Carpathian 03 - Dark Gold

fight or scream, once more under the man's demonic control. "You will join with me, become what I am. Together we will have power such as you cannot imagine."
    
    "But I've never wanted power," Alexandria protested, edging closer to try to snatch the boy from him. "Why do you say I'm the one you've been searching for? You didn't know I existed until tonight. You don't even know my name."
    
    "Alexandria. It is easy to read young Joshua's mind. You persist in thinking me a mere human, but I am so much more than that."
    
    "What are you?" Alexandria held her breath, afraid of his answer, knowing this creature was somehow more than human, was the powerful beast from legend. He could read minds, control others, draw his prey to him, even from a distance. He had ripped out Henry's heart. He had broken a woman's neck and drained blood from another right in front of her. Whatever he was, he was not human.
    
    "I am the nightmare of foolish humans, the vampire come to feast on the living. You will be my bride, share my power, my life."
    
    He said it perfectly seriously, and Alexandria was torn between needing to cry and hysterical laughter. Thomas Ivan could not have written more bizarre dialogue. This man believed what he was saying, and what was worse, she was beginning to believe it, also.
    
    "It… it really isn't my kind of lifestyle." The words came out in a husky whisper, and she could not believe she was pleading for her life, for Joshua's life, with such a silly answer. But how did one address such insanity?
    
    "You think to mock me and get away with it?" His hands closed so hard on Joshua's shoulder, she could see his fingers nearly meeting.
    
    She shook her head, stalling for time. "No, I was serious. I like the sunshine. Vampires hang out at night. I seldom drink wine, let alone blood. But I do know a bar where you can find lots of Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    girls who are into kinky things. They wear black and worship the devil and say they drink each other's blood. But not me. I'm ultra-conservative."
    
    How could she be having such a strange conversation with a killer? Wasn't there a security guard around? Hadn't anyone found Henry's body yet? Where was everyone? How long could she stall, keep this creature talking?
    
    His laughter taunted her, low and insidious. "No one will come to save you, my dear. They cannot. It is a simple matter to keep others away, as easy as it is to draw them to me."
    
    "Why me?"
    
    "There are few like you in existence. Your mind is very strong, which is why you cannot be controlled. You are a true psychic, are you not? That is what my kind requires in a mate."
    
    "I don't know about that. I sometimes know things others don't," she conceded, pushing a nervous hand through her hair. "I knew you were here, if that's what you mean." Someone had to come and rescue them soon. Surely Thomas Ivan was looking for her. "Please, let me take Joshua home, somewhere safe. You don't need him, only me. I'll give you my word, I'll come back tomorrow night. And if you're so powerful, you can always find me if I don't return." She was desperate to get to Joshua. It was terrible to see him so limp and lifeless, his eyes glassy.
    She wanted to gather him up and hold him close, to keep him safe, to know this creature could never touch him again. If she could save Joshua, nothing else would matter.
    
    "I cannot allow you out of my sight. There are others seeking you. I must stay near to protect you at all times."
    
    Alexandria rubbed her pounding temples with her palms.
    
    The creature was trying to invade her mind, and the constant struggle to keep him out was becoming very painful. "Look, mister—what is your name, anyway?"
    
    "Are we to be polite and civilized then?" He was laughing at her.
    
    "Yes, I think that would be best." Her control was crumbling, and she knew it. She had to find a way to get Joshua away from him. Joshua had to live whether she managed to do so or not.
    Deliberately she dug her fingernails into her palms and concentrated on the sensation to keep her focus.
    
    "By all means, then, let us be civilized. I am Paul Yohenstria. I come from the Carpathian Mountains. You may have noticed my accent."
    
    She held out her arms for her brother, unable to stop herself. "Give Joshua to me, please, Mr.
    Yohenstria. He's just a little boy."
    
    "You wish him to remain alive, and I wish