Gabriella Poole - Divided Souls (Darke Academy)

fuss.

… Something deep inside her quailed and shivered. What was she thinking?

But she was too hungry, too afraid, too desperate to worry. She slapped the small voice of her conscience away and tightened her grip on

Jake’s wrists, thumbs finding his veins. She was aware of Isabella’s frightened breathing, her small nervous movements as she glanced

anxiously from Jake to Cassie and back, but Cassie took no notice. Jake sucked in a breath as she focused, found his life, and began to

feed.

His essence roared into her. He’d been working out, she thought with an amused layer of her mind. He was strong, fit, and more than

that, he had a powerful will. The boy was determined. And she was soaking it all up, the life of him thrilling into her, racing through her

veins.

Jake stumbled a little. She was aware of her fingers tight as iron bands around his wrists, her thumbs digging hard into his skin. Veins

bulged at his temple, stood out against the tanned skin of his arms, and his face was drained by shock. Isabella was tugging at her sleeve.

‘Cassie, you need to stop.’

No. No we mustn’t stop! Not yet!

‘CASSIE!’

Cassie let him go with an angry cry. In front of her Jake wobbled wildly, grabbed for the wall, and righted himself.

‘Holy crap.’ He could speak before Cassie could.

She stood rigid, letting life-energy fizz into her fingertips, her scalp, the soles of her feet.

‘You … are never … feeding off my girl again.’

Says who? she wanted to snarl. Just as well she couldn’t speak yet.

Jake’s arm, she noticed, was tight around Isabella’s shoulders. The gesture looked protective, but Cassie could tell Isabella was actually

supporting her boyfriend. He was still unsteady on his pins, she realised, a little shocked at the frisson of pleasure she took from that.

‘I’m going,’ she said with disdain. ‘I’ve stayed too long already. Thanks, Jake.’

‘Wait!’

She’d already flung open the door, but his voice had enough urgency to stop her. She glanced over her shoulder with irritation.

Jake looked steadier, and already the colour was seeping back into his face. ‘I’m coming with you.’

‘No. Really. You’re not.’ She sighed. ‘You’ll get in the way.’

‘Oh, get over yourself. And while you’re at it, get over Ranjit.’ He glared at her.

Cassie scowled. ‘You’re not coming.’

‘This theory of yours, about the Pendant. What is it, a wild guess?’ He twisted his lip in a cynical smirk. ‘You don’t have any proof, do you,

Cassie? Thought not. So Ranjit might not be under a spell. Ranjit might just be doing what comes naturally. Either way, you can’t handle

him.’

Cassie gave a bark of incredulous laughter. ‘I’m sorry?’

‘And I’m serious. I always knew there was something bad about Ranjit, whether it’s down to some curse or not. If he’s not in control of

himself, he won’t hold back from hurting you. I could understand that you needed feeding, to be the best you can be – but you need to

understand that you’ll need back-up. Frankly, even if he knows what he’s doing, I can’t imagine why you’d trust him. It’s not like he gives a

damn. I’m pretty sure he’d kill you as soon as look at you.’

‘No, he wouldn’t!’

‘Uh-huh. Because he’s proved his love on so many occasions.’

‘Shut up.’ Cassie reddened.

‘You, on the other hand, won’t be able to hurt him. Not in the final analysis. You won’t so much as blacken one beautiful eye of his.’ Jake

smirked again, folding his arms. ‘Go on and tell me I’m wrong.’

She breathed hard, wordless, incapable of arguing with that. At last she twisted her mouth into a sneer. ‘Fine, come on then. It’s your

funeral.’

‘Now just wait a minute!’ Isabella flung herself between them. ‘I don’t like this talk of anyone’s funeral. And you two are quite likely to

turn on each other! I’ll come too.’

Groaning, Cassie tore at her hair. ‘I haven’t got another minute! Jake, tell her. She’s not coming, no way!’

‘Cassie’s right, baby,’ agreed Jake. ‘You can’t come, not this time. Please, we don’t have time. Just trust me, do this for me,’ He pushed

Isabella gently but firmly back into the room. ‘I love you.’ The girl opened her mouth to argue at the top of her considerable voice, but this

stopped her. She nodded silently.

Trying to ignore the exchange, Cassie turned and briskly began to walk from the room. After a moment, she broke into a run, but Jake

was at her heels.

She did her best to outrun him, leave him behind, but he wasn’t having it. He was at her heel through the dark passageways, down the