Prey and Magic by RaShelle Workman, now you can read online.
Chapter 1
When you lose everything, there's only one option. Jump. Go all in. Which is what I did. With both fangs. I embraced my vampire... ism?... ness?... tendencies?... whatever. I accepted them and, the truth was, I liked it.
At least while I partook of human blood. After, when the drunken haze faded, guilt would edge its way in. I hadn't killed another human, not since Gabe, but killing him was horror enough. It ate at my heart. I remembered the grotesque way Gabe's body laid on the floor. The way Professor Pops and the guys looked at me. With loathing, disgust, and fear. But I deserved it. I'd become a monster, and killed a brother. A son. A boy I thought I might love. He kissed me, and I repaid him in blood. Lots of it. Maybe even all of it. My carnal need overtook all other emotions, and I let myself give in. Relished the sensation.
At those thoughts my mind grew darker, and I sank further away from everything that had to do with my former life.
I kept running.
Where I went didn't matter as long as I was further from where I'd been. The kind of life I lived before. I blocked away my father, my wicked stepmother, the amazing boys who were my neighbors, and the man who loved them. I buried thoughts of Cindy, my cat, Gatsby, and Christopher aka Chace aka my Hunter. None of them mattered anymore. Not to the new me. Even the name of my city was forgotten.
No longer an in between-part human and part revenant. I was a bloodthirsty fiend with an unquenchable thirst.
Chapter 2
I fixed my gaze on the night sky. Inhaling a deep breath, I smelled the air, tasted it, searching for the coppery fragrance I wanted. It was there. Past the rushing wind, through the woodland filled with fir and eucalyptus trees, and down on the sandy shore.
The distinct smell of the ocean. And blood.
Pulsing.
Pounding strong in the veins of two humans.
Fast.
Needy.
I let out an unearthly scream, and sprinted forward.
Toward my need.
My drug of choice.
The entity that made me what I was.
When I was only few feet from my prey, I slowed down, each silent stride closing the gap. The humans were in the throws of passion. They were on a blanket, kissing, and losing themselves in each other. The sight burned my eyes and my heart as memories of Gabe cut through me unbidden. I needed to forget. Drinking the humans' blood would help, would fill me up in ways nothing else ever could.
I stepped closer, the edges of my dirty, black Converse touching their blanket, while my heels sank into the soft sand.
The girl opened her eyes, and stopped kissing the boy. After a moment, she whispered. "Some skanky girl is watching us. What a perv." She giggled.
The boy swiveled his head. "Get out of here," he hollered. To the girl under him, he added, "She smells."
The girl giggled again. Probably grateful the guy on top of her didn't find me attractive. Recently though, since my change, I discovered I could change a human's feelings. Compel them to come to me, desire me, and even lust after me. Up until the moment I drained them into unconsciousness. The process was easy.
I knelt beside them. "Look at me," I demanded, my voice silky smooth.
The boy whipped his head around, a sliver of fear shading his brown eyes. He was handsome, lean. His blood smelled slightly like Gabe's. I swallowed.
"Get the hell away from us." He tried to shove me, but I didn't budge. The fear in his eyes grew.
"Look into my eyes," I ordered, enjoying the rush, the adrenaline. Knowing I possessed all the power.
He did as I said. "You smell divine." As I spoke his eyes dilated. The change in his demeanor was swift. He got off the girl, who let out an annoyed huff. I grabbed her chin. "Do you like the color of my eyes?" I'd discovered with girls, despite whether they sensed danger or not, they couldn't resist such a simple question. I think it stemmed from our innate need to compare ourselves to others.
I caught her glance and held it. "Such a pretty thing." Even in the moonlight I watched her blush, the crimson of her blood rushing into her plump cheeks.
"Th-thank you," she stammered. Her dilated cinnamon eyes no longer interested in the boy next to her, but totally focused on me.