Chapter 5

Chapter 5

My footsteps against the cold stone reverberated off the quiet houses and buildings as I passed by. It was the only sound I heard as I desperately attempted to make my way home. Only a few more blocks and I would make it there, make it to safety. I was trying my best to stay near other people when I could, but it was causing me to make detours I wouldn’t normally take. There were only so many people out in the early hours. Had I gone my normal route, I would have been home already and likely snuggling into bed.

I rounded a corner to an alleyway that would let me cut across toward Luna Way, the irony of the street name only just now hitting me as the moon lit my path. There were no runic lampposts down it. It was dark, with a small bit of black fog misting on the ground. If I sprinted across it, I wouldn’t even have to worry about my stalker. Taking a deep breath, I leaned forward to run down the path. Someone pulled my wrist and whirled my body around before I could take a step. I was once again chest to chest with the silver-haired vampire.

His voice vibrated in a growl. “How are you alive?”

There was a strange pull, a tug, on my senses as he held me. My body was calling to him and I so desperately wanted it to be quiet.

“Leave me alone,” I said as I pulled out of his grip. Twisting my body underneath his looming grasp, I tried to run down the alley and away from the beast that kept chasing me everywhere I went. This evening would not let me escape him.

His speed was unmatched, and he was on me again. Slamming my body into the wall, he held my hands above my head. The movement pushed what little breath I had out in a surprise; the air sucked out of my lungs. Feeling trapped, I lowered my eyes and glared at him with defiance.

“I made sure to drain you.” He motioned to the now dried blood that covered my clothes. “You should be rotting in that field, not arguing with soldiers. What are you?”

“Alive. Now leave me alone.”

His eyes lowered to meet mine, and I saw the flash of light cross them. “You will tell me what happened.”

I stared back at him with a fiery disobedience. “Let. Me. Go.”

They popped back open in surprise. The enchantment hadn’t worked on me that time. Knowing he had less power over me filled me with a fiery rage. He would not get the best of me, not again. Using what strength I could, I lifted my legs toward my chest and tried my best to kick him off me.

His hands slid around my thighs instead and let them wrap around his waist. He let gravity pull my body into him, letting my hips rest comfortably against his. I was now pressing into him in an extremely compromising position. If anyone happened upon us, they’d think we were lovers. The thought and position made the heat flush to my cheeks.

I felt his fingers slide across my throat and tighten. At first, I could feel the pressure, the pain of his strength crushing my neck, but then it stopped. He snatched his hand away with a grunt and held it as if it was burning.

“Well, that’s unfortunate.”

I glared at him with a hatred I didn’t know I even possessed. “What is? What just happened?”

He sighed as his hands were cupping my rear before letting my legs fall back to the ground. “M’dear, it seems you are my hollow.”

“I’m sorry. I’m your what?”

“Hollow. You will need to come with me.”

I scoffed and started walking away again. “Absolutely not. Did we forget that you just tried to murder me a few hours ago?”

“Actually, I just tried to kill you again, but it wouldn’t work…”

He was following me as I marched away, obviously giving me more agency than I expected. The idea of running away to live with a vampire was completely out of the question. I had a life to live and a business to run. People were expecting me and my goods. I would be missed. Not to mention that he could eat me whenever he wanted, and he was a literal embodiment of evil. The idea did not sound enticing.

“Yeah, no. I’m going to have to politely decline that offer.”

In a flash, he was in front of me, leaning against the edge of the alley. “You don’t really have an option, human.”

I pushed past him to the main street, Luna Way. I had finally made it. There, sparkling glass in the first rays of the day, was my large greenhouse. Connected to it was my tiny little apartment. It wasn’t much, but it was home.

He leaned in over my shoulder, pulling my dark hair back behind me with light movements. His fair complexion against my warm, tanned skin created a striking difference. My body shivered at his delicate touch. I could feel his breath against my cheek, floating around with sensual thoughts. He pointed toward the gathered Lightbringers that were waiting for my arrival. They milled around the front of the greenhouse. There was an entire patrol unit.

“You see, here’s what’s going to happen: you and I, our fates are tied together now. You know what a hollow is, correct?”

I only gulped in response. I knew of the ones they called hollows that attacked people in the forest. They were once human, but now empty of life thanks to vampires. How I was one, I had no idea. Deep in my heart, I knew he was correct though. I could feel something missing. I felt what the name implied.

He brushed his finger along my jaw. “You only have a limited time until you turn into one of the darkened variety. What do you think these men would do to you if that happened?”

I gritted my teeth.

He put both hands on my shoulders and leaned in closer to whisper. “You are coming with me or you’re going with them. I offer you at least your life. They won’t be so kind.”

The daylight was getting brighter and I could tell he was not keen on it expanding toward our alleyway.

“I’ll be back for you tonight. I expect you’ll be ready. Pack lightly. We have some traveling to do.”

With that, his presence was gone, and the pull I had toward him severed. The armed Lightbringers were waiting at my door as I let out a nervous breath. I wasn’t a hollow; I wasn’t bound to a vampire. None of that could be true. This whole evening was just some strange hallucination. I was just a woman who got caught up in a situation she couldn’t control. The Lightbringers were most likely there to ask about the hollow I said I saw, the violent one, not me.

I took a deep breath and strolled toward my home. I rolled my eyes when I noticed Bazak once again as he stood closest to my door. Twice in one day was too much for me. I would prefer to never see the man again and yet he continues to put himself firmly in my life.

“Took you quite a while to arrive home, Ms. Ott.”

I bowed in greeting to the group of men in front of me. “My apologies if you were waiting long. The exhaustion from running from such a terrible event caused me to walk slower than I realized.”

“We need to discuss the event,” he stated in a flat tone.

“We already have.”

His hand moved to rest on the hilt of his sword as an obvious threat.