His body ached from head to toe and he was cold; so very, very cold. Edwin tried to sit up, but the effort was overwhelming. Something heavy was on his chest, holding him down.
It was dark, so very dark. Too dark to see even though his eyes were opened wide. He could hear breathing close by. He felt a tickling sensation as a moist nose rapidly sniffed up and down his body. A sudden jolt took him by surprise. His arms frantically flailed around him as he tried to find an inanimate object to secure him in place as whatever had sniffed him tried to drag him by the pant leg through the snow.
With every waking moment, he grew more and more aware of his body and surroundings. It was as if he’d left it and was now making a slow reconnection.
A low snarl alerted him to the fact that the animal that was dragging him had met up with another animal that coveted him. As fascinating as it would have been to watch the batt
Kira paced the large kitchen as she watched Agatha pour boiling water over the herbs she’d just combined and crushed in her mortar.“This will put a shield around the babe, should anything go wrong and they capture ye,” Agatha said as she covered the pot to let the brew steep.“Malcolm frightens I,” Kira said.“His evilness knows no boundaries,” Agatha said with a slow shake of her head, “and ‘tis me, not I. Malcolm frightens me.”“Does it really matter at this point?” Kira complained. “I was trying to correct my speech for Edwin. Now…”“You still have to mingle with the world,” Agatha scolded. “’Twould be good to correct it as best as you can. ‘Twouldn’t do to attract undue attention to thyself.”“I suppose you are right,” Kira said with a heavy sigh. “I must go on.&nb
The skies were clear, yet it sounded like thunder up ahead as Edwin carefully made his way through the forest. Ebenezer had already warned him of the battle that ensued at Claus’ estate between his good, and Malcolm’s evil, vampires. He’d also explained that it was because Claus assumed the role as Kira’s mate and protector that his home was under attack. Malcolm was determined to get Kira back. He’d been searching for far too long to let her bonding with another vampire stop him from finally having her. He was her maker. It was his right. Vampire law be damned.Mixed emotions flooded him as he listened to his ghostly grandfather explain how Kira agreed to bond and mate with Claus if he promised to rescue him from Malcolm’s evil clutches. The old ghost was careful to be clear on the fact that Claus coveted Kira and would expect her to honor her promise to him even if Edwin showed up a vampire instead of a
Edwin stopped short when he entered the kitchen, which was the one surviving room in the house that wasn’t a bedroom, and saw Kira standing next to the chair that Claus was seated in. Behind her stood Agatha. He gave them a curious look as he willed his legs to move forward. Could it be that she’d decided to be with Claus instead of him? Was he facing the vampire leader for no reason?A wooden chair was set not far from Claus. He motioned for Edwin to sit in it.“It has been a long night of surprises,” Claus said as he watched Edwin settle into the chair with the poise of a proud tribal chief he once knew. “It isn’t often that we leave a man for dead only to have him reappear a vampire. There is the need for blood upon awakening which is normally provided by the maker. How did you manage?”Edwin shrugged, “I awoke to two wolves fighting over me.”“You killed th
Salem 1692Kira’s legs worked hard to forge her slight body down the narrow, snow laden deer path that took her from her family’s cottage to the nearby village of Salem. She’d managed to slip away from home just as the sun peeked over the horizon. If all went well, she’d be back in her room before the family expected to see her rise and none would be the wiser.She was determined to meet the ship that was arriving. Not only would the village be abuzz with news of her homeland, but, with the recent change in weather, ships would be far and few between after this; at least until the spring. If her package wasn’t on the ship, then she doubted she’d see it until the thaw; which would be too late.It was five years since her family fled Englandafter her grandfather died and a vicious land battle between siblings ensued.The Donnelly family was a warring family from it
New York City, 2017“I can’t believe you’re really leaving,” Pricilla pouted as she leaned against the doorframe.“I’ll be back in time for Thanksgiving dinner,” Edwin said as he closed the zipper on his travel bag.“What am I supposed to do for the week you’re gone?” she whined.“Maybe you can take advantage of the time without me to reconnect with some of your friends? I ran into Sally a few days ago and she was complaining that you two never get together anymore. She blamed me for it.” He strode to her and cupped her chin in his hand. “I’ve never tried to keep you from your friends, my love. I don’t like it that they think I do.”“I’m happy with it being just us. They seem so immature lately,” she said with a scowl. “Their conversation is mundane and frivolous. We’ve just
Due to a nor’easter that started just about the time Edwin hopped into the SUV, the normal three-and-a-half-hour drive took almost five hours to reach the cabin in the hills on the edge of the Wachusett Mountain Reservation that belonged to Tim’s uncle. Edwin was thankful that Tim was a professional stunt driver and, therefore, fully capable of maneuvering the SUV over slick, snow, and ice laden roads.Having monitored the weather, they’d deliberately taken Tim’s vehicle; with Tim manning the wheel. They’d also stopped and stocked up on provisions to bring with them, rather than pick some up in town after they’d arrived and settled in. Even so, they were surprised and taken aback by the conditions of the road.“We spend too much time in the city,” Mark grumbled as he wiped away the foggy film that accumulated on his window from the heat of his breath and looked out onto the winter wonderland. “I’d
Tim and Mark finished breakfast and were on their third cup of coffee by the time Edwin crawled out of bed to join them at the harvest style dining table that was positioned on the side of the great room near the kitchen.“I was beginning to wonder if you were alright,” Mark said as he slid a mug of black coffee in front of Edwin.“What time is it?” Edwin asked as he propped his elbow on the table and rested his forehead in the palm of his hand. “I have a killer headache.”“From that fall, no doubt,” Tim said as he slid a bottle of Ibuprophen next to the creamer and sugar bowl that were less than an arm’s reach from Edwin.“I prefer Tylenol,” Edwin said as he grabbed the bottle of Ibuprophen and uncapped it.“That’s not just a pain reliever. It’s also a muscle relaxer. You need both,” Tim explained.“We weren’t planning on huntin
Tim stood aside to allow Edwin access to the door.“Can I help you?” Edwin asked warily. The old woman’s grey eyes bore into his blue ones with such an intensity, he felt unable to move; as if mesmerized. When he was finally able to gain control of his senses again, he said, “I’m Edwin Jacobson.”“Then, ye are the one I seek,” she said firmly. “Please, come with me.”Edwin was so taken aback that, at first, he simply stood staring at her in disbelieve with his mouth open. When she was half-way down the steps, she turned to face him with an expectant look.“I’m sorry, lady, but I have no clue who you are, how you got here, how you knew I’d be here, or why you want me. What I do know is that I have no intentions of going anywhere with you,” Edwin said as he surveyed the grounds for what might have brought her to the cabin.The caretaker had yet to pl