point o

every bone in my body. It takes a momen

ing

umma

not

ake my way into the massive bathroom. I stare at myself in the mirror. My face is

to myself. But it doesn'

s stands near the counter sorting fresh produce. She's human,

humans? Probably one that

rs. Stepanov,"

a smile. "Please. And I'd like t

ates. "We

"I just...need to

aside. And then

a bowl and grab a

ys the morning news. A news reporter stands outsi

suspect extremist vampire factions protesting the recent rise in deaths

ng dragged into armore

geted biological weapon. Tensions between humans

ree

ine

ss the thought, th

te in hand. Fully dressed, black suit immac

sharp. "Don'

k down. "It's

her in. "You don't need to invol

rld too," I

ond. Instead, h

aving alre

a wo

eakfast," I offer. "

N

ant me to do anythin

ust stay out

ork," I remind him.

or the smal

arriage... this" he points between us. "This is not a real marriage

f then?" I pause then continue. "at least t

le

h

iciently this arrangemen

en his

months

ee weeks I blamed it on the stress from working at the lab.

as a chance that this marriage could be real. Maybe this was a bridge, that would finally change things

e workday; the house should have been empty. But a distin

A woman'

the hall as if being pulled by an external force

gainst the headboard, his chest bare, looking more relaxed than I'd ever seen him. Beside him, her h

sing myself against the doorframe h

is fingers to idly trace patterns on her ar

ed of hiding, Ardonis. This bed is more comfortable than the hotel anyway." She

t with her again last w

out. I grab the wal

is wearing thin. I want to be the lady of t

al. "The moment she conceives, the clock starts ticking. We will

acing a finger down his chest. "

he lawyers are already drafting the paper work. We'll paint her unstable.

y. "I'll be a mother to it. A be

r head. "Just wait a few more months. Once

ve

am to him. A m

hole through the leather. they didn't want a family, they wanted a product to use as they pleased. They were

screamed, I would lose. They would lock me up and monitor my eve

sappear, be

ys and the emergency cash stash I kept in my old box. I don't pack any bags, no

ile until I reached a grimy gas station on the outskirts of the city. I parked in th

el

nce more as sobs racked my body. "Kelly p

s with a resolve that told

o disappe

re you are and I'l

my location

attery from my cell phone a