Page 65 of The Vampire’s Prey

Without further thought, I dart out into the night, trying to get as much distance between us as possible. Once I know he's not following me, I slow down to a walk. My mind is in such turmoil. How could I have let him do those awful things to me? It doesn't matter if I liked it or not. I shouldn't have allowed myself to get that close. I played the game and lost.

Tears stream down my cheeks, and as much as I wipe away, they just keep coming. Anguish bubbles up inside of me, but I can't let go. Not until I'm safe. Looking up and down the road, I stick my thumb out both praying for a ride and that they’re not a psycho. I've already hit the jackpot with that one. Looking at my phone, I realize just how late it is. There's still hope though. The club was bursting when I left. Obviously, people are still out and about. Within a few more minutes, I see headlights approaching. As it pulls up, I breathe a sigh of relief. It's a woman, and she doesn't look or act like a vampire. Hopefully she's not anything other. I just don't have the brain space to deal with that.

Hopping in, I give her my address and keep her in my sights. No way I'm letting my guard down again. I can't get into my apartment quick enough. The moment the door closes behind me, the floodgates open. I slide down the door and sob into my arms. I didn't think this would hurt so badly. Now I know why The Family teaches to never get involved. My heart hurts so badly. Looking around the room, I see the remnants of the night Adrian took me away. The garlic still swings from the valance and all the corners of the room.

Cursing under my breath, I reach up and tear all of it down. So much for our research. He didn't even blink when he walked through the door. Anger and shame fill me as I rip the sheets and comforter from the bed. How could I be so stupid. I make a small nest at the foot of the bed and sit down, the edge of the bed pressing firmly against my back as I curl my legs up to my chest. My mind drifts back to the bed I had at Adrian's, and the soft bunny that I snuggled just this morning. Was it really last night that he gave me a mind-blowing orgasm? It makes no difference now. The one man I thought I could fall in love with betrayed me and taught me that monsters weren't redeemable.

Eyes locked on the door, I stare at it, pinching myself every time I feel like I'm going to drift off. If Adrian is going to attack me, it will be during the night. I can sleep all day and be safe. Instead of letting myself continue to cry, I decide to think of a game plan. Yes, he is a vampire, but there has to be some weaknesses. Pulling out my phone, I start googling. A lot of what is written is stuff I was taught. Instead of going by that, I try looking for more obscure things. I'm not sure how The Family got things so wrong, but I am determined to make everything right.

As the first fingers of dawn paint the window, I finally allow myself to close my eyes and drift off. I am going to need all my wits about me if I am going to square off with the Devil himself.

* * *

My sleep comes in fits and starts. Every time I close my eyes, I see Barbara staring up at me, her lifeless body covered by Adrian's. His eyes are glowing red, blood dripping from his fangs. He stalks me slowly, but I still cannot get away. I wake up just as his nails turn to talons, a scream lodged in my throat. Looking around, my studio comes back into focus. Shaking my head, I look at the clock, thankfully it's later in the afternoon. Now I don't have an excuse to try going back to sleep again. Yawning, I make my way over to the coffee maker and fumble around with the settings. As I bring it up to my lips, a familiar knock sounds at my door.

Fear freezes me for a moment. What is he doing here? I know that knock like I know the back of my hand. It was drilled into me during the many years of training. Creeping over, I softly put one foot in front of the other, keeping as silent as possible. I look through the peephole, and my fear is confirmed.

Simon's face darts back and forth as he keeps watch over his shoulders. Should I let him in? The loud pattern sounds again, startling a gasp from me. Did he hear it? What is he doing here? There's no way I can finish my mission and come home a hero now. If he's here, they've already lost faith in me.

"Evangeline, you gotta let me in."

Grimacing, I slide the locks and ease the door open. Before I can get it all the way open, he bursts through and slams it shut, throwing the locks back into place.

"Miss me?"

His mouth widens into a smile. Teeth gleam in front of me bringing my mind back to my dream. Shuddering, I back away. It's just Simon. He can't hurt me. In fact, now that he's here, he might be able to actually help!

"Of course, I missed you.”

It's a lie of course, but he doesn't have to know that. I was always able to placate him with a dashing smile and a flip of my hair. Grinning, I run my fingers across my shoulder, but before I can even get to my hair, his hand snakes out and latches onto my wrist.

"Stop lying you filthy cunt."

Shocked, I stumble back half a step. There's no way I heard him right.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

His hand grips my wrist even tighter and begins twisting. Pain explodes from my wrist to my elbow. I try to struggle, but every movement just tightens his hold on me. Simon's lips snarl as he leans into the twist. I know he's trying to bring me down to the floor, and I can't let that happen. On instinct, I curl my fingers into a fist and swing at his chest as hard as I can. Even as my punch flies, I know it's the wrong move. Within seconds, Simon's other hand slams down onto the approaching forearm, effectively blocking it. He uses the force of the block to shove me down onto the ground. Hard floor rises up to slam my back. My breath whooshes out of my body, leaving me hurting and gasping.

Luckily, once I'm down, he lets go of me. I turn to my side and cradle my wrist to my chest. Tears dot my eyes as I struggle to breathe. Every gasp in seems to constrict my lungs even more. The warmth of his body prickles my back as he leans beside me and starts rubbing my back.

"That's it. Breathe. You can do it."

If I wasn't already trying not to die, I would have turned and punched him in the face. What is going on with him. He’s never like this with me. Slowly, the air starts returning back to me, and the wave of panic-induced nausea seems to subside. I roll over onto my back and look up to see him looming over me.

"What the hell?"

"I'm asking the questions here. The only talking you're going to do is answering me.” Simon clamps his hand over my mouth and straddles my hips with his legs. With his full weight on me, I can't shove him off. I try bucking my hips, but he simply laughs and wraps his hand around my throat.

"I've ridden broncs that buck harder than you, missy. You'll have to work harder to get me off of you."

Fear races through me, sending my brain into overdrive. My mind starts working fast, but nothing in my training prepared me for this. We never got into positions that could even come close to resembling sex. His fingers start squeezing even harder, but not quite enough to cut off all my air, just enough to make my head start spinning. When I thought of all the ways I might die, this was not one that even entered my brain. He is my brother. Why is he doing this? The only thing my mind can do is think of ways to escape.

His other arm is braced beside my head. This could work to my advantage. Taking the hand opposite of the one he's bracing on, I start to peel his fingers back from my throat. In the same instance, I jab at his ribs and buck my hips hard. Simon jerks in surprise and flies over my head. I scramble to my knees, so I can try to get away. I'm way too slow. I'm operating on not enough sleep and hysteria. Before I can make it more than a few inches, Simon grabs my ankles and yanks them back, sending me to my stomach.

"How dare you fight me, whore," he bellows, flipping me onto my back.