Page 21 of The Vampire Debt
“You’re not one of those pathetic worshippers, are you?” he asks with disgust.
At first, I’m not sure what he’s talking about, but then I remember the girl back at the inn, red staining the collar of her white dress. I shudder.
“Would you like to be fed upon day by day until you slowly wither away to nothing?” He leans forward, a mixture of seduction and deadly predator.
“No,” I say. Only this time it comes out as a whisper.
A sinister smile forms on his full lips. “Unfortunately, what becomes of you at this point has nothing to do with what you do or do not wish to happen. You are not in control of your fate, and the sooner you realize that, the better off you will be.”
I clench my fists in my lap, gripping the material of my trousers until my knuckles go white. He notices before I can force myself to relax and gives me an unamused look.
“You would do well to learn to control your temper.”
“Go fuck a demon,” I snap.
The corner of his mouth ticks up as if I amuse him. He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and meets my glare with one of his own.
“You will never win.” Red seems to flare in his eyes.
I sit up straighter, determined to not back down. My heart pounds furiously.
He reaches forward and wraps his fingers around my wrist. I’m too stunned at first to rip my arm away. He will feed on me.
Before I can even open my mouth he says, “Sleep.”
That strange vibration to his words scrapes against my mind and I know he compelled me again. I fight as hard as I can, but still my eyelids grow heavy and my body relaxes against my will just as the darkness sets in.
Chapter Ten
Clara
“Miss Valmont,”a distant voice calls to me.
My mind and body feel heavy. I try to stir but can’t summon the energy to move or respond.
“Clara? You need to wake up,” the voice calls again, this time closer.
I blink up at the pale face hovering above me. It’s dark.Is it night?
The face frowns down at me though I can’t think of why. I can’t seem to focus on who… my eyes drift closed again. I’m so tired. My brain is sluggish, my thoughts muddled and scattered.
“I know,” the voice says sharply. It must belong to the face.
Is he talking to me? What were we talking about? Where…
Something cool caresses my face. “Clara,” the voice says my name again.
This time when I open my eyes, I manage to keep them open. Slowly his features sharpen into a distinct, handsome face. Dark blue eyes, the color of the twilight sky, hold secrets I could never hope to learn, a sharp jaw, and lips that beg to be kissed.
His brows pinch together. He looks worried…I wonder why.I lift my hand and press my fingers against his forehead, trying to smooth them, but he catches my wrist.
There’s a noise I can’t quite make out. Reluctantly, almost as if it pains him, he lifts his head. “I know, you don’t have to keep telling me.”
My head lists to the side, though from this angle I still can’t see who he’s talking to outside.
When he returns his attention to me, I see a flicker of something. The thought hovers at the edge of my mind. There is a faint sense of familiarity about him.
“Clara, can you sit up?” he asks.