Free Darkness Fades (Darkness Falls Series, Book 3) by Jessica Sorensen Page B

“But why did I see the
Highers feeding on the vampires?”
    “Human blood no longer fulfills them.
There’s something different with the composition of the vampire
blood that allows the Highers to maintain their looks and strength.
There’s a rumor going around that the Highers are becoming immune
to the effects of the vampires’ blood and they need to come up with
a different solution or their race may end.”
    It’s all starting to make perfect sense. The
bite of Gabrielle. The Highers feeding on the vampires, but why
does it feel like something’s missing?
    “When I was captured by Monarch and
Gabrielle they told me they needed me alive to save their race,” I
tell him. “Why?”
    “I’m not sure… it would make sense, though,
since the vampire’s blood is beginning to lose its effectiveness
for them.” He pauses. “They’re probably trying to go back to the
original source again. Start over and find another cure.” He clasps
his hands together in front of him, contemplating something.
“Whatever happens, we must make sure they don’t capture you again.
We can’t risk them finding a cure if they are beginning to
weaken.”
    I note Mathew’s pale eyes again. “You never
did explain to me why you look like a Higher,” I point out with
wariness.
    “Before I left the colony, I injected myself
with one of the viruses that I believed to be a cure from the bite
of a vampire. It had no effect on me until I was bitten a few weeks
ago.” He spreads his hands out to the side of him. “This is what
has happened since then.”
    Aiden leans forward in his chair, his leg
pushing against mine from under the table. I wonder if he’s doing
it on purpose or if he even knows he is. “So, you are trying to
tell us that you were bitten by a vampire weeks ago and are still
alive? Because I find all of this hard to believe.”
    Nichelle shoots Aiden a harsh look, her jaw
tightening. “It’s true. We had some vampires break through our
barricades. We lost many of our people.” She looks at Mathew with
pride. “Mathew tried to defend the town, but was bitten on the
leg.”
    He returns her grin and she directs her
attention back to Aiden, her eyes darkening. “A few weeks have
passed and here he stands, not infected at all.”
    Mathew looks at her sadly. “I haven’t turned
yet, but I can feel it coming. It’s only a matter of time.”
    “What do you mean it’s only a matter of
time? How can you tell?” Greyson asks curiously. He’s been so quiet
through all this, I almost forgot her was there.
    Mathew seems uncomfortable with the question
and shifts in his chair, moving forward then deciding to lean back
again, as though he can’t figure out what to do with himself. “I
started hallucinating that my skin was falling off. I’ve actually
had to check in the mirror several times to make sure it’s not
real.”
    Aiden raises his eyebrows at me, bumps my
knee from under the table and then whispers, “Do you really believe
him?”
    I’m not sure. I’m not sure of anything
anymore.
    “Are you sure that you’re not putting anyone
at risk; that you’re not changing?” I ask Mathew.
    “Mathew wouldn’t put anybody at risk,”
Nichelle snaps. “He’s always been the one who tries to help
others.”
    Mathew puts his hand on Nichelle’s and gives
her an affectionate look. “Nichelle’s right. If I think that I’m
becoming dangerous to anyone, I’ll make sure the right thing is
done.”
    Greyson looks at Mathew with disappointment.
“So your change has only been delayed. Does that mean that there’s
no cure?” He frowns.
    Mathew takes a folded piece of paper out of
his pocket then he puts it onto the table and smoothes out the
wrinkles. There’s something written on it, but since I can’t read.
I don’t know what it says.
    “Not too long ago a man came in search of
me,” he says. “He claimed to be sent here by Monarch, and he told
me that Monarch wasn’t sure if I was still alive, but if I