The man, the guard standing outside the house, dropped dead as I drank every last bit of his blood, leaving him with nothing to leave. Cold air slammed me. His body fell with a thud. I took a step back, placing a hand over my chest and feeling my own heart beat underneath my fingers. The taste of his blood remained in my mouth. It awakened me. His blood rushed down my throat and pumped through my body, strengthing me more.

I wiped the corners of my mouth and smiled, holding no such thing as ...