William stood up and clapped me on the shoulder. “You'll get through this,” he assured me, and with a nod he left, shutting the door behind him. I stared at the bloody bullets in the bottom of the sink and ran my fingertips over my stomach, both grateful and dismayed when I felt the last cut knitting together. Only a well-fed vampire heals like that. A monster. Something I had vowed to never be again.

                I got in the shower and tried to relax as the hot water hit me and it ran crimson around my feet when I washed my face and hands. An exhaustion that seemed to penetrate my very bones came over me and a misery just as deep, and I had to pull back on the urge to...

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