Chapter 58 A New Vampire
It was almost sunrise. Melanie’s eyes still hadn’t fluttered open. We had a morning class, one I didn’t think I could afford to miss. Julian left Melanie with Oliver and me before dawn.
He was searching for another way out of the school so he could hunt animals. He warned us to keep any trace of blood far away from Melanie, to tie her up, and keep her away from the sun.
Melanie was bound to a chair, her wrists secured, her mouth tied as well. We placed her near the altar, far from the sunlight. Her skin was slowly returning to its normal color.
“Don’t you think we should lock her in that room?” Oliver asked.
“Why?” I asked.
He exhaled, his shoulders dropping. “I didn’t sleep all night. So fighting a monster this early in the morning isn’t an option.”
“Julian will be back before she wakes,” I said.
“You believe in him,” Oliver replied. “How is he supposed to get here fast when the sun is about to come out?”
“You don’t have to worry about that,” I said flatly.
Oliver looked back at Melanie. “Are you still angry?” he asked.
I flinched slightly. “About what?”
“I don’t know. You—”
Melanie groaned.
Her eyes opened slowly.
Both of us froze.
She lifted her head, hissed in pain, then let it drop back. Slowly, unnaturally, the marks on her neck began to fade.
“L… did you see that?” Oliver whispered, his eyes wide.
“Yes,” I said. “She’s awake.”
She seemed to hear me. Her eyes snapped toward us as we sat together on the church bench. She glared, struggling against the ropes.
“I think we should run,” Oliver whispered.
“Hell no,” I said. “We can’t leave her here.”
She stared at us again. “Let me out!” she snapped.
My body trembled from head to toe.
“Why did you tie me up?” she snapped again.
Neither of us answered. We were frozen, our mouths unable to move.
“Lexie,” she called softly.
I looked at her.
“Why am I here?” she asked.
“Melanie, you just have to calm down. Everything will be alright. Just stay still—”
“No!” she snapped. “I’m so hungry right now. Release me. I just need bread from the café. And get Evander’s homework to Jamie before his class starts.”
Oliver and I exchanged a glance, then looked back at her.
“You’re sure you just want bread?” Oliver asked.
She nodded quickly.
“I’ve got a little snack here. What if you try it out?” Oliver said, bringing it out.
I grabbed his hand. “What are you doing?” I whispered.
“Give me anything!” she cried. “I’ll eat anything!”
“Julian instructed us not to go close,” I reminded him.
He gently pulled his hand from mine. “Come on. She’s just hungry. And she wants bread too. Besides, it’s almost sunrise. Before that vampire gets here, she’ll starve.”
“But—”
He stood up. I couldn’t stop him.
He walked straight toward her and held the cookies up.
The moment she opened her mouth—
Her fangs slid out.
Long.
Sharp.
Oliver flinched and jumped back.
Melanie strained violently against the ropes, dragging the chair forward. “Jesus!” Oliver exclaimed.
I rushed to him and grabbed his arm. “Oliver,” I said urgently. “Leave her alone.”
But Melanie was no longer herself.
She was wild, hungry… no, thirsty.
Her fangs gleamed. Her eyes were hollow, black veins spreading outward like cracks. Her skin had turned deathly white—
Just like Julian’s.
And then—
She growled.
“Oh my goodness,” I muttered to myself.
“This is all my fault. I just woke a monster,” Oliver said.
Melanie’s wildness was out of control. Her strength kept growing.
“Melanie?” I called, hoping something inside her would still recognize my voice. But no, she moved like a creature she had never been before.
With a violent jerk, Melanie snapped the left arm of the chair, the broken wood still strapped to her arm. Then she broke the other one.
Our hearts slammed against our ribs.
Oliver and I staggered backward, eyes wide, bodies trembling as we watched her.
None of us could restrain her. We couldn’t get close. We couldn’t run. And we couldn’t let her out of the chapel.
“What do we do now?” Oliver asked.
I had no answer.
My head went blank. My thoughts scattered.
Melanie tried to stand, but with her legs still tied, she crashed to the floor.
My breathing turned frantic.
With terrifying strength, she tore the rope loose from her body and pushed herself upright. Her hands were still bound to the broken chair arms.
She smiled.
Maniacal.
“I’m… hungry,” she whispered.
She took a step forward—
Then suddenly—
A piece of wood slammed into her head from behind.
Hard.
Loud.
She collapsed instantly.
I screamed.
Julian stood behind her.
“That was harsh! Will she live?” I asked anxiously.
Oliver exhaled sharply, clutching his chest. “What took you so long?” he asked.
“Hold this,” Julian said, handing Oliver the grasscutter, ignoring all our questions.
“What the—” Oliver began, but stopped as Julian bent down.
“It’s still alive,” Oliver said, staring.
“Yes,” Julian replied calmly. “I don’t want it dead.”
Julian lifted Melanie onto his back.
“What are you going to do with her?” I asked again.
“Lock her up,” Julian replied.
“Where?” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
He walked toward the priest’s consultation room. Oliver and I followed closely behind. Julian opened the door.
Inside, the room was old, small, and thick with dust.
Carefully, he lowered Melanie onto the floor.
“Give me that,” Julian said to Oliver.
“Oh—” Oliver flinched slightly and handed him the unconscious grasscutter. Julian placed it beside Melanie.
Julian turned to us as we stood in the doorway.
“So… what do we do now?” Oliver asked.
“We leave her locked up,” Julian said quietly. “For now.”