Bat out of Hell (6 page)

His
eyes
sucked
her
in
again
with
their
prismatic
changes.

“
No
.
”
Ava
spoke
the
words
with
reluctance.

“
Take
my
hand,
and
we'll
journey
far
away
and
end
the
story
differently
this
time
…”

“
I
can't.
”
Her
senses
returned
in
part.

“
Trust
me.
I
love
you,
even
if
you
don't
know
it
yet.
”
He
pulled
her
into
his
arms.
“
You
won't
remember
this
in
a
moment,
but
you
will
wake
up
in
another
place
and
time.
”

Ava
gave
in
to
the
sensation
of
warm
arms
around
her
as
her
head
swam
in
a
delicious
sort
of
oblivion.
How
can
he
be
so
vital
and
yet
not
human
?
The
thought
made
her
stomach
dip,
but
she
didn't
pull
out
of
his
embrace.

He
held
her
closer,
and
her
head
spun
with
desire.

“
Please,
Ava.
Trust
me.
”

“
What
are
you
doing?
”

“
Now
that
you've
relented,
I'm
taking
you
back
with
me.
I
had
to
come
here
with
Maura's
help.
The
only
way
I
can
travel
back
in
time
with
you
is
if
you
agree.
I
had
to
have
Maura's
assistance
to
move
forward.
.
.
at
least
for
now.
She
has
powers
I
don't
have
in
that
regard.
”

“
I
don't
understand,
but.
.
.
”

“
Trust
me.
Off
we
go.
”
Gabriel
squeezed
her
tight,
and
she
relaxed
against
his
sinuous
limbs.

“
I'll
try
”
And
she
did.
.
.

Chapter
Three

Ava
grabbed
his
hand,
so
warm
it
seared
her
flesh.
He
wrapped
his
arm
around
her,
and
she
felt
a
sucking
sensation
as
if
her
body
and
soul
were
being
separated
by
force.
She
couldn't
speak,
so
she
just
tried
to
withstand
the
feeling.

When
she
opened
her
eyes,
she
stood
alone
in
front
of
a
castle
—
a
looming
monstrosity,
a
Second
Empire
behemoth
in
slate
gray.
Her
head
ached,
and
she
couldn't
remember
what
had
gone
before
other
than
being
at
school
and
leaving
…

Ah,
yes.
She
had
walked
out
of
school,
sick
of
it
and
wanting
to
roam.
Ava
wore
a
day
gown
and
a
white
mob
cap
with
her
hair
pulled
under
it.

Then
she
remembered.
She
was
lost
and
had
stopped
in
front
of
this
castle,
frightening
as
it
was.
Her
thirst
had
overwhelmed
her,
and
fear
made
her
unable
to
think
clearly.

She
knocked
on
the
door,
her
heart
skittering
as
she
looked
at
the
heavy
door
and
the
knocker
in
the
shape
of
a
grinning
bat.

The
door
didn't
open
for
some
time
as
dusk
closed
in
and
the
sun
slipped
under
the
horizon.
Her
fear
grew.
How
will
I
get
back
to
Mrs.
Verness'
house?
It
must
be
miles
she
had
walked,
and
after
the
sweet
lady
had
warned
her
against
getting
lost
in
the
woods.

The
door
opened
and
a
troll-like,
stoop
shouldered
man
stood
there.

“
Yes?
”

“
I'm
lost.
I
don't
know
how
to
get
home.
”
To
her
embarrassment,
tears
threatened.

“
My
lady,
let
me
show
you
to
the
drawing
room.
”
The
troll
man
bowed
deeply
and
gave
her
a
gentle
smile.

Ava
followed
with
trepidation.
The
interior
of
the
castle
was
shabby,
but
she
knew
it
had
held
grandeur
at
one
time.
The
faded
tapestries
of
robed
men
and
damsels
in
distress
must
have
once
sparkled.
A
dark
miasma
surrounded
the
place,
now
so
thick
Ava
felt
it
like
a
lump
in
her
throat.
The
smell
of
damp
moss
assailed
her
senses,
and
she
wondered
how
long
this
edifice
had
stood.

The
drawing
room
sparkled
with
newer
furniture,
and
claret
rugs
and
gold
papering
on
the
walls.

“
Sit
here,
my
lady.
I
shall
fetch
some
refreshment
for
you.
You
must
be
tired.
”

“
I
am,
but
—”

“
Do
not
trouble
yourself.
Just
relax
now.
”
The
troll
man
bowed
and
left
the
room.