Read First Sight (The Ivory Series, Book 1) Page 21

  21

  Time seemed to pass slowly; it almost felt it had stopped all together. The boarded window allowed no trace of light. There was no way of knowing what time it was, or if someone were approaching. The only sound was the hum of the generator and the rain on the roof. My body slid back down the wall and onto the floor. Anxiety burnt inside my chest with a heavy pain. I wanted desperately for Vaughan to be here, to rescue me. A noise in the distance startled me, it was a faint crack. The sound you hear when someone steps on a twig. Was I hearing things? Straining my ears, I heard another small crack, then the sound of timber splintering and blood curdling screams filled the air. Footsteps rapidly approached, my heart started hammering. Adrenalin started churning in my stomach then spread through my body. All my limbs tingled with the surge of energy coursing through me. I picked up the splintered shard of wood from the ground and held it tightly in both hands. The jagged timber was sharp and rough, prickling the skin of my sweating palms. More screams, closer this time. Dante appeared in the doorway. His predator eyes burning red with fury like a demon, body crouched ready to pounce. A guttural growl erupted from his chest and exploded through his sharp teeth; he leapt toward me and flew across the room, fangs exposed. I knew he was after my blood regardless of Ulrich or Heidi. His movements were almost graceful as he propelled towards me. Taking a deep breath I forced my arms forward. My makeshift stake stabbed his chest, piercing the precise point of his unbeating heart. Blood gushed from him, spraying onto me. His eyes did not break from mine. I watched his face turn from angry and bloodthirsty, to pained as he gasped for breath and sunk to his knees, blood pouring from his mouth. I thrust the stake in deeper, blood continued to haemorrhage and his face turned ashen. Dante let out a final gurgled moan and collapsed in a heap on his side, his limp body turning to ash in front of me. A piece of splinter had come away and stabbed into my right palm. The hot stinging sensation shot through my hand and up my arm with the movement of my fingers. Blood trickled out of the wound and down my arm, dripping off my elbow. The clothes I wore were covered in Dante’s blood. Everything now became quiet and I realised someone else was in the room. I looked up; Vaughan was standing in the doorway. His face pained, torn. He took a slow deliberate step towards me. “No!” I warned “I’m bleeding” He then moved quickly toward me and lifted my right hand in his until it was level with his face. His breathing was rapid, eyes turning dark as midnight. Inspecting the splinter he pulled it from my hand. I winced as more blood flowed. He looked carefully at my hand, entranced as he watched the blood trickle slowly down my wrist and along my arm. I could see his lips darkening to blood red and pulling back to show his fangs. “We have to get out of here” he breathed and led me through the hallway and out the front door. We ran along the driveway, through the trees to Vaughan’s waiting car. A noise behind us made Vaughan spin around instinctively. Heidi was standing behind us. Her eyes black with fury, fangs exposed. She lunged towards Vaughan; he caught her by the throat and pushed her backwards to the ground. She quickly regained her footing and forced herself forward again. This time Anna stopped her, she appeared at Vaughan’s side. “Go! Get Nicola out of here” she demanded. Vaughan didn’t argue, he got into the car and we sped off down the drive, leaving Anna and Heidi fighting. Only one would survive.