Part 31 (1/2)

Groaning I rolled onto my back. Have to keep going. Ilida needs me. Seeking revenge would keep me alive. I'll live for it. The way Ma.n.u.s taught me.

If I can find a donor I'll make it, but there's nothing here except an abandoned house, trees, miles, and miles of the white stuff. One of my earlier questions was finally answered since moving to Long Island. Yes, you can get stranded here, and it's h.e.l.l when it happens.

My bat grew more insistent for blood. My wolf lay dormant for now.

Then, my hearing zeroed in on the sound of a car driving, and chaotic frightened thoughts. Through the cold wind, I could smell its exhaust fumes. Ah, heartbeat pumping furiously.

The white scene before me glazed over in red. My bat self awakened to survival alert. G.o.d, have pity on the woman who was on her way to me because I would not. I needed the liquid sustenance so desperately, like an addict needs crack. My humanity switched to automatic shutdown.

The sound came closer and closer. The deep echo of the driver's blood beat my eardrum. The stinging brightness of headlights blinded my bat. The screeching and slos.h.i.+ng of wheels trying to stop in deep snow... I thought to move.

Metal bunched and curled like paper against the outside of my knee. Hot wires tangled around my thighs like octopus tendrils. Fear from the pa.s.senger reached out to me. It's psychic origin familiar, but d.a.m.ned if I could get a lock on it. There was fear from her.

The force of the car pushed me up then over its roof. Elbow broke, collided with sharp edges. Indescribable pain. My wolf howled. My bat screamed for shelter now. I landed on my clawed feet and made a dash through the snowy landscape.

The loud thud echoed in her ears. Her eyes widened in horror as something large and dark flew up and hit her winds.h.i.+eld. Plastic cracked ominously before she could hit the breaks. It bounced up. Loud b.u.mps on the roof of her car made her flinch. Wheels skidded. The car spun out.

She rode the spin, pumping her brakes. It was so dark and the hit happened so fast. Her hands frantically moved the steering wheel to the right with the flow of the car. ”Oh G.o.d, please don't let me flip over,” she cried.

The car tilted on its side, shook then plopped down, bouncing her in the driver's seat. With her hands, she pushed up against the ceiling of the car until it stilled. She sat there taking deep breaths. ”Oh, G.o.d, thank you.” Whatever she hit was out there and not so lucky.

The cracked winds.h.i.+eld had fogged over. Her legs felt stiff. She unclenched the muscle and took a deep breath. She rubbed the winds.h.i.+eld with the hem of her coat sleeve. Steam billowed out of the hood, which was bent up on each side like the wings of a paper airplane.

Black bears are indigenous to Suffolk County, Long Island, but they hadn't been seen since the thirties. Maybe one escaped from the zoo and made its way here. She had to find out for herself.

With shaking hands, she unhooked her seat belt and unlocked the door. ”Wait, where's my flashlight? Glove compartment!” She reached for the compartment door, opened it, and took out her flashlight. ”Blanket, Ilida. Get your blankets!” Ilida took three steps to the fender. It was bent outwards and something dark and splotchy was sc.r.a.ped across it. She swallowed hard. Blood!

She walked to the trunk of the car, took out her blanket, keeping her flashlight aimed on what she was doing. Praying silently that she wouldn't get mauled, she flashed the light on the road and the tall cornfields to her left. A path had been made in the snow. It must have run through there, whatever it was. With five wool blankets tucked under her arm, she crouched down and followed the path of the pulled down cornstalks.

She pushed the frozen cornstalks out of her way as she walked. It had enough energy left to run a good distance away. She lost sight of her car as she followed its path.

She breathed in the frigid air through her teeth, warming her lungs. Nothing could warm the icy froth around her heart. She'd never injured an animal before. It had been an accident, but she still felt responsible.

In the shaft from her flashlight, she saw something dark lying on the ground. As she got closer and s.h.i.+ned the light on it, she realized it was still. Deathly still. More death... Startled, Ilida jumped back. That can't be right. It was too svelte to be a bear. Bears were bulky, ma.s.sive. This...man?...was tall, with long ...furred legs. She moved the flashlight beam over its form. It was masculine and curled in a fetal position. The scent of fresh blood wafted through the cold air. A gently curved back covered in short fur.

She must have b.u.mped her head on the steering wheel. Nevertheless, she reached down, her hands shaking as she touched him. She felt strong muscles under her gloved palm. Then she moved her hand outward. Something thin and bony, like an arm. Quickly she spotted it with her flashlight. It was long wide, with webbing. An image popped din her head of wings. ”Wings?”

”I'm seeing things, right? Wings?” Long, muscular legs and huge... No, no, it's not the time to be looking at its genitalia. It moved, bulged, became slightly erect then. She moved back, almost dropping the flashlight. Something grabbed her ankle in a fierce grip. She fell down. ”No!

A large three-fingered hand covered her mouth cutting off her scream. What she could only surmise to be webbing covered her lips. Tiny hairs tickled her nostrils. Chilled tears ran down her face. She peered about wildly looking for a way to disarm him and then for a heart-stopping moment, he looked into her eyes. His blue-violet eyes bore into her soul. Blue-violet?

He looked at her curiously, and then his eyes narrowed in an accusing way. She couldn't see anything but him. The bat-man had wide, powerful shoulders. His skin was cool and she could faintly smell the blood seeping from his wounds. His pointy ears, hooded brows and bald head held her immobile. His hold was... gentle? Maybe it was, but she had a feeling he could twist her neck with ease at any moment. If she was dreaming, she should've awakened by now.

”Be quiet. You aren't dreaming.”

Chapter Twenty-three

Something moved, flickered in my chest as I stared down at her. It could've been my heart trying to stop for all I knew. I hadn't been hurt this badly since that night in the lava tombs in Santorini.

Chunks of my flesh and had been muscles torn from my body then as it was now. I vowed I'd never let that happen again, now look at me. Ma.n.u.s thought whipping me to death would make me submit. It hadn't. It had the opposite effect. This latest test wouldn't get me down either.

”Get me...inside that house, now!” I growled.

Ilida's sweat, blood, and fear stirred me despite the pain pulsing through my body. My right leg felt numb.

Ilida wasn't moving. She was too scared to budge, but I couldn't consider her feelings now. I needed to get well fast. With an iron grip, I pulled her up by her arm. The pain tearing through her muscles tore through mine. ”Up!”

I pulled her up with one hand as I rose from the snowy ground. Blinding pain ricocheted, making me double over. I needed to stay still for a moment. Then my ears picked up the sound of tires on snow coming closer.

Can't be seen. Not in bat form. I needed cover, fast. Faster than the eye could see I ran towards a large tree with hanging branches. It was far enough away from the road. I commanded his bat wings to cover me, making a canopy of protection from the snow. Those six steps took a lot out of me. I never thought I'd find myself in a weakened state, ever. I watched Ilida walk towards him.

The driver spotted her car. He wanted to check on her. Nice of him, but if she can't get him to leave. No! That's my pain talking. I won't hurt Ilida. I won't! ”Car coming this way,” I said to her.

”What?”

Time was running out. The snowflakes drifted across her face, landing on the tip of her nose. Pain competed with my desire for her.

Headlights illuminated the snow-covered trees and slushy road.

”Male driver...coming to check...on you. Do you know him?”

She hesitated in answering me and my temper was about to explode. ”Answer me!”

”I don't think I know him.”

I grabbed her wrist, pulled her down to the snow. Looking up to talk to her wasn't the most comfortable thing to do now.

Both of them watched the car slow down to a stop. Its headlights illuminated the landscape. The car came to a stop and the driver got out.

I squeezed her hand tighter, almost crus.h.i.+ng it. Sheer will kept me behind Ilida. ”Tell - driver - to leave.”

Air billowed out of her mouth as she breathed. Her fear was tangible, and she was in pain. I smelled the blood coming from her. Pain vibrated from my shoulder to my shoulder blade. I got the impression of torn skin.

I waited. That driver was concerned - a Good Samaritan and her only hope of escape, but I needed blood and I couldn't let her... escape. f.u.c.k, f.u.c.k, f.u.c.k!

”I'll tell him to leave. If you let go of my hand.”

”I'm trusting you to come back.” Slowly, I released her hand.

I watched her walk unhurriedly to the Good Samaritan. Though the snow absorbed sound, I could pick out her soft voice. The driver walked towards her. She stepped to the side keeping her attention on him. ”Hi there?