"No human mate had died — until I killed my own mate."
"And then?"
"Every human after… has died — not right away. Most live past a hundred having not aged at all. We think the immortality takes, and they simply don't wake up."
"You did something," she whispered, "to the natural order."
"Possibly."
"So it's your fault."
Heaviness descended like a fog. "It was my fault… for loving her too much."
"Your love for her destroyed everything."
"So now you know." I moved away from Genesis and laid my head down on the pillow next to her. "Loving again will take everything I have left."
"You can't love again? Or you won't?"
"It's already too late…" I slurred my words, darkness overtaking me. I needed blood and sleep. "It's too late for me now… but not for you."
"What?" Genesis shook my body. "What do you mean?"
"If you don't love back, the final step never completes itself. You'll be free. I'm setting you free."
"Ethan." Her voice was distant. "Ethan, what's happening?"
"Exhausted." I barely got the word past my lips.
Something soft hit one of my fangs. And then blood was trickling into my mouth.
Memories flashed.
"Now it's your turn to dream," Genesis whispered. "Dream of me."
Blackness overcame me and then, in an instant, I was sitting in a desk with other humans listening to the instructor drone on and on about immortals.
"Never look an immortal in the eye!" the teacher snapped. "You are nothing. Remember that."
I cringed.
A bell rang in the distance. I watched as Genesis stood and walked out by herself.
Her mother was waiting for her at the end of the hallway, hands on hips. "Where's your backpack?"
"Oh…" Genesis covered her mouth. She couldn't have been older than seventeen. "I totally forgot. I'll go back to my locker and—"
"Do you really think any immortal will want you? If you can't even remember something as silly as a textbook?"
Genesis shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.
"Useless." Her mother gripped Genesis's arm and shoved her the rest of the way down the hall. "Good thing your number will never be called — you're too ugly."
"Yes, Mother."
I wanted to scream in outrage. She was gorgeous! Even in the dream, I could see the purity of the blood, taste the goodness on my lips.
A house appeared in the distance.