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"Must’ve gotten that at the rest area," I say, and although his features are cast in shadow, I know he studies o home," he says, and cliry

Phin starts up the truck and exits the parking garage It’s not until we hit Peachtree Street that I realize Victorian and I had ital clock in Phin’s truck, it’s close to four ah the tall buildings and intertwining interstate dissections of don and make our way back to Savannah Before we hit the interstate, Phin pulls into a BP and fuels up I run inside and grab soaze is locked onto me the entire time We settle in for the drive ho mine in the cab of Phin’s truck, his hand protectively onneedlesto kill?

Will I crave blood?

Goddaain--why, I don’t know, but I feel like I haven’t slept in days I close my eyes, and slumber soon takes over

Part Two

TURMOIL

Dat girl ain’t right I noticed tiot a mean look in her eye dat don match her face, or her o I knohat it is, too It’s evil, dat’s right Pure dead evil I don know if I can save her dis time, but I’ll die tryin’

--Preacher

I feel different Ever since I returned home from my wild ride to Atlanta in Victorian’s trunk, I can feel it And that was over a week ago It could be nothingwithelse entirely

Victorian’s shocking words that night rattled me I may not have shown it, but they did And Eli hardly leaves ht now is the very first time since we’ve returned that he’s left o easy But Preacher needed his and Seth’s help next door repairing a leak in the attic, so I’e of the situation and chillin’ in a hot bath It’s Sunday evening, there’s finally a chilly bite to thethis ti ainst the air pillow, I sink deeper into the hot suds and close o it see Preacher had tried to shield us from After our encounter with the Arcos brothers, sweet Seth’s personality totally changed He wore stupid shades over his eyes all the ti We didn’t knoas happening untilSeth hurling hiround running The ie will be emblazoned in my memory forever

He’d nearly turned But Preacher and his Gullah brethren, skilled in the cleansing of vampirism passed down by their ancestors, saved Seth Saved his pal Riggs Saved ht now had it not been for Preacher and Estelle

Like est of all Preacher warned rowing inside me is unexpected It leaves a bad taste inI’ll tell you now: I’d die if sohts return to Victorian’s words Eli’s actions Ever since our encounter with Vic, Eli’s been more intense The fact that he won’t leavereally bad is up, too He knows I can handle myself, but lately he treatsprotective is one thing Not giving me space to breathe is another But I have to be syo, that Eli accidentally killed a young woive himself for it, and I’ will happen tohim Eli still worries he’ll lose control with e comes easily to my mind; his chiseled face, full, fir blue eyes are always locked on me And his expression? Painful Like he’s in absolute physical agony Kind of like e first s are around a lot more, too, always in the shop Phin, intense and always so deep in thought With his short-clipped dark blond hair and crazy-clear Dupré eyes, he’s an attention getter to be sure And he’s on my ass just as much as Eli lately Eli’s other brother, Luc? He and Phin could pass for twins, but Luc’s hair is longer, ild curls He’s definitely the clown of the three brothers, although I’ve seen hiht

My best human friend and business partner, Nyxinnia Foster, has claimed Luc’s attentions of late I didn’t think I’d like it, their coupling, but I do Nyx is totally crazy about Luc, and he is just as into her Nyx, with her sweet, loving, and annoyingly trusting behavior, is an easy target for Valerian and his gang of newlings She’s a Goth princess and sticks out like a sore thu that I love Nyx like a sister

Speaking of sisters, there’s Eli’s youngest sister, Josie She looks like your average teen, with skinny jeans, Converses, and long, light brown hair nearly to her waist She wears it parted in the s pinned to the side Sweet as peaches, you ht like her brothers Trust me when I say it’s weird as hell to watch her kill But she’s free-spirited and a kind soul Unfortunately, she’s forever trapped in her fifteen-year-old body and is crazy about Seth He’ll age She won’t

I’m surrounded by people I love, so I’m usually on my best behavior But these days, I have to think about my next words, my next move, my next interaction with anyone I co with clients, I catchawful It doesn’t take much to set me off It’s like there’s this shade of irritability that lies just beneath the surface, ready to unleash Luckily, I can sense it It’s like…I can feel this thing clawing at the lining ofAl inside of me, separate from my own self I have no idea what keeps it locked up, other than my oill But it wants out I can tell Weird Just…weird

Sometimes I wonder if Eli detects it, too The way he stares at , perusing I swear I can feel hihts and is constantly in my head now, yet he still can’t pick up Victorian’s voice in ? Because I swear, I feel like it’s alive inside of me It’s like Eli…knows it’s there but just waits Watches I guess he trusts me to let him knohen I can’t control it anymore I hope to hell and back that day never cohChaz’s arrival He pushes the door open with his nose and peers in at o for a walk?"

His back end wags, just before he lets out a single bark And I swear, he s," I say, and clilad I’d pinned e into a pair of sweats, long-sleeved Inksomnia T-shirt, and my black Adidas sneaks, pull my hair into a ponytail, and head downstairs with Chaz He lets out an excited yelp as I grab his leash and hook it to his collar We head outside

The chilly bite sinks into my skin and we take off up the , I scan our surroundings We’re all alone I allowto open full blast At first chaotic, with sounds and voices and , soon it filters, becoht e of panic in their voice, or excited talking, pleading All I hear is swearing, ice clinking in glasses, idle chatter, a fight between angry guys Drawing in a lungful of air, I taste the inhalation Allow it to settle against s, I’ve discovered, have a unique scent Slight though it may be, if I concentrate, I can detect it It’s not s else Tonight, I s So far, anyway I have no idea of the distance my wolflike capabilities and senses are able to travel Guess I’ll eventually find out

Chaz takes care of his doggy business, but I’ pulls ht and unusual tranquility of the city lure me, and we cross Bay Street and head into the squares There are scattered tourists on benches or strolling along the walk, a few locals Time slips by--howwith the crispness of October, there is da storhter spills frohton, it sounds as though I’ht in the bar I can feel the heat froarette smoke, their breath, their sweat Al froust consume me, and I try to tune those senses out It doesn’t work The sounds of the city, the scent of humans, suffocate me Wait, I’m still human Aren’t I? Hell if I knohat I am anymore All I know is that I’in to run To escape

For a block or two, it’s a slow run, and I’uely aware of Chaz on the other end of the leash I’h, I drop it He follows for a while, but soon he can’t keep up, and I feel glad to be alone As his single bark echoes off the brick buildings surrounding hton Street, away froht envelops ed beast, and for a brief second the Eagles’ "Hotel California" plays in my mind They stab it with their steely knives, but they just can’t kill the beast For some reason, that line has always freaked me out I like it It’s le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true">