Page 60 of Prayer of the Damned
The possibility gets a bitter chuckle out of me. But if there’s truth to it, then it works in my favor.
I search my room for something to test my theory. I’d tasted my blood before, but my failed suicide attempts might suggestI have to take my life while under the influence of my blood. I open the dresser drawers and empty them out. A pen? No, that won’t be enough. A shampoo bottle? No, that’s fucking monstrous. I can’t just shove objects between my legs! Damn it. I can’t let some random person just take my virginity either, he’ll have to destroy my body.
Dr. Abano.
His name floats into my mind, and I shudder. Fuck, no. That would be too weird. He’s my teacher. Although he did get sent here to banish me. He’s failed in the past, and I have a feeling he’ll fail again too. I don’t trust him. And I mainly don’t trust myself when I’m around him. I’m well aware of the fact that I’m attracted to him. I can’t deny the powerful magnetism that comes to life between us… and that kiss… I can do it, can’t I?
I shake my head savagely to drive the thought out of my mind. No way. There’s something about him that awakens such strange sensations in me, and I’m too scared to give him that kind of control over my body. I’ll just have to find another solution.
There’s a knock on my door, and I’m startled. Who could it be?
I go to the door to find that it’s Valentina.
“Hey…” she says hesitantly, shifting her weight from one leg to the other. If she’s not interested in being here, why did she come?
“Hi,” I answer coolly.
“We’re heading to a club in town, wanna come?” Her smile is hesitant.
“Me? Why?”
“Why not?”
“Because I thought we weren’t friends anymore,” I state bluntly.
She takes a long breath. “I’m sorry, okay? I don’t know what came over me, maybe I was jealous of your status, maybe I wanted to defy my father’s demands. And then what we did totally confused me. You don’t even understand how strong my attraction to you became. And now, after your transformation, everyone fucking desires you. They all feel what I felt that night.”
I look at myself and can’t figure out what she means. Yes, my body’s changed, but that much? Is it my blood that’s arousing this attraction in others? If so, I need to find a solution for that problem and fast.
“I thought freshmen students were prohibited from leaving campus grounds,” I say, avoiding any confrontation of her claims or excuses.
“Rules are made to be broken, aren’t they?” She winks at me. “Besides, we met some cool third-years, they’re coming with us to make sure we behave ourselves.” She wiggles her eyebrows, and I laugh.
“Okay,” I agree. I guess if anyone could manage to show some restraint, it would be older demons. So why not a third-year? I’ll let him take my virginity, then I’ll taste my own blood and put an end to this.
Besides, as much as I hate to admit it, I did miss Valentina.
The bass hits my body as we enter the club, and my head spins at the strong smell of sex in the air. Dozens of bodies are moving to the rhythm of the music – sweaty, drunk, unrestrained, and I’m mesmerized by the atmosphere of this place.
We split up and took two cars when we slipped away from campus under cover of darkness. I went with Valentina, Tyra and a third-year named Otto. Evan was in the other car with hisnew girlfriend Lettie and another pair of third-years, Vlad and Evalina.
Otto clings to me right away, like being the only single man in the group gives him dibs on me. I don’t push him away. If anything I’m glad I don’t have to try hard to attract a man. That’s exactly what I want, isn’t it?
“To the bar!” Valentina calls, dancing her way to the bar stacked with revelers, pulling Tyra after her.
The whole group follows them as one cluster, and Otto puts his hand on my back, leading me through the throng. Valentina orders shots in test tubes that glow in the club’s ultraviolet lighting. As we wait for our drinks, I scan the interior of the club.
It’s my first time in a place like this, and my senses are overwhelmed. The DJ’s station is on a tall stage, with cages hanging around it containing naked dancing women, their bodies painted with florescent colors. Partygoers stand under the cages, men and women, their eyes devouring the nude bodies sensually moving to the beat of the music.
When one of the dancers kneels and spreads her legs, proudly displaying her pink folds, I feel my pupils flash with lust.Fuck, that’s hot. The cheers beneath her arouse me even more.
“Here,” Valentina shoves a glowing test tube into my hands and I smell it to check it contents. A sharp scent rises from the black fluid, and I grimace.
“Black absinthe!” Otto yells, too close to my ear. He’s too eager and it unnerves me and excites me all at once. I try to push away the unnerved part of me. I need to enjoy myself, to cut loose. I promised myself that much before I could really and wholeheartedly say goodbye to the lands of Adam. At the same time, I must stay focused on the goal I came here to achieve. And the first step is to drink the poison I’m being given.
“Cheers!” Valentina calls, spilling the entire contents of the test tube down my throat. The stinging sensation is unpleasant,to say the least, and my stomach grumbles as bile fills my mouth. Eww! Oh God, what is this shit? I contort my face and close my eyes to take control of the nausea gripping me. “Woohoo!” Valentina whoops.
“Fuck, that shit is strong!” Otto laughs, handing me a lemon wedge. He’s realized I’m about to throw up. “Suck it!” he commands, with a teeth-baring smile. I catch the double entendre and snatch the lemon wedge from him, forcing myself to play the game and sucking it sensually. He’s mesmerized by my lips; his eyes are glazed and I smile with satisfaction.
