Rose Blossom - By Renee Travis Page 0,53

didn't quiver. I was a mess, on the inside I wasn't holding up so well, but at least my tone showed conviction.

He stormed away from my chair and knelt by an old army bag I hadn't noticed before, what he came back with was a frightening sight. It was a large sharp knife with a very dangerous looking blade. He grabbed as much of my arm as he could and before I could scream he'd cut me, not deep enough to be serious but enough that blood began to seep out of the cut.

It stung and caused me to become light headed as I watched my blood begin to crawl down my arm. It was almost in slow motion as we both watched the thick red liquid dripped from my arm and hit the cement.

Simultaneously two things happened, I smelled the rich copper scent of my life force which reminded me of Julian and the link between him and I flared back to life, like electricity in my veins. I could feel him again, strong, almost as if he were only a few feet away from me.

I'm coming. Two words had never scared me so much.

No, don't he'll kill you. My mind screamed back, pain began to fill my chest, a pain I hadn't ever felt before.

I must have been very obvious because Athol laughed a sarcastic scary laugh.

"He must be coming, good it worked." He turned toward the door and kept glancing up at all the high windows, watching for Julian to appear. He looked back at me and I saw his face go white, in a jerky motion he came back over to me. He reached out a hand and wiped at something at the corner of my mouth.

"Oh Rho, no," he pulled his hand away and there was blood. I swallowed and tasted blood in my mouth, I licked my lip but it wasn't bleeding anymore, realizing what it meant I closed my eyes and listened to myself. My heart wasn't beating fast anymore it was skipping two or three beats at a time. My breathing was shallow and I began to feel peaceful and quiet. Within seconds my neck wouldn't support my head, slowly my chin lowered to my chest and lolled to the side.

With eyes half closed I watched as the door behind Athol burst open and Avalon and Julian came crashing through it, both of them looked like they'd popped out of a horror movie. Their eyes were glowing red and their fangs were long and pointed.

I shut my eyes and found I couldn't open them again I was so tired. I heard sounds of fighting, flesh hitting flesh, grunts and groans. Strange growls filled my ears as cold tiny hands touched me and untied me from the chair. I was afraid for Julian but still too exhausted and hurt to open my eyes and watch them fight.

I was laid on the ground and warm breath touched my ear, "I've got you Rhodanthe," honeysuckles filled my nostrils and for the first time the scent of vampire breath didn't make me feel better.

I flinched as a horrible scream filled the concrete building, then there was silence, all I could hear was my own frightened gasping. I forced my eyes to open and could barely make out the shape of Avalon holding me.

"Julian will be right back, he had to hide Athol's body." A hot blood tear fell on my cheek, "Oh Rho you're really dying."

But I knew that already, I could taste my own blood mixed in with the bitter flavor of my mortality.

"He's going to have to turn you as soon as he gets here." Avalon was still talking, I wasn't sure if it was for my benefit or hers. I tried to feel sorry for Athol because at one time he'd been my friend, but I found I had no sympathy.

Then Julian was there, I smelled him before I saw him. He took me from Avalon and kissed my forehead, I felt rather than heard his breath hitch, I was almost chillier than he'd ever been. He pressed his mouth to my check and began to leave a warm trail down my face and chin to my neck. He licked the skin a couple of inches below my ear and I shivered in a good way. The warmth of his tongue and breath sent pleasure goose bumps over my skin.

The bite was quick, it hurt and the pain was only a little worse