The Rising: Antiserum Part Ii

By Patricia Carrigan

Jocelyn Bairen is back and with a vengence. Her addiction to fresh blood has caused her to make secret hunting trips that her family doesnt know about, otherwise Vasile would be called to inject her with the Antiserum and make her forget everything. She had been home schooled for the past year and is now allowed to go back, causing her to become even more cunning in order to satisfy her addiction. But the reappearance of her old flame Adrian calms her momentarily while the truth of Emils intentions is revealed... Emil wants her, and hell stop at nothing to get what he wants.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Mar 14, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490725550

Patricia Carrigan

Patricia Carrigan is a young woman who resides in California where she works as a retail manager and a dance teacher. She found her love for writing as a pastime in the summer of 2010, producing Part I of the Antiserum Novels at the age of 16. From there she continued her writing for Part II, The Rising. After many years of having to put writing on hold, she is beyond happy to finally release Part III, Venom!

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Copyright 2014 Patricia Carrigan.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

isbn: 978-1-4907-2556-7 (sc)

isbn: 978-1-4907-2555-0 (e)

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Trafford rev. 01/25/2014

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Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter One

My eyes flicked towards the window for about the billionth time. No, I really can’t go. I thought to myself reluctantly as my fingers itched to open the window and jump out.

To feel the wind blow past my cheeks and ruffle my hair before I took in the impact of landing gracefully and quietly and bolt off into the night. Nurse my hunger.

You could go . . . no one would find out if you do it right. A silent thought whispered.

I gasped and cranked the music on my iPod up louder. No, no… no, no, no. This was not going to happen again. My fingers shook from the thirst I was trying to ignore.

Ever since I came back from Transylvania, I’d been getting double thoughts, some that feel like they’re not even my thoughts. They first started when I was on the plane.

I remember the elderly flight attendant leaning over me to tuck me in the blanket and how she was close enough for me to feel the heat radiating off of her. But what really sticks with me was how something was just telling me how easy it would be for me to gain control over her… how her skin would be like biting into butter it was so easy. She was so fragile, . . . I had almost reached out to her when Sadie stirred at my side; snapping me back to my sad reality.

The rest of the school year wasn’t so great either… First off, my older sister, Missy, moved away to Oregon to attend Le Cordon Bleu and learn how to be a pastry chef, then Vasile had told my parents that my sister and I were vampires. Yeah, I know, the first part doesn’t sound so bad but, hey, I miss her. The second half however is a little more difficult. I couldn’t imagine their reactions. I thought they wouldn’t believe it. Boy, was I wrong, turns out that Mom’s dad was a vamp as well as Dad’s oldest brother. But since then, I was put on home schooling while J.B., my twin, got to finish out the school year with Nikki and Sadie. They’re all quite comfortable on their blood-baggie diet. Gah.

But that’s not the worst of it, I can’t hunt; blood baggies are supposed to be my only diet of blood, and even then it’s limited; half a pint a day. It’s a shame my addiction causes my body to act like it rejects the nuked bagged blood.

I recently stopped drinking from the baggies… I can’t stand it. They don’t quench any thirst that I have; they just seem to increase it. But now that I’ve stopped I’ve been having the need to sneak out and hunt.

I’ve done it a few times. I didn’t kill anyone though, just taking enough to satisfy my cravings for a day or so… the only problem is that when I get caught my parents call Vasile (who just happens to be on speed dial) and he comes over to inject me with another dosage of the antiserum. It’s happened twice over the summer and both times I blacked out for six hours and wasn’t able to remember what I was doing beforehand.

I still can’t believe they’re insisting I go to school.

I mean, it is way easier for Nikki and J.B. to walk around like being a vampire is no big deal, and Sadie has a whole year on us; she’s practically pro.

Speaking of Nikki, though… her premonitions were keeping me from my late night hunting and she would sound off a warning alarm to my parents who would then watch me like a hawk for the rest of the night. Luckily for me, being such a clever telepath, I’ve I found a way to build up a mental block in Nikki’s mind making any premonition of me feel like a black out and she’s unable to see anything for however long her premonition is.

I find it a bit entertaining that she’s been discussing it with Vasile (right in front of me, I might add) and even he doesn’t have the slightest clue what’s going on.

J.B., on the other hand, is still very touchy when someone mentions the loss of her ‘ability’. But she is able to create weak nudges every so often.

It seems to me that the only good thing about my summer was getting my license, and even that was a boring process to go through.

Go on . . . they won’t catch you this time . . . The thought slithered itself into my music. I shook my head rapidly in an attempt to clear it out along with all my other thoughts.

No. I said aloud as I climbed into my bed and tangled myself into my blankets.

Sleep… that’s what I need… I sighed and leaned back against the pillows; closing my eyes.

*   *   *

I dreamt of blood that night… as I do all the other nights.

I dreamt of it in puddles, dripping continuously. Everything was colored in an alluring crimson hue that sometimes glimmered under some unknown light. I even see the body of Kemen, the man I killed in Transylvania. He’d be lying on the stone floor of Emil’s holding cell and I’d be crouched over him, sucking the blood from him like a juice box. At times I’d see the drunken man from the bar, Eric, gazing off into oblivion, neck glistening under the parking lot lights, and I’d be there… whispering into his ear with my blood stained lips, telling him how he had never seen me in his entire life and will never remember anything of that night.

These were sights I was used to.

That is… until Adrian showed up and screamed, Watch out!

I shot up from my pillows quickly and cradled my head in my hands. My breath was coming in short bursts as it scratched at my burning throat. My hands shook like crazy and my fangs were fully extended.

I had to sit there and calm down for a few minutes before I was able to lie back again. Adrian has never been in my dreams before… especially not like he was really here in my room.

I pulled the sheets up to my chin and curled up tightly as I closed my eyes and tried to calm the tremors that convulsed through me.

Not even a second later my alarm went off.

I groaned and my throat burned. Damn it all. I muttered under my breath and got up to turn on the light and pull some clothes out of my dresser.

Peering into the mirror with blood-thirsty, silver eyes, I could see my pale skin shimmer from a thin layer of sweat. My thirst is making it harder and harder for me to get my sleep.

I tied my hair back quickly and, in a blurred movement, made my way to the bathroom to rinse the sweat from my skin and then biting my lip in concentration as I straightened my long blonde hair, careful not to let my already extended fangs pierce the thin pink skin of my lower lip.

J.B.’s light clicked on; I could hear it. She shuffled around her room slowly trying to find an outfit.

You’re late. I thought to her as I blurred back into my room to put on the skinny jeans, white tank top, and pink flannel I had out.

I was already out of my room with my purse over my shoulder when she thought, You’re early.

Whatever. Just hurry up. I thought back with an eye roll as I made my way down the stairs.

I flicked on the downstairs lights as I made my way to the kitchen and placed my purse on the counter. My eyes flicked toward the refrigerator. I know that the blood baggies are kept in there… and I know that I need it, hell, I need it so bad. Why couldn’t they just let me hunt?

I bit my lip again and silently whimpered. Damn . . . I thought to myself before opening the refrigerator and grabbing at one of the crimson stained pouches. The blood sloshed inside of it leaving a thin film that reflected the kitchen lights. I reached for the small tube at the top of the pouch and brought it to my lips.

It’s from the real deal. I thought. Just cold and not as fresh . . . it’s still okay, right?

I squeezed the pouch and took a large gulp before my stomach clenched so tight that it felt like I was punched in the gut by a red hot sledge hammer.

I gagged and grabbed my stomach as I doubled over; trying not to spit up the rejected blood as my fangs extended to a longer point and receded back to a more human size and my silver eyes cooled to their original icy blue.

Come on Jocelyn . . . You know that this isn’t want you want. Why don’t you go and find it? I’m sure your neighbor’s boy wouldn’t mind if you took some from him. The small voice slithered from the back of my mind. You’ve heard his thoughts of you. You’re practically a goddess in his eyes.

Shut up! I thought vigorously as I put a lock down on my thoughts and straightened myself out to place the gawd-forsaken blood baggie back in the fridge.

This is ridiculous. I muttered and grabbed my purse.

The ceiling creaked above me as Mom and J.B. made their way down the upstairs hallway.

Jocelyn? Mom asked as she stepped down the stairs.

I sat on one of the bar stools. Down here. I replied as my eyebrows pulled together, What are you doing up?

I just wanted to be sure that you were okay before you left to school. She smiled once she spotted me. Did you drink some of the blood?

I grimaced. Yes.

Honey, you have to deal with it. I know you don’t like it but look at your sister, she’s doing just fine with it. Mom placed a comforting hand on my back.

Her pulse pounded through her wrist and against my back causing my gums to ache in response.

I dropped my head to my hands and groaned. Mom’s hand quickly left my back. Sorry. She said quietly with a small sincere smile. Alright have fun at school. Drive safe, Jocelyn.

Bye Mom. J.B. and I said together as I fished the keys to my new Volkswagen Bug out of my purse.

*   *   *

My mouth watered instantly when I reached the warm hallway that contained my locker. The scent of human so dense in here; it was crazy. Before I fully turned into a vampire, I never would have guessed how a human scent could easily fill an area. Everything flows easier when it’s a warm. And that’s not the only thing that changed after I turned, not only could I smell everything but now all of my friends and classmates are practically in danger for six hours of the day because I’m in this hellhole with them.

I looked at classmates and new freshmen through my aviator sunglasses just to be sure that my eyes behaved and didn’t change color again.

Stay cool. I thought to myself. You can make it. My locker was almost in reach.

Oh my gawd! Jocelyn! A voice shrieked behind me.

I recognized it instantly, even though I haven’t talked to her since last school year. Briana Jacobson rushed up and flung her arms around me.

I swear the first thing I thought was, Awkward. Well, actually it was my second thought. The first was something close to, Take a bite. I couldn’t quite remember because it was mixed with mental pictures of me biting into Eric