Twice Bitten (Love, Lust & Magic #1)

Uriah

MYSTIC HOLLOW SETTLEMENT, 1700

“Come to me, my beauties.”

Where the townspeople of Mystic Hollow today would find shops, bars, and restaurants, there was instead a small clearing in a seemingly endless sea of forest. Above, a full moon provided barely enough light for one to see their surroundings.

For , that didn’t matter. There was a force inside of him moving his feet forward. The same one that woke him from his sleep. The same one that made him leave the safety of his tent to wander through a forest the local indigenous tribes called Hollowood. The same one that was calling for him now.

Wearing only a pair of trousers, his furry arms and chest—barren of any tattoos—glistened in summer sweat as he felt compelled to walk farther and farther into the thick. Who is she, this maiden that calls? he thought to himself. And although the answer wasn’t clear to him at that moment, it felt as though he was walking directly towards his destiny.

?Not much further. Come to the clearing.? Instead of hearing this voice call out from the distant shadows like before, the woman’s words simply appeared in ’s mind.

If he could think of his own accord, might liken the continuing call to that of a siren, an old story the sailors used to speak of. The soft, seemingly angelic voice that had been calling to him in the night was now closer than ever. Even if he was interested in turning back now, he couldn’t. His body was on autopilot. She must be the most beautiful creature, he thought. It was now the only thought he could muster.

The swaying luminescence of a sizable bonfire bounced off the trees ahead of him. He was close now, but to what he wasn’t sure. With each step forward, ’s heart pounded faster. My love? he asked himself. Can it be?

“You, too?”

The sound of someone else altogether snapped him out of his trance. Upon coming to his senses, it surprised to find a Black man standing before him. Like , he was also shirtless, his bare chest and all of his muscles heaving. It looked like he had been walking for hours. The of today would recognize him as Pruitt Mondamin. He stood at the end of the clearing, teetering over the edge of what looked like a large hole in the ground.

“Pardon me?” asked.

“Th-the voice.”

said nothing—in part because whomever or whatever had led the two men to this particular spot in the forest was now with them. They froze in surprise, in awe, in lust, in fear .

Concealed in a red robe that hid most of her face, exposed cleavage and blood-red lips were all Pruitt and could see of their mysterious caller. That—and the flowing white, almost silver hair that fell out from her coverings and reflected the moon.

She didn’t physically open her mouth to speak, but instead communicated with them through some kind of psychic bond. ?Finally , my fated soulmates have arrived.?

“S-soulmate?” Pruitt asked aloud.

Extending either arm, the woman placed a palm on each of the men’s foreheads. ?Soon you will understand everything, Pruitt.?

“Wait, soulmates?” blinked in confusion.

Moments later, Pruitt started to shake. “It’s burning,” he said, his eyes glazing over white before his body fell limp.

“What is?” asked, his teeth clicking together involuntarily. What felt like a thunderbolt coursing through his body knocked him to the ground.

?I’ve been watching you both. Waiting. Out of every man that came in and out of this forest, I chose you two to join me in eternal life.?

Although reality seemed to present itself as a void now, could make out the voice of this woman as clear as day. Without ever being told, he understood everything about her. Her name was Odessa. She was a witch, the most powerful one to ever exist. She’s the one I’m destined to be with, and to stay with her forever I’ll do anything , thought to himself.

?Anything,? Pruitt’s voice filled ’s subconscious for the first time.

The bodies of the two men at her feet, Odessa looked to the skies as she began the ritual. While her lips didn’t move, her voice echoed through their subconscious.

?The Hollow grants me great power—power that no witch before me has ever touched. Oh, Mystic Hollow, grant me my wish. To Black of Mystic Hollow Settlement, a man with great cunning and a bountiful heart—henceforth known as The First Vampire—bring the gift of eternal life through eternal death. Sharpen his teeth to do my bidding, steal his pulse to give to me, and make him a slave to the bird’s morning call. He will belong to me.?

The peaceful void found himself in was quickly wiped away. In its place, searing pain. “No!” screamed . “Help me!”

His body regaining feeling, realized that once again he was in control of his limbs. His eyes shined a bright, blinding white as he grabbed at the forest floor and hissed.

?It’s burning. It’s all burning. Please, make it stop , ? he tried to reason with the voice. Instead, the pain of a thousand daggers ripping through his gums nearly knocked him unconscious again. His teeth were changing.

?Oh, Mystic Hollow, grant me my wish. To Pruitt Mondamin, the noble and righteous son of slaves—henceforth known as The First Werewolf—bring the gift of eternal life through eternal night. Break every bone, rip away his human flesh, and make him a child of the moon. He, too, belongs to me.?

The ground around the trio splintered and cracked, forming a circle of jagged rocks as it shook. Pruitt’s screaming soon rivaled ’s cries of agony.

watched as Pruitt writhed in pain, his body twisting and turning. The tips of his fingers opened up to give way to long, deadly claws. His bellows quickly became manic, reaching a high pitch reminiscent of a starving wolf.

Even then, the sounds of cracking bones rang through the treetops.