out across the yard, lined with lamp posts whose soft glow sliced through the darkness.
Tall hedges and flower bushes were planted along the pathways.
In the far corner of the yard, she could see what looked like a large gardener’s hut.
She wondered if Leseldh had staff to cater to his garden’s needs.
Leseldh faced Ivy, clasping both of her hands with his own. A small smile played on his lips as he looked into her eyes.
“Malia and I used to play a game. I’m hoping you’ll enjoy it as much as she did.” His hands squeezed hers gently, and Ivy’s excitement grew.
Movement out of the corner of her eye drew her attention before she could respond.
Voresta approached from the side of the house, dragging a young female with him.
She wore a white knee-length dress, made of lightweight fabric.
Her dark brown hair was unbound and flew wildly behind her as she moved, and her brown eyes were filled with fear.
Voresta stopped at the mouth of the central pathway that led into the gardens, wrapping an arm around the female’s waist. She struggled against him, but he held her firmly against his body.
It was then that Ivy noticed the knife that was held at his side.
“Ivy, I’m sure you remember Voresta.” Leseldh released Ivy’s hands and turned to face Voresta and his captive. Voresta’s grey eyes flicked to Ivy, and she saw determination in his stare that sent alarm rocketing through her body.
“What’s going on, Leseldh?” Apprehension coated Ivy’s voice as she looked from Voresta, to the trembling female in his arms, and finally, back to Leseldh.
“Like I said, it’s a game.” Leseldh’s tone turned playful, but there was an edge to it that Ivy hadn’t heard before.
“What kind of game?”
“It’s quite simple. It’s a treasure hunt. Voresta will release this lovely little thing he’s collected for us. She’s going to run for her life, and we’re going to chase her. It’s a competition, Ivy. Whoever gets to her first, gets the spoils.”
“What spoils?” Ivy feared she already knew the answer, but she needed to hear it from his lips.
“You get to feed, Ivy. If you catch her, she’s yours.” Leseldh’s eyes flashed with gold, and his excitement was palpable.
Horror unfurled in her gut, like a snake readying to strike, and her legs felt weak beneath her. While she was busy romanticising her Creation, this harsh reality of her new circumstances blindsided her.
“I don’t want to do that.” Ivy’s voice trembled as the words spilled from her lips. The girl in Voresta’s arms let out a whimper.
“Let me go, she doesn’t want me! Let me go!” The girl’s fear-filled eyes moved between her captors. The males ignored her. Ivy’s eyes welled with tears as she stared at her.
“You will in a moment. Voresta, if you will do the honours?” Leseldh looked to Voresta, and a wicked grin spread across Leseldh’s features.
The girl continued to struggle against Voresta as he tightened his hold, her cries growing more urgent.
Undeterred, Voresta swept the blade across her forearm, and a sliver of red bloomed along her pale skin.
He then pushed her down the path towards the gardens.
She stumbled before breaking into a run to flee between the hedges.
While Ivy watched her disappear, the scent of the girl’s blood was carried to her on a phantom breeze.
Ivy’s response was instantaneous. A sharp and persistent hunger rose within her and the need to pursue her quarry was overwhelming.
She tried to fight the urge and looked over to Leseldh, whose gaze was fixed on her intently.
She realised that he’d anticipated her body’s response to the scent.
“Come on, my love, let’s go get your first morsel.
” Leseldh’s grin turned feral as he snatched Ivy’s hand and dragged her forward.
They swept past Voresta, who was toying with his knife while he observed the ‘game’.
Ivy witnessed Leseldh transform into a predator in a heartbeat, seeking his prey as he surged forward into the gardens.
Ivy’s emotions warred within her—the Human part of her empathised with the girl, but the newer version of herself that was thrumming with need was clawing at her insides, trying to gain control.
An inescapable hunger dragged her into the gardens.
The scent of blood was a summoning, and Ivy began her hunt.
She pulled free of Leseldh’s grasp and darted between the hedges.
The lights became fewer and further apart, until the gardens were immersed in the total darkness that was typical of Noctis.
Ivy’s eyesight was now perfect in the dark and it gave her the edge she needed over the Human’s failing sight.
She heard panting; the girl had begun to tire.
The scent of blood grew stronger. She was close. Ivy’s body vibrated with anticipation.
Leseldh was nowhere to be seen, but in that moment, she didn’t care. Her sole focus became sating the hunger that was building with every breath. The sweet scent of the girl’s blood dominated her thoughts, and she wanted to know its taste.
A flash of white caught her eye as she rounded a corner. She zeroed in on her prey and increased her speed. Ivy’s incredible pace should have surprised her, but she was no longer in control. She lunged forward and clamped her arms around the girl. Ivy’s pulse quickened at the sound of her scream.
The girl quivered, tears streaming down her face.
Ivy could sense her terror; could feel it in her racing pulse.
As Ivy leaned in to bite the girl, their eyes met, and it cut through her fog of frenzy.
An unbidden image of Ivy’s younger sister sprang to her mind—small, vulnerable and forever fifteen.
This girl shared Emer’s innocence, and as the memories of her sister’s fate came flooding back to her, her stupor was broken.
She released the girl, who scrabbled backwards to flee.
Breathing heavily, Ivy stumbled away and bumped into Leseldh.
“What’s wrong, my love? Do you not want to claim your prize?” The predator lurking within Leseldh’s caramel irises had disappeared, and a look of concern washed over his face.
“I can’t do it, Leseldh. I can’t hurt her.” Ivy looked up at Leseldh, her eyes filling with tears again. As the adrenaline of the hunt wore off, her whole body started to tremble.
“You need to eat, Ivy. You will become weak without sustenance.” His voice was gentle, but it was tinged with disappointment.
She didn’t have time to ponder it, though, when Leseldh wrapped an arm around her and led her away.
As they retreated, Ivy spotted Voresta standing nearby, silently watching their interaction.
“She’s all yours.” Leseldh informed Voresta. He smiled in response, before stalking into the gardens in pursuit of the girl. Ivy closed her eyes tightly, feeling guilty that she was too weak-willed to prevent the fate that awaited her.
Leseldh directed Ivy to the parlour, where he tucked her against his side in an embrace on one of the couches. He ran his fingers through her hair to console her as the tears streamed down her face.
“I’m sorry for putting you through that, Ivy. I thought you were aware that feeding from Humans was an essential part of being a Vampire.” Leseldh’s touch was gentle and reassuring, but the underlying passive-aggressiveness in his words provoked Ivy.
“I didn’t realise feeding was considered a sport. Are all Vampires like this?” Attitude flooded Ivy’s tone, and she started to pull away from Leseldh’s hold. He sighed, releasing his grip on her to rise from his seat.
“Would you prefer something a little more conventional, then?”
Ivy heard his distaste at the suggestion. She quirked an eyebrow. “Conventional how?”
“There are establishments where we can obtain our sustenance for a price. From willing participants. We’ll leave in thirty minutes. Wear something stunning.”
Thirty minutes later, Ivy was in the back seat of the sedan with Leseldh, with Voresta propelling them to their destination.
She cast her eyes out the rear window of the car and caught a look at the house for the first time.
It was a gothic-style mansion, with a turret over the front of the wrap-around porch and a pitched roof.
Balconies adjoined some of the rooms on the upper floor, including those she noticed in Finare’s bedroom and Leseldh’s study.
It was even more magnificent than the version her mind had cobbled together from seeing only the interior.
Dragging her eyes away from the mansion, Ivy couldn’t help but remember the passionate kiss she shared with Leseldh the last time she was in this car.
Part of her longed for that now, as she watched him trace a finger over his bottom lip.
But another part of her was still raging with hunger.
Now the monster had been awoken, its demands couldn’t be ignored.
They drove in silence, each of the car’s occupants caught in a web of their own thoughts.
No one mentioned what became of the girl, and Ivy was too terrified to ask.
Every time she thought of her, she remembered her younger sister, and it sent a spear of grief through her that she hadn’t felt in years.