Angel's Kiss by Melanie Tomlin Read Free Book Online Page A

Perhaps the brook was fed by a mineral spring. I filled my hands twice more before the thirst gave way to pain.
    I wrapped my arms around my abdomen and moaned, doubling over in pain.
    Not again .
    Danny made no move to assist me and I leaned away from the brook as the heaving began. The pain was not as sharp as it had been when I’d eaten the burger, but it was unpleasant nonetheless. The water must’ve been polluted, and my body, being weak, was reacting to it.
    Tears welled up in my eyes, my nose began to run, and my cheeks were aflame. The heaving continued and there was nothing I could do but ride it out, taking quick breaths in-between.
    Eventually the heaving subsided and I collapsed on my side, exhausted. Lack of food and good clean water — along with all the exercise trekking through the forest — was taking its toll on me. I needed to rest.
    The sun disappeared momentarily as a shadow passed over me. I heard Danny kneel down beside me and felt his icy fingers grip my arm through the jumper. His hands were colder than mine and I shivered. Yesterday — or was it the day before — they had been so warm. Could his mood affect his body temperature? Warm when he was content and happy, cold when he was angry.
    “Danny, I’m sorry,” I whispered hoarsely.
    I opened my eyes and turned my head to look at him. He was positioned so that the sun was in my eyes and I couldn’t see his face properly. I moved my head so it was in shadow again. I needed to see if there was anger, or worse yet, violence in his face.
    The shock of seeing someone else’s face caused me to gasp, and in that sharp intake of breath I smelled something sickly-sweet in the air.
    He smiled at me. His teeth were dazzling white and perfectly straight — too perfect. He must have spent a lot of money to get them to look like that.
    “Hello,” he said, “what have we here?”
    “I’m lost,” I replied. What other explanation could I give for being out here?
    “So it would appear. Bad for you,” he grinned devilishly, “good for me.”
    I struggled to sit up and tried to shuffle backwards. There must be a sizable rock or piece of wood nearby that I could use as a weapon.
    “Not so fast,” he said, grabbing both my arms.
    He placed his cheek against mine and took in a deep breath through his nose. He moved his cheek down my jaw line to my neck, continuing to breathe in through his nose. I could feel his breath on my neck as he exhaled, and I had the distinct impression of déjà vu.
    “Exquisite,” he said, pulling back to look at me. “But what are you? No mortal ever smelled like this. Could you be an ally of the wolf we hunted? Were you sent to distract us?”
    He squeezed my arms and shook me roughly, then laughed.
    “No matter. You, my pretty, are too late. My companions are taking care of the problem as I speak. So, what to do with you? No, that’s not right, I know what to do with you,” he laughed. I didn’t like the way he said he knew what to do with me. “What I want, before I do it, is to find out what you are and exactly who sent you.”
    The feeling of déjà vu solidified into something more tangible — vampire.
    “I know what you are,” I said, “and I know what you’re going to do to me. Take your best shot,” I sneered in an attempt to sound unafraid, “you’re not the first.”
    “What do you mean, not the first?”
    That little snippet of information clearly intrigued him and I took advantage of his curiosity to buy myself some time.
    “I’ve been bitten before, and lived to tell the tale.” I felt a surge of hope and pushed on with the bravado, forcing a smile to my lips. “Do you think you’ll be so lucky?”
    “Hah! There’s no mark on you.”
    I lifted my left hand and looked to my fingertips. His eyes followed the action and his hand grasped my wrist to enable him to closely scrutinise my fingers. He lifted my hand to his nose and sniffed. A look of astonishment crossed his face. He stuck one