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throat, and instantly, I
yearned for blood. I became agitated, and I was pretty sure my face
said it all.
    “ Giselle, are
you all right?”
    “ I don’t know,” I panicked. “I don’t know what’s happening
to me.”
    Suddenly , I was out cold, lying
on the bitter frosty ground. I was unconscious for but a moment,
yet Alex was soon by my side.
    I felt so
weak, and unsure of my feelings. I wanted to wake up from the
madness of this nightmare. Something deep within tried to reason
with me, convincing me of its truth. I knew what was happening, but
I was in denial. I wanted to forget about the present, and slip
into the past, a place where life was ordinary, and I was not
expected to be something other than myself.
     
    * * *
     
    “ Giselle,
don’t even think about peeking, ok?” Marc teased as he led me
through a doorway.
    Laughing, I
could not help but to feel completely in love with him. It was
early September, the beginning of our final year of school, and
life truly could not get any better. Marc was always very
spontaneous with his gestures of love, and tonight was no
exception.
    “ I’m not.” I giggled like a little girl.
    One final
step, and we stood still. The excitement got the best of me, and I
slowly opened my eyes.
    “ Oh, Marc!” I said in amazement.
    The Porter & Frye , the most
luxurious restaurant in town, was empty except for two waiters who
smiled exuberantly as Marc led me to a table laid out with rose
petals. Candles were lit, and filled the empty tables around us. It
was utterly romantic, and I melted into his arms.
    “ I love you
so much,” I whispered as I tenderly kissed him.
    “ Easy,
tiger,” he teased.
    “ So, why all of this? Not that I’m complaining.”
    “ Can’t a guy
do something for the woman he loves without there being an ulterior
motive?”
    “ Well, you tell me.” I folded my arms, and waited for his
perfect smile to spread across his face.
    I could not
stop smiling. I swear my jaw ached, but it was impossible to stop.
A waiter approached, and handed us a menu.
    “ Okay, here’s the thing. We’re approaching the end of an
era. You know, school and all, and I don’t want us to forget about
the reasons we’re together. It’s you, and it’s always been you, and
I refuse to let you forget that for a second. You’re my girl, G,
and nothing is going to change that. Plus, my dad was owed a
favour, and pulled a few strings.” He playfully winked at
me.
    Marc had a
way with words, and as we laughed, my heart felt as if it was ready
to burst with the incredible feelings I had towards him. I was
completely in love with him.
    I found it
hard to resist. I was his. The hottest guy at school was mine, and
nothing would get in the way of that.
    Ever.
     
    * * *
     
    The agony I
felt was unbearable. My head spun in circles, and I found it hard
not to wail. I saw Alex’s face as he sat by my side, the frown on
his brow giving away his worry.
    “ She needs to feed.” Atarah directed Afanas to the
table.
    He bowed his
head, and was gone in a flash, returning with a dagger in his hand
that he held out to Alex.
    “ Can we at least have some privacy this time?” His voice
broke as he spoke to his mother.
    “ Of course,
if that is your will.”
    Atarah
raised her hand to Alex’s face, and stroked his chin. He closed his
eyes, and soon she and Afanas were gone, leaving Alex alone with
me.
    I sat up,
trying not to lose my balance. My head was still light from the
emptiness. With the dagger in his hand, he cut deeply into his
neck, leaving a stream of thick scarlet flowing from the wound. The
aroma was tantalizing, and I could not resist.
    Swiftly, I
was on top of him, straddling his lap. I licked the line of blood,
and desire burned deep within us. He pulled me closer to him, his
hands firmly placed on my back. My mouth opened wider, and with
voracity, I drank.
    I could feel
Alex’s excitement as it swept through him, his blood awakening
every cell in my body. The mutual