جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 180

*Ana*“Why-” The breath is knocked out of me as I look at my stained fingers. The red color is spreading thinly over my hands as I stare on.Why is there blood? I touch my nose again to find more- it’s bleeding.Am I having a nosebleed? But that can’t be possible- Vampires don’t unless-Mykhol! I look up to my cousin for answers, but his hands freeze in place. His face is pale. He looks as lost as I am.“Mykhol, something is-!” The pain rips through me again. It’s not my stomach anymore. My whole body is on fire. My skin feels like it’s tearing open.What’s happening!?“It hurts!” I can’t even stand. My legs wobble as I feel my strength leave me. I’m going to fall.“Ana, hold onto me.” Mykhol is quick at my side. I squirm against the feeling of his arms around me. The touch hurts. Everything hurts.“I-” I barely gasp as I find a pause between the throbbing. I look at Mykhol, looking down on me with a woeful look. But it’s no longer a surprise. It’s like he knows what it means.So do I

*Hidi*As the music continued to play, Hidi could see the verifiable change amongst the attendees. The once enthusiastic girls now merely moved through the motions. Hidi doubted anyone was enjoying it. No one in the room even wanted to be there. But with Queen Belinda ever present, they didn’t want to come off as rude. So, the dance moved on. Though their faces no longer smiled and were drawn with worry and quick whispers.“Do you think it's safe?” One girl whispered near them.“The King said they had it under control.” Another followed. However, as much as they tried to assure themselves, it didn't seem to stick. Girls nervously looked over their puffed-sleeved shoulders to the door. They appeared almost expectant that someone, likely Ana, would come running in.Stupid girls. Hidi could only look down on them. They were silly, with small heads and tiny brains. Hidi held no such fear. Even if Hidi were afraid, she'd still have no reason to because she was a giant. And Giants natur

*King Alexander*It was some time into the night when the door clicked in the hall. King Alexander shifted back to his feet at full alert as he watched for the door. It was an opening for someone to step out.“Your Majesty?” One of the guards behind him, shifted by King Alexander, threw back his hand.“It’s alright.” He spoke evenly. No trace of fear could be heard or seen from the man because he wasn’t.“Ana?” King Alexander gently called and took a step forward. He could hear someone shift in the doorway. Was it her? King Alexander tried to lean closer before he heard the guards shift. He couldn’t move any closer without them following.King Alexander worried that the sight of them might frighten Ana back into her room. And she might not come out again. King Alexander needed to be careful. So he stopped where he was. But his eyes focused on the door.“Ana, baby? Are you okay?” King Alexander called again, this time a little louder. Besides, he heard something move.Is she afraid to

*Naska*Naska got up from the bed slowly. Her eyes watched Ana. She slept soundly, her silver hair spilling over the pillows like water. It made her look so peaceful as she gently breathed.As Naska watched, she could feel her stomach twist. A dark cloud of doubt now came over her mind. The feeling surprised her. Am I in the wrong? Naska thought with another twist in her gut. She felt conflicted.“She’s gonna get Bruno in?” Naska rubbed her arms. They were dirty and caked in blood- Ana’s blood. But Naska mindlessly rubbed at them as if it were not so. Naska couldn’t believe it. Something had to be wrong. How could things work so well?Just like that? Naska thought, taking another step back. She could see how Ana opened her lips to breathe softly- she was out as soon as her head had hit the pillow. When she woke up again, she’d no doubt be hungry. Naska predicted.The blood lust is going to hit her hard.But the thought slipped past Naska as it wasn’t as important. She was still re

*Nicoli*“Is he gone?” Nicoli peeked out from the covers to see the guard nod.“Yes, Your Majesty.” Yes! Nicoli could almost celebrate- but there was no time. He needed to be quick.But first things first, Nicoli sat up from the bed to eye the guard. It was his luck to have Tobi out of the whole bunch. Tobi was one of the softer-hearted guards- he liked to give Nicoli rocks that looked interesting from the outside.Tobi was also gullible. He never had kids of his own- so he never learned how honestly mischievous they could be. Thus, Nicoli couldn't have asked for a more perfect candidate than Tobi. “Tobi, I have a confession to make.” Nicoli made the effort of pouting as if this were the hardest thing to say—all a performance, of course. I have to sell it. Nicoli knew. Because his life depended on it now, he had a mission.So please, fall for it. Nicoli even threw a little disheartened sigh. It seemed to work as Tobi shifted on his feet. “A confession?”“I…can’t sleep.” “Is th