All I Want for Christmas Is a Vampire - By Kerrelyn Sparks Page 0,85

toward her. "I can't--" She stopped when his body dropped a few feet. He grabbed her hand and pulled her

into his arms. Then he levitated back to the top of the wall. She flung her arms around his neck. His teeth flashed white in the dark. "Ye doona need to choke me, sweetheart. I willna drop you." "Sorry." She tried to relax. "I'm not used to floating six feet off the ground." "That is Ward Three, aye?" He pointed. She squinted to see across the dimly lit courtyard. "Yes." No doubt he could see much better than

she.

"Ye see the shadowy area to the right of the building? It's close to the back entrance. We'll teleport there first." "Okay." She steeled her nerves. The black, dizzying sensation sucked her in, then she stumbled as

her feet landed on hard ground. "Steady." He led her toward the back door. It was locked, of course, but through the glass window

they could see a plain hallway, lined with doors on each side. The doors were open, and light spilled from several onto the shiny linoleum floor. A female nurse padded down the hall in white athletic shoes. "Eight o'clock! Lights out!" The lights clicked off, leaving the hallway dimly illuminated with a few emergency lights. The

nurse walked away, presumably toward the nurses' station by the main entrance. "Those must be the bedrooms," Ian whispered. He pulled her to his side. "Let's go." Darkness swirled around her once more, then she found herself with Ian in the hallway. The air

was hot and stuffy. She took the left side of the hall, while he took the right. They moved silently

across the floor, checking the name tags next to each door. Four doors down, she spotted the name Vanderwerth, Sabrina. She motioned to Ian, and they both slipped inside the dark room. She could barely make out the twin-sized bed on a raised platform. There were no dressers, just open shelves like bookcases. No place to hide anything. No lamps, no

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mirrors. A body was huddled under the plain blanket. Sabrina's blonde hair gleamed dully on the

pillow.

Toni hunched down beside her. "Bri, can you hear me?" She touched her shoulder.

Bri moaned. "Leave me alone, you creep."

"Sabrina, it's me, Toni."

"Toni?" She rolled onto her back. "You can't be Toni."

"I am Toni. I've come to get you out of here."

Sabrina rubbed her eyes. "I'm just dreaming. I'm so delusional." "No, you're not." Toni grabbed her hand and squeezed. "It's really me. Now come on. We're leaving."

Bri struggled to sit up. "I'm kinda sleepy. Can't you come back in the morning?"

"No, we're leaving now." Toni realized her friend was too doped up to think clearly. She located

her slippers beside the bed and shoved them on her feet.

"This is taking too long," Ian whispered. "I'll just grab her and go."

Bri squinted at Ian's dark shadow. "Who are you?"

"He's a friend," Toni explained. "Ian. He's going to help you escape."

Bri giggled. "Escape? You can't escape from here."

"No' so loud, please," Ian whispered. He leaned out the door to check the hallway. "Hurry. I hear

someone coming." "He talks so cute," Bri whispered. "He's Scottish." Toni pulled Bri to her feet and led her to the doorway. "Ian will take you first,

then come back for me." Bri glanced at the back door. "We can't get out that way. It's locked." "Ian can get you out." Toni removed her jacket and put it on Bri. "It's cold outside." "Sabrina, do you have visitors?" A male patient shuffled toward them. His Batman pajamas were

faded to a dull gray, but the gold bat on his chest still gleamed. "Hi, Teddy," Bri answered. Ian groaned. "I'm going to escape," Bri announced, then giggled. Ian stepped close to Toni and whispered, "Keep him quiet. When I come back for you, I'll erase

his memory." "Okay." Toni buttoned up her jacket on Bri. "Don't be afraid. You can trust Ian."

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Sabrina startled when Ian wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "What are you--" She vanished, along with Ian. Teddy gasped. "Oh my God!" "Not so loud," Toni whispered. "I can explain." "He's a superhero!" Teddy exclaimed. "He rescued her with his superpowers!" "Teddy, are you out of bed again?" a male voice boomed in the distance. "Aw shoot, it's Bradley," Teddy muttered. "I wouldn't have to roam around if he wasn't so--" Toni grabbed Teddy by the shoulders. "Don't tell him Sabrina escaped. Do you understand?" He blinked. "Okay." Toni ran into Sabrina's room, climbed into bed, and