THE LAST VAMPIRE

I cross my arms over my chest and say, "I really hate your pack." I absolutely detest small packs or packets with little to no development. I detest seeing woods right outside my window when I first wake up. And I can't help but be incredibly irritated that I even have to be here as I sit before the Black Blood Pack's Alpha.

Alex mutters, "And I really hate girls that complain," banging his whiskey glass against the tiny glass table separating us. Helena, who is standing next to me, flinches a little, but I don't since I won't be scared of him.

Helena admonishes, "Temper, temper," as she spins her finger through a silver hairlock. Her silver eyes sparkle eternally.

No, I want to murder her. Alex yells as he fixes his eyes on Helena. Helena turns her head to look at Alex, her lips pursed in thought.

"Slow down. She reminds him that Ava is really helpful to the team, and he begins to calm down and take a sip of his whiskey. As he shoves everything down his neck, his blonde hair falls backward. I can only sigh impatiently.

I get up because I'm done with this nonsense.

I finished the task. I glance at Helena and say, "Now, I want my freedom." She doesn't even look at me; instead, she concentrates on the hair strand in her hands. This infuriates me. The question "Are you deaf?"

Once more, she ignores me, so I move quickly when I take my blade out of my jeans and point it at her. I'm stopped before I can strike her in the eyes. I feel myself collapsing to the ground as a headache that shatters every square inch of my skull spreads through me and makes me experience anguish that I didn't know was even possible. They are staring at me with such intensity. I'm screaming because it never ends.

When she finally stops, I'm still screaming.

She says in a low voice, "Try that again, and next time, I'll blow your brains out," and I roll over on the ground, cursing witches, especially the one in front of me.

The promise of my independence, which I've been dreaming of for six years, was what this silver-haired witch used to entice me into her and this sicko Alpha's cunning grasps.

"We did not agree to this," I scream in frustration as my hair falls out everywhere, the strands tumbling down like never-ending waterfalls. "I finished the task, Helena. I followed your instructions exactly, both of you! I now desire what is mine.

Oh, quiet down. I want nothing more than to plunge my knife into Alex's throat as he screams at me. This scumbag. But even if I were quick enough to actually cut open his throat, I have no doubt Helena would put an immediate end to me. She is strong; I will grant her that. I also require her. The only one who can genuinely assist me is her.

"Since you nearly wrecked everything, the deal is off," Alex yells once again as he scatters the glass across the room. It instantly smashes and makes a loud noise.

"You guys said you would," I protest, becoming furious but unable to stand up since the effects of what Helena had just done a few seconds earlier have left me feeling lightheaded.

As he reclines back in his chair and laughs, Alex crosses his legs. He makes fun of me. I desire his death. I want him dead.

Since the first day I met him, I have never liked him. He is a lovely devil who, in my opinion, belongs in hell alone.

"There will be consequences if you don't give me what I want!" My cheeks begin to heat up as I caution, still furious. Alex never stops giggling and having fun.

What's your plan of action? Tell the Assassins to report me. I tensed up as I heard him laugh more and saw Helena's grin deepen. I shouldn't have put my faith in these two. A witch had my trust! The witch! You stupid, brave fool, Ava, you trusted a witch. You can see that they would do anything to possess you. Their leader is searching hard for his cherished little favorite. What benefits would I receive if I reported you? Or even better, I believe Maks would be quite eager to possess the greatest assassin in his pack's history.

I close my eyes as the treachery slowly but surely sets in, like a needle prick.

I'm helpless.

You have your life to lose, Ava; I don't. Don't test me. I choked as his words really hit home.

I was forced to join the Assassins when I was seventeen. The Assassins are a bandit group of seductive murderesses who are paid to seduce senior members of my pack, the Shadow Night Pack, and other packs in order to either murder or kidnap them. We are infamous and hazardous. In fact, Maks, the Alpha of our pack, has issued a "kill on sight" order to anyone who, by an extremely unlikely accident, discovers an assassin.

I never intended to follow them. I never chose this life, like many others, but when the Assassins pick you, that's it. I became an assassin after being picked at the age of seventeen. I am the greatest assassin who has ever lived, in addition to being an assassin. I've never missed a kill or a target, and up until lately, no one could stand in my way.

My teachers always advised the girls to look up to me. the person who was most revered within a murderous organization. However, the desire to escape the life I was compelled to live only grew stronger with each murder I committed. I detested being in charge, being made to perform tasks I didn't particularly enjoy, and seducing men who I found repulsive. Seductive assassination is entertaining, but I prefer to carry it out on my terms rather than those set by a group that won't even permit me to take a breath. I did everything I could to get out, but nothing was successful.

Up until the day Helena and I met.

She showed up where I was meant to finish-a restaurant-and informed me that she was in possession of the key to my release. In every pack I wanted to go in, she would give me a whole other persona. A different identity, a different existence, and a different appearance. I only had to entice an Alpha whom both she and her other Alpha companion intended to severely hurt.