If You Love Me

This is it, I thought. I'm going to die.

A profound gloom curled its way around my heart.

Never in a million years did I imagine my life would end this way. If I pictured anything, it was that I disappeared into nothingness as the vampire queen took over my body. Dying like this? No one would know.

And I thought of Silindra on an altar, her blood drained from her body.

Sacrificed for Sharra's whims.

I never would've guessed my fate would be so entwined with hers.

I didn't want to die. I didn't want those I loved to die. I wanted to live!

The knife hovering above me abruptly descended and sank deep into my chest.

If I could have, I would have cried out in pain. I felt every rip, every tear, every shredded vein, and vessel as the blade entered my body.

But I was unable to move.

The knife retreated as quickly as it dropped and once again hung above my chest.

Blood slid from the blade and on to my shirt.

The scent of copper stung my nose. I wanted to cry at the injustice of it a