Scorched by Sharon Ashwood Read Free Book Online Page A

pendant Sylvius had made for her, pressing it against her skin. The feel of it was an anchor in a sea of nausea. A true vampire could heal much faster. A real vampire could fly and had astonishing speed and strength. Constance would need full vampire powers if she was going to rescue Sylvius.
    Holy Bridget, what am I thinking?
    She had never fully Turned, because she had never tasted human blood. The guardsmen had imprisoned her too fast. So, Constance needed to hunt.
    Oh, bollocks.
    She’d never considered giving up the last shreds of her humanity before. But then, no one had needed her help so very badly. Even so, could she bear to do it?
    Drinking blood was beyond disgusting, and who was there to bite? The guardsmen were the closest thing to human, and they certainly didn’t smell edible. Putting her lips on Bran’s flesh would surely make her retch.
    Her fingers stirred the thick fur of Viktor’s ruff. He sighed. She sighed, and it was painful.
    All right, maybe not Bran. But she had to be strong, like a warrior queen of old Eire. If she had to embrace her vampire nature to save Sylvius, so be it.
    Her child was at stake.
    She would find a victim.
    She would become the necessary monster.

Chapter 5
    October 1, 9:00 p.m.
    101.5 FM
     
    “W elcome back to CSUP. This is Errata, and we’re speaking with demon expert Dr. Philip Elterland of our own Fairview U. So, Dr. Elterland, as a cryptozoologist, can you explain to us the difference between different kinds of demons? Are there, like, four-door and two-door models, or what?”
    “Thank you, Errata, for such an interesting question. You are correct that there are a lot of different creatures we call demons. Calling one of these entities a demon is analogous to using the term ‘bird.’ There are chickadees and there are eagles.”
    “Tell us more.”
    “With pleasure. Keep in mind that some demons, like incubi, are born, and others are created from a human host.”
    “Dr. Elterland, isn’t it true that species that are born as minor demons—like hellhounds and incubi—aren’t particularly dangerous unless attacked?”
    “That’s true, but they are in the minority. Take, for instance, the species that most people have heard of, popularly called the soul eater. They are extremely aggressive. These demons infect—some written sources use the verbs ‘curse’ or ‘taint’—a human host with a parasitic condition popularly called the Dark Larceny.”
    “How does this happen?”
    “All we have determined with any accuracy is that it takes person-to-person contact.”
    “You mean you can’t get it from a toilet seat?”
    “Um. No.”
    “So what happens once somebody’s cursed, Dr. Elterland?”
    “They are stricken with the urge to feed on human life essence. At some point, the host is entirely absorbed by the demon and acquires supernatural powers.”
    “How long does the process take?”
    “A matter of days. It is interesting to note that although demons shape-shift, they can only make other demons when in human form, and they only attack humans.”
    “Is the demon a separate consciousness?”
    “Not as far as we know. It’s more like a cluster of driving biological imperatives the host cannot control. For the human, it is a painful, terrifying experience. The hunger. The loss of bodily control. The sudden realization that survival means feeding on other humans. Simply put, the human’s civilized nature is no longer in the driver’s seat. Eventually, those better instincts are extinguished and the human becomes a true monster.”
    “Huh. Sounds like the ultimate frat party experience.”
    “Well, it is about feeding and reproduction.”
     
    October 1, 9:00 p.m.
    The alley outside the Castle
     
    Mac was trapped in a solid circle of hellhound bodies. He lashed out, knuckles smashing against the hard metal snaps of a jean jacket. He heard an oof and then someone swept his legs out from under him.
    Mac crashed to the brick pavement, his spine