Kuri ran from Darren as if stung, all the way to her tent.
She collapsed in the sleeping bag in tears.
What did it all mean? Why did she enjoy the taste of blood so much?
Reiko entered the tent. "I'm sorry."
Kuri looked up. "What are you sorry for."
"I was afraid you would die." Reiko said. "So I tricked Darren into giving you the blood laced wine. Larten said—"
"Larten!" Kuri stood in a rage. "That vampire! Why are we even following him to begin with?"
Reiko was defensive. "Larten's been nothing but help!"
"Sure he is now. But I have a feeling there's something he gets out of it." Kuri said. "I know the Goddess chose him, but I think—"
"So you did see Selene." Reiko said. "I thought I saw her, but it was strange, like I couldn't get a good look. You have special eyes."
"Reiko I'm not special." Kuri said. "Things like this, powers, are normal for a fledgling. You have them too."
She buried her face in her pillow again.
"Darren's never going to speak to me again. He thinks I poisoned him." Kuri said, frustrated.
"Knock knock." Darren opened the tent flap. "Kuri...are you ok?"
Kuri looked like she wanted to go invisible. Reiko backed out of the tent to give them some privacy.
"Kuri...it was wrong for me to try to get you not to drink too." Darren said. "Besides, you didn't drink from anyone, so I don't know, it seems ok."
"Will you ever drink?" Kuri said miserably.
"You know I can't do that." Darren said.
He was right. She knew. Kuri sat up and hugged him.
As he was in her arms, she heard a roar and screams, saw the wolfman running amok, and Darren fighting as the lifeblood drained from her body.
As the vision ended, a red crescent tattoo emblazoned itself on her memory, and the howl of a rabid but very human creature echoed into her mind. A cry that was somehow familiar.
Xxx
Kurda ran after Kiana in the dank, dark night. He chased her, footstep over footstep, only to catch her in the alleyway yet again. She had gotten smarter. She hid her victims. She didn't want to be outed.
Kurda caught up to Kiana in a warehouse. She had been living there, and she had obviously not been bathing or using a proper bathroom. It made his heart hurt how she lived now.
He planned to kidnap her if he must and clean her up and make her see that what she was doing was wrong. He could break this hold on her mind, he just knew he could.
He watched over her as she slept, brushing her hair back from her face. He already had the hotel room. But he had to wait until the full light of day, at noon, when she couldn't wake and attack him.