Free Bleed For Me by Cynthia Eden Page A

death, and
she’d soon learned that he was right. The touch of sunlight on her
flesh was a burning agony. No longer the sweet, soothing glow she
remembered as a human.
    “I’ve decided to grant your wish, my Terese.” His
breath, cold, rancid, blew across her cheek. “You want the sun, so
I’m going to give it to you.”
    Oh, no.
Horror filled her. “You can’t—”
    His teeth sank into her throat, ripping, tearing.
    She screamed and struggled to get away from him.
Twisting, squirming—
    But she couldn’t get away. The chains held her
prisoner. Held her trapped between his piercing fangs and the hard
ground.
    * * *
    The night was ebbing. Apollo had been searching for
Terese for hours, but he still hadn’t found her. Soon, very soon,
dawn would arrive.
    Artemis had told him that Eric had taken Terese back
to Louisiana, but she couldn’t tell him
exactly
where in
Louisiana the bastard was.
    He turned on her, body tense with fury and fear. “I
need
more
, Artemis.” He’d gone to Baton Rouge, thinking
that maybe Eric had returned to Terese’s home. But he’d searched
and searched, and he still couldn’t sense her.
    And his sister couldn’t hone in on the vampire.
    Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I-I’m sorry, I
can’t—”
    The sky lightened. A pink hue appeared on the
horizon.
    Dawn.
    * * *
    She couldn’t move.
    Terese lay on the ground as blood trickled from her
throat. Her hands were limp in the chains.
    He’d nearly drained her dry.
    Eric laughed, the grating sound far too close for her
comfort. “My poor Terese. So weak, so ready for death.”
    No, no she wasn’t ready. She tried to gather her
strength—
    But found she had none.
    Her lashes began to droop.
    The sun was coming. She could feel it. She seemed to
always feel it these days.
    “Ah…and now for your wish.”
    Her wish?
Right then, she just wished he’d
die. The sick, psychotic—
    “The sun’s rising. Soon, you’ll feel it’s warmth on
your flesh, right before it melts that flesh from your bones.” He
bent toward her and pressed a light kiss against her dry lips. She
tasted her own blood as he whispered, “Goodbye.”
    Then he vanished, and the sun began to rise.
    * * *
    Apollo stared at the rising sun, his heart
racing.
    Where was Terese
?
    Not in the light, just not in the light—
    Artemis cried out, “He just jumped! I felt him!”
Excitement lit her eyes. “I’ve got him now.”
    He took her hand, held on tight, and ordered, “Take
me to him.”
To Terese.
    The air shimmered, the wind howled, and they
disappeared.
    * * *
    Eric climbed down the steps leading to the basement
in his manor. A faint smile curved his lips, and drying blood
coated his chin.
    Apollo waited until the bastard took that last step,
waited until he was right in front of him—
    Then he leapt forward, punching the vampire with all
his might, sending him flying back across the room.
    Eric crashed into the stone wall, a startled grunt
emerging from his lips. But then he rose, dusted off his clothes,
and flashed his twisted, evil smile. “I was wondering when you
would show up,” he said, tilting his head. “Oh, and you brought
company.” He licked his lips as he eyed Artemis. “You look…familiar
to me. Have I dined on you before?”
    She lunged toward him, but Apollo hauled her back.
“
He’s mine.
”
    The vampire smirked.
    Apollo stalked toward him. “Where’s Terese?” He’d
already scanned the manor. There was no sign of her.
    “Terese?” Eric’s eyes widened and he made a faint
humming sound. “Oh, poor Terese…”
    “
Where is she?”
His power swirled within
him, desperate to be unleashed.
    Eric took one slow, gliding step toward him. “Right
now, I’d imagine she’s in hell. Burning, slowly, in hell.”
    “What?” A terrible, dark fear filled him.
Burning…
No, no, not Terese—
    “The lovely Terese longed for the sun, so I gave it
to her.”
    No!
    “Your little whore is dead by now. Ashes to
ashes…”
    Apollo