TWISTED FATES BOOK 1: THE FIRST TWIST by Jacklyn Rogers (read after TXT) 📕

Astrid and Shay approached me on the other side with a glass of water. I gently pushed Jareth away so that I could reach over and grab the clear, refreshing liquid that was desperately needed to quench my insane thirst. When she handed me the glass of water, I noticed the death glares that both women were sending in Jareth's direction.

If looks could kill ... Damn!

I rapidly drank the first glass of water but didn't feel satiated. I was still very thirsty and oddly hungry. I glanced over at my GFs, who gave a gentle nod, and Astrid refilled the glass with more water for me.

"Here, hon. Hopefully, this will help." Astrid soothingly said as she carefully placed the glass in my still trembling hands. I nodded in appreciation and again quickly consumed the water.  But to no avail, I was still thirsty.

Almost to the degree of ravenous, really.

Shay and Astrid's brows creased as they first looked at each other, then ruefully turned to look at me. "I'm sorry Sweetpea," Shay began, "I don't think it's water that you are in need of."

"I think you need something ... else. Aren't I right, Jareth?" Astrid shot out heatedly.

Everyone's attention turned to the attractive man whose arms had been cradling me since I had woken up. I slowly turned myself to face him and could see his kissable lips had formed a thin line in a grimace. Instead of looking at me in the eyes, he looked down at my hands as he clasped them between his own.

"Jareth ... what are they talking about? Why does everyone here seem like they're angry with you?"

A melancholy sigh escaped his lips as he tilted his head back up, and his mesmerizing cobalt irises suddenly bore into my own.

"I'm so sorry, love." He began massaging my hand, his thumb slowly tracing circles on my wrist. "Please understand that despite what some may believe, this wasn't supposed to happen."

Shay tsked and shook her head in irritation.

Yep, she was positively pissed.

Jareth gave her a quick menacing glare before returning his attention back to me. He sighed again.

"As I was saying. My actions were not deliberate. If there were a way that I could have avoided making such a drastic decision without your sanction, I would have Samantha. On my honor, I would have. "

Did I just see Shay roll her eyes?

Jareth then tenderly took my chin into his hand and spoke with such melancholy in his voice. A slight shiver of fear crept up my spine. Something was seriously wrong here.

"Samantha...someone you know, or rather believed you knew, placed a deadly curse on you in hopes of concluding your natural life. Their malicious plans came to fruition earlier this evening, when you were attacked by one of their sycophants and on the verge of death."

I gasped with the information that spewed from Jareth's lips.

Yep, this was definitely bad.

"I could not let you die, Samantha ... so I did what I had to do to save you."

"What did you do, Jareth?" I nervously questioned him.

"I did what needed to be done ... I turned you, Samantha."

I arched my eyebrow and stared at Jareth inquisitively. "Turned me? What exactly do you mean by turned me?"

"I sired you, Samantha. Those witches," he gestured over to Shay and Astrid, "were unable to stop the poison festering within your body from spreading. In order to save your life, I came to a hasty deduction. There was no other alternative. I turned you into what I am and have been for over three hundred years. I turned you into ... a vampire."

Seriously ... Seriously?!!

What the fuck, people?!

Did I just wake up in The Vampire Diaries?

Is my boyfriend insinuating that he’s the lost Salvatore brother?

Sigh … just what did I wake up to?

Chapter 17

Sammie's POV

OK. So, I definitely must be dreaming because it sounds like I've ended up in a vampire drama series and need to wake the fuck up.

Did Jareth just try and tell me that not only is he a vampire, but that Shay and Astrid are what ... witches?

Come. On.

Vampires and witches aren't real people!

Oh, God! Please don't tell me my boyfriend is insane. I knew he was too good to be true.

Shit, Shit, Shit!

Is this why my friends are here ... to protect me from my insane boyfriend? Maybe Jareth hit his head and started hallucinating.

I sighed and shook my head.

This seriously cannot be real.

I tried to remain calm. I've always heard this to be the best method when handing someone who is, without a doubt, delusional.

"Jareth, baby, you know vampires aren't real ... right?" I cautiously placed my hand on his and stroked his palm with my thumb. "They don't exist. Vampires and witches are just made-up monsters from books and stuff."

"Bloody Hell ..." Jareth muttered. He raised his eyebrow and tilted his head, clenching his chiseled jaw; he glanced over in the direction of my GFs. They were standing alongside some other older woman I had never met before.

Hmmm, odd and creepy...

"It appears that Samantha is having difficulty understanding that I am being completely candid with her concerning the nature of my true disposition. Would either of you lady's care explicate to Samantha what the situation's exact gravity is? Ostensibly, it seems, she thinks I've completely lost my noggin?"

I turned and faced Shay and Astrid, who were both looking downwards. Astrid seemed anxious as she fiddled with her fingers and chewed her lower lip. Shay finally spoke up first.

"Sammie, girl, you know I love you ... we all do." She motioned to all the occupants of the bedroom. "You know that, right?"

I slowly nodded.

"Well ... there's actually some aspects about us that we kind of kept hidden from you. What Jareth said was the truth ... all of it.