102ADRIA’S POV.The kind of rage filling me was like none other. It was such a rage that drew tears to my eyes instantly. My fingers balled into fists, and my nostrils flared as I looked at the sad atmosphere in the class.“She didn’t come home last night. Her parents said that… that was unlike her. She never spent a night out, even when invited. She…she also wasn’t home this morning, so her mother came to school this morning to ask the teachers, and some of us who were around if… if… if we saw her.” Stacy said, trying to hold her tears.My lips quivered, and my vision was blurred as large tear balls formed.What wrong did Halsey do? She was just quietly living her life. She never upset anyone or got into fights. Angry tears fell down my eyes, and I couldn’t help the flow of emotions I was feeling.“She… she was reported missing a few minutes ago.” Stacy concluded, and my breath came out shaky.“Excuse me.” I managed to say, and stormed out of the class.Damn Derek! Damn him! How dar

104ADRIA’S POVMy lips ran dry as I read it, and I brushed past Stacy to the phone store, but Derek was no longer there.What did he mean my friends were next?“Adria. Are you okay?” Stacy asked, coming after me, and I nodded slowly.“Just promise me you’re not meeting any strangers, or going out at night.” I said, without looking at her. Instead, I was wondering if I could still see Derek.He could not just decide to mess with my friends. They were precious to me. They were what helped me hold on. I couldn’t begin to imagine how life would feel without them, and that single text had me scared to death.“Adria, are you sure you’re okay?” Stacy asked again, and I finally turned to her.“I’m just… I’m just… I think all the news of death might be getting to me. Don’t worry about me. I’ll get over it.” I assured her, trying to give her a reassuring smile.No matter what, I wanted everyone I loved to be safe because if I lost any of them, I would be heartbroken beyond repair.I took a ste

106ADRIA’S POVDerek was gone. He had left. What had happened? His text sounded like he was angry, but had no choice. I wanted to type in something mean, but decided to leave it.A mean comment could make him suddenly change his mind, or do something crazier.I was going to ask Lucien not to bother about chasing him to the ends of the earth anymore, instead he was to save it up for when Derek showed up again on his own.Derek had done a lot, and had changed my life in a lot of ways. Now that he was gone, I had no one else to blame for anything else that happened. It meant I had to be careful with myself.The last time I had the strong urge to drink blood, I had overcome it with thoughts of the people who mattered a lot to me, but it might not be as easy as that the next time.Buying animals wasn’t that hard. I could tame myself like Lucien suggested. If it were to buy countless chickens, and drink them as little as I could until they all gave birth, then I was willing to do it.Derek

108ADRIA’S POVAfter Lucien left, I had cleaned up the dishes, and arranged the house, while smiling to myself because it felt like we were married already.When I was done with all the cleaning, I sat in front of the television, which was tuned in to the news channel.“We’re not even in the morning. Why is this playing?” I asked, searching around for the remote controller. “Where is it? I thought I saw it earlier.” I said to myself, as I got up from the sofa to search for the remote. “Did you fall?” I asked, bending to check underneath the center table.My hair fell over my face, and I tucked it behind my ear, and just then, my phone rang. I turned, and looked at it.A silly smile crept on my face as I walked to it. I wondered if it was Lucien, but alas, it was my mother, and I giggled at my stupidity.Why did I even think it was Lucien? Was I already missing him?“Hey, mom.”“Hi, honey. How are you doing? You seem to be moving already. When last did I see you home?” She teased, and

110ADRIA’S POV.Lucien was backed into the wall by the force with which I had attacked him, and also due to the shock. He had not been expecting the attack, and neither had I.I wanted to ask if he was alright, but I kept on squeezing his neck.Lucien got a hold of himself, and pressed down on my wrists, so hard that it hurt. I took off my hands, snarling, preparing to strike him, but he blocked it skillfully.Kill… kill… kill.Those words echoed in my head repeatedly, and everything I saw was bathed in red. I wanted to sink my claws into his neck, and feel his warm blood rush between my fingers, and run down my elbows.“Adria!” Lucien called when I threw myself at him.He caught me, and held both my hands, turning me around, so my hands were tied behind me.I snarled, and raged as he continued to call my name. His voice irritated my ears, and I wanted to rip out his voice box.He called my name once more, and unbelievably, I lifted my legs like an acrobat, spreading them wide, and t