Free The Red Thirst by Benjamin Hulme-Cross Page B

must know by now that we have been fooled. The villagers do not want to be rid of a vampire. They are helping a vampire!

Chapter 6
Hunting
    Edgar picked up his wooden stake and tried to hit Ana.
    She brushed him off with one arm. She was very strong.
    The blow sent Edgar flying across the chapel. He crashed into the window. It broke.
    He got up and began to move around the floor, holding the wooden stake in front of him.

    Ana came closer and closer. Then she stopped right by Mary’s body.
    Ana’s face changed. She took a deep breath and her eyes became slits.
    She looked down and saw the trickle of blood that was coming from Mary’s arm.
    Ana knelt down and put her mouth to the blood. She began to lick. It was as if she could not think about anything else.
    Edgar heard a shout from outside. “Now, Edgar! Now! This is your only chance!” It was Mr Blood.
    Ana was still licking up Mary’s blood. Edgar crept across the floor. Ana had her back to him.
    Edgar raised the wooden stake over Ana and brought it down hard.

    The wood went through Ana’s back, and into her heart.
    She gave a moan of agony and struggled to her feet.
    She staggered backwards, falling among the candles.

    Her dress brushed across one of the candle flames and caught fire.
    Ana fell into her coffin face down and lay still. Soon the whole coffin was in flames.
    Edgar stood by the window, shaking.

    He looked out. There was no more chanting.
    The villagers looked worn out and confused. It was as if they had just woken up from a bad dream.
    The vampire’s spell was broken!
    One by one they turned and began to walk slowly away until only Mr Blood was left.
    â€œWell done, my boy! Very, very well done!” Mr Blood said, clapping his hands.
    Edgar could not speak. Mary sat up slowly and rubbed her eyes. “Did I miss anything?” she said.
    Edgar glared at her. “Did you miss anything?” he croaked. “Did you
miss
anything? That is just like you!”

Copyright © 2013 A & C Black
    This electronic edition published in May 2013 by Bloomsbury Publishing
    Text copyright © 2013 Benjamin Hulme-Cross
Illustrations copyright © 2013 Nelson Evergreen
    First published 2013 by
A & C Black
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
50 Bedford Square,
London, WC1B 3DP
www.bloomsbury.com
    The right of Benjamin Hulme-Cross and Nelson Evergreen to be identified as the author and illustrator of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, printing, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages
    A CIP catalogue for this book is available from the British Library.
    eISBN 978-1-4081-8094-5 (e-book)
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