Page 83 of Virgin Lust

“Guide me to Joy,” I said.

“I cannot,” he said.

“He’s going to take my sister!”

“He already has.”

I stopped moving and listened. Popping and crackling filled my ears. “Joy!”

The constant moaning grew louder.

“Joy!”

She never answered. I froze, screaming her name once more because I didn’t believe Dirk. Joy couldn’t be gone—not that quickly. Derrick didn’t take my sister. He didn’t! “Joy!”

The moans answered back.

My erratic heart beat loudly in my ears while my stomach twisted into knots. “No, no, no, no! Please Joy!” I cried, wiping my face.

If I had my powers, I could sense Joy’s essence and locate her. “Derrick!” I shouted, then stumbled as my foot caught on something in front of me. I extended my arms in front of me and inched forward again. Embers wafted toward my face when something fell and ashes scattered.“Ah! Hades!” I smacked at the cinders on me in a desperate attempt to lessen the sting.

“You must survive if you want to get your sister back,” Dirk said.

Something yanked my shoulder. On instinct, I whirled around and punched. A cold liquid encased my knuckles. What the hell did I strike? Did that creature have no bones? I gagged as an awful stench came from the bubbling wound. Removing my hand, I wiped it against my cloak. Tiny sharp fragments pressed against my fingers. Whatever I hit had bones—broken,rotted ones.

Another creature grabbed my neck, lifting my feet off the ground.Shit!I wheezed and latched onto an arm. With all my might, I punched like hell. Ouch! Pain sliced up my knuckles. That one had a more solid body. The arm tightened and pressure built behind my eyes. Fear built in my chest and boost of adrenaline coursed through my veins because of it. I lifted my arms over my head, blindly swinging. I would scratch and pull hair,anything,if I was able, but all I felt was the air between my fingers.

What the Hades? Where was its head? My mouth dried as I choked.

My heart slowed, my once erratic beats spacing further and further apart, thumping so lightly inside my chest that it ached. Oh, no. Smoke inhalation.

I think…

Was I really about to die?No. I refused.

Grabbing the arm around my neck, I tried to pry away the fingers. Black dots spotted my vision, then everything became a white fog.

“NO!” I screamed, fighting off death.

With everything I had left, one by one, I broke through the grip that held me. Warm embers blew up as I fell on my ass, burying me in that horrid night.

Something took tiny steps across my stomach before grabbing my leg. How could I survive this?I can’t.I closed my eyes. I had nothing left.

“They’re all around you.” Dirk’s voice startled me.

I raised my arm until my fingers bumped his nose. Ah, the stupid gremlin sat on my chest. I was too tired to care. Everything hurt. The need to rest, to sleep, overwhelmed me. The sweet emptiness drifting over me was so much nicer.

“My lady!” Wallis screamed.

When I gasped, a sharp pain seized my lungs. The next few seconds were pure agony as if I’d swallowed up the ocean with no means to breathe. My chest felt like it would explode as it intensified.

“Breathe!” Dirk smacked my chest.

I tried harder, but that only made my torment worse.

“I’ll keep you safe until Sire gets here.”

The yanking at my leg became more insistent. I had no energy to tell that to Dirk. Pressure slammed into my chest. A sickening crack followed it. My pain dulled. This was it. I recognized that sweet relief. The white haze beckoned me, stealing all my aches. I was familiar with that stage of death—only I always came back to life. But I knew I wouldn’t.

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