The Guest & The Change - By M. D. Bowden Page 0,69

her further into the forest.

Soon she would wake up.

She would be screaming with thirst.

THE END

THE TWO VAMPIRES

#3 The Moors

Read on for a taste of what’s to come…

CHAPTER 1

Sarah felt a spasm race over her body. Her eyes jerked open as she took a big gulp of fresh air. She looked around and saw conifers in every direction. The light was fading.

What the hell was she doing; sleeping in the forest? Who was looking after Megan and Bea? And why the hell was her throat burning like mad?

Urhh, she was so thirsty. She needed to drink badly, her throat hurt - it was parched.

She focused her attention on her eyes and listened out for water.

Nothing.

Then she heard a pounding heart. It was rhythmic and alluring.

She felt like she was slipping into a trance.

Sarah jumped to her feet. She started to move towards the sound - without even realizing what she was doing: Stalking her prey.

She spotted a young deer ahead. Its nose was rummaging through the leaves, looking for food. She was beautiful; her fur was a rich coppery red. Sarah watched the deer and located its pulse at its neck. She watched it entranced; beating steadily.

Sarah’s thirst drew her out from behind a tree. The deer raised its head and looked directly at her with wide startled eyes. Sarah looked back, one second of connection, before it turned and ran.

Sarah acted on instinct; she bolted forward. She did not know why, but she could not let the deer escape.

She knew one thing: If she could only reach that deer, have it for herself - it would sooth her thirst. It would make her feel better.

She needed the deer.

Sarah sprang, landing on its back. It crippled beneath her, unable to support her weight.

Her eyes were again drawn to the pulse at the neck. She admired the smooth expanse of silky fur before her, while she held on tight to stop herself falling away, to stop the deer breaking free. Her teeth felt strange. They ached. They longed to pierce the neck before her.

Her mouth opened as her head moved slowly forwards, entranced. She held the struggling deer very still and tentatively grazed the neck with her teeth. A faint line of blood appeared. She furrowed her forehead in confusion; were her teeth that sharp?

Then she smelt the blood. It was divine, intoxicating.

Her head shot forward, teeth piercing through the fur and skin, entering an artery. Blood shot down her throat. Ahh - soothing, heavenly, intoxicating liquid. It was quenching her thirst, fuelling her body with power, with energy.

Sarah drank for her life, gulping the coppery formula, draining the vessel she held.

It ceased its struggle as its heart stopped its beautiful, speedy rhythm.

Sarah withdrew her teeth, and felt them change in her mouth. It felt like they were shrinking.

Strange - what was she doing on top of a deer? A lifeless deer at that.

She stroked her fingers down the back of its neck, feeling its soft, young fur. It still felt warm; it couldn’t have been dead for long.

Her mouth felt wet. She brought a hand up and wiped her face. As she pulled her hand away she saw red glinting on her skin. Blood. What the hell? Why was there blood on her face?

She staggered to her feet, moving away from the deer, looking urgently about. Looking for some clue to her state of mind, to her actions.

She saw a tall man approaching. He was very attractive. And he looked familiar.

Daniel.

Panic shot through her. What would he think? What had she done?

She turned away from him, tears running down her cheeks. She took a deep breath and sprinted away - her speed increasing as she moved with accuracy, avoiding trunks and branches in her way.

She could hear Daniel in pursuit.

***

Daniel had had to leave Sarah on her own. He didn’t know how long it would be before she would awaken. Until she would be a vampire, like him.

It was his fault too, if he hadn’t bitten her; if they hadn’t shared blood - this couldn’t have happened.

But then she’d be dead, he thought bitterly. At least this way she would live. Forever. They could always be together.

It wasn’t like it hadn’t crossed his mind before, right?

Then why was he so bothered now - he should be rejoicing at her becoming a vampire.

It wasn’t hard to work out why he wasn’t though. This wasn’t her choice. She didn’t tell him she wanted to be with him forever. She didn’t ask to be