He took a step towards me. “You know, your fire intrigues me,” he said, reaching forward. He put his finger under my chin and raised it. “It’s… exciting, actually.”
I felt like I was in a trance as he caressed the side of my cheek with the pad of his finger.
“Truth is, I’m not quite sure what to do with you,” he whispered, eyeing me appraisingly.
I swallowed hard.
His lips curved up and something warm and delicious ignited deep within me as our eyes held. It spread from my pelvis all the way to my fingertips.
“What’s happening?” I whispered, my legs turning to jelly.
He put a hand around my waist to hold me up and slid the other one behind my neck. “Don’t fight it,” he whispered, staring into my eyes.
I couldn’t understand what was happening. A minute ago I wanted to get as far away from him as possible. Now, thoughts of his lips on mine made me tingle all over. As if he could read my thoughts, he lowered his mouth towards mine and I held my breath.
“Emily,” he said in a husky voice. “Your scent is driving me crazy. I don’t know whether to kiss you or…”
“Kiss me,” I whispered, anticipating his mouth, hungry for it.
“Stop!” ordered a strong voice behind us.
Martin growled and released me.
I fell to the ground.
“What in the hell are you doing?” snapped Marie angrily, staring at Martin.
He put his hands behind his back and stood with his legs apart, glaring at her in silence.
“Marie!” I gasped, standing up. “Thank God you’re okay!” She turned to me and I noticed in shock that her eyes were glowing the same way Martin’s had just moments ago.
She smiled coldly and turned back to Martin. “I’m fine. But I’ll be better after I feed. Obviously there’s been a holdup.”
Feed?
“Forget this one,” said Martin in a clipped voice. “Let me have her.”
Marie snorted. “Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you? Keep her as a pet?”
“What in the hell is going on?” I asked, my eyes darting between the two of them.
“You know the rules,” said Marie, ignoring me. “She’s mine.”
Realizing now that Marie wasn’t exactly who she said she was, and obviously a bigger threat than Martin, I moved closer to him.
Martin swore under his breath. “I’m sorry, Emily. You’d better run. I wish there was something I could do.”
I stared at him in confusion. “Do? About what?”
“Martin,” warned Marie.
He clenched his jaw. “Please, get… out… of… here. Now.”
Marie smiled broadly, her teeth glowing in the darkness. “Yes, run away. I live for the hunt. It’s much more fun.”
I stared at the fangs between her lips in disbelief.
Fangs?
“Listen, I’ll give you a thirty-second head start,” she said. “And there will be no help from Martin. I’m telling my father, by the way. When he’s recovered fully.”
He rolled his eyes. “Your threats don’t frighten me, Celeste.”
I looked at her. “Celeste?”
“Marie is my middle name.” She wrinkled her nose. “By the way, why are you still here?”
I have to be dreaming, I thought. It’s the only thing that made sense.
Not needing any more prodding, I turned and began limping through the woods, away from the strange couple, convinced that any minute I’d wake up in my bed. Obviously, sleeping in a new place and a late-night snack of peanut butter had corrupted my dreams, giving me nightmares.
I clenched my jaw as the pain in my knee grew worse.
Strange, I never remembered feeling pain in any of my other dreams.
As these thoughts ran through my head, I noticed a structure up ahead, past the trees. With a renewed surge of hope, I made a beeline towards it, certain that things had to get start getting better. My hope was soon squashed, however, when I realized where in the hell I was.
“No,” I gasped in disbelief.
I’d somehow backtracked and ended up at the barn.
Trying not to panic, I looked around the property, noticing the house was lit up like a Christmas tree. I wondered if the others were still alive, but I was too chicken to find out. Injured and thirsty, I couldn’t be of much help to anyone at the moment.
Wincing as another hot rush of pain seared through my knee, I decided to hide in the barn before Martin and Marie, or whatever her damn name was, found me. Obviously, they were both nuts.
I peeked inside of the barn. It was dark and appeared empty. As I limped inside, I heard a soft moan and froze.
“Help me,” a girl’s voice pleaded.
I stared up towards the loft. “Tara?”