Carpathian 03 - Dark Gold

you to accompany me, I think we can work out something mutually beneficial. Do you not agree?"
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    Alexandria allowed her empty arms to fall to her sides. She was exhausted and frightened, and her head hurt terribly. Somehow he was amplifying her discomfort, wearing at her defenses with his mental battering, the voice in her head driving her mad with its relentless pressure. "I'll go with Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    you. Just leave my brother here."
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    "No, my dear, I will not do that. Come to me now."
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    She went reluctantly. She had no other choice. Joshua was her life. She loved him more than anything. If he was gone, she had nothing. The moment Yohenstria touched her, she felt sickened. His bloodstained fingers curled around her upper arm, and she could see the blood trapped beneath the long, dagger-like nails. Henry's blood. He allowed Joshua to drop to the ground, but the boy simply remained where he had fallen.
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    "You don't need to hold me. I just want to check on Josh," Alexandria said. The contact with such an evil being was making her stomach churn, and she feared she would have to vomit again.
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    "Leave him for the moment." His fingers tightened like a vise, dragging her close so that his body touched hers. She could smell his fetid breath, the scent of blood and death. His skin was clammy and ice-cold.
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    Alexandria struggled in his hold, trying to escape, although she knew she was helpless in his grasp. He bent closer to her neck, and his breath, hot and foul, touched her skin.
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    "Don't. Oh, God, don't," Alexandria whispered, her voice failing her. If he released her, she would fall, her knees buckling, but he held her still as he bent even closer.
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    "Your God has abandoned you," he whispered. And his teeth closed over her throat, puncturing deeply, a pain so intense that everything swirled blackly. He dragged her into his arms and feasted, gulping at the rich blood. She was small, and he nearly crushed her in his arms as he drank. She could feel the fangs hooked in her body, connecting them in some dark, ugly way.
    Her body felt weak and sluggish; her heart stuttered and labored as he continued to drain her.
    Her lashes swept down, and even as she told herself she had to live to fight for Josh, black dots whirled and danced before her eyes, and she slumped helplessly against the vampire's wiry frame.
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    He lifted his head, blood trickling from the side of his mouth. "And now you must drink to live."
    His teeth tore open his own wrist, and he pressed it to her lips, watching as his tainted blood dripped into her mouth.
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    Alexandria had enough life left in her to try to avoid ingesting the hideous liquid. She tried to turn her head, to close her mouth, but the vampire held her easily and forced the poisonous drink beyond her lips, his hand stroking her throat until she swallowed convulsively. But he did not replace most of what he had taken, deliberately keeping her weak, wanting her more amenable to his bidding.
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    Paul Yohenstria dropped his victim beside her brother and lifted his face triumphantly to the dark, moonless night. He had found her. Her blood was hot and sweet and her body young and supple. She would provide what he needed to bring his emotions back, to make him feel again.
    He roared his triumph to the heavens, shook his fist to defy God.
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    He had chosen to lose his soul, and what did it matter after all? He had found this special one, and she could bring him back.
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    Her weak, instinctive movements away from him brought his attention back to her. Alexandria Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    crawled to Joshua's side and gathered him protectively to her. The vampire snarled jealously.
    Many would want her, but she was his. He would not share her with anyone. The moment the transformation was complete, and she came to depend on him, came to him of her own free will, he would dispose of the brat. He reached down, caught the boy by his shirtfront, and pulled him away from her.
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    Alexandria managed to sit up, but everything was spinning, making it almost impossible to get her bearings. But she knew unerringly where Josh was. And she know she would never allow him to share this fate. If this murderous creature could actually make them like him, death was the better alternative.
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    Without warning she launched herself forward. Her arms outstretched, she