Dante Rising: the Birth of a Venator (A Dark Brethren short story) by Tracey O'Hara Read Free Book Online Page B

hair flowed out and swept the floor. The monsieur bent closer and ran his tongue across Mama’s chest, which rose and fell so quickly. Mama closed her eyes tightly and bit her on her lower lip.
    He stood straight, taking her mother with him then elegantly flung her away, keeping a firm grip on her hand. Antoinette watched in horror as her mother tried to pull away before he yanked her back against his chest, spinning her so they both faced the same direction. Her mother’s loose hair flung across her face with the force of the move and Antoinette heard her panting breaths from where she sat. Antoinette wanted to run to her and hit that man until let her mother go. But she couldn’t. He was too big and she was just a little girl.
    The man had Mama pinned against him, and no matter how much she struggled, she couldn’t get away. Slowly he pulled away the long hair, uncovering her ear. He whispered something, her mother’s eyes widened, searching the shadows where Antoinette sat. The man held his hand out and Antoinette leaned forward slightly, just enough to bring her into the light and her mother’s sight. She hadn’t meant to move, it was like some unseen hand pulled her.
    Antoinette felt the dampness on her cheek, her hot tears cooling on her cold skin as she watched the man run his long fingers across her mother’s throat.
    Mama no! Oh how she wished she could give voice to the silent screams in her mind.
    Her heart beat wildly in her chest, but she remained frozen - watching. No matter how much she wanted to flee, she couldn’t move, not even to open her mouth. Helpless, so helpless. She tried desperately to cry out as icy fingers clawed across her mind.
    Mama, what’s happening? Where’s Papa?
    Monsieur raised his gaze to where Antoinette sat. Their eyes locked.
    “Ah, ma chère ,” he said in her mother’s ear. “Make one sound—one little peep—and she dies.”
    Mama’s eyes widened, and shook her head, her gaze never leaving Antoinette’s face. He ran his tongue up the side of Mama’s face as he took her hand and pressed it against the bulge in the front of his trousers.
    The stranger opened his mouth wide. Something long and white gleamed from within. Her mother gave a sigh and bit her lip as his mouth descended on her throat.
    Run, Antoinette’s mind screamed, run for your life .
    But one look into his mocking, lifeless eyes, Antoinette knew he was playing with her — and he liked it. He would never let her run.
    Grammie snorted loudly behind her, giving Antoinette a start, but it didn’t release the hold the stranger had over her. She could only watch her mother’s torment. Then he stopped. Antoinette’s body stood on its own, her mind struggling to gain control as she descended one step. Mama’s eyes widened, the terror in her expression deepened and she mouthed, “Run”. But Antoinette couldn’t.
    A thin trickle of scarlet snaked a path across her mother’s pale skin and Antoinette’s gaze followed it. He saw it too and wiped the trail with the tip of his finger, then looked at Antoinette as he brought it to his mouth. Closing his eyes he savored the taste. With a broad grin, he reached his hand behind his back and returned holding a knife, his open eyes now fever bright. “Remember what I said – one sound and your daughter’s dead.”
    Mama’s mouth opened to scream but closed it again as he slid the knife across her mother’s chest and dropped the tip to slice just above her left breast. Blood welled along the cut, he seemed mesmerized by it. He cut again. And still Mama didn’t cry out. Antoinette’s mind screamed what her mouth and mother couldn’t.
    Then the smile slipped from his face and he grew a little sad. “If I only had more time,” he said. And with those words he drew blade across Mama’s throat and loosened his hold on her.
    Antoinette watched her mother crumple, her hands fluttering to her throat, trying to stop the flood of dark red blood. It flowed out so