In Shadows

1090 today. Also had to break chapter nine into two parts. By the time I finished, it was over 4k long! YIKES! So, while I was almost finished with chapter nine when I started this morning, I'm not almost finished with chapter ten instead. LOL!

Jenna's discovered that fear is a great motivator for her hunger, that she enjoys it a lot more than lust. Unfortunately, it also disgusts the hel out of her because she's lived as a Human for so many years. And Valmont is a good little contagonist, luring her to the dark side with well thought out arguments.

We'll see if Jenna can remain Jenna through this book or not.

Misty began to cry, her sobs punctuated by pleading. She had all but forgotten Jenna’s presence until inadvertently bumping into her as she tried to avoid Valmont. Terrified, the woman gasped and jerked away, then decided to appeal to another female.

“Please! Don’t do this. Don’t let him do this.”

Jenna staggered under a wave of hunger. The fear from Valmont’s prey was strong, rolling away from her as ripples in a still pool disturbed. Jenna had never felt anything like this. The desire to sink her teeth into their prey’s flesh hit her with such strength, she bared her fangs.

The woman recoiled, eyes wide. She attempted to put as much space between them as possible, and backed into Valmont who wrapped his arm around her.

Using his free hand to pull the prey’s head to one side, he asked, “Would you like the first taste?”

Jenna did not know which was worse, this aching need to appease her hunger or the absolute revulsion threatening her. Unable to speak from the ongoing war within, she shook her head.

“Suit yourself.” Valmont promptly attacked the woman in his arms, holding her tight as she struggled against him, ignoring the shrieks piercing the room as he suckled her life’s blood from her neck.

Misty passed out, the abrupt silence deafening. Jenna,;s ears still rang with the sound, and she swallowed thickly against her need. Stumbling forward, it was as if her body had its own will. The smell of fear and blood overwhelmed her.

Valmont finished, a grin on his lips as he licked them. He held the woman’s slack body in his arms and readjusted her, revealing the other side of her throat. “Go ahead. It’s still good.”

Unable to hold back, Jenna sank her teeth into the offering. The blood was hot, and it tasted of smoke and seared flesh and tears. It soothed an ache deep within Jenna she did not know was there, one that had always dwelled in the darkness of her soul. Or was it in Elisibet’s soul?

When she had drunk her fill, she disengaged. Valmont had pulled away at some point and she held the unconscious Misty in her arms. The woman seemed on the verge of wakefulness, murmuring weakly, brow flickering with confusion. Jenna glanced around the room and finally carried her to a table, laying her gently upon it.

“Well, that was nice.” Valmont went to the door and unlocked it. “Come on.”

Boss called me in to work early today. Blech. I'm betting I have graveyard shift on Saturday night. He promised to give me a looooong weekend if I came in early today. (i.e. he's attempting to bribe me with the holiday and four days off so I'll work graveyard without complaint.)