Free Dark Love by M. D. Bowden Page B

waiting to collect the vehicle he purchased every paper
they sold at the airport - a mix of regional and national news
reports. He kept hold of Sarah’s hand the whole time, feeding her
comforting, soothing, anti-blood lust, subconscious messages. His
power was really wearing thin and he needed to feed as soon as a
possibility presented itself.
    They were soon
leaving the confines of the airport, walking outside into gentle
rain. Daniel thought about the seasons and realized it was early
April. It was warmer here than in Hartland, Sarah’s home in Canada,
but still on the chilly side.
    The sky was
darkening as clouds thickened above and Daniel lifted his hand to
shield his eyes from the rain, exchanging a glance with Sarah
before pulling her in the right direction to get their car.
    ‘Not long now,’
he reassured her.
    She still
looked hungry, despite his influence and blood, and he could sense
her need, her conflict, to be surrounded by so many people. He
longed to grab someone and feed right there. He needed to get away
from all those warm bodies and thrumming hearts as quickly as
possible.
    He spotted the
car rental office up ahead, and his feet pounded over wet tarmac in
his hurry to get there. There was one lone man inside, behind an
immaculate desk, who stood as he saw Daniel and Sarah approach.
Daniel heard his blood swimming in his veins and could not wait any
longer. He released Sarah’s hand and jumped onto the desk – too
weak to even assert influence. The man before him looked horrified
and was just starting to scream as Daniel thrust him back against a
partition wall and sunk his fangs deeply into his jugular, cutting
off the sound. He swallowed the intoxicating blood and felt it
rejuvenating him at once, but there was a tug at the body and
another mind connected to his – Sarah’s – she must have grabbed the
man’s wrist and be feeding on him too. Daniel retracted his teeth
and projected influence – not at the weakening man – at Sarah – he
had to get her to stop before she killed him.
    ‘Sarah,’ he
projected into her mind, for his strength had returned. ‘Sarah!
Stop feeding and release him NOW.’
    Relief swept
over him as his influence worked and Sarah let the man fall. Daniel
caught hold of him, glancing over his shoulder to check that they
were still alone. Green eyes regarded him with fear as they locked
on to his, and Daniel made sure the man would not remember what had
happened.
    ‘Is there a
bathroom out the back?’ Daniel asked the man.
    He nodded, his
chin doubling up as he did.
    ‘Go and clean
yourself, and then return to the desk. When you come back in do not
remember that you have seen us before,’ he commanded.
    He watched the
man exit through a side door and turned to Sarah. She grinned up at
him, and he laughed, taking her in her arms.
    ‘Well done for
stopping,’ he said, wiping a smudge of blood from her lower
lip.
    ‘It wasn’t
without your help,’ she replied – ‘but at least I did stop without
you needing to pry open my mouth this time!’
    ‘Indeed,’
Daniel said, and kissed her. He only stopped when he heard the man
returning.
    ‘Hello, can I
help you?’ the man asked.
    He sounded
embarrassed to have caught them kissing.
    Daniel pulled
his wallet out of the back pocket of his dark trousers and showed
him his identification. The man nodded and gave him the keys he
needed before pointing them in the direction of a four by four; a
small off road vehicle.
    Daniel jangled
the keys in front of Sarah’s face playfully, thanked the man at the
desk and raced with Sarah to the car – enjoying the sound of her
giggles. He threw their bags and newspapers into the boot as Sarah
climbed into the passenger side, then he jumped in next to her.
    He was filled
with enthusiasm.
    They had made
it.
    Nothing too
terrible had happened.
    He leant over
and kissed Sarah’s full lips, sharing a look of infinite
possibility. Her eyes sparkled beautifully.
    Daniel started
the car