Original Sin (The Order of Vampires 1)

“Who’s there? Who are you?”

A familiar hand extended from the shadow and relief chased away her ominous fear.

“Ainsicht.”

Anna stepped closer. Adam’s eyes flashed in the shadows. She couldn’t recall leaving him, but here he was. “Where have you been?”

“Waiting for you. Come. We’re late.”

She reached out her hand, her fingers crossing into the cast glow of the lantern, and she paused. Thick blood coated her hand. She turned her palm, looking back at him. “What is this?”

He tsked and removed a kerchief from his pocket. “What have you done to yourself?”

“I... I don’t know.” She searched her body for pain but felt nothing. Her legs were numb and her hands clumsy.

He clucked his tongue. “You’re shivering. We must get you home.”

He lifted her, pulling her off the street and into the carriage. The door closed, blocking out the cold and the light. As the carriage lurched forward, their knees brushed.

“Where are we going?”

Resting an elbow on the door, a finger pressed over his mouth, he studied her. The swaying lantern outside the glass cast his features in waving shadows. “You’re bleeding.”

She looked at her hands, frowning once more. “I don’t know how?”

He lifted his chin. “Your throat.”

Raising her fingers, she touched her neck and gasped. “You were supposed to close it.” Warm, sticky blood pumped down her chest. “You have to stop it.”

He held up a hand. “Hush. Do you love him?”

“Who?”

As the horse picked up pace, the carriage jostled. “Me.”

Her gaze lowered to the floor. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“It hasn’t been long enough to—”

“By all means, take your time.”

She frowned at the snide turn of his voice. “Why are you being cruel?”

He chuckled. “My apologies. I thought—for a woman so eager to bed a perfect stranger—she must feel something for him.”

His judgment cut through her like a hot blade. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Let’s stop pretending we’re anything other than what we are. You reek of another man. You’re dripping with blood. You’re lost, wandering around searching for signs when the answers are right in front of you. It degrades your beauty when you play the obtuse innocent. We both know you’re neither innocent nor ignorant.”

Her jaw locked as her breathing labored, forming a cloud of vapor in the cold air of the carriage. “I want to get out. Tell the driver to stop, so I can open the door.”

“When will you stop running and learn to face the truth, Annalise?”

“I want to get away from you.”

He kicked out his foot and the door swung open the outside rushing by in a black blur as the pace of the horse’s footfalls filled the silence. “Go ahead.”

She glared at him through the shadowed interior. “You’re trying to upset me.”

“Life is upsetting.”

She believed in his goodness and his vow to keep her safe, but as the world rushed by and he stared at her with such indifference, she hardly recognized him. She reached for the leather strap on the ceiling, holding on to the handle and eyeing the open door.

“You don’t scare me,” she warned, calling his bluff. Adam would never let her fall from a moving carriage. This was some twisted game and he was going to lose.

He knocked on the ceiling. “Faster.”

The carriage lurched forward, and she lost her grip, falling into him. He shoved her to the floor and slammed the door.

“You’re bloodier than a spring lamb.” He glared at her. “And just as helpless. Get up.”

Her chest heaved as she caught her breath. “You’re not Adam.”

His eyes narrowed, his face twisting with a sneer. “Then who am I?”

Staring up at him, the resemblance was uncanny. From the line of their hair to the edge of their jaw, they were absolutely identical. She inhaled deeply, recognizing his smell from the day in the field. “You’re Cain.”

A slow, wicked smile caught in the passing moonlight. “That a girl.” He slowly shouldered off a jacket and rolled up his sleeve. “We have a long night ahead of us. I’ll require your full cooperation.” He smiled again, his distended fangs catching the light just before he bit into his exposed wrist.

She bolted for the door, and he shoved her back into the seat. The latch slammed down, locking them in.

“Stop the carriage!” She twisted, banging on the wall behind her head. “Stop the carriage!”

“There’s no stopping this, Annalise. It was always meant to be this way.”

Panting, she pushed her back as far into the corner as the cramped space would allow. “Why are you doing this? Adam will—”

“Adam has nothing to do with this.” He caught her arm and tugged her to his side.

She screamed and pushed away from him, but his strength was incredible. “Please! Don’t!”

“You need only take a sip.”

“No!” She twisted as he pulled her back to his chest and held her to him. Her lips formed an airtight seal as she shook her head with wild abandon.