ice raw. She scrambled to her feet, stalking

nt, the accus

rd. The sound crack

you!" she spat, her beau

imself from the floor. His movements were clumsy, uncoordinated, but driven by an ove

but Victoria was faste

n's arms, pinnin

ed. "He needs to feed!

p. Sacrificing him to

nk his new fangs i

an any Pact Strain, worse than his own self-inflicted wounds.

ip like iron, her face a mask

lawed at the edges of his vision, Eth

binding locket.

to a side table, annoyed that the clasp was catching on her silk

ea sparked in the dimmi

gning unconsciousness, a gur

toria cried, finally alarmed, pu

ed around his mou

n's still form, a flick

eked, rushing from the room to find the housek

chance. His

to move, dragging himself across the floor. E

t, his fingers fumbling. The

e metal cool again

The old disuse

p a fresh wave of torment. He was running on something

was heavy, rusted.

th, he threw the locket int

me. Matches. On

d with the box. One match scra

and dust caught slowly, then a s

d, as the silver bega

mer in the air aroun

. It was

or, out of the basement door, and i

the world dissolv