The Sacrifice Read Online Free Page B

couch.
    “The
fridge is stocked with synthetic blood, water, and protein drinks,” Elle said
from the kitchen. “It ’ s nice. I ’ ll have to give them
that.”
    They
chose their bedrooms. Each had its own bath, and a set of French-doors led onto
a large balcony. Moonlight outlined the surrounding Appalachian Mountains. She
couldn ’ t wait to see them in full sunlight. When they
first arrived the sun had set, but the entire area glowed orange from the fall
leaves atop the mountains, making it appear as if they were nestled inside a
never-ending fall bouquet. The view from the balcony overlooked a large lake
with docks and canoes.
    “I
hope we have time to enjoy some of this,” Elle said. “I ’ d
love to hike these trails.”
    “I ’ m
sure we will.” Riana inhaled the aroma of earth and evergreens. Calm settled
over her and the tightness in her muscles relaxed for the first time all day.
According to her mom, it
    was the reason
Sivadians felt more energized when living in mountainous regions. The need to
feel closer to the mountains of Sivadia was embedded within their psyche.
    Someone
knocked on the door. “I ’ ll get it.” Riana went to the living room and
pulled open the door.
    A short man with a food tray stood in
the hallway.
    “Good
evening, ma ’ am. My name is Mr. Connors. I ’ m
in charge of the kitchen and housekeeping. I deliver everyone ’ s
first meal so I can introduce myself. If there ’ s a problem with the
meals or you need anything, please call. My number is in the directory by the
phone. I ’ ll be happy to take care of it personally.”
    Riana
took the tray of food. “Thank you, Mr. Connors. I ’ m
Riana Martin, and this is Elle Nichols.”
    Elle reached around Riana and shook
his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
    “Likewise. You ladies have a nice
evening.” He turned and continued pushing his food cart down the hallway.
    Elle closed the door and went to the
fridge, grabbing two bottled waters.
    After
dinner and a couple of glasses of synthetic blood, they went to their rooms to
change into the uniforms they had been instructed to wear. Riana ’ s
closet was filled with shiny, gray uniforms identical to the black ones Kyra
and the guards wore, minus the Protectors emblem. She held one out in front of
her. Crap! It looked like it would fit a six year old. She crossed the hall to
Elle ’ s room. “I think they gave me the wrong size.”
    “I thought so too, but I got it on.
They must be one size fits all.”
    “I hope so,” Riana mumbled on the way
back to her room. She tugged one leg through the pants. It slid on easily, and
was lightweight and comfortable. She stared at herself in the full-length
mirror. The thing fit like a second skin.
You could definitely tell a man designed them. The material accentuated every
curve. The neckline plunged down to show off just the right amount of cleavage,
without being vulgar. After pulling her long hair into a ponytail, she glanced
at the clock on the bedside table. Fifteen minutes before class. If she didn ’ t
get Elle started out the door, they ’ d never make it.
    Riana
glanced at the tight uniform in the mirror, again, and shook her head . Hope I don’ t run into Hot-Cakes wearing this thing.

 

Chapter 4
     
    After
Cy finished telling Kyra about the feeder they had captured, he glanced back at
the girl he ’ d just met. In over three hundred years of
existence, he ’ d never had such a strong reaction to a female.
From the moment he laid eyes on her, every cell in him hummed with awareness.
As if something inside him had awoken for the first time since birth. He
watched her talk to one of the other girls. Her long auburn hair hung in loose
waves across ample cleavage. He ’ d never seen a more perfectly proportioned body.
    She
glanced up as if she felt his stare. Blush tinged her fair skin. Her large,
emerald eyes held him captive. Eyes that somehow seemed intimately familiar. He
shook his head. No, he ’ d never met