Read The Violet Line for Free Online Page B

something you’d regret; she was afraid that you might hurt her because you’re so new at this. She cares about you.”
    His grip loosened just the tiniest bit. “You’re lying. She knows I wouldn’t hurt her; I couldn’t hurt her.”
    “ Aidan, it’s true,” Annie’s voice chimed in from the safety of the sitting room. “I was afraid of you. I know what new vampires do and I didn’t want to take that risk with you. I don’t want to lose you, but this isn’t the way!”
    This close to him, I could see how conflicted he was. He really didn’t want to hurt her but I didn’t know if that was enough to override his hunger.
    “ Aidan, just let me go; you’re hurting me.” He looked at me then and I could see the Aidan that I knew and cared about, Annie’s boyfriend and my friend. His humanity flooded back into his eyes, the blackness fading and the dark blue that was his own eye colour filling them once more.
    “ Oh shit, Jade; look, I’m sorry. I just you know; I just can’t seem to control it. I don’t mean it. Look, I’ll just go; umm yeah. So my master is going to kill me when he finds out.” He looked at me with a sheepish grin playing on his face. “Did I hurt you bad?” he asked, looking at me seriously.
    “ Nah, just a few bruises but I’ll be ok; you really hit me hard off that table though.” As we chatted, he released me and stepped back. I carefully touched my fingers to the back of my head where it had slammed into the timber. My fingers came away warm and sticky.
    “ Umm, look, you should just go; take the blanket you’ll make it out with that.” I tried to hide my hand behind my back and began to back away from him. My body bumped against the counter and I had no way past him.
    “ Fuck,” he snarled at me and pounced, his eyes were completely black.
    As he landed on top of me, I caught him against the chest with both my hands and tried to push him off. I may as well have tried to lift a truck off myself. His fangs snapped just inches from my face and the spit dripped down on to me. I didn’t want to hurt him but there was no other way for me to protect myself. Closing my eyes against his crazed and starving ones the power ran up through my body. It always felt as though it was pulled from the very core of me, somewhere deep down inside, like I was pulling water up from a well. It ran like cold fire up through my body filling me until I thought I was going to explode with this tingling, fizzling popping sensation. It flooded out through my hands where they were pressed against Aidan's chest barely just holding him off. The second it hit him he looked surprised and then the pain hit. He tore away from me roaring and screaming and clutching his chest. Curling up into a ball on the floor, he sobbed like a baby. Taking this as my chance, I jumped over his curled up form and dashed into the sitting room. Annie was near the edge of her window light trying to catch a glimpse into the kitchen.
    “ We’ve got to go,” I shouted at her, startling her with my appearance. Grabbing her hand, I shoved her towards the door, and threw my car keys at her.
    “ It’s parked out front, go!” I shouted again.
    She didn’t need to be told a third time and took off running. Grabbing the throw from the sitting room I flung it in the general direction of where Sam had last been before I too ran for the door, and pulled it shut behind me. The blood pounded in my ears as I raced down the stairs, taking them two at a time and not bothering to listen if I was being followed. I burst through the front door and elation poured through me; I wanted to kiss the sunlight for still shining. I jogged over to my car allowing my heart beat to slow to a more normal pace. Sliding back in behind the wheel, I looked over at Annie. Her face was white with shock. Without saying a word she handed me the car keys and we headed for my apartment.
     
    Chapter Five
    The jostling movement filtered through to Sam’s hazy