Survivor - By Kaye Draper Page 0,21

paved path and made their way toward the grassy bank of the river. I could see that they were quietly arguing about something. The woman had a cajoling look on her face and the men’s expressions ranged from bored to irritated. They talked for some time, and the most irritated looking one- a short, stocky man with brown hair- gestured wildly. At last, the woman threw up her hands in frustration and Peter walked away, heading back toward me.

It all happened in an instant. The brown haired one rushed up behind Peter in a movement so fast my eyes couldn’t follow. Then next thing I knew, Peter was flying through the air. His body smacked into the side of a cement footbridge before disappearing into the water.

I gasped, too shocked to find my voice. They moved so fast, no one had noticed. A bicyclist on the other side of the river glanced out at the water, hearing the splash. He kept pedaling, probably chalking it up to fish jumping or something. The other vampires were leaving the park. I shrieked Peter’s name and unlocked my brakes, wheeling myself furiously down the walkway toward the river. No one was close enough to hear me- at least no one human. The woman, Cynthia, gave me an insulting look and continued on her way.

Peter’s body had surfaced beneath the bridge and was floating toward the bank, carried along by the current. Tears were sliding down my cheeks unchecked. Had they killed him? I reached the end of the sidewalk. It didn’t go all the way to the river’s edge and I couldn’t propel my wheelchair over the bumpy grass. I pushed up out of my chair, standing weakly, cursing my traitorous body as it failed to follow my commands to rush to the water’s edge.

I tried to take a step and fell. I hit the ground hard. Swearing, I started to crawl, dragging myself across the narrow swath of grass that might as well have been a football field. I clenched my teeth. Even if I did get there, what would I do? I couldn’t swim. He was drifting toward the bank now. Maybe I could catch him and keep him from floating away. I doubted I could get him up onto the shore.

I barely reached the edge of the water in time, cursing as I tried to hurry. I pushed myself up into an awkward sitting position half in, half out of the water. As I stretched out my hand, reaching with all my might, he flipped over and spluttered to life. I managed to snag a handful of his shirt and he grasped my arm, almost pulling me into the river. There was a steep drop off just in front of me, but he made it up onto the bank.

He sat on the riverbank glaring out at the water, furious. I had never seen him mad before. I could almost see the darkness surrounding him. It was scary. Like goose bumps that probably weren’t from the cold water scary. Vampire, I reminded myself. Beautiful, harmless-looking man that I had been thrilled to call my boyfriend a few minutes ago. Not a man at all. I was still crying, I noticed belatedly. I lifted a sodden hand to wipe my face, but stopped mid-way there. Better tears than mud and river water.

My movement seemed to startle Peter out of his black contemplation. Turning to me, he scooped me into his arms. I clung to him as he carried me back to my chair, glad he was alive. My God, the brown haired guy had just tossed him out there like a pebble. He put me in my chair and stood looking down at me, pissed.

“I told you to stay right there,” he said, pointing back up the path. His voice sounded odd. Hallow almost. Like some sort of wind instrument. I glared back at him.

“Sure, I’ll sit right here while you die.” I was still full of adrenaline. So he was fine. I hadn’t known that when I saw him bounce off a concrete wall and hit the water. And if he hadn’t been fine? What could I have done then?

“I’m already dead,” he said gruffly. Then a little more softly, “You were scared?”

Seeing my affirmative nod, he sighed. “I’m sorry. It scared me to see you so close to the water. It was only a prank. They didn’t intend any real harm.”

I stared at him. A prank. Sure. It was just