"No, no, no, no!"
The man is terrified and something in me begs to stop, but there's a burn in my throat that needs to be sated.
His hands drop from the mower and he makes to run, but I'm behind him in a flash and I grab him by the shoulder.
"Please!" he yells, his voice cracking. "Help! Someone, please help!"
Saliva drops from my mouth on to his neck, and I can see his veins pulsating.
Just a sip, I tell myself. Just a little sip.
The other staff nearby drop their tools. They freeze, staring, but none of them step forward. They're scared, I realise. I should be too, but I'm too far gone to even think.
My grip tightens, and the burn in my chest intensifies. I can't focus on anything else. I open my mouth, ready to sink my teeth into his neck—
A hand clamps down on my shoulder, hard, and I'm yanked backward with so much force that I slam into the ground.
The gardener stumbles away, running like his life depends on it. It probably does.
I blink, dazed, expecting Valentine's cold stare. Then, I would look him in the eyes and tell him he lied about the sunlight if the both of us are standing under the hot sun.
But when I look up, it's not him.
The man standing over me is tall, broad-shouldered, and annoyingly handsome. His brown hair is slightly tousled, and his honey-colored eyes are warm, almost kind.
I can tell that he's human. He doesn't posses the cold air that Valentine does, and now, I do.
"I'm sorry, but we don't eat the staff," he says in a smooth voice that is rich with an accent I can't quite place.
He offers his hand, but I ignore it and help myself up to my feet.
I want to shrink into myself with terror. Did I almost drink someone's blood? What's going on with me? Why is there a burn in my chest that refuses to chill the fuck out?
He tries to take my hand. To lead me back to the building I just flew out of, but I flinch away from him touch.
"Who are you? His human lackey?"
He chuckles. A fine sound, to the ears. "I'm Achilles, and I prefer butler."
Greek...he's Greek.
"So you're still a lackey then. But fancier." I eye him but he doesn't take offence.
Instead, he looks up to the window I fell from. "That's quite a height," he comments, nodding up at it. "What in the devil made you do it?"
I look up too, surprised that I just fell from that height like it was nothing. I'm completely healed now, like nothing even happened.
I scoff. "Like you're not all devils here."
My chest is still burning, and I claw at my throat, groaning. "What the hell is happening to me? Why does it hurt so much?"
"You're hungry," he says simply. "Newborns need to feed at least four times a day. You've been unconscious for a day and a half, and you haven't had anything to eat."
"Newborns?" I snap. "I'm not a baby."
"You are now," he says, his tone gentle but firm. "You're a baby vampire."
The word vampire sends a shiver down my spine. I shake my head, stepping away from him. "I'm not doing this," I mutter. "I'm not staying here."
"You can't leave," he calls after me, calm but unyielding.
"Watch me."
I turn and start walking, but his hand wraps around my arm, stopping me in my tracks. His grip is warm, unlike Valentine's icy touch.
"You won't make it far," he says. "You're starving, and you don't even know where you're going."
"Let go of me," I snap, yanking my arm free. This time, he lets me go.
I storm off, my mind racing. I don't know where I'm going, but I need to get out of here.
Away from Valentine, away from this house, away from whatever the hell is happening to me.
Behind me, I hear Achilles speaking, but his voice is low, like he's talking to someone else.
"She's a handful," I hear Achilles say to someone. I look back, but I don't see anyone. He taps his left ear...ah... intercoms.
A voice crackles over the intercom, and I recognize Valentine's cold, detached tone. "Bring her back."
"She's not exactly cooperative," Achilles replies. "What did you do to her?"
"She's hungry," Valentine says. "She'll come around."
"She just jumped out of the highest window in the house," Achilles replies dryly. "I'd say she's not exactly thrilled with her situation."
"Just bring her back," Valentine snaps.
"Not without knocking her out cold," Achilles retorts. "And I don't think you want me to do that again after the last case."
There's a long pause.
I try to hear Valentine's response, but I've walked too far to make out words.
I pick up my pace, trying to put as much distance between me and Achilles as possible.
The gravel crunches under my feet, and the burn in my chest grows worse with every step.
After what feels like hours, I hear the low hum of an engine behind me. I glance back and see a sleek black car rolling down the driveway.
The driver's window rolls down, and Achilles leans out, a smug smile on his face.
"At least let me give you a ride," he calls.
"I'm fine," I snap, turning back around.
"Are you?"
I don't answer, but my legs feel like lead.
"You know," he says, his voice light and teasing, "last I checked, the gate is east of the estate."
I pause, turning to glare at him. "So?"
"You're heading south."
I glance around, trying to get my bearings. I have no idea which way is east, so I pick a new direction and start walking.
"Still south!" Achilles calls.
I grit my teeth, turning again.
"Still south!" he says, laughing.
"Shut up!" I yell, spinning in another direction.
"This is an estate," he says, still laughing. "You can't just turn and head east. The gate's half a mile away. You're ready for that hike?"
I stop, my shoulders slumping.
"Just let me give you a lift," he says, his tone softening. "Valentine's given you permission to leave. No tricks."
I hesitate for a moment before sighing and climbing into the passenger seat.
"And if this is a trick?" I ask, crossing my arms. "If you take me back to him—"
"Then eat me," he says with a grin, pulling the car into motion.
I stare out the window, watching the estate blur past. The sheer size of the property makes my head spin. There's no way I could've walked all that distance.
As we drive past the house, I glance up at one of the windows. A pair of golden eyes stare back at me, unblinking.
Valentine.
A chill runs down my spine, and I sink lower into my seat.
Achilles notices my discomfort and raises an eyebrow. "Second thoughts?"
"No," I lie, my voice barely above a whisper. "Just get me back to my apartment."