must admit, I considered it myself, but the face of my beautiful mate kept flashing in my mind. I promised I would come home to her. She is the only beautiful light left in this world of evil.
~
2nd Blood Battalion – Night Three-Hundred
Eleven of our own died during the day, but not by enemy hands. No, the enemy never came for us again, feeling no need to waste their resources when they knew they had already infected us. Our battalion is afflicted with hunger, and it is spreading like a plague. Many are afraid to leave out of fear of facing the enemy. We are already so weak, we wouldn’t stand a chance. I’ve even witnessed some feeding on themselves out of shear desperation. They latch onto their arms and drain themselves. It’s sickening, but the scent of their blood makes my body convulse. I’ve thought about crawling out of the cave and waiting under the stars until the sun swallows me, but I do not have the strength to do so. I believe my time is nigh.
~
2nd Blood Battalion – Night Three-Hundred Nine
I love you Celeste. I know I promised to come home to you, but the Goddess has not willed it to be so. I pray that you will find it in your heart to forgive me. Our bodies may be parted, but our souls will forever be joined, my love. Stay strong, my love, my heart, as I have stayed strong for you. Thy face has been my only comfort, and I will go in peace knowing you are alive and safe.
~
I turned the next page, but it was blank. As was the next, and the one after that. What happened? Did the reinforcements ever arrive, or did Captain Jengo and his battalion get slain by the enemy? Or… could it have been worse? Did they turn on each other out of sheer starvation; no longer able to control the raging hunger that was burning inside them? Did Celeste ever read this journal? Did she know how much her soldier missed her, or even what happened to him? My heart lurched in my chest. This had been what Baal had hoped to do to us. This was the pain he had wanted to inflict by destroying our blood banks. I had been hungry before, starving even, but I couldn’t imagine needing to feed so bad that I would kill one of my own. I could never do that… could I? I guess, inside, you think you are brave and strong but you never really know for sure until something happens. Something that makes you choose between humanity and the beast.
My fingers instinctively flew to my neck, only to find the stones were no longer there. Their determination for revenge and thirst for victory helped ease my fears and I felt naked without them; vulnerable.
The creaking sound of the library door made me jump in my seat; my nerves shooting through me like lightening. The entries in the book had strengthened the fear within me. Dmitry groaned beside me as I lifted my gaze to find Arrick strolling into the room. My heart instantly reached out to him, latching on for that immediate sense of tranquility whenever he was near. A sexy smirk played on his face, each of us enjoying the connection we shared.
“You okay?” he asked, detecting the lingering tendrils of fear that had woven around me.
I nodded. His strong hand rested on my shoulder as he leaned over me to catch a glance at what I had been reading. I caught a hint of his woodsy, masculine aroma and breathed deeply.
“What are you reading?” he inquired, surveying the mass of books scattered before us.
“It’s a long story,” I answered, shutting the book that rested in front of me. I didn’t think I could handle reading another entry, at least not right now.
“Well, I’ve got time. Want to go on a walk with me?”
“Um…” I looked to Robin and Dmitry, feeling guilty about the idea of leaving them behind to do all the work. Dmitry avoided my gaze, raising his book higher to cover his face. Robin glanced up, a suggestive smile pulling at her lips.
“Go,” she said, winking at me.
“Are you sure? This was my idea. I shouldn’t leave you two to do all the work.”
“We’re fine, right, Dmitry?” He didn’t reply, but she didn’t seem to notice at all as she turned her attention back toward me. “I really don’t mind, Claire. It’s actually