Love Bites

LOVE BITES Chapter 38 : The Vampire Talks

Chapter 38 : The Vampire Talks

I jolted awake, a bloody scream ripping through the night.

The pain. Oh God. It was unbearable.

There were flames, torturous red hot flames licking at my clammy skin like serrated knives. They came from hell itself, seeping from beneath the floorboards and slicing me open, allowing the heat to scour my bones and boil my blood to the point I thought my veins would explode.

It came out of nowhere.

I clawed at my throat, tears stinging the back of my eyes. The air was too thick to swallow. I couldn't breathe. My clothes were tight, suffocating me. Why is this happening?!

I cried out, clutching the sides of my head. Blood rushed though my ears and a terrible pounding began behind my eyes. Stop. I writhed on the bed in agony. They were damp with sweat, as were my clothes, and my hair was a complete matted mess. Everything hurts.

It happened so suddenly. A flash of searing pain that stabbed me awake and pulled me from my peaceful slumber. But there was something strikingly familiar about this heat.

Because you've felt it before.

I rolled onto my side and tucked my legs into my stomach, cradling my head in my arms. I willed for the irreconcilable pain to leave my body, to at least weaken so that I could rag in a breath.

But it only got more fierce.

The space in the bed beside me was empty, the duvet dishevelled and sheets cold. My hands roamed over them, begging for the comfort of one person. He should be here. My vision was disoriented, dark splotches coming and going and an ominous darkness making the picture fray around the edges. My sight kept blinking from black to light shades of grey. Where is he?!

With hands that couldn't stop shaking, I threw back the blankets and hooked my legs over the side of the bed. I tried to place my footing but as soon as my toes touched the cold ground my legs gave out. I plummeted on hands and knees to the floor, the pounding in my head knocking me to the side.

The beast within the barriers of my mind rocked the sides of its cage, roaring out that it wanted to be set free. It took everything that I had to control it, to fight against the natural connection. I wouldn't let it out. Not again.

The wall was my support as I tried to make it to my feet. But I just couldn't. No matter how hard I tried my coordinance was dead. My shaky legs would collapse each and every time I set my weight upon them. Still I tried to make it to the door.

I didn't know what I was thinking — if I l even was thinking. All I could focus on was the burning pain coursing through my body. Why did I imagine reaching that door would reveal him and end this torture?

I never realised just how large Alastair's room was. There was no way I could reach him, or call out again. My throat was dry, thirsty for something that was thicker than water. Please... stop.

My jaw hurt and my gums were an intensifying ache. Tears had long ago started to fall down my cheeks. I could taste them on the corners of my mouth, but I barely acknowledged the saltiness. My scalp burned, those flames from hell tied on the ends of my hair like the snakes on Medusa's head.