Dark of kNight (39 page)

The darkness crept closer around me, surrounding me with the eeriness of the night. My footsteps were only echoes against the silence of the darkness. Slowly, I padded along the path in my dream.

Deep within the wooded area, I smelled them. The werewolves. The stench of the rotten flesh that clung to them. I gave into my senses, moving slower. Cautiously through the depth and darkness of the night. I tilted my head upward, lifting my nose higher to the air. The scent of lilies and carnations filled my nostrils. It was a scent I was all too familiar with. Vampire. One must be close by.

Behind me I heard the sound of approaching footsteps and I stopped. My ears perked forward. I listened intently as their pace quickened. The leaves and twigs crunched under its feet as it approached. My breath held tight as I braced myself for the oncoming attack. The thick brush parted as the creature moved into full sight. Its fierce teeth bared as its red glowing eyes flared with a killing rage. It would be over soon now. The killing. The death.

A low growl rumbled from deep within my chest. My lips curled back revealing my threateningly sharp teeth. My feet planted firmly onto the ground as I braced myself.

My tongue involuntarily slipped through my teeth. This time I sent one last warning. A snarl of deadly valor. One clean bite and it would be over. A shiver ran down my spine. The hairs on my back prickled on their ends. My head lowered closer to the ground. I began to circle the creature as our dance began. The dance of death. My heart quickened its pace. A huff of air escaped my mouth as the muscles tensed in my hind legs. My eyes were firmly locked on my prey. The dance was coming to an abrupt halt. My front paws braced against the cold ground, I bolted forward toward my prey.

The powerful muscles in my shoulders tensed. The leg muscles underneath my skin flexed as I gained speed, pushing my body forward. My feet pounded against the earth beneath me, lifting my body higher in the air. Quickly I moved toward the wiry-haired beast. The chill of the air blistered against my face. The breath held in my chest as the wind blew into my nostrils. The foul stench of the werewolf was now in my senses. Yes, my senses were alive as the killing rage overtook me. Death was certain. It would not be my blood that spilled this night.

My eyes locked onto the creature. I was focused for the hind leg. I was faster. I could make it. No time for mistakes.

A white flash moving in front of my eyes blinded me for a second. Distraction. Not good. The impact between my prey and I were no more. A pale arm quickly wrapped around the creature’s neck. On top of its head rested a pale hand. A quick jerk. Loud cracking noises filled the air. It was over. The smell of death was now immanent. The body of the creature slowly dropped to its knees. The foul scent of werewolf blood filled the air. I snorted twice to clear the offensive odor from my nostrils.

Richard Macarthur stood before me. The pale skinned inhumanly beautiful vampire. The most dangerously seductive vampire or human I had ever known. As always, his attack on the werewolves was flawless. I thought for a moment as I stared at him. His killing methods have been perfected by over a century.

The thick mist on the ground moved under my feet as I exhaled slowly. My body jerked forward. I was now human again. The coolness of his pale hand reached under my arm, pulling me to my feet. Richard could kill me with one quick snap. Even though I was extraordinarily strong, he was faster. He pulled me slowly to him. The blue diamond-like eyes peered deep into mine. Fear screamed loudly throughout my body. I was now afraid. The words I wanted to say to make him stop were not coming to me. I wanted him to release me and set me free. Release and save me from the end I feared so.

With a gentle cooing whisper, he shushed me as his hand slid behind my neck. The coolness of his fingers lingered against my skin. Lightly they caressed the warmth my skin provided for him. Richard held me inches from his face. The coolness of his breath fanned against my skin, haunting and tempting me. My eyelids dropped at the soft sweet floral scent of his breath. My head tilted back under his control. My heart began to pound loudly, pulsating hot fire through my veins. My breath was now coming out in quick gasps as I struggled to breath. The sanity I once held so tightly to had left me. I was not under the spell of this beautiful vampire.

With each beat of my heart, my blood called out to him. Tempting him. She gave herself willingly to him as the vein in my neck arch to kiss the lips of this vampire. He inhaled deeply, intoxicating himself on the savory scent of my blood. I felt the coolness of his lips as they pressed into a kiss, touching the vein which contained the woman. The woman who desired him.

The blood that coursed through my veins was a woman in need of her lover. She called to him. Pleaded to him. Arched herself to him. Begged him to take her so passionately.

She caused the muscles in my body to tremble as she pushed my will aside. I felt the coolness of his tongue as it slowly traced the vein up to my ear. My senses began to run wild. The world began to spin around me as their love affair began. My body waged war against my own will, surrendering itself to every touch and smell of this inhumanly beautiful vampire.

The once cold lips were now warm as they grazed over my mouth. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. His mouth left mine only to find my neck. His lips touched my neck again as he inhaled a deep and solemnly breath. Ever so slow and gentle, his lips moved down my throat to the base of my neck. Fire burned within me as I felt the softness of his tongue next to my bare skin.

I was prepared to force the protest from my mouth as I inhaled deeply. Then I felt it. A sensation like no other. The sharp cold teeth grazed gently over my bare skin. A tremor ran throughout me, exciting every nerve in my fevered body. My mouth opened as I exhaled slowly. My body trembled against his lean statuesque form.

“No.” I whispered in a ragged breath.

“Yes.” He hissed softly. His words burned against my skin.

My heart raced. My mind whirled. Hot flames began to rush through my fevered veins. Intense burning and desire welled within me. In that one moment. I knew I wanted him. I wanted all of him in that one unfathomable moment. It was his spell. The bells of fear tolled again. Ignoring them, I left all caution behind. My will was not strong enough to save me now. I had fallen deeply and unendingly under his control. Richard had left me with a need that only he could fulfill. A need that screamed throughout my body as his cold hands felt like fire tracing over my skin.

The coolness of his fingers feathered against my cheek. Richard’s crystal blue eyes peered deeply into mine, piercing into my very soul. Searching. Seeking out an answer I was not willing to give him. The hunger was clear in those diamond-like eyes. A hunger which wanted more than what my blood could offer. It was the type of hunger that needed to be quenched and satisfied. The hardness of his need pressed against my body, making me completely aware of his desires.

With one gentle motion, his lips were on mine again. Searching. Taunting. Desiring more. He called to him the woman of desire inside of me, beckoning her to him. Slowly, his lips left mine. I exhaled a ragged breath. The softness of his lips were now on my neck. Tasting. Richard was unleashing the she-wolf inside of me. I shuddered as his lips parted against my throat.

Richard inhaled a quick breath. A soft growl rumbled from his throat. In one instant, one breath of a second, I felt it…

About The Author

T.L. Mitchell currently lives in Virginia where she enjoys the beautiful views of the mountains while working on her next book. She’s active in helping promote other authors through various venues.

Visit her website at

www.tlmitchell.webs.com

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