My Vampire and I Vol 3: Blood Resurrection by J. P. Bowie Page A

arrogance, do you suppose?” Suddenly, he stepped forward, grabbed the young man’s wrists and forced him to his knees. His victim whimpered from the pain. I heard the bones crack, and he screamed out.
    “Darius!” I lunged forward to stop him. “What are you doing?”
“Stand back, Bernard,” he hissed at me, his fangs extended. “This little man needs to be taught a lesson—”
    “Stop it,” I cried, pulling at his arm. “You’ll have the gendarmes upon us.” He backhanded me, sending me staggering against a tree. Then before I could intervene again, he pulled the youth to his feet and tore out his throat with one vicious, rending bite. I stared, appalled, as he sucked the young man’s blood and chewed on the soft flesh of his throat. When he had done, he let the lifeless body slip from his grasp, then turned and smiled a macabre and bloody smile at me. I shuddered with horror and repugnance. Not at the sight of the blood or the shreds of flesh that clung to his teeth and lips—I am a vampire after all.
    No, my spirit balked at the sheer unnecessary waste of life.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because I can,” he replied, his eyes filled with a sinister cruelty. With that, he raised himself into the air and was gone, leaving me alone and unsure if I should follow.
    I did not.
* * * *
Not long after that night, Darius asked me to spend my life with him as a member of the Dark Forces, and immediately I knew what my answer must be. How could I ever look Marcus in the face again as one of his mortal enemy’s minions?
     
“No,” I said flatly, and without emotion. Anger flared in his eyes at my refusal. “I am sorry, Darius,” I continued, “but the price of such an affiliation would be more that I could ever afford.”
     
“You mean it would cost you your precious friendship with Marcus, don’t you?” he sneered. “Perhaps he would consider it a good riddance.” Blood Resurrection
    I sighed and shook my head. “Why would you say so petty a thing? Marcus and I have been friends for decades.”
“Familiarity can breed contempt, Bernard. Have you not ever wondered why he stays away for such a long time?”
I sighed again. “I know why he is gone for long periods of time, Darius. He is needed in many places by those who love him.”
It was then that I realised the immense differences between him and Marcus. Marcus was revered and loved by his followers. Darius was feared by his, not loved, nor did he have any love for those he had seduced into following him all those years before.
     
Reading my thoughts, his face hardened with distaste. “You would give up all that I offer you, for the love of a man who gives you nothing?” “Marcus has given me more than you ever could ever imagine,” I replied coldly. “He gave me life when death was ready to claim me. He was with me through the change, guiding me into this new life, ensuring I survived the dangers that can claim a young vampire.”
    “While he filled your head with his addlepated philosophy about being gentle with mortals,” Darius sneered. “About not hurting them when you feed.” “A philosophy many vampires have adopted as their own.”
    “Bah!” He turned from me in rage, then as swiftly looked back at me, his face once again serene and composed. “Bernard…” His voice was silky smooth. “You know how much I care for you.” He reached out and drew me into his arms, kissing my lips gently. “Come with me, I beg you. We can have a marvellous life together. All will look to you as my second-in-command. You will be revered, envied—”
“But not loved, Darius,” I interrupted, trying to steel myself against his charm.
     
“I love you,” he murmured, pulling me tighter into his embrace, his hard arousal rampant against my thigh. “I will give you everything you desire. What more can you ask?”
    “A truce with Marcus,” I said. “An end to this hatred you have for him.”
“And will that then secure you by my side