His Enemy, Her Throne

The Night

Point

sketching in my notebook, the pencil scratching softly. My aunt used to say drawing kept me out of tro

ueaking on the wood floor. I opened the door, and there she was. a woman with dark hair and gray eyes that lo

y voice shaky.

ild, like a cat about to pounce. "Can I come in?" she ask

rd to say no. She walked past me, her boots clicking on the floor. She wore a black leather jacke

lite. My aunt always said to offer guests

she was nervous. I went to the kitchen, grabbed a mug, and filled it with hot water f

table. "I'm Jason," I said, sitting

ice low. She didn't touch the tea. Instead, she leaned closer, her eyes fl

ow, her face pale. I reached out to touch her

pinned to the floor. My back hit the wood hard, and I gasped. Her hands were like steel

azed my neck, and then pain shot through me, sharp and hot. I felt wet warmth, and my head got fuzzy. She was...

ca pulled back, her lips red with my blood. She looked shocked, like she didn't expect me

her. I lay there, breathing hard, my hand touching my neck. There were two small

ton. I kept touching the bandage I'd put on the bite marks. In class, I couldn't focus. My professor d

he wal

ead turned. Girls whispered, and guys stared. She was so beautiful it hurt to look at her. But

, my heart racing. She caught up, blocking my way. "Why didn't you forget?" she as

pped. "Why'd you atta

dying me. "You're not scared," she sa

ing. "But I'm also mad. You bit me! You ca

people would be dead. Or begging." She stepped even closer, her breat

re not friends. Or any

and kissed her lips cold and soft, but they burned like fire. I froze, my heart hammering. S

e wall. I didn't believe her. Not really. But

my head. I'd spent all day on my laptop, reading about vampires. Stakes, garlic, sunlight. none of it sounded real,

anning the crowd. No sign of Veronica. Maybe she was gone. Maybe I was safe. I s

et. My apartment wasn't far. I turned a corner, and there she was.Ve

. Her hand slammed into my chest, knocking me against a wall. The air rushed out of me. I tried

sped, my voice

and pain exploded. I fought, but it was like pushing

rned. Veronica sat across from me, her legs crossed, watching me lik

head spun. "Why do you k

ace close. "Because I can't stop," she whispered. Her fingers brushed my cheek

ike a monster. She looked like a person. "I'm sorry," she said, so quiet I almost missed it. Then she leaned

hands slid to my shoulders, and I didn't stop her. I didn't want to. We kissed again, deeper, and I

t I wasn't dizzy anymore. I felt... stronger. Like her bites were waking something up insi

ou?" I asked,

't know what was happening to me. I didn't know why I wasn't dead. But

wasn't a person. It was too big, too fast. Red eyes glowed in the da