Page 143 of Cursed Lifeline

It keeps all my senses alert.

It’s what’s going to distinguish this life from my past.

The brief creek of a door across the vast space has me sucking in a sharp breath. I’m not nervous. Quite the opposite. It’s exhilarating waiting for him to find me. Knowing that he will and it could only be a matter of minutes, seconds, before I’m discovered fills me with a sensation I’ve become addicted to.

Anticipation, after all, is arguably the greatest element of pleasure.

Though this type of training is unconventional, I’m not naive to think that what’s waiting for me around every corner offers the same kind of self-gratifying ending Felix promises. But with his help, he’s bestowing on me the wisdom I need to defeat whatever might come my way. It’s a skill I know Alfred couldn’t teach me, nor Silas or Caelum. Not like Felix can.

Footsteps sound closer and I steady myself against the wall behind me and start to unbuckle my shoes. I’ll be able to move quicker tonight without my heels. Slipping one from my foot, I listen closely for any sound that might give away his nearness then start to unbuckle the clasp on the other heel, and quickly slip it off my foot. Flipping a clasp hidden behind the stiletto, the heel elongates into a sharp spike.

The sound of a match striking nearby garners my attention.

Across the room, a flickering light from the but of a smoke catches my eye. I watch as a figure of a man lifts the cigarette to his mouth and takes a long drag. His eyes raise and meet mine. Through the darkness between us, I sense he’s not human.

“Waiting for someone?” he smirks.

“I should ask you the same,” I taunt.

He takes one last drag of his smoke, then flicks it to the ground bitterly. He stalks purposely toward me. All my training, all the instinct I’ve spent time perfecting, threatens to leave and be replaced by fear.

Forcing back panic, I dodge his attempt for capture as he lunges for me and duck to the right just under his outstretched arms. Quickly, I drop into a roll and propel myself to the opposite corner. Breathing better once I’ve put some space between us, I rise and take a fighting stance. My eyes search frantically about the darkness, but I don’t see him. After a moment, oddly, I hear his breathing coming closer.

“Ember would like a word with you,” the stranger hisses.

Lunging forward through the bleak dark of night, I slash down with the spike of my heel, hopeful it hits its mark. But the man dodges the blow perfectly. My panic spikes. The vampire's low, menacing laugh echoes through the room as I twirl around in a circle desperate to see where he’s disappeared to.

I become very still and wait for his next move.

“She told me to bring you in alive.”

Paralyzed by his words, I realize I’ve stood still a moment too long when the undead reaches out, pulls me into a deathly embrace, and fists my hair in his hand. Yanking me forward, he forces my head to the side, exposing my neck. “But she’s not here. And her pawn once told me how delicious you tasted in a former life.”

I struggle against him and fight to break his hold. The more I wrestle to break free, the stronger his grip becomes as he tries to force me into submission. In the scuffle, my heel slips from my grip and clatters against the cool concrete floor.

“Maybe just a taste,” his slimy voice slithers across my skin as he leans further in.

He starts to sink his teeth in just as my right knee snaps up crashing into his crotch and sending him howling down to his knees. Taking a quick step back, my foot hits my heel, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Kneeling, I grab it just as he shakes off the pain and starts to search for me in the darkness. Twirling around in circles, he looks just as desperate as I felt a few moments ago, and I smile joyfully, watching how the tables have turned. Hunched over, out of sight, I slowly ease back into the shadows and stay low to the floor to keep hidden.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are, slayer,” he taunts. When it doesn’t work, he grows angry and shouts, “Your silly love affair with Felix won’t save you any longer, Esme. Ember has plans for you and the rest of the coven.”

My hands begin to shake as I make out the edges of his ghastly face. His sick grin grows, fuels my impatience, and feeds my eager need to fight.

“Felix had his chance to change you,” he taunts, spinning in a circle and starting to look in the opposite direction for a victim he won’t find. “I must say, I agree with Ember. If I had my choice and the chance to make you mine forever,” he spins back around just as I back up into the wall behind me. Miraculously, his eyes find mine, and I stop breathing. “I wouldn’t waste it.”

He lunges for me, and I don’t hesitate to do the same. I stab the stake of my heel deep into his heart and spit in his face, “Looks like you lost your chance.”

The life slowly drains from his face. Blood coats his lips as I shove him out of my embrace just as a tall, dark figure comes into view. Panting, I wipe the sweat from my brow and start to worry it’s another attacker. Taking one last look at the vampire lying at my feet, I glance up and lock eyes with Felix. Instantly, his gaze drops to the floor before angrily rising to the wound on my neck. Concern fills his eyes as he quickly takes a few steps in my direction, then abruptly stops. He studies my gaze. Reads my mind. As he travels through my thoughts and discovers I’m alright, his demeanor changes.

I’m not as frail as he thinks.

He takes one more look at the mess I’ve made and grins wickedly. When his eyes once again find mine, his savage smile grows and he growls, “Run.”

I don’t hesitate and bolt to the right. Taking a sharp corner, I plow through an exit and out into the Nevada desert. Breathless, my feet hit the sand as I anxiously start our chase. I suck in a deep breath, mentally preparing myself to charge stronger, and faster into the night. Cactus pulls at my dress, rocks hurt my bare feet. At one point, my evening gown snags on a rose bush. I stop and pull at the fabric, harshly ripping it up my right thigh in the process.

Glancing back over my shoulder, I sense he’s gaining on me. Like a true hunter, he’s letting his prey wander far off before he really sets out on a chase.

I’ve explored this part of the desert before, memorizing every turn I could in case I ever found myself here in battle. Tonight, I take a new route I haven’t gone yet. One more hidden, more remote, more dangerous than others. A path that instantly leads me to a creek bed.

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