The Rise of the New Bloods, From Dark Beginnings Read Online Free PDF Page A

voice.   
      ‘Vampyri!’              
      ‘What?’ I mumbled to myself. Did I hear right? The mere mention of vampyri was enough to stop me in my tracks, but surely it wasn't aimed at me. Was it? This country was seeped in folklore, my folklore. I lifted my head and looked around the harbour. Aside from the fluttering of the sails in the breeze, it was desolate of people, which added an eerie resonance to it tonight.
      ‘Vampyri?’ 
    I heard her vo ice again, calling from the direction of the boats. I couldn't see anyone at first but soon appeared a middle aged woman. Her long blonde hair gently swished in the breeze as she stood at the hull of her boat. She pointed a finger towards me and called out again.
      ‘Vampyri. Yes, you, I know what you are.’
    My eyes widened at her revelation.
    As I walked towards her brimming with curiosity, her voice became even louder.
      ‘No, you stay there, don't you dare come any closer. You should leave and never come back here; your kind is not welcome.’
      ‘How do you know what I am?’
    ‘It's the gypsy trait in me. Inherited from my grandmother who was savaged to death on the islands many years ago. My grandfather swore it was a demon that had killed her, but the authorities laughed at him, said he was a fool for believing in such things.’
    This cannot be happening to me. 
      I felt panicked by her revelation. ‘I didn't kill her,’ I yelled back. I was certain I didn't.
    ‘But one of your kind did. Now go, you are not welcome here.’
    I was about to walk away when she called me back.
      ‘Oh one more thing...the one thing you really want, will be yours but there will be a price to pay.’
    What could I say? She was scaring me on the quiet. I didn't want to bother her no more so I q uickly turned away and walked into the city centre. I was shocked and as if my mind didn't have enough to contend with, I was now left with worrying over what she meant by her words.
      I kept my head down, trying not to draw any more attention to myself. A s I turned the street corner, I was greeted by the sound of life and laughter that resonated from every bar and club along the main street. Loneliness soon crept back like the plague as I watched the show of human affection around me. I was doing my best to remain calm in such an awkward predicament, but the blood was just lingering in the air, teasing me. I knew I had to find the butchers again and fast if I was not going to feast on these humans tonight.  I kept thinking about the meat I had earlier, hoping it would keep my mind off the scantily dressed women lingering by the doorway of the bar. They were looking at me and smiling. I guess they were too drunk to use their common sense. Nervously I pushed my hair back from my face and returned the sentient. Should I have done that? I freaked out. I was still prising myself off human blood and stupidly without thinking I was making gestures towards these women. What in the hell was I doing. As I walked past I could hear the women jeer as their friend, a tall brunette in a tight fitted red dress came stumbling over towards me.
      ‘Go on, give him a kiss,’ they shouted, encouraging her on in a drunken stupor.
    I avoided any eye contact and kept walking, secretly hoping she would go away, but she didn't. I kept w alking faster as I knew it could be fatal if she tried, well I presumed it would be, as I've never been kissed before to really know. My hunger was also reaching a danger point, so when I heard the incessant tapping of her heels behind me, I quickened up my pace a bit more. The next thing I knew she grabbed my arm and pulled me towards her body. Her soft wet lips, that tasted of berry lipgloss pressed firmly onto mine. I was too weak to fight her off me.
      ‘What are you doing? Get away from him you stupid bitch,’ I heard a man yell.
    I opened my eyes and pushed the woman away from me. The last thing I wanted was any trouble, especially