The Compelled (The Vampire Diaries 19)

“Good,” Lady Alice said simply. “Now, let’s pledge vinculum. And then we’ll formulate a plan. Stefan, please take my blood. Damon, you too.” She held her arms out toward us, her wrists facing the vaulted ceiling.

“Take your blood?” I repeated, hoping I’d misheard.

Lady Alice nodded briskly, not moving her arms. “Yes. With your fangs, please. Vinculum happens when a witch freely gives her blood and a vampire freely accepts it. No spells, no compulsion, no lying. Just an honest exchange. You will be bound to me, and I’m bound to my coven. But again, if any deception occurs, or any lives are lost, vinculum is broken.”

“What happens if vinculum is broken?” Damon asked.

“It varies,” Lady Alice said smoothly. “Broadly speaking, it means we have to face the wrath of the other species. All propriety and rules are forgotten, and we battle until we f

eel balance is restored. In this case, we’d kill you. And I assume you would kill us,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Seems fair.” Damon nodded, but I felt dread creep through my veins. The witches were brutal. If things didn’t go according to plan, we’d suddenly have a powerful new enemy.

“Are we agreed, then?” Lady Alice asked as she pushed her wrist under my nose. Her skin smelled of gardenias and jasmine and I wanted so badly to taste the blood running underneath it. I staggered back.

“I can’t. Damon will just have to do it,” I said.

“All right,” Lady Alice said uncertainly, turning toward Damon.

“No.” I turned to stare at Lavinia, who was shaking her head. “Either both of them do it, or I won’t allow this bond to happen. Why doesn’t the vampire drink?”

“I don’t drink human blood,” I mumbled. I’d always been proud of my resolve, but here, when blood was being offered, I felt weak. What if I couldn’t stop at a sip? What if I ruined everything?

“Then how did you ever expect to fight this Samuel?” Lavinia asked, her eyes boring right into me. I glanced over to Cora, but she looked down at her hands folded in her lap. “You said that you were bringing vampire strength to this battle. But if you’re refusing blood, then you’re refusing that strength within you,” Lavinia said.

“We only need one vampire to do it, right? Maybe it’s better…”

“Not for me,” Lavinia said flatly. “Either this vampire feeds on Alice’s blood, or the deal is off.”

I looked at Cora, and she nodded encouragingly. Still, she didn’t truly know what human blood did to me. In her mind, I was a wishful hero. She didn’t know me as the monster who’d never, ever have his fill.

“Go on, brother,” Damon said. It was the same phrase he’d used to egg me on countless times, ever since I was a child and he’d dared me to jump off the Wickery Bridge on the first warm day of the year.

I didn’t have a choice. I slowly pulled her wrist to my mouth. My fangs sliced into her skin, releasing the pungent, sweet smell of blood into the air. I plunged my canines into the tiny blue veins in her wrist and was hit with waves of ecstasy I hadn’t felt in almost twenty years. I allowed the blood to wash down my throat, feeling it soothe all the pain and fear I’d carried. It surged through my body, making me feel safe and strong and alive. This was better than the blood in New Orleans, better than the oceans of blood I’d drunk during the murderous sprees of my youth.

Better than my father’s blood.

I wanted more, as much as possible, enough to fill my veins and my heart. A growl escaped from my lips.

“Vampire!” Lavinia called sharply.

I pulled back and wiped my mouth. I felt all eyes on me.

“I’m sorry if I got carried away,” I said stiffly.

“You did exactly as I asked,” Lady Alice said, but her face was pale. “Damon?”

She held out her wrist and I watched as Damon slowly took a small sip, as though he were drinking a fine champagne. I couldn’t help but feel he was being so mannerly on purpose, to show the blood-hungry brother how proper feeding was done. I knew that even though I’d drunk from Lady Alice’s wrist briefly, I’d revealed part of my true nature. I was too greedy, too insistent, and I’d heard my angry, guttural growl as clearly as everyone else had.

When Damon finished, Lady Alice brushed the excess blood away with the inside of her sleeve. “Now, Damon and Stefan, come join our circle.” She held out her hands. Instead of standing next to her, I chose to stand between Damon and Lavinia. It seemed safer. Because now that the taste of Lady Alice’s blood was on my tongue, it was all I could think about.

Lady Alice began to chant, and, one by one, the other witches joined in. I allowed my tongue to run back and forth over my teeth; the filmy coating left by the blood felt like both a blessing and a curse. The flames from the fire dimmed, sending the room into semidarkness.

“Vinculum,” Lady Alice said. The rest of the witches echoed the word.

Vinculum, I said under my breath. I hoped it worked. It had to. Lavinia dropped my hand. The room brightened.

“It’s done. We’re bound,” Lady Alice said.