Eris stalked the night, searching for his prey. All he wanted was blood to succumb to the Blood Hunger. Destroy. Maybe his sister was right. He didn’t know what killing did to the soul. Licking his lips, he thought about the sweet, tangy taste. Just once, that’s all he wanted.

No, he told himself, he was the Coven Master. He was supposed to uphold the Vampyre Laws. Eris punched a tree. Why did he have these dark urges? All he wanted was Azelia; he wanted to live and love.

Except, lately, different urges were driving him. He felt like letting that little voice in the back of his head take over. Selene would never approve; she might even lead the hunting party after him. Hell, she might do it alone. Selene was a hunter, and even though she had been pardoned for the lives she had taken, it was something to live with, the path she chose, to separate herself from her emotions and live with the weight on her shoulders. He saw the dead look in her eyes when she would kill any Vampyre who broke the rules. It was her punishment, her fate.

Sitting down, he thought about his sister. Something was a bit different about her. His thoughts swam to the Witch Jason. Selene could never find out about him, could never find him.

Eris thought of a plan. He licked his lips while his thoughts swam in desire as he caught the sight of his prey. She was fumbling with her keys, trying to enter her apartment building.

Most Witches wanted to be indoors by twilight, but it looked as though she had put in a late shift at work. Her white collar shirt was crinkled, her perfume strong, mixed with the sweet smell of the diner just down the street, the onion, fries, and spiced beef, and her hair was falling out of her once delicate bun. He looked around, shut his eyes, and listened for anyone around. Silence. Eris licked his lips and lunged. Her scream died in her throat.

Eris pinned her against the wall, engulfing them in shadows, and sucked on her blood, loving the way it tasted. Her struggle was futile, and it didn’t take long for her body to go numb. He knew that he should stop, but he couldn’t. Soon enough, there wasn’t a single drop left.

Eris dropped her to the ground carelessly. Some blood still lingered on his lips, and he felt both thrilled and disgusted with himself. He began to walk away, then stopped briefly, catching the sight of something that glinted in the dim street life. There was a diamond ring on her finger. The poor girl, he thought before running away, would never get to see her wedding day.

***

Ettore and Vega watched the scene unfold in the deep darkness above the buildings. Vega tucked her hair behind her ear while her husband wrapped his arms around her nimble shoulders.

“So what does this mean?” asked Ettore.

Vega shook her head. “It’s not good, Ettore. He killed someone.”

“Do we tell Blaine?”

“No, but we should report this to Negal.” Vega stopped walking and looked up at her beloved. “He’s falling to the darkness, Ettore, I saw it in his eyes. I saw Nuri’s darkness thrive.”

Ettore kissed her forehead. “Nuri was never a murderer.”

“Because he fell in love with Azelia. He needs to find her before he loses his soul.”

“It’s not our place to decide.”

Vega’s shoulders slumped, defeated. “What of Selene?”

“She hasn’t exhibited another surge of power.”

“Is that good or bad?”

Ettore shrugged. “She has the power, but I think it’s locked after what Negal told us.”

Vega nodded, passing her hand through her short and curly black hair. The wind flapped at her long and heavy black trench coat. “Do you think he’ll kill her?”

Ettore shrugged. “If he thinks he’s protecting or saving her, he might just slit her throat and watch her bleed.” Vega acknowledged the somber conclusion. What had the centuries done to him?