Be Still My Vampire Heart(93)

 

A teenage girl came in with a tray of food that she deposited on the cot. Emma frowned at the wounds on her neck. Those damned vampires should leave the children alone. The woman returned with a fresh chamber pot. Then she and the girl hauled the tub of water toward the door.

 

"How would you all like a free vacation to the resort of your choice? I'm talking first-class hotels with real bathrooms. You know, indoor plumbing? Towels?" Emma was met with blank looks.

 

The females carried the tub up the stairs, then returned with it empty. They set it back in the bathroom.

 

"Do you realize those vampires are making you do all the work?" Emma asked. She glared at the men. "And you just stand there and let the ladies do the work?"

 

The teenage girl retrieved Emma's lunch tray, and they all filed from the room. They shut the door and shot the bolt.

 

"Nice talking to you!" Emma shouted. With a sigh, she sat on the cot and ate her dinner. The room grew darker.

 

Hurry, Austin! The sun is setting.

 

That's good, he answered. I can contact our Vamp buddies, and we'll have more people searching for you.

 

Angus told me not to talk to you after sunset. Our captors will hear me.

 

I understand. We're almost to the border. You sound much closer. We'll see you soon.

 

"I hope so," Emma whispered as the last of the sunlight disappeared. The lone lightbulb on the ceiling shone.

 

A sudden movement caught her attention. Angus's legs had twitched. She heard a deep breath from behind the screen.

 

She swallowed hard. Her vampire roommate was awake.

 

With his first breath, a powerful hunger seized Angus. He was always hungry upon first awakening, but this was worse than usual. He was used to having at least three bottles of synthetic blood during the course of each night. Last night, the contents of his flask and the small amount he'd taken from Emma added up to half his usual intake. He could have taken more from Emma, he'd been sorely tempted to, but he'd wanted her alert and strong during the day so she could try to escape.

 

She was still here; he could smell her. Her blood rushed through her veins, calling to him, offering him the gift of life. His senses remembered the sweet taste of her. Pain speared his gums when his fangs strained to release. Raw need slammed into his gut, and his brain screamed to take her. His body shook. With a moan, he rolled into a fetal position. No, no! He would not become a raging monster.

 

"Angus, are you all right?"

 

"Stay back." Luckily the screen she'd placed around the table kept him hidden. He didn't want her to see him so weak. And he didn't want to see her. One look at her and…

 

He cried out when his fangs shot forth. The devil take it. He was losing this battle. His stomach seized with a cramp. He had to bite. Something. Anything. He pushed up the sleeve of his knit jumper and sank his fangs into his arm. There was a jolt of pain, then instant relief. He drew blood into his mouth, and the hunger eased a little. Just enough for him to see and think clearly again.

 

He could see through the gap between the floor and the bottom edge of the screen. He could see Emma's feet as she paced about the room. Her scent wafted toward him, sweet and fresh. He pulled more blood from his arm. Cannibalizing himself would buy him some time, but it would also make him weak. He could survive tonight, but tomorrow?

 

His primal instincts would take over, and he'd be as vicious as any Malcontent. He would tear into Emma with the ferocity of a monster. His hunger would be so great, he would most likely kill her.

 

With the edge off his hunger, he was able to retract his fangs. With a groan, he sat up.

 

His head grazed the underside of the tabletop.

 

"Angus." Emma's footsteps stopped in front of the screen. "Are you all right?"

 

She smelled so good. "Stay back. Across the room."

 

"I can tell you're suffering. Maybe I should give you a little… like yesterday?"

 

"Nay. I wouldna be able to stop. And I doona want ye weak." Most likely she would be fighting for her life in the next few days. The best chance he could give her was to keep her strong.

 

Her footsteps moved back. "I have good news. I made contact with Austin. He and Darcy were in Hungary, and they're coming to the Ukraine. He could tell he was getting closer to us."

 

"That's good." And now that it was dark, there would be friendly Vamps searching for them, too. They could move much faster than mortals. Still, the Ukraine was a big country.

 

He pulled his jumper over his head, so his arms would be bare and easy to bite. Hunger still gnawed at his stomach and clouded his thinking. It would be a long night.