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FORTY | THORNS
The door opened a crack. As I leant forwards, the sharp nose and hard jaw began to soften. The nose, though perfectly straight, looked less hard-angled as my eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight. It was a face composed of balance: a soft, sensually curved upper lip beneath high, arched cheekbones. It was a face that I knew.
“Cyrus?” I said, booting open the door and pulling myself up to my full height beside him.
“Hi,” he smiled. His eyes, like shadowed pools on a clear day, searched mine tentatively. I gave nothing away.
“You hit my car?”
His chest puffed up, affronted. “Of course not. Look – it’s utterly unscathed.”
“That’s wonderful,” I scowled. The blade in my hand felt hot and conspicuous. As discreetly as I could, I slipped it up and under the sleeve of my jacket.
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The Hunter and the Vampire FORTY-TWO | OF CASTLES AND KINGS
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The Hunter and the Vampire FORTY-FOUR | UNKNOWN
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The Hunter and the Vampire FORTY-EIGHT | BROKEN
Lightening split the sky overhead, and the rain continued to fall. It shone purple for an instant, and then, once more, darkness overcame the world. I gripped the wheel with white-knuckled, trembling hands. My heart clenched, and my lungs shivered with sobs.I sped away from my old home, and I tried not to look back. I knew that, if I did, I would only see heartbreak in its purest form, and Harper’s cries would overwhelm me. I stared forwards, my eyes fixed on the rain-drenched road, and despite my tremors I kept my foot steady on the accelerator. My numb hands began to loosen as I drifted further away from Harper, from my raw past, and my jaw hardened and set. I would not look back.I had to focus if I was going to go through with it. I had to, if I was going to confront Cyrus. I didn’t know what he was for sure; this was the only way to know. I’d taken too many chances, let too many people die.Despit
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