The Vampire Attack

CLAIRE'S POV

"She's such a bitch."

Someone said as she walked past my table in the cafeteria, intentionally raising her voice so that I could hear.

I didn't look up from my food. I didn't have to. I already knew it was one of the Faes. They had been glaring at me all day, whispering just loud enough for me to hear.

Refusing to look sideways either, I focused on my tray, pushing my food around with my fork and telling myself that it didn't matter.

But it did.

They were pissed about the party. About what Zane did to Lorien—though I still had no idea how that even started. Lorien wouldn't talk to me either. He hadn't even looked at me during lab class. And now, he was ignoring my texts, all thanks to Zane.

And speaking of Zane, he was sitting five tables away, letting Skylar hang all over him like a damn leech. Every two minutes, she was kissing him, touching him, making a show of it. And I was sitting there alone, like some kind of social disease.

I felt like throwing up. Or maybe just strangling him with my bare hands.

I rubbed the sides of my head in frustration. "Why can't I remember anything?" I muttered under my breath. "Why did Zane and Lorien fight? Did I do something?"

I was trying to jog my memory, but I got no answers. Just a pounding headache that I had woken up with this morning and a sick feeling in my stomach. I couldn't even remember how I got back to my room last night, let alone what happened at the party. It was like my memory was reset. All because of that son of a bitch.

My fingers curled around the orange on my tray. I picked it up, grabbed the knife and started peeling, dragging the blade harshly through the skin.

I pictured Zane's face instead.

I'd peel it all off.

"Ouch!"

Pain shot through my finger as the knife slipped. Blood appeared on the cut instantly, a drop splattering on the table.

I hissed, dropping the knife and reaching for a napkin, but the blood kept coming, dripping on the floor.

"Stop!"

A loud voice rang out and a scream made my head snap up.

I froze. A boy was running toward me, his eyes bloodshot red.

I hesitated, my heart racing. Before I could even process what was happening, someone else slammed into him, taking him down with a brutal force that rattled the cafeteria floor.

Caius.

My breath caught as I stared at the scene unfolding in front of me with an open mouth. The boy was thrashing on the ground, his veins protruding like something inside him was trying to break free.

People scrambled back, watching in shock as Caius pinned him down.

Then Caius turned his head toward me, with his own veins dark around his neck and face. "Cover your hand and get out of here!" he snapped.

I moved immediately he said that.

Clutching the napkin tightly to my wound, I stumbled to my feet and bolted, rushing out through the cafeteria doors.

I kept running and soon found myself at the basketball court, where I collapsed against the goal post, my heart hammering against my ribs.

What the hell just happened?

"Oh gosh…" My hands trembled as I held my chest, trying to steady my breathing. "O-Oh my gosh."

Did my blood do that to him?

The way he snapped, the way his veins bulged, like something inside him had completely lost control—it had been because of me, hadn't it?

I squeezed my eyes shut, breathing rapidly. What would've happened if Caius hadn't stepped in? Would I have been able to dodge his attack? Or would I have ended up on the floor, drained out?

My shoulders shook as the fear fully set in and tears escaped my eyes. I couldn't do this anymore. Carnemore wasn't for me. There was danger at every corner, and every day, I got closer to getting seriously hurt.

I thought about Caius and the look on his face when he told me to leave. He had been struggling too, holding himself back with everything he had.

I covered my face with my hands, my voice breaking as I whispered, "Dad, please get me out of here."

"I'm not sure he can hear you."

My head snapped up so fast and I saw that it was Caius standing a few feet away, watching me.

I quickly grabbed my handkerchief and pressed it against my wound, trying to hide it.

"It's fine," He said, stepping closer. "It's dried. And besides, I can control my urge. Most of us can but that boy is in first year."

I nodded shakily, wiping the tears off my face. "Thank you for saving me again."

He let out a soft chuckle. "Seems to be all I do these days."

I managed a small smile. "Don't ever stop, please."

His expression softened. "I don't intend to." He said. "You're the first human to ever come here. And even though you're half wolf, your blood still causes an urge."

I nodded, feeling even worse now. I was a walking trigger and I would constantly look over my shoulders in fear. Maybe this was why I was sent here. To pay for father's sins.

There was a solution though. A mark from my mate but that seemed even harder than surviving this place.

A sigh tore through me and I looked up at Caius.

I took a moment to look at him, really look at him. He was standing in the sunlight. The same sunlight that, according to everything I'd ever learned, should have been hurting him.

"How do you feel?" I asked, tilting my head. "It's sunny, and you're out here."

He chuckled again. "The sun only weakens me. It doesn't burn like you were told. We made the hunters believe that so they'd expect less of us during the day."

"Oh," I said, letting out a small laugh. "That explains it."

"Yeah." He stepped closer before sitting beside me on the bleachers. "How do you feel?"

I let out a slow breath. "Aside from fear, regret, loneliness, and guilt?" I paused. "I feel happy to be alive."

He smiled. "It'll get better."

I let out a dry laugh. "The last person who told me that isn't even talking to me anymore."

"Lorien?" he asked.

And I nodded. "How did you know?"

He simply shrugged, looking into the field. "I heard about what happened. I couldn't make it to the party, but trust me, word travels fast."

I shifted my feet, staring down at my hands. "So, did you hear what Lorien did?" I asked. "I don't even know how it started. I don't remember anything that happened last night."

Caius frowned as he turned to me. "Weren't you there?"

"I was," I said slowly, looking away from him. "I just… I don't remember."

His expression darkened. "Weird."

I nodded in agreement. "I think it was the vodka."

"Vodka?" he repeated, eyes narrowing.

"Yeah," I said. "I had, like, five glasses."

Caius stared at me for a moment before shaking his head. "They don't serve alcohol at the rave party."

"What?"

"There's no alcohol at those events," He explained. "It's a rule. Too many fights would break out otherwise."

I shook my head. "No, I know I was drinking vodka. It was strong, and I had a lot."

Caius went quiet, his jaw tightening like he was thinking something through. I watched him and a weird unease settled deep in my bones.

After a moment, he turned to me. "What were you wearing last night?"

I blinked. "Why does that matter?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

Caius didn't answer right away. "Were you wearing all green?"

How did he know that?

"Yeah… Lorien sent me a green dress. Even green contact lenses. Why?" I asked.

Caius exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face. "Maybe it's a good thing you don't remember."

I straightened as I stared at him suspiciously. "What do you mean? What happened?"

"I'll talk to you when I have answers," he said.

But that reply only made me more anxious. "Answers?" I pressed on. "What does that even mean?"

Instead of replying, Caius held out his hand. "Can I see your phone?"

I hesitated. "Why?" I searched his face. "Are you trying to ask for my number?"

He smiled and said, "Yes."

I rolled my eyes but handed him my phone anyway. He quickly dialed his number and handed it back. "Call me whenever you need my help."

Then, without another word, he stood and walked away. I sighed, he always seemed to zoom off at the peak of our conversations.

I shook my head, staring at his number on my screen. Something was off about last night and for some reason, Zane and Caius knew about it.

Was it Lorien? Did he do something? Was that why Zane fought with him?

Before I could think of any possible reason, a text popped on my phone that immediately made me feel cold to my bones.

My heart slammed against my ribs as I read it: What are you waiting for, daughter? Stop hiding who you are.