Free Vampire Affliction by Eva Pohler Page A

feelings of betrayal as she closed her eyes and sank her fangs into Hector’s throat.
    Jeno spoke telepathically to her as she drank Hector’s sweet blood. If you want to come back with me, I won’t tell the others what you’ve done.
    I’m sorry, Jeno. I can’t. She kept her eyes closed, fighting to hold back tears as she drew the warm, rich sustenance from Hector.
    That hurts so much more than I imagined it would.
    I tried my best to love you, but it wasn’t enough. Her throat tightened at that thought, but the blood found its way down.
    I will protect you from the others as best as I can.
    He was too good to her. He didn’t deserve her betrayal. I don’t expect you to help me after what I’ve done.
    I can’t betray my father. I will defend and support him.
    Oh, Jeno. I understand. My sweet, Jeno. I’m so sorry.
    I will always love you, koureetsi mou. And if you ever change your mind…Just remember, immortality is a long time. Maybe someday, things will be different, and you and I will have a chance.
    Not wanting to weaken Hector, Gertie drank no more than one pint. She licked her lips and looked once more at Jeno before he sadly turned and flew away.
    Gertie pressed her face into Hector’s chest and wept.

Chapter Nine: Taken By Surprise
     
    The hot water of the shower comforted Gertie and mingled with her tears. She would never forget the look on Jeno’s face at Hector’s window. It had made her feel like someone had driven a stake through her heart.
    As she rinsed the shampoo from her hair, she thought again of how Babá had glared at her with fear and disgust and had told her not to call him Babá anymore.
    The man she had once believed was her father—James Morgan—was nothing to her and had never loved her.
    The god she now believed was her father seemed not to care for her either.
    And the man who had offered to be like a father to her—Vladimir—would have to be destroyed if she were to ever be human again.
    Life was so unfair.
    Gertie wished she could get lost in a book.
    Hector had given Gertie back her things, which she had left behind at his house. It felt good to wear her old pajamas and to brush her teeth and comb her hair. In the side pocket of her bag was her e-reader. Yes, she would get lost in a book.
    When she left the guest bathroom, she searched for Hector’s thoughts, but couldn’t find him. She went down the hall, looking for him in his bedroom, though she had hoped he would stay the night with her because she was scared and didn’t want to be alone. When she didn’t find him, she became alarmed.
    She searched the entire house—upstairs, downstairs, and even the basement. He was nowhere to be found. As she was about to go into full panic mode, she sensed his presence just before he walked through the front door.
    “Where were you?” she asked.
    “I’m sorry. I really thought I’d be back before you finished showering.”
    “Where did you go?”
    “To my father’s temple. I flew, since…you know.”
    She blushed. “You could have been captured.”
    “It was worth the risk. He came.”
    “Hephaestus?”
    Hector nodded, smiling. “He promised to talk to Zeus and Athena and the other gods of Olympus. He won’t let us fight this battle alone.”
    “Did you tell him what the vampires want? Did you ask him to help liberate them?”
    “What?” Hector frowned. “No.”
    “Why not?”
    “I guess I was more concerned with protecting human life.”
    Gertie narrowed her eyes. “See, that’s the problem. Humans and gods don’t value the lives of vampires. Until they do, things will never change. I can’t believe I came here. I can’t believe I abandoned them.”
    She flew back up the stairs to the guest room, with Hector on her heels saying, “Wait, Gertie…”
    She slammed the door in his face.
    I need to be alone , she told him telepathically.
    Please, Gertie. You just got here. I’m so sorry. I should have thought of that. I’m so stupid.
    She blocked her mind