with every stride, but she barely felt it. Her only thought was to reach the safety of the barn and the vampire hunter within.
Somehow, Victoria reached the building and ran through the open door. Not two steps inside, her legs suddenly gave out. She stumbled for a moment before falling hard. The panic that had fueled her mad dash across the yard screamed at her to get up, but her body refused to respond. Lungs burning, she fought to regain her breath as she lay in the straw. Her shirt stuck to her like a second skin, cold and itchy.
Streams of white light cut through the shadows, followed seconds later by a teeth-rattling thunderclap. As it rolled into the distance, Victoria heard a rustling at the other end of the barn. She tried to quiet her breathing, but her racing heart made it impossible.
Drawing on the last of her strength, Victoria struggled to her feet. Her fingers squeezed the crucifix as she started walking toward the sound. The creature making it seemed restless; the rustling continued without pause. Step by step, she worked her way toward it, checking over her shoulder for any sign of the vampire. The darkness around her was absolute save for the flashes of lightning, but Victoria didn't see the telltale light from his eyes.
The rustling was very close now, hidden in the next stall. Crouching down, she ran her fingers over the savior's wooden body for reassurance. Now that she'd reached the sound, she wasn't sure what she should do next. If it was the red-eyed woman or another of the feral vampires, she couldn't very well fight them with nothing but her crucifix.
Pressing up against the post, Victoria leaned around it just enough to see into the stall. At that moment, a bolt of lightning split the shadows. It gleamed on a black eye rimmed with white. Fear shot through her limbs, but it quickly dissolved. The tension drained from her body like water through a sluice gate, leaving her legs feeling wobbly. She fell to her knees as darkness again closed in around her. Thunder shook the walls, and although she could no longer see them, she knew her horse's terrified eyes were still watching her. Her sigh of relief came out as a laugh.
"What's so funny, darlin?"
Victoria spun around so quickly she toppled over. Framed by the barn door, the man's silhouette was like a slender black candle with blue flame smoldering at its crown. She could see hunger and amusement flickering in those eyes.
Pulling herself together, Victoria rose to her feet and raised the crucifix. The man continued to watch her, apparently relishing her helplessness. Victoria knew her luck had run out. Without a real weapon, it was just a matter of time before he overwhelmed and consumed her. Cora must have run out into the storm in pursuit of her quarry, or maybe she was lying dead somewhere nearby. Either way, the hunter wouldn't be coming to her rescue. Still, Victoria wouldn't allow him to make her his mistress, no matter what happened. If need be, she would kill herself before he could take her. If only she hadn't left her knife behind.
The barn had plenty of sharp tools handy, though. Keeping the crucifix raised, she began edging over to where she remembered Cora had left the pitchfork. The tines were rusted, but they would do the job well enough if she could just get to it.
Without warning, the man's eyes vanished from the entrance. Victoria searched the shadows, hoping to see that wicked blue glow, but the barn was dark. The constant drumming of rain on the roof made it impossible to hear something sneaking up on her. She began panning the crucifix around the room as she worked her way across the barn.
Something struck her head from behind. Dazed, she fell to one knee, fighting to stay conscious. The world was spinning. She felt like she might vomit. Had she dropped the crucifix?
A cold hand clamped onto the back of her neck. Crippling pain lanced through her body. Her fingers tried to pull it off, but it was like trying to pry open a wolf's jaws. The hand lifted her mercilessly until her feet kicked at the air just above the floor.
"Now, then," came the man's voice, "what was you saying about not being scared of me?"
Victoria couldn't answer. It took all of her effort just to draw in a breath.