If You Love Me

This is it, I thought. I'm going to die.

A profound gloom curled its way around my heart.

Never in a million years did I imagine my life would end this way. If I pictured anything, it was that I disappeared into nothingness as the vampire queen took over my body. Dying like this? No one would know.

And I thought of Silindra on an altar, her blood drained from her body.

Sacrificed for Sharra's whims.

I never would've guessed my fate would be so entwined with hers.

I didn't want to die. I didn't want those I loved to die. I wanted to live!

The knife hovering above me abruptly descended and sank deep into my chest.

If I could have, I would have cried out in pain. I felt every rip, every tear, every shredded vein, and vessel as the blade entered my body.

But I was unable to move.

The knife retreated as quickly as it dropped and once again hung above my chest.

Blood slid from the blade and on to my shirt.