Temptation by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page B

home.
    It seemed as if a soft rush of wind was moving her hair to one side.
    She started to turn toward Gabri, preparing to thank him for accompanying her through the darkness. But before she could move, she felt warmth on the back of her neck. Gentler than the wind. Soft, like breath.
    And then she heard the fluttering sound, followed by a hideous metallic screech.
    And then a dark shadow dropped from the sky.
    A shadow at first, then a living, screeching, clawing creature.
    April saw the red, glowing eyes and knew instantly that it was a bat.
    She cried out and raised her hands.
    Too late.
    Screeching shrilly like a car alarm gone out of control, the bat dug its talons into April’s hair.
    â€œOh! Help!”
    She could feel its wings flapping against her head, feel its warm body bumping against her, feel it tangling itself in her hair, struggling, tearing, clawing.
    â€œHelp— please !”
    She closed her eyes, dropped to her knees in the sand, helplessly flailing her arms above her head.
    The creature hissed and clawed, struggling to free itself from the long tangles of her hair.
    Then Gabri was there, swatting at it with his hand.
    The shrill screech echoed throughout her head. The wings beat furiously.
    Then with a final, sickening yelp, the bat broke free—and was gone, soaring silently up into the blackness.
    April leapt to her feet. Even though she knew it was gone, she could still feel the creature bumping against her head, could still feel the beating of its wings.
    The ocean roared louder. The roar circled her, came at her from all sides. She pressed her hands against her ears, but the roar continued, as if it were inside her head!
    She suddenly realized that the sound was coming from her.
    She was screaming. Screaming out her terror.
    And suddenly the whole beach started to roll. The sand was moving beneath her feet.
    No.
    The beach isn’t moving.
    I am.
    She was running hard, running over the sand, running away from the shore, away from the rock cliff, gasping for breath, her chest aching, running too hard to scream now.
    Running, running—into Matt’s arms.
    â€œWhoa!” he cried. “April—what’s wrong?”
    She held on to him tightly, waiting for her heart to stop racing, waiting for her chest to stop heaving, waiting for the feeling of the clawing bat in her hair to fade.
    â€œWhat happened? Tell me!” Matt demanded, still holding her tight, wrapping her safely in his arms.
    â€œI—was looking for you,” April finally managed to get out, pressing her forehead against the warmth of his sweatshirt. “Here. On the beach.”
    â€œAnd?” he demanded impatiently.
    â€œAnd a bat flew into my hair. It got tangled somehow. It was screeching at me. So loud. I panicked. It was trapped. I couldn’t get it out. But then Gabri—”
    â€œWho?” Matt asked. “Who’s Gabri?”
    â€œThat boy over there,” April said, pointing behind her without turning around. “He was so nice. He pulled the bat out. He—”
    â€œWho?” Matt demanded.
    April pulled away from Matt and turned to call to Gabri.
    â€œHey—”
    There was no one there.
    â€¢Â Â Â â€¢Â Â Â â€¢Â Â Â â€¢Â Â Â â€¢
    Far down the beach, on the high shelf of the dark rock cliff, slippery from the mists and heavy dew, two bats landed silently. As dark as the night, they began to whirl, folding and unfolding their wings as they spun in an eerie, tuneless dance.
    They emerged from the dance in human form.
    Gabri, his red eyes flaring, raged at Jessica, backing her to the sharp cliff edge. “You jealous fool!” he shrieked. “You saw that I was about to drink the nectar. Why did you interrupt?”
    She responded with scornful laughter. “Are you going to push me off the cliff?” she asked casually, ignoring his rage. “You can’t kill me, Gabri. I’ve been an Eternal