A New World

My head throbbed so violently I thought I might throw up. I had no idea how long I’d been unconscious—just that Deric was responsible for it. I was being carried, slung over his shoulder like a sack of flour. The realization that I was completely at his mercy made my stomach churn. I wanted to struggle, to kick, to scream, but my body refused to cooperate. I felt weak, immobilized by whatever spell or drug he’d used on me. My voice, however, was still working just fine.

“You fucking bitch! Do you have any idea what you’re doing? This is kidnapping!”

“Shhh.” Deric’s voice was an unsettling mix of amusement and concern. “I hardly think it counts as kidnapping if I’m helping you out.”

Helping me? Helping me?! I had only met this arrogant, psychotic vampire a handful of times, and every encounter left me more baffled than the last. Why would someone like him be “helping” me? Unless, of course, his version of help meant something terrifying—like killing me or feeding off me. My panic spiked.

“Are you going to kill me?” I demanded, my voice shaking despite my bravado. “Or suck my blood? Is that it?”

“I already told you I’m helping you.” He paused, and then, to my utter confusion, added, “Besides, your blood smells too much like Silas. I want nothing to do with that.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

Before he answered, Deric unceremoniously dropped me onto the ground. Pain shot up my spine as I landed hard on my ass. “Ow! What the fuck!” I glared up at him, realizing he’d done it on purpose. My limbs were sluggish, but I was slowly regaining some mobility. Whatever spell he’d used was wearing off, though it was taking effort to even move.

“Alright, listen.” Deric crouched in front of me, his expression unusually serious. “Your darling stepbrother has gone crazy. Humans are going missing, and vampires are taking over. I like you, so I decided to get you to safety. Go ahead and thank me if you want.”

My jaw dropped. I stared at him, trying to process his words. “What... what the hell are you talking about? I don’t believe you.”

“Which part?”

“All of it! I just left home earlier today, and everything was fine. Are you seriously telling me an apocalypse started a few hours after I left?”

“I wouldn’t call it an apocalypse,” Deric replied, shrugging. “More like a revolution. And, of course, you’re ignoring the important part: I said I’m helping you because I like you.” He gave me an expectant look, like he was waiting for me to blush or swoon.

Instead, I stared at him blankly. “I don’t care if you like me. You kidnapped me out of my own bed. Forgive me if I’m not throwing you a parade.”

Deric rolled his eyes. “Damn humans. Whatever.”

“What’s really going on, Deric?” I demanded, my voice rising. “Why did you kidnap me?”

“How many times do I have to tell you? I’m trying to protect you. The last thing your brother said before he lost his mind was, ‘Protect Kerry. Don’t let anything happen to her.’ So here I am, protecting Kerry.”

“You’re not explaining anything! What do you mean Silas ‘lost his mind’? What are you protecting me from?”

Deric sighed, pulling out his phone. “I’ll just show you.” He tapped on the screen a few times before shoving it toward me. “Watch.”

The video played, and my blood ran cold. The chaotic scene showed vampires rampaging through the streets, attacking humans as screams echoed in the background. The camera zoomed in on a woman, her terrified face frozen in horror as a vampire fed on her. Cars were abandoned, and people were running for their lives. It was carnage.

I reached forward to replay the video, but Deric pulled the phone back. “Now do you understand?” he asked.

“What... what the hell was that?” My voice trembled. “Why—why were those people being attacked? They were feeding on them!”

“Yes,” Deric said flatly.

“What are the police doing about it?!”

“Not much they can do,” he replied.

My mind raced. How could everything fall apart so quickly? I thought of my mom, of her panicked voice on the phone earlier. She had been trying to warn me, but I didn’t understand until now. Fear clawed at my chest as I imagined what might have happened to her, to Silas, to Bill.

“I need to check on my family,” I said, panic rising. “Please, Deric, you have to take me to them.”

“No can do. It’s not safe.” He leaned back casually, like we were discussing the weather. “Silas said his dad would look after your mom. I’m supposed to get you to a human camp or something. With everything going on, it won’t be long before someone tries to kidnap you.”

“How did this even happen?” My voice was barely above a whisper.

“Our Vampire Elders decided they no longer wanted to coexist with other supernaturals. They want full control. Humans are food, and everyone else is... well, dead. It’s fucked up.”

“You knew about this, didn’t you?” I hissed.

“Of course. My father is one of the Elders. But I don’t support—hey!” Deric ducked as I swung at him. “Cut that out, would you?”

My punches and kicks were wild and desperate, fueled by fear and frustration. None of them landed. He dodged effortlessly, smirking the entire time, which only made me angrier. The world was falling apart, and this arrogant bastard was making it all worse.

I thought of my mom, Silas, Bill, and even my friends. They were all I could think about. I couldn’t just leave them behind. “You’re fucking insane if you think I’m going anywhere with you!” I shouted.

“Why?” Deric looked genuinely baffled. “I told you, I won’t hurt you.”

“I have to get back to my family! If you’re really trying to help me, then you’ll take me back.”

“I already told you, it’s too dangerous,” he snapped. “If someone sees you and decides to use you as a hostage, there’s nothing I can do. I’m not betraying my people just because one stubborn human girl refuses to listen.”

“You’re in on this, aren’t you?” I accused. “You want to enslave everyone! What is this for, huh? World domination? Do you want to rule the planet like you did in the Dark Ages?”

Deric stared at me silently, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought he might actually leave me behind. Even if he was trying to protect me, I couldn’t trust him—not when my family was still out there.

Finally, he let out a frustrated sigh. “Fine. I’ll take you.”

He held out his hand, but I only glared at it suspiciously, waiting for the trap to spring. He snorted and grabbed my hand anyway, pulling me to my feet and leading me further into the forest.