Page 17 of Captured Desires

“Is that the treasure?” she asked, moving forward eagerly. Her exhaustion was spirited away by the thought of finding the gold.

“Not all of it,” Maverick said as they moved closer. It was only a large amulet, but the symbols etched into its surface were a perfect match for the petroglyph they had been seeking. He reached for it to pluck it off the shelf, but the moment Maverick's fingers closed around the artifact, his face contorted in agony. The amulet clattered to the ground forgotten as he crumpled to his knees.

Chapter Six

Pearl watched in horroras Maverick collapsed, his body writhing in agony on the cold, damp floor of the cave. The amulet lay beside him, its golden surface glinting mockingly in the dim light. She rushed to his side, trying to make sense of what was happening.

Maverick's eyes were wild and unfocused, his face contorted in a grimace of pain. He shouted incoherently, his words echoing off the cave walls in a jumble of nonsense. But as Pearl listened more closely, she began to pick out phrases that sent a chill down her spine.

Maverick cried out, his voice hoarse with anguish. "The redcoats are coming! We must hold the line!"

Pearl's eyes widened as she realized what was happening. Maverick was reliving a memory from his past, a battle from the Revolutionary War that had somehow been triggered by the amulet's curse.

"Is that all you got, Redcoat? I've seen milkmaids hit harder than that."

She tried to hold him, to offer some measure of comfort and reassurance, but Maverick thrashed and struggled against her grip. His strength was immense, even in his weakened state, and Pearl found herself straining to keep him from hurting himself.

"Maverick. You're safe now. I'm here with you."

But her words seemed to have no effect. Maverick continued to rave and curse, his eyes blazing with a feverish intensity.

"Empires fall, John. Just like Rome. Just like you.” And then, without warning, he lunged forward and sank his fangs into the soft flesh of her neck.

Pearl gasped, more from shock than pain. She had never experienced the bite of a vampire before, and the sensation was unlike anything she had ever felt. There was a sharp sting, followed by a rush of warmth that spread through her body like wildfire.

As Maverick drank from her, his arms wrapped around her in a crushing embrace. Pearl found herself surrendering to the strange, intoxicating pleasure of the moment. She could feel her blood flowing into him, mingling with his essence in a way that was both terrifying and exhilarating. The world around her began to spin, colors blurring together in a kaleidoscope of sensation. Pearl's heart raced, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she clung to Maverick, anchoring herself to him even as she felt herself slipping away.

And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, it was over. Maverick pulled away, his eyes wide with horror and self-loathing. He stared at Pearl, his expression a mix of shame and disgust.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice raw with emotion. "I didn't mean to. I couldn't control myself."

Pearl reached out to him, her hand trembling slightly. "It's okay. I'm okay. You’re okay." She realized she was babbling, her words slurring together as she struggled to focus.

Maverick shook his head, his eyes filled with a despair that made Pearl's heart ache. "No, it's not okay. I'm a monster, Pearl. I never should have let you get close to me. I'll only end up hurting you, just like I've hurt everyone else."

He stood abruptly, turning away from her as if he couldn't bear to look at her any longer. "The amulet," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It showed me how to find the gold. There's a hidden cache in the cave wall, and the amulet is the key to opening it."

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