Page 122 of Evil Hearts

“Pretty little long-ear thought she could outrun us, eh?” the jacket-vamp grinned, his voice, though peppered with a Scottish accent, wasn’t as thick as the locals’ back in the village.

“Pl-please… I didn’t mean any trouble,” she whimpered, feeling foolish for the words before they’d even passed her lips.

Of course an anapriek wouldn’t mean any trouble! A mouse meant no trouble to a tiger! They weren’t after her because shewas a threat; they were after her because shewasn’ta threat! What good would waving that fact do her now? And, even worse, she’d run out of hillside! A footrace at this point would be over before she could blink!

Biting her lip, she looked around trying to find any means of escape. When she found none, she forced herself to look back at the vampire highlander, seeing that another had joined him.

“Gods above! She smells divine!” another male declared, grabbing the sleeve of her stolen jacket and sucking in a hard breath from the cuff. Though he was shorter, his shoulders were wider; giving him the same air of power as the first.

“Don’t you be thinking of taking this one from me, Broch!” the first’s golden eyes began to glow under the moonlight as he narrowed them at his friend.

“There must be another way!” she whimpered, “Please, I can pay you!”

“Ha! The lass wants tobuyher life,” the third finally caught up. “Are ye daft, woman? We doona need your money!”

“D-don’t need—” Katarina stammered on the notion, never having been in a situation that money couldn’t solve.

You’re not in Kansas anymore.

Katarina sniffed, refusing to give up. “I… I’m an artist; afamousartist! People know I’m here! There’s bound to be a search-party after me as soon as they realize I’m missing!”

“Ohaye? And ye think the humans are goin ta frighten us?” the third quipped.

The second chortled and shook his head, taking another huff off of her sleeve. “Ye’d threaten us with another meal?”

The first held up a hand to silence the others as he crouched down, leering over her. “A famous artist, are you?” He waved his free hand at the hills, “Then what are you doing scouring these parts on your own?” his golden gaze scorched her own.

“Aye! There’re no Starbucks for ye up here, lass!” the third shot, buying a round of cackles from the others.

“I-I was looking for wolves,” she admitted.

“Wolves? Now Iknowthe lass is daft!” the third laughed again, “Can we jus’ get t’ the fun part?”

“Aye! I’m starving!” the second declared, baring his fangs to Katarina.

Katarina frowned, realizing that there was no negotiating with the three. In a world where fame or fortune meant nothing she had no leverage. The mouse couldn’t offer the tiger a single thing it needed more than the thrill of the kill. It could only hope totry.

Futile or not, she had to run!

Pushing herself to her feet, Katarina pushed her body to do what generations of conditioning had built her to do. Her legs pumped like a well-oiled machine, and the air whistled past her ears. Despite this, she picked up on three subtlethuds as her pursuers dropped down from their ledge.

That’s it,she thought,there’s nothing else in their way!

The trees of the forest whipped by, and Katarina began a serpentine pattern between them. The broad-shouldered vampire appeared in front of her, laughing at her efforts. She squealed in terror and banked away from his outstretched arms. More ducking, more weaving, more running, only to narrowly dodge the clutches of the condescending vampire. Duck. Weave. Scream and dodge. Repeat. The laughter followed her, seeming to come from more than three directions at any given moment; their speed becoming evident as they played with her—cornering her and baiting her to keep the chase alive.

Her heart hammered in her chest, sending more of the blood that her pursuers lusted for coursing through her veins.

Laughter turned to ravenous snarls, and she felt their pattern grow tighter and more demanding.

They were done playing.

They were closing in!

“Och! The lass can run!” one of the vampires called out, “but no’ for long!”

Katarina gasped as the golden-eyed male appeared in front of her and gave her a wide smirk, his fangs extended and she stepped back, right into the grip of the second. Whimpering, she felt her own body began to sag in defeat, realizing she was about to die. She closed her eyes to the sight of the golden-eyed vampire drawing closer, preparing for oblivion to take her.

But nothing happened.

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