FIVE

Adam

I watched as she walked ahead, determined to make me see what she saw. But I have already taken care of the body, placed it on the side of the alleyway, and made him drink my blood to cure the wound on his neck.

"I saw him there. Someone--Someone was killing someone."

"You must have been hallucinating," I said and she whirled to look at me. I muttered a silent curse when I saw how frightened she looked. 

I had been too careless. My hunger is getting harder to satiate. After I tasted her blood--fuck. I couldn't get enough. Even right now as I looked at her, all I could see is that slender neck of hers. All I could hear is the loud pounding of her pulse as if inviting me to feel it. To sink my fangs in it--

"Have you been drinking?" I asked, to divert the topic and to divert my attention from her. 

I've tasted her blood once and gods, it was the most delicious one I have ever tasted. I don't know what's with this woman. Why is her blood different? 

She turned to look at me and gave me a hopeless look. "I swear I know what I saw."

She was on the verge of crying and I honestly felt bad that I had to lie to her. But it was something she should have seen. I sighed and walked closer to her before I held both her shoulders. Compulsion should be enough. 

"You never saw anything tonight. You did not see someone killing someone else. You did not see me tonight. You are going straight home and sleep." 

Her eyes went blank as she stared into mine. Slowly, I removed my hands from her shoulders and took a step back. Her eyes looked like they were staring at nothingness. 

Then she started to walk ahead, not giving me a single glance. I watched her walk and maintained a safe distance until she reached her house. 

I was standing in front of the huge house when I felt a presence behind me. I didn't need to turn around to see who it was. 

"I have taken care of the body," Tristan said and I nodded at him. 

"Thank you, Tristan. Is father home?" 

He nodded. 

"Do me a favor and don't tell father about that girl. I'll take care of her." 

Tristan looked at me questioningly. "What's with that girl?" 

She could satiate my curse. It was only temporary but when I drank from her, the curse was nullified. I did not go berserk or uncontrollable. It was as if her blood was a temporary pain relief. It was better than nothing. And when my father finds out about her, he's not going to hesitate using her to cure me. 

I can't let that happen. I can't let anybody know especially that another person might exploit her too. 

"She saw me feed on someone tonight. I compelled her to forget but father may not let it pass. She's from my class."

Tristan looked convinced and nodded. He did not say anything and just disappeared. 

I gave the house one last look before I too, took off. 

***

Midnight came and I was already in a chamber designed specifically to contain me. Chains on my wrists and on my ankles, I stood in the dark and waited for it to come. 

The first sign of the curse was the cold feeling I start feeling deep in my chest. And it spreads through every limb and then I feel nauseous. I gasped and my back hit the cold wall. I started to breathe harder and my heartbeat thundered.

My knees wobbled and I was suddenly kneeling on the ground. The hunger came next. It was the kind of hunger that could never be satiated no matter how much blood I drink. I was cursed that way and I have no way of curing it. 

Suddenly, the door of the chamber opened, and in came a familiar figure. 

"F-Father," I called as he stood in front of me. 

"Such a sorry state for you, Adam," he said but his voice sounded too far away. 

"Father, p-please. Please close the door." I couldn't recognize my own voice. I don't know what my father is doing here in the chamber. 

"I can't let you be like this, anymore," he said. "I don't know what you've been up to these days but I heard of this certain girl." 

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. 

Did Tristan tell him? 

My body started to burn and my throat started to dry. I lifted my head to look at my father and he was looking at me too, as if reading the question on my mind.

"Tristan refused to tell me about what you've been up to so I had to take the answers from him. Forcibly." 

I gritted my teeth. I should have known. I should have known that he would do this. 

He crouched in front of me and lifted my chin. "You're going to inherit my title and be the head of this clan, Adam. I can't let a cursed man rule. I know you found something to help you with your curse. Now, I need you to use it."

"Father, no--"

"You've suffered long enough with this curse. It's been centuries, Adam. If you found a way to end this, then end this now." 

And just with that, the chains that bound me were gone. 

"No, no. I can't be out, father. I am going to hurt anyone--"

"You are not going to hurt anyone, Adam," he said, stern voice pinning me on the spot. His hands grabbed both my naked shoulders and glared at me. 

"You will go and find that girl or I will drag her here myself. Choose." 

He then stood and looked at me, kneeling on the ground. A choice. Both are not good ones. 

He turned and went to the door of the chamber before he turned to look at me. 

"You're going to be the next clan head, Adam. You're a vampire. Humans are mere food for us. Treat them like that and your life will be easier."

And then he was gone, leaving me unbound. 

I tried to put the chains back on my wrists and ankles but it was no use. He had completely shattered them to pieces. My hunger was tugging deep inside me, calling my attention. This can't be. I can't be let out while I am in this state. 

I don't want to repeat what I had done many years ago. 

I groaned as the hunger became too much. My senses heightened and I couldn't think straight. My head spun and then all I could think about was her--the way her heart started racing, her slender neck, the flawless skin, her lips, her eyes--everything was about her. And then the memory of how her blood tasted like a prayer that was marked into my brain, not letting me forget about it. Her blood--oh god--her blood was the richest I've ever tasted. The sweet smell and the coppery taste of it in my mouth were all I could ever think about. 

Before I knew it, I was already on my feet, staring at the open door of my chamber.

Annalise. That was her name. I shouldn't hurt her. I shouldn't feed on her again. 

But then my senses left the chamber. It traveled through the dark and quiet streets. It went to the familiar road and then to that familiar house where I was earlier. And then to the open window on the second floor where the sweet smell was coming from. 

Then I saw her lying on the bed, sleeping peacefully, not having any idea that I was watching her. 

My hunger jumped, as though telling me to sink my fangs into her skin. 

No matter how hard I tried to control myself, it was no use. The moment I saw her, my body started moving. 

Before I knew it, I was already in her bedroom, watching her. I wanted to turn around and leave but the sweet smell was like a seduction--something that I can't possibly refuse. Before I knew it, I was already taking steps forward and shoving her hair out of her neck.