Our Little Monster

Copyright © 2024 by Lashell Rain

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

This novel is a work of fiction.

All characters, places, and events portrayed are products of the author's imagination and are used fictitiously.

Cover by GetCovers

Content Warning

Dear Reader, your mental health is important!

Please note that this book contains mature material.

Material includes:

Explicit sexual scenes, grief, parental loss, death, murder, manipulation, blood, torture, kidnapping, physical assault and violence.

Reader discretion is advised.

But it's a fun time… I promise.

Contents

Dedication

1.Prologue

2.1

3.2

4.3

5.4

6.5

7.6

8.7

9.8

10.9

11.10

12.11

13.12

14.13

15.14

16.15

17.16

18.17

19.18

20.19

21.20

22.21

23.22

24.23

25.24

26.25

27.26

28.27

29.28

30.29

31.30

32.31

33.32

34.33

35.34

36.35

37.36

38.37

39.38

40.39

41.40

42.41

43.42

Thank You For Reading

Also By Lashell Rain

Acknowledgements

About the Author

To those who wanted

The Vampire Diaries to be a why choose,

this one is for you.

Prologue

Nox

Flashback…

The rhythmic creak of leather and the clatter of hooves against cobblestone had become a soothing backdrop to our night of indulgence. Or should I say mine?

Alice, with her fiery-red hair cascading over my shoulder, matched the carriage’s rhythm as she shifted in my lap, her lips trailing playful kisses along my jawline. Thorne, across from me, wore a roguish grin beneath his tousled brown locks as Clara giggled, perched precariously atop his knee.

Careful, I teased, as Alice’s hand wandered dangerously close to the button on my trousers. We have an audience, I murmured in between kisses, but her eyes glinted with mischief under the dim glow of the carriage lamps.

She enjoyed an audience. Mmm, I chose wisely tonight.

Our laughter mingled with the jostling of the carriage, the carefree sound a stark contrast to the silent world outside. Then, without warning, the carriage lurched violently, throwing us against the plush velvet interior. Alice’s lips left mine as we were rattled by the abrupt stop. 

A man’s scream—a sharp, terrified sound—pierced the air, then fell into a deathly silence that seemed to swallow us whole.

The coachman.

What the hell… I muttered, my heart hammering in my chest as I gently removed Alice from my lap and quickly fixed my disheveled clothing. My fingers fumbled with the fabric, the former haze of pleasure now replaced by a creeping sense of dread.

Thorne’s eyes met mine, reflecting a confusion that mirrored my own. I went to open the door, prepared to investigate.

I’ll come with you, Thorne said, his usually poised demeanor now slightly ruffled as he swept his hair back from his forehead. 

Clara was shaking like one of those little dogs. I thought she might faint with how pale she was getting. 

It’s okay, he told her, though the quiver in his voice betrayed his uncertainty.

Everything will be sorted shortly, I reassured them both before nodding toward the door, indicating for Thorne to follow.

Let’s check on the driver, Thorne suggested, his face etched with concern.

I stepped out first, my boots meeting the gravel road with a crunch that was too loud in the quiet of the night. A shiver ran down my spine, not from the chill in the air but from the eeriness that the fog brought, wrapping around my ankles like a needy cat.

The moon hung low, partially veiled by the mist, casting a glow that barely penetrated the thickness of the fog.

The hair on the back of my neck stood on end as I scanned the tree line, silhouettes of the branches twisting into sinister shapes.

Thorne followed suit, stepping into the gloom with Clara’s hand gripped tightly in his. Her other hand clutched at the delicate fabric of her gown, pulling it up to avoid the damp ground that threatened to stain the hem. I glanced at Alice, whose lips were curved in an unsettling half-smile, her eyes glinting with an unreadable expression. She moved with a grace that seemed amiss with our situation, her calm demeanor strikingly odd against Clara’s visible distress.

Eccentric tastes and fearless? Could the woman get any more attractive?

Stay close, I whispered, my voice barely slicing through the heavy air as we huddled together.

We moved forward with cautious steps, the ladies trailing behind us. A sense of foreboding settled in my stomach, the kind you can’t quite shake even when you try to tell yourself it’s unwarranted. The feeling only grew as we rounded the carriage, our eyes searching dim shapes in the foggy woods.

The coachman’s bench was empty and even the horses seemed restless, their snorts and stomping of hooves adding to the eerie dread.

Where is he? I murmured, more to myself than anyone else.

Maybe he had to relieve himself, Thorne added, and I scoffed.

What man screams when he needs to relieve himself? I said. 

Thorne chuckled.

Cutting through the silence, a sound reached us—a gurgling one, wet and desperate. Thorne and I exchanged a glance before looking towards the source, past the edge of the road where the forest began.

There, in the shadows, was our driver. But he wasn’t alone. 

A man had him gripped firmly by the collar, the assailant’s hands stained crimson as they held the driver steady. My breath caught in my throat when I saw the horror unfolding before us. The stranger’s head was bent low, his mouth at the driver’s neck, movements savage and primal as blood soaked the front of the poor fellow’s clothes.

Christ… Thorne’s whisper barely reached me, but I felt it resonate deep within my bones. 

Fear, thick and visceral, coiled in my gut as the realization dawned on us both. This wasn’t some highwayman’s attack. This was something darker, far more sinister.

In that moment, the world as I knew it—the world as we all knew it—shattered. The boundaries between myth and reality blurred, leaving us stranded in a nightmare that clawed its way into our very souls. 

Shit, run! My voice sounded strange to my ears, hoarse with a fear I’d never known. I grabbed Thorne’s forearm roughly in my urgency and pivoted on my heel. We needed to get the women away, to find safety, but as we turned…

Alice stood there, holding Clara the way the stranger held the coachmen. Her delicate features were twisted into something monstrous, something utterly alien to the girl who had been giggling in my lap not moments ago. The sound of wet, tearing flesh filled the air as Alice languidly lifted her head, a sickening smirk on her blood-stained lips. She let Clara’s limp body slump onto the gravel road with an indifference that chilled me to the bone. Dead. Clara was dead.

Ah, Nox, Thorne, she crooned, her voice a depraved serenade that danced mockingly around us. You both really made this too easy, but at least you’re handsome. Her grin was a crooked mask of delight. Her teeth weren’t as they had been. Aside from being covered in a woman’s blood, they’d become unnaturally sharp. 

Like some kind of demon sprung from hell, she pounced.

Her hiss sent shivers down my spine, and for a fleeting moment, I saw the black veins webbing outward beneath her eyes. 

What the fuck was happening? Vampires couldn’t be real. They were nothing more than tales spun to frighten children into obedience or to entertain drunken adults at parlors. Yet there she was, a creature of nightmares, challenging every notion of reality I’d ever possessed.

Run! I shouted again, more desperately this time, pushing Thorne ahead of me.

We took off, our boots pounding erratically against the gravel road as our breaths came out in short, sharp gasps. I cast a glance over my shoulder, expecting to see Alice on our heels. But she was toying with us, taking pleasure in the hunt, nowhere to be seen.

Keep going! I urged Thorne, although he needed no encouragement. His normally composed demeanor had been shattered by all the chaos.

We burst into the woods, branches snagging at our clothes, tearing at our skin as we stumbled through the underbrush. The darkness was all-consuming, a suffocating blanket that seemed to swallow light and hope with equal voracity. But still, we ran and ran and ran.

Finally, our pace slowed, more from exhaustion than choice. We leaned heavily against the rough bark of a tree, our chests rose and fell as we heaved breath into our lungs.

Nox, he panted, his voice barely audible over the hammering of my own heart. You always pick the fucking crazy ones… 

I tried to chuckle, but it was a hollow sound, void of any real humor.

Right, because you’ve never been swayed by a pretty face, I shot back, trying to match his levity. It was a desperate attempt to cling to normalcy, to pretend for just a second that this was nothing more than another one of our escapades gone wrong.

 Silence fell upon the woods, as if the world itself held its breath.

I think… I think we lost them, I managed between strained gasps. And for one foolish, hopeful moment, I thought we’d left those horrors behind. 

But before the relief could fully take hold, she was there. 

Alice appeared as if conjured from the very shadows we sought refuge in. In a movement too swift to follow, she reached for Thorne, her pale fingers entwined in his hair, yanking his head back with a violence that stole my breath all over again.

Her teeth—those sharp, monstrous things—sank into his throat. Thorne’s eyes met mine, wide with shock and pain.

Thorne! The word was torn from my lips. A plea, a curse, a denial all at once. Her eyes locked onto mine, bloodthirsty and gleaming with feral delight. There was no humanity left in that gaze, only cold hunger. 

I knew nothing about how to kill a vampire; the only thing I had ever heard was a stake through the heart.

Wood. I needed wood.

I spotted a hefty branch from a fallen tree and rushed toward it, ripping it off and giving one end a sharp point. 

Without hesitation, I lunged at Alice, driving the makeshift spear into her back and piercing her heart. She let out a gasp, releasing Thorne as she collapsed to the ground, motionless.

Frantically, I reached for Thorne, dragging him away from Alice’s lifeless body, fearing she might not truly be dead. Thorne, Thorne! I cried, trying to stem the bleeding from his neck as blood spilled relentlessly through my fingers. Thorne only gasped for breath as blood gurgled in his throat.

You stay with me. You’re not dying today, do you hear me? Stay. With. Me, I commanded. Begged. He had been my best friend from when we were schoolboys, He was like my brother. No, he was my brother. I would not lose him. 

You monster! a voice roared, and suddenly I was hoisted off the ground by the collar of my shirt at speeds I couldn’t comprehend. 

It was the man who had devoured our driver. He wedged me against a tree, and agony radiated through my core. Let’s see how you like it, he hissed, tears of rage streaking his face. A sharp branch impaled me, anchoring me to the tree. I screamed from the pain.

The man left me pinned to the tree and knelt beside Alice, cradling her lifeless body, his grief palpable. He had loved her, that much was clear.

Suddenly, a shadowy figure appeared behind him.

Maybe you should take this as a lesson, Jones, to do what you’re told, he said to the weeping vampire.

Bastian… They killed her! They killed her! Jones cried.

Warm blood soaked my front as blinding pain nearly distracted me from the conversation unfolding between them.

Well, whose fault is that? this Bastian guy retorted. Besides, it makes my job easier.

My pants of pain and the man's sobs were the only sounds for a moment. A silent communication passed between the two men.

I knew Victor would send you to take care of his dirty work. Do it. They already took her from me. I have nothing left, so go ahead, do it. Do it. DO IT— His screams were cut off when his head was ripped from his shoulders. I would have gagged at the traumatizing sight had I not started choking on my own blood. 

The man named Bastian held Jones’s head, the exposed spine still dangling.

It’s a shame, really. You two were doing so well, he sighed.

The blond man casually discarded the severed head. Alice and the headless body slumped together. Then Bastian turned his attention to Thorne’s still form lying on the ground.

No! I tried to shout, my voice feeble and raw. Realizing my feet were nearly touching the ground, I summoned strength from deep within. Planting my palms against the tree, I cried out as I pushed off the branch that had impaled me, collapsing in agony on the cool earth. No! I screamed again, tears and pain blurring my vision. 

The man, Bastian, tilted his head with that predatory grace I had noticed in the others. 

Thorne, I whispered as I crawled to him, his eyes struggling to stay open. Thorne… I pleaded. The words that followed weren’t logical. You have to help him! Please, don’t let him die! My voice cracked with desperation. I could feel my strength waning. 

It was pointless addressing a creature likely here to end our lives regardless of what I said or did. But I’d tried anyways.

Rolling onto my back beside Thorne, shivers wracked my body, I clutched my bleeding side. I was slipping away, and I likely wouldn't last much longer… At least we’d face the end together.

The man moved closer. If I had the strength, I would protest his closeness, or plead more for Thorne. But as I lay beside my best friend, my consciousness ebbed.

The burn was like a wild inferno trapped beneath my skin, a fiery agony that writhed and twisted through my every vein. It was relentless, merciless in its torture, as if my blood had been replaced by molten lava—until suddenly, it wasn’t. The pain ceased so abruptly that the silence in my body was deafening.

I jerked upright, gasping for breath I didn’t realize I’d been desperate for. My heart hammered against my ribcage. My head swiveled around, taking in the room I found myself in. The sun peeked out slightly from the edges of the black drapes.

Then my gaze landed on him—the man from the woods, Bastian. He was perched at the end of the bed where I lay, leaning nonchalantly against one of the bed banisters with the ease of a predator.

Ah, you’re awake, he said, his voice calm. His presence was both unsettling and oddly comforting.

My hand instinctively flew to my side, probing for the wound that had surely been there. But as my fingers ran over smooth skin, a surge of disbelief washed over me. I lifted my shirt, half expecting to expose a raw, gruesome scar. Yet there was nothing.

Alive… The word stumbled out of my mouth like a child taking its first steps. 

My body thrummed with an unfamiliar energy. It was as if I’d been hollowed out and filled again with something potent and restless. A gnawing void inside me—an emptiness clawing at my stomach, spreading through my veins with a visceral urgency. 

Hunger. Not the kind that could be satisfied by any meal, but one that seemed to demand something richer—darker.

Thorne, I said, voice rasping, the name emerging like a lifeline as I shot my gaze back to Bastian.

Safe, Bastian said, the word dropping into the silence like a stone into still water. He’ll be in here shortly. He woke up a few hours ago.

What? Woke up? How— the question died on my lips as Thorne walked in. He should’ve been dead. The memory of his throat torn wide open flashed through my mind.

My mouth gaped, words lodging somewhere between shock and disbelief. But there he stood, wearing his small smile that seemed to mock the dance with death we’d had. In his hand, he held a cup, offering it to me with the casual air of someone delivering morning coffee.

Here, he said, pressing the cup into my hands. My fingers curled around it, the cool surface grounding me in the moment. It was just a cup, filled with what I assumed was water, but even the sight of it stirred something primal within me. My nostrils tingled over the faint tang of iron that wafted past.

Thanks, I muttered. Thorne’s smile widened, a spark of something unreadable in his eyes. He took a step back, nodding toward the cup. 

Go on, Thorne encouraged, nudging me with a look. 

I didn’t need further prompting; I was fucking parched. Tipping the cup to my lips, I drank eagerly, expecting the bland taste of water to wash over my tongue.

My senses burst into a needy frenzy.

The liquid slid down my throat, rich and full of a life that was no longer mine. I sat up straighter, clutching the cup like a drug I needed more of. 

The world around me sharpened into focus with every swallow. It was blood—warm, vital, impossibly satisfying blood—and I drank it down greedily, the void within me closing with each gulp.

I realized all too soon that the cup was empty, the last drop savored and gone. My body hummed with energy, a calm settling over the frenzy that had gripped my insides moments before. I licked my lips unconsciously, tasting the coppery tang that lingered.

Thorne, I gasped out. What is happening? I looked at my brother, who didn’t quite look himself.

He’ll explain everything, Thorne said as he nodded toward Bastian.

Bastian reached out and took the cup from my trembling hands. His touch was light, almost reverent, as if he understood the significance of the moment better than I did.

That should hold you off for a little while, he murmured, an unreadable expression crossing his features. 

The words sank in, heavy and undeniable. What I had done…

Bastian’s gaze was steady, his voice almost gentle as he delivered the truth. You both are vampires now, he said in an even tone, doing his best to keep me calm. "I changed you in the woods before you died. Every lore or belief you’ve ever been told is probably real—vampires, werewolves, witches, and more. They all exist among mortals.

Here are the ground rules, Bastian continued, We do not kill humans. We simply feed and then compel them to forget and move along on their way.

Not kill. Feed and forget. His words settled into the pit of my stomach like a cold stone of responsibility.

Compel? It was then that the door creaked open, and she entered—a woman in a maid’s uniform. My body tensed involuntarily, every fiber attuned to the rapid cadence of her heartbeat. It filled the room like a drumbeat, insistent and overwhelming. 

Beside me, Thorne shifted, his eyes wide as he too seemed ensnared by the sound. With a swift, uneasy movement, he slid across the mattress, distancing himself.

Scarlet, darling, Bastian called out, his tone both commanding and gentle. Could you demonstrate for us? Jump out of the window.

There was a sickening dread knotting in the pit of my stomach as I witnessed her compliance, her actions devoid of any trace of resistance. It was as if a veil had fallen over her eyes, obscuring her will and replacing it with Bastian’s command.

I held my breath as she approached the window, her movements unnaturally smooth, her gaze fixed and distant. Panic surged through me as she reached for the latch, my mind reeling with the horrifying realization of what was about to happen.

With a trembling hand, she pushed the window open, the cool breeze brushing against her skin. My pulse thundered in my ears. Luckily the sun shone toward the other side of the room, away from us.

But just as Scarlet stood on the precipice, ready to obey Bastian’s every word, he finally spoke, his command slicing through the tension like a blade.

Stop, Bastian commanded. 

Scarlet stepped down and away from the window. The simplicity of it, the sheer ease with which he wove his will around her actions, was as mesmerizing as it was terrifying.

Thank you. You’re dismissed. His voice was gentle but firm.

Yes sir, she replied, looking a bit confused as to why she was standing by the window before her footsteps retreated back out of the room.

 The silence stretched, heavy and expectant, as Bastian’s words sank into the marrow of my bones. Thorne eased himself onto the bed beside me, his presence my only support.

Any questions? Bastian asked.

Why? I propped myself up on shaky elbows, still adjusting to this body that was somehow familiar and strange at the same time. Bastian’s gaze held mine and he didn’t look away, didn’t falter under the weight of my question.

Because I saw your desperation to live, Bastian began, a thread of solemnity woven through his tone. And because seeing someone put themselves in harm’s way for others, down to the bitter end… You don’t see that kind of character in very many people, that loyalty.

His statement hung in the air, heavy with the truth of it. I turned my head slightly, catching Thorne’s eye, and I saw my turmoil reflected back at me. We’d faced death together, and now… now we were bound by something far greater than either of us could have ever imagined.

Thank you, I said, the words barely more than a whisper.

 Don’t thank me yet, Bastian replied, a shadow of a smile touching his lips. Eternity is a long time.

We are in your debt… I said, the words trailing off as I grappled with the weight of what was happening. It wasn’t just a debt of gratitude, but a debt of existence itself. 

I’ll go get you both more to eat. You’re welcome to anything here. Get comfortable, and welcome home, he said as he stood and left.

1

Serina

Agood monster hunt always started with a stale beer, saucy wings, and fries from a random dive bar in the middle of nowhere. Dad always said it loosened the tension before going on a hunt that you weren’t sure you’d come back from.

It had become a tradition, and I couldn’t deny that it was something that always brought a smile to my face. 

I wasn’t sure if it was the wings or the anticipation of the kill that I knew I would get that did it for me, but I assumed the latter. The wings were like an appetizer for what I was truly wanting.

The kill. 

This is yall’s third trip here this month. Are you guys moving into town? I haven’t seen you around here, Tammy, our waitress, said with a southern twang as she eyed my father with her fuck me eyes, sliding us our beers on the table. 

I grinned in his direction over the rim of my glass as I took a drink, and he shook his head ruefully as he shifted his gaze to Tammy.

No, we’re just here on some more business. It’s been busy lately, Dad replied as he grabbed his beer to take a long swig.

What kinda business? Tammy said, fluttering her long lashes.

He eyed her. It’s top secret, but it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

Good, I’d love to see more of you. Her statement lingered with a want for more as her eyes swooped down his body real quick before coming back up to his face, and he gave her a side smile. 

I shifted my gaze to around the dive bar, giving the woman her moment. Or what she thought was her moment.

The weathered and worn rustic aesthetic blended with a cozy, laid-back atmosphere. Mismatched tables and chairs filled the open floor plan, giving the impression that each piece was carefully chosen over time. It reminded me of Mickey’s, but Mickey’s had more character and was more put together.

Stools with cracked leather seats lined the bar. The bartender, seasoned and friendly, moved effortlessly behind the counter, engaging in casual banter with patrons until he saw Tammy.

Tammy! Quit’cher flirtin’ and get back to work! the man called from behind the bar, and Tammy rolled her eyes but left my dad with a glittery smile before turning back to go to work.

I had to admit my old man was a good-looking guy: 6’3, had a dad bod but was muscle-riddled underneath it all, he was covered in tattoos, and he had groomed salt and pepper stubble that only added a sharper edge to his bright blue eyes. He had messy slicked-back black hair with a few grays there too, but there was always a thick unruly piece that fell over his brow. What more could any woman ask for?

I watched him run a thumb over his ring finger, the thick gold band still gleaming there. I hadn’t seen my dad look at another woman even remotely close to the way he looked at my mom. Regardless of his returning smiles and gestures, I could see the sadness still lingering in his eyes from when we lost her.

My dad huffed as he went for some fries in the large basket sitting between us. What? he said over the food in his mouth as I eyed him.

Soooo, you and Tammy, huh? I jested, and he rolled his eyes.

He sighed. You and I both know there was only one woman for me, baby.

Oh, come on, I think you could have some fun. We don’t get to have fun very often. And I know Mom wouldn’t want you sulking forever; she hated that, I reminded him, and he grunted as he went for another small bundle of fries and I did the same.

You’re right, but like you said, we don’t have fun very often. We don’t have time; as soon as we’re done eating, we will be heading out to that nest Sam was telling us about. Then we will be taking the next week off for your birthday.

I’m sure you could go out one night while we’re off next week. 

He looked at me with a sadness in his eyes that let me know he still wasn’t ready. I just wanted him to be happy, but I wouldn’t push anymore tonight.

Here you go, Tammy drawled as she slid both of us our basket of wings. My dad ordered the spicy ones.

You’re going to regret that later, I said, nodding toward the food, changing the subject.

Your old man can handle it. Dad waggled his brow, causing me to chuckle as I went for my own wings.

We chatted about our game plan for the night while we finished our wings and beer. I had a feeling it was going to be a long night. For some reason, there had been an uprising in changelings, and their bloodlust was causing problems. 

Normally, Vampires didn’t change people; rather, they would get their blood from a hookup at a blood bank or feed on a human, but they wouldn’t kill them, they would just compel the person to forget and move on their merry way. It had always been the rules for their kind to live peacefully among us, and we hadn’t had any problems until recently. 

Unfortunately for them, you break the rules and hunters come for you. That’s where we step in.

More and more people had started going missing here in this area, and my dad and I were determined to figure out why. Taking out their breeding houses, or nests as we called them, was the closest we could get to stopping them until we could figure out the reason they were changing so many people. 

Most of the time, we killed them for murdering innocents, but in the past few months, they’ve been changing them too.

Other hunters had noticed an uprising in vampires as well; we had been hearing about their hunts through the grapevine. It was a shitshow, but on the bright side, at least we were close to our yearly vacation spot.

I tried to tell dad that with all the vampire attacks here recently we could always plan to go another time, but he insisted he would never miss my birthday vacation, no matter what monsters were causing a ruckus.

Our family cabin was only a five-hour drive from Lufkin, which was why Dad decided to take this hunt since he knew it was close.

Dad finished his beer, and I followed suit before he tossed cash down on the table and we both scooted ourselves out from the booth to head to the door. Tammy tried to rush over but got called back by her boss. 

My dad and I couldn’t stop our chuckle as he opened the door, the little bells chiming at the top as we took our leave.

We walked over to the trunk of his classic, sleek black Impala and he opened it, revealing all of our weapons stashed in the trunk. He handed me my shotgun, and I tossed it over my shoulder and onto my back with its strap before checking that my pistol was still fastened to my hip. 

He placed a sash-like leather strap of wooden stakes over his chest before handing me my own, and I situated mine in the same position.

You ready, sweetheart?

Always, I said, and he gave me a nod