Bat out of Hell (13 page)

“
No.
”
She
trembled,
curling
her
body
against
him,
wanting
to
feel
more
of
him.

“
You
must
rest
now.
”
Gabriel
smiled,
and
a
drop
of
blood
dripped
on
her
goose
pimpled,
pale
breast.
He
bent,
licking
it
away
with
his
tongue,
and
she
moaned
at
his
touch,
needing
more
of
him.

“
I
don't
want
to
rest.
I
want
to
be
with
you.
”
Her
voice
sounded
craven
even
to
her
ears,
but
she
hardly
cared.

“
You
must.
”
His
voice
commanded
her,
and
she
noticed
the
healthy
pink
color
in
his
cheeks
that
hadn't
been
there
earlier
in
the
evening.

Ava
closed
her
eyes,
feeling
him
rise
from
the
bed.
Exhaustion
swept
over
her
as
it
had
before,
and
she
slept.

*
*
*
*

Morning
dawned
gray
and
warm,
and
Ava
sat
up
in
bed,
her
head
pounding.
She
felt
weak
as
a
newborn
calf,
and
the
events
of
the
previous
night
flooded
to
her,
a
scandalous
tableau.

“
No,
no.
Oh,
no.
”
She
covered
her
mouth
with
her
hand,
tasting
blood
as
she
licked
her
lips.

They
were
nicked
and
cut
all
over,
and
she
felt
similar
cuts
on
her
neck.
The
soreness
of
her
breasts
told
a
similar
story.

Ava
bolted
out
of
bed,
gasping
like
an
old
woman,
her
only
thought
was
to
escape.

“
Please,
God.
Please.
.
.
I'll
do
anything
if
you
get
me
out
of
here.
Last
night
was
some
sort
of
madness.
I
don't
know
what
came
over
me.
”
She
mumbled
aloud,
her
hand
to
her
pounding
head.

She
took
only
a
minute
to
throw
on
a
dress
from
the
chifferobe,
another
white
muslin
one
and
her
clogs.
Ava
stood
at
the
door
for
a
minute,
listening.

Maybe
he's
out
there
waiting
for
me,
and
he'll
pounce.
.
.

She
opened
the
door
by
inches,
and
it
silently
swung
outward.
Ava
stepped
into
the
hall
and
sprinted
down
its
length.
When
she
saw
the
staircase,
she
almost
burst
into
relieved
tears,
but
she
clapped
a
hand
over
her
mouth,
resisting
the
impulse.

I'm
not
out
of
here
yet.

Ava
doubled
over,
gasping
for
air.
She
had
to
take
a
break
before
descending
the
stairs.
I'm
going
to
die.
He
has
sucked
the
life
from
me.

She
took
two
steps
at
a
time,
and
gasped
in
relief
when
her
foot
hit
the
stone
floor.
Ava
glanced
around
and
saw
no
one,
so
she
ran
to
the
front
door
and
pulled
it
open.
Her
journey
across
the
yard
and
into
the
dense
woods
took
a
while.
Exhaustion
forced
her
to
stop
for
a
rest,
and
her
head
spun
every
time
she
went
too
far
without
stopping
for
a
few
minutes.

Ava
wandered
and
cried
for
hours,
not
sure
where
she
was.

I'm
so
lost.
.
.
again.

The
sun
sank
in
the
sky
and
dusk
fell.
Night
sounds
frightened
Ava,
and
she
decided
to
find
a
tree
to
rest
beside.

Just
for
a
moment.
.
.

She
awoke
to
arms
around
her
and
a
rough
kiss.

“
Come.
We
need
to
go.
They
have
the
dogs
out.
”

“
Who?
I'm
not
going
anywhere
with
you.
”
She
slurred
her
words,
feeling
a
bit
more
rested,
but
still
bone
tired
and
not
at
all
herself.

“
The
neighbors.
They're
looking
for
you.
They
think
you're
dead
or
in
peril.
”
He
pulled
her
to
her
feet.

“
I
am.
”
She
kicked
at
him,
but
he
easily
dodged
attempts
and
grabbed
her.

“
Ava,
I
know
you
won't
believe
this,
but
please,
please,
come
with
me.
If
you
don't
they'll
take
you
away
from
me
and
you'll
die.
You
won't
live
without
me.
We're
meant
to
be
together.
I've
drunk
from
your
life
blood,
and
you
are
my
mate.
There's
no
going
back
now.
”