Page 24 of These Eternal Bones
“Please, call me Molly.”
Suddenly, she’s beaming again, and I manage to smile back although my head is reeling. I can’t help a pang of hurt for the adorable being, her mind evading her so much that she mistakes me with someone she so clearly loved. The night is quiet after that, my thoughts straying often to the fox and Elric, although I ask about neither. For the first time since that night in the woods, a tendril of fear worms its way in for the Vampire of Port Clyde.
12
Butterflies & Vampires Who Kneel
Molly
When I wake that morning, it’s not to a gentle knock or even sweet murmurings. It’s to the consuming presence that can only belong to one man. I keep my eyes closed and my breathing even as I clench my legs tightly together. Praying to whatever higher power that my face isn’t showing the flush from my dreams, ones where I was held, unable to move in his tendrils, his fangs in my–
“Good morning, syringa.”
It appears that there is no higher power, or at least not one that will hear me now.
I allow my eyes to flutter open, having long since perfected the art of feigning sleep. Although I can’t tell whether or not he’s convinced.
“You know, it is considered poor form to enter someone’s rooms when they are asleep,” I mumble, pushing the covers from myself, ignoring the way his eyes fall to my breasts pushed up by the bodice of my nightdress.
“I am in the kitchen.” He offers, simply.
“Which is also my bedroom.”
Yesterday…god, how long had it taken me to fall asleep? How fast had my heart been beating for hours? My eyes search the small dwelling for Péal, finding her long gone.
That alone wipes away the daze brought on by my wayward dreams. It makes sense. Makes perfect sense, actually. How many humans had fallen prey to a creature such as him? The fox said as much himself. It’s concerning, really, that the thought hadn’t even crossed my mind yet. At least he seems in right order today, meaning he…fedlast night. The immediate and intense deep-seated burn in my chest takes meaback. The idea of him…the sight of him feeding from someone makes me…angry. Furious, the wrongness of it. Odd, how I had almost begun to think I was something special. For a brief moment.
Another toy to pass the years.
It suits me fine, I decide, steeling myself and pointedly ignoring the man in the room as I grab a dress from my wardrobe he provided me. I am here to fill a debt, to earn enough coin to leave this cold, forsaken place. To retreat from the strange happenings and otherworldly beings.
But they aren’t otherworldly, are they?
They’d always been here. Been everywhere, perhaps.
I had just been kept oblivious to it.
To everything.
My emotions get the best of me as I slam the washroom door closed, my heart pounding in my chest. His words ringing in my ears like a gunshot.
“I suppose you would think me unkind to be grateful.”
I scoff, ripping the fine fabric up my curves that have finally begun to refill again, thanks to him.
I suppose you would think me dull to have nearly agreed.
When I reemerge, Elric is outside. I waste no time heading out before stopping short. A large horse, coat as dark as its master's eyes, stands huffing in the cold. Its hooves the size of my head stomp as he runs a palm along its back, his eyes turning on me.
The bodice of my dress presses into me with every breath; fine needlework of dark flowers trailing upward peeks out of my winter cloak. The wind grew harsh and frigid so quickly. Like winter had held its lash for as long as possible, and now it’s making up for lost time.
“Come, little human.” He hums, but he doesn’t wait for a response. Instead, my heart flings to my throat as his hands band around my waist like a vice of velvet, soft yet unyielding as he hoists me atop the beast. It makes a snorting sound, shifting, my hands flying out blindly to grip onto its mane. I nearly slip before a body of steel slides behind me, his strong thighs banding around my backside, locking me into him. My body tenses, forcing myself ramrod straight where all I want to do is melt against him and inhale lungfuls of spice and cedar. He makes an irritated sound in his throat as I try to scoot away. Not that there’s much room to work with. My eyes widen when those…tendrils band around my middle, pulling me flush with the man at my back before he grips the reins, pulling the horse toward the woods.
“Is that really necessary?”
He has the audacity to sound all too pleased with our new positioning. “I take all manner of your safety seriously, Molly. Especially when you are so easily broken.”
“Yes, clearly, seeing as you killed a man because of it.” I snap, sucking my lips into my mouth afterward, willing myself to be quiet.
