Void(7)

“Everything looks so expensive here,” I mused as we passed by a store window that was digitized to advertise what they sold inside. Based on the photos of beautiful men and women with prominent veins, I thought it was a safe bet that it was one of the notorious blood banks.

“My people are advanced and meticulous. Most of our kind has been a spearhead for technological advances. Why not flaunt it? We enjoy the fruits of our wealth.”

I snorted. “The fruits of your wealth? Geez, listen to you. You sound like you’re already sitting on the council.”

His face turned stony. “I’m a paragon. What did you expect?”

I shrugged as we walked, looking up at a place called Bend and Blood. The storefront sign had flashing lights around an exotic dancer with a bloody neck. Classy.

“I expected you to still act your age. You’re attending the academy, right? So that puts you at nineteen, not a hundred.”

Render pressed his lips into a thin line while I continued to enjoy the scenery. I’d probably never be back here, so I wanted to soak it all in. For the most part, you couldn’t really tell that the people walking by us weren’t human, except that they were all oddly beautiful and moved with graceful fluidity that came from years of immortality. They were pale, but most of them didn’t walk around with their fangs out, so it just seemed like this city had been blessed with extra beauty chromosomes. Their trends in wardrobe might’ve made some humans pause, but honestly, they made capes look good.

“Why did we come here anyway?” I asked, ducking past an older male vampire who seemed to sniff the air as I went by.

“Headquarters. Since this is a vampire issue, the council agreed to meet here. It was safer than transporting the female. If she got out in her state...” Render’s words trailed off. I observed him for a moment, noting the anguish in his frowning lips and the way he kept brushing his hands through his dark hair in a nervous tic.

He didn’t need to explain further. Vampires cursed with bloodlust could take out entire cities if left unchecked. They went mindless with thirst, losing all sense of themselves in the process. It was a terrible sickness that their kind caught, and although it was rare, it still happened. Usually, they had to be put down.

“You don’t seem happy that the council is meeting here,” I pointed out.

“I just hate these council meetings,” he replied in a moment of honesty. Maybe the Vampire Paragon wasn’t so bad after all. “I also don’t want to be seen with you. It’s bad for my reputation,” he added.

Nope. The guy was a total asshole.

Vampires strolled past us as we made our way down the busy city sidewalk, many of them stopping to talk to Render or smiling at him when they saw his face. He looked a bit embarrassed by the attention, which surprised me. He seemed like the type of arrogant male who would enjoy this kind of fanfare, but I guess not. Whether he liked it or not, Render was someone important to them. Even being as young as he was, he seemed to have mastered the politically polite smile.

“Render, I didn’t hear that you were back!” A woman walked up, greeting him with a bright smile. She had sharp teeth and a toddler on her hip who was busy shaking a rattle shaped like bones. Her long, floral dress clung to her beautiful curves, and she had a slight accent that I couldn’t place.

Render stopped to talk to her, and they exchanged polite pleasantries while I stood on the sidelines like a lost puppy. I was gawking at the electric cars as they passed by and men in suits who drank blood-infused coffee and walked to work using everything from hoverboards to town cars, and even flashed by with their super-speed.

“You’re almost done at the academy,” the woman was saying.

Render plastered on a smile. “I’ll be glad to graduate and take my seat on the council. Will you be attending the council ball that we’re hosting this year?” he asked in a warm voice.

“Of course! Wouldn’t miss it,” she replied before bouncing the child on her hip. She was beautiful like most vampires. With bright blue eyes and a calming voice, I found myself feeling envious of the adoring way she stared at her baby. Had my mother ever been that way with me? I squeezed my eyes shut at the question, but the memory of that one night—the night it all went wrong—came crashing to the forefront of my mind.

“Goodnight, Devicka,” Mom’s sweet voice said as she leaned over to kiss my forehead. She’d done this every night since I was born. Her soft lips landed on my skin, but just as she did, I felt my skin buzz at the contact. Black, thick smoke started to fill the room, and I jerked back in surprise.

“Mom?” I called out, suddenly scared.

She pulled away and grinned. “Oh, honey! You must be getting your powers! It’s finally time!” She gripped my hands, holding me steady as her eyes filled with moisture. More smoke covered our skin, licking me with an unfamiliar hunger as it flowed like waves over her.

“Mom? Something doesn’t feel right,” I gritted while trying to jerk my hands back, but she kept her grip firm.

“Give in to your powers, Devicka. Let them come out.” Her eyes twinkled with joy, but the buzzing intensified. A dark, churning hunger rose up inside of me, and my teeth chattered, jarring my skull. I tried to pull away again, but she was latched on so tightly, looking around the smoke with wide eyes. “It must be fire element. That’s what the smoke is,” she said. “Unless...unless you’re inheriting your father’s demon powers.” I could tell that thought didn’t please her based on the way her lips turned down in a frown.