Page 116 of Your Coffin or Mine
“I know that, you pompous nitwit,” Frank snaps out.
“Of course you did! You and your intel.” Jekyll wags a finger at Frank while laughing. “Well, I guess we both got we came here for, then.”
Frank reaches out to grab me again, and I swipe his hand back. “Donottouch me.”
I fight the panic that threatens to sweep me away. Thank god Vlad made me wear the cloak, otherwise these weird freaks might see my dress and get even creepier. My heartbeat thunders in my chest and I wish Vlad would somehow appear right at this moment and get these guys away from me. This night has just gone from bad to worse.
“Have you gone mad? Threatening Vlad’s plaything?” Jekyll says to Frank. Oh, this guy is definitely off his rocker. He appears to be the mad one here. Then he turns to me. “I would congratulate you on your upcoming nuptials by kissing your hand, but then, you know,schlick.” He sweeps his hand over his throat. “Then again, I do agree we need to get her as far from that half-deluded vampire before that happens, before he becomes . . . attached.”
Frank eyes him reproachfully, and the skeleton,Hilda,tilts her head to the left as if she’s annoyed by them both.
“Exactly, which is why we need to get the fuck out of this castle before he realizes where she is,” Frank says.
“Old friend, I think you’re missing a fact or three in this equation,” Jekyll says, reaching for the skeleton and roping his arm around her waist before turning away. Jekyll looks down at his watch. “Oh, would you look at that, is that the time? You’re right. We should get Hilda to the car.”
“I’m not going with either one of you!” I yell, but they aren’t listening.
My brow furrows when I notice what Hilda is wearing. Is that...mysweater? My stomach rolls with nausea. The skeletonis wearing my sweater, the one that’s been missing since I arrived.Oh my god, get me out of here!
Snickering, Jekyll pivots back in front of Frank. “Anyway, it looks like you have your own problems to contend with. Shall we, Hilda darling?” He leads the skeleton woman away and I’m still left wondering how she even exists.
Frank bows to Hilda, and it’s odd how fluid and graceful he is from the sheer size of the guy. I remember watchingThe Princess Bridewith my grandma one summer, and I swear on my life Frank Stein is every bit as tall as Fezzik.
Frank’s eyes meet mine, and I fight a sudden wave of revulsion that rolls through my middle, making me want to vomit.
“Come with me,” he bites out, pulling my small frame next to him.
I fight to free myself. “No! I’m staying here.”
“You must know what he is,” Frank says as he crowds me against the wall. “He’s a vampire. He’s probably bitten you recently if Jekyll can smell him on you. What do you think Vlad does to humans?”
“Vlad would never hurt me,” I say with confidence.
“He’s a monster like the rest of us, and you are one measly human who knows nothing.”
I shake my head stubbornly. Frank can say what he wants, but I trust Vlad. I know him. He would never hurt me.
“No? Still not afraid of a man that likely wants nothing but to drain you like a blood bag?” he scoffs, as if I’m the insane one. “Fine. As much as killing you would benefit me, we still need his side of the bond to fade. I’m going to get you as far away from him as possible, so you can’t hurt him, and you are going to stay there, or I will find everyone you know, everyone you love, and I will destroy them any way I can. I will be in every corner of every shadow, watching.”
I try to calm my nerves, but I can’t shake the fear that even though I know Vlad will help me, the man in front of me is a different story. He’stheFrank Stein. He has enough power, money, and influence to bury anyone—even six feet under if he wants to.
I don’t know what he means about me hurting Vlad, though, as I would never do anything to hurt him. I...lovehim. Of course I do. I want that man like he’s a piece of candy on a stick.
He pushes me down the corridor.
“Where are we going?”
I pray to whatever higher power exists that Vlad or Doyle will somehow be on the other side of the wall when Frank pulls a lever. Cold, wintry night air greets me.
I look back toward the castle when he leads me outside and into the forest. I try to break free, but nothing I do gets me away from the freakishly tall and muscular man. I keep looking over my shoulder as tears stream down my cheeks. I can’t get away, no matter how much I try.
What if I never see him again?My body trembles, shaking and shuddering as I finally allow myself to let go of the tension I’ve been holding for what feels like hours.
Devastation crests and tosses me under like I’m being battered by ocean waves. I can’t breathe. Images of Frank Stein threatening me and my family, Hilda the walking skeleton, and Jekyll inspecting me like I’m a toy flash through my brain as my head pounds.I wish Vlad was here.
Wind whips my hair around my head as he takes me down a path before stopping at a black SUV. A man, who somehow looks normal and yet like a supermodel, greets us and opens the backside passenger door. Frank tosses me into it.
I pull out my phone when he goes around to the other side and slides in. Before I even bring Vlad’s contact info up, he snatches it out of my hand.
