Free I Sacrifice Myself by Christina Worrell

understood what we were not saying.
    “ He’s no threat,” I
whispered, not even believing my own lie.
A roar from Dimitri countered that. He was
determined to prove otherwise. Determined to get himself killed
before I could find a way to save him.
    “ I disagree, Shade. Give me
one good reason why I should not unload my gun into him right now
and end his miserable existence.”
He lowered his head as he sighed deeply. He
didn’t want to hurt me, purposely, but he would never allow my best
friend to be in danger and right now she was about as close as
she’d ever been.
I paused to consider what he‘d just said. My
answer would be the only thing that could save my Dimi in this
moment. I couldn’t be the bullet that took his life, or that same
bullet would have to take my life as well.
    “ We may be able to change
him back. He’s as good as anyone to try it on.”
    “ What the fuck? Seriously?
There’s no cure and even if you love him more than his own mother
that won’t change him back,” Ian said, irate and nearly spitting.
He checked himself and said the last part a little more
kindly.
I nodded, knowing he was right.
    “ I have a theory though. My
blood is toxic to vamps but I think because, well, I’ve drank so
much of his it might not be to him. If it is toxic, well then he is
going to die anyways, why not by me.”
    “ What if he turns on you?”
Ian asked, still unsure about this idiotic plan of mine.
He ignored the fact that Dimitri and I had
been together, for which I was immensely thankful.
I did not answer at first. I was now their
only protection from the creatures who sought to eat us. They’d
lost one of their most prized, and revered, hunters today. I was
the last thing that stood between them and monsters outside the
gates. We would all grieve, we would all fear the coming days, and
my actions were making it all the worse.
They could not risk losing me, either as a
prisoner or in battle. Commander Ian would be keeping a very good
eye on me.
    “ Wait a few days, and if
nothing, I’ll stake him myself.”
Ian closed his eyes and sighed. I was sure
he was trying to put himself in my shoes, trying to see this as if
it was Lane who crouched behind me snarling and ready to slaughter
us all. I was indebted to him already.
    “ She’ll kill me you know…
if anything happens to you.” He sighed again, as he lowered his
automatic rifle, and rested his arm against the wall and his head
on his forearm.
I knew who she was. Ian was talking about
Lane.
She’d understand. I knew she would. I didn’t
reply though. I waited patiently. My very actions and replies would
get me my way. Nothing else could.
    “ Fine, if she dies it’s her
head, not ours.” Ian threw his hands up and stalked out.
    “ For now,” one soldier
whispered, under his breath, as Ian passed. Ian gave him a pissed
look but let it go. We all knew it was the truth.
Some of the other hunters in the room
disagreed, though, with our leader’s decision and hesitated.
I boldly turned towards Dimitri, who had not
moved towards me at all, the whole time we’d discussed him. I was
surprised at that, but I knew deep down, that my Dimi was in there.
I just had to wake him up. I had to bring him to life.
I took a deep breath and walked to my
boyfriend. He eyed me, but never moved an inch. Any other vamp
would have drained me by now. When I was within arm’s reach, he
took stock of all the weapons pointed in his direction. Then, like
a snake, he bit into my neck. It was strange being on this end of
things. I was always the one doing the fang sinking.
The initial bite stung like a wasp or a
small knife wound. All the hunters had tensed, but thankfully they
didn’t shoot. Something else I was grateful for, the items were
mounting. I would owe the whole compound when all was said and
done.
Dimitri finally wrapped his arms around me
and pulled me close. I could feel his warmth. He was not cold, but
he also was not the same temp as me.
Was he