Page 92 of Eternal Craving

“Just like yours.”

“You’re not going to kill me.” Felipe leaned back against the fireplace.

I tilted my head and felt a sense of calm.

He read my expression and cowered. “I’m Ricardo’s father.”

“Not anymore.”

“Is it money you want?”

“I remember everything about that night before the bullfight.”

He looked horrified.

Sunaria approached Felipe. “Perhaps we can offer you something else.” Her fingers traced his unshaven face and then moved lower and hovered at his neck, lingering there.

“Make me into what you are?” His eyes were full of terror.

Sunaria gazed coquettishly at him. I stepped forward, but her hand shot up and she gestured I was to stay put, and then she turned to face him again.

Felipe had caught our interaction.

Rip out his throat.

With a pointed fingernail, Sunaria stabbed Felipe’s neck, striking an artery. He flinched as the warm blood snaked its way down, and he stared aghast at his shirt, which was fast turning red. He got to his knees, pressing against the hemorrhage, though blood seeped beneath his trembling hand.

Sunaria dipped a finger into the flow and sucked on the tip, causing Felipe to whimper.

She stepped back and gestured for me to approach. Ready for the truth, I leaned in and followed the scarlet trail to its source, biting hard, cringing at Felipe’s wails. He thrashed, but I held him still.

Raping his mind, I trespassed into his streaming thoughts, and a dreamy haze unfolded back over time. With the coursingof his life source came the images of faces, conversations, and decisions, an argument:Roelle and Felipe discussing my brother, silent words flowed and delivered a torrent of truths. Felipe had decided Ricardo’s fate, and then he’d persuaded the others to join him.

For my brother, I kill you, for Annabelle, Eduardo, for Miguel, for what you did to Salvador. My sister’s pain…for desecrating my life.

Felipe’sjaw went slack.

Sunaria tugged at my shirt, but I ignored her and continued to drink.For every life you’ve destroyed.

Again she yanked at my sleeve.

I pulled away. “What?”

Sunaria shoved me aside and bit into her wrist, then thrust it firmly against Felipe’s mouth.

“No!” I shouted in disbelief.

She crushed his lips with her wrist and Felipe’s mouth gaped as he tried to catch his breath and find air, and in a daze his tongue lapped at the bloody slash on her arm.

Sunaria tilted her head and smiled at me.

Felipe sucked loudly, enjoying the drink, seemingly aware that salvation came with this very act. Pulling on his restraints, he thirsted for more, mouth wide open, gorging on her.

Filled with jealousy, I wanted to rip out his heart.

What are you doing?

Felipe convulsed, fighting the impossible, a violent transformation as his age softened and he writhed in ecstasy. I wondered if the expression on his face had been similar to mine upon my turning. Felipe reached the height of pleasure, moaning loudly, and then lay still, panting, with that tell-tale wet patch at his groin.