Immortal Coil: A Novel (Immortal Trilogy Book 1) Read Free Page A

I believe he was afraid that I would not pass on my gift to him.
    “‘You should be afraid,’ I said.
    “It is important to understand that vampires do not feel lust as humans do. A vampire having sexual urges is the stuff of movies, a myth. Vampires are quite literally dead down there. My only interest was with his blood. I wanted companionship, so I would give him the gift. I was going to take his blood and allow him to rise, but I also needed to know he was worthy of the gift. I pulled away. His initiation into my world would not be as easy as that. He had a lot to prove before I would do this thing.
    “‘If you had approached another vampire,’ I explained. ‘He would have taken your blood, decapitated you to prevent you from rising and have been done with you. It is only coincidence that you stumbled onto me. I am not like the others. Vampires can be sadistic and cruel to their prey, like when a cat plays with a mouse. That activity holds no interest for me. I merely wish to feed, so I choose to feed on killers who have no remorse for their acts. I wish to be left alone so I do not make a spectacle of myself. My prey will not be missed. I will not take your blood this night,’ I said. I pushed him away. As he started to protest, I sped away so fast he had no idea how to find me.
    “He did not have to find me; however, because I sought him out the following night. He was there every night waiting for me. He was persistent. After a month of waiting for me to convert him, I decided to give him what he wanted. If I was going to spend an eternity with someone, he was as good a choice as any. Also, my resistance was crumbling.
    “‘What is your name?’ I asked.
    “‘Bane Haywood,’ he replied. ‘When will you change me?’
    “‘When and if I deem you are worthy,’ I said.
    “‘You are a liar then.’ He pointed an accusatory finger at me.
    “‘What?’ I asked, perplexed.
    “‘You said you don’t toy with your prey, but you’re toying with me. You’re torturing me.” He screamed at the sky in frustration. I laughed. I took his face in my hands and pulled him closer to me.
    “‘Bane, what you are asking for is very gruesome. You have to be sure it is what you want. There is no going back once the process has begun.’
    “‘I never want to go back to this weak, pointless life.’ He staggered back as I released his face.
    “‘It is a painful thing, to have your blood drained. For the vampire it is an ecstasy like no other, but for the victim it is pure misery.’
    “‘I don’t care. Whatever it takes I am willing to endure it,’ he said.
    “‘I will drain you and you will die. By not beheading you, your body will rise at dusk of the following night. You are willing to go through with this?’
    “‘I am,’ he said with a tiresome lilt. ‘I know this; you’ve told me before,’ Then, more seriously, he added, ‘I mean it. Whatever it takes I will do this.’
    “‘You must promise me you will adhere to my code of taking the truly unrepentant. Never drain an innocent. Innocent blood corrupts the vampire, makes him turn insane. Promise me you will only take the vilest of victims.’
    “‘I promise,’ he said. His impatience was palpable.
    “He offered his neck to me and I bit down. His blood tasted exquisite and I regretted that I would only be allowed to take his blood this once. I could have drunk from him forever.
    “I drained him, took him to my lair and slept through the daylight hours. We woke together, and he was very excited. He was like a child with a new toy. It pleased me to see his excitement.
    “‘But where are my fangs?’ Bane asked as he examined himself in the mirror. I explained it took several months for his fangs to mature. ‘Damn, that long?’ He turned away from his own reflection. ‘Then again, I have an eternity; what are a few months?’
    “We hunted. I would procure his prey, open a wound and he would feed. He wanted more, however.
    “Let me kill