Emma (Dark Fire) Read Free Page A

fresh, not limp.”
    The edge of the thorn bit into the tender skin of her hand. The thought of killing someone, even a monster, terrified her. She briefly closed her eyes, praying for strength.
    Surging upward, she slammed the hand-sized thorn into the vampire’s crotch.
    The vampire bellowed in agony, flinging her away from him as if she were no heavier than a baseball.
    Screaming, Emma flew through the air, sailing past several trees. Branches slapped at her body, slashing her face. She crashed a dozen feet into the forest, skidding across the hard ground.
    For once, luck was on her side and she landed in a patch of scraggly grass and old leaves. She shuddered in relief; grateful she sat covered in dirt and not filled with holes from the thorn covered tree trunk standing less than a foot away.
    She struggled to her feet as the vampire’s howl of pain echoed through the trees.
    Cursing her own rotten luck, she shivered. She knew his cries would attract more vampires. That was not a good thing. The mere thought of trying to fight another of his kind made her stumble.
    In the distance, a bellow, a true roar sounded. Loud and stringent, the sound grew harsh, filling the air with a wild, savage edge. The noise overwhelmed the vampire’s wail of pain.
    The fury-laced sound jerked her to a stop, nearly knocking her to her knees. A soft cry of fear slipped past her lips.
    Her dark brown eyes grew huge. Terror ripped through her, turning the blood in her veins to ice. Grabbing a tree for support, she held on for dear life. The sapling was the only thing holding her trembling body upright. Blood rushed through her body, thundering a rapid tempo in her ears.
    Whatever made that roar had to be huge, huge as in humongous. There was no way she could fight a creature that big.
    The vampire’s pained groan filled the air.
    Doubt flickered through her. Hesitantly, she stepped toward the meadow. Pushing a limb out of the way, she searched the ground for the wounded vampire.
    Pale as death and shaking like a leaf in a windstorm, his hand reached out to her in supplication. His eyes, a web of shattered red, dug a hole through her. The awful sight screwed his attempt to look innocent.
    Rocking on the ground, in a pool of blood, he beseechingly said, “Come to me, my beauty. Help me. I’ll not harm you.”
    Intense cold filled her mind. A dream-like feeling washed over her and she took an involuntary step forward.
     

Chapter - The Hunt
    Angry with himself for allowing the weird green forest to distract him, Tyler snarled under his breath. Once he smelled vampires, he knew his first guess had been correct. The appearance of the odd trees had to be part of an attack by the Southerners.
    Intent on finding the bloodsuckers, he swung his head around seeking the vampire stench but couldn’t lock onto the elusive scent.
    Growling in frustration, he unconsciously tugged on his inborn power. Dorcha sparked to life, increasing his natural sense of smell.
    He turned into the breeze and immediately captured the bloody stench that shouldn’t be there. He trotted forward, silently crossing the leaf covered ground until he found a narrow path winding through the trees.
    Gracefully, he dropped onto his knees, inhaling various unknown scents near the trail’s edge. A new scent teased his nose. He froze. The sweet aroma was as intriguing as the vampire’s smell was infuriating.
    Sucking in a lungful of air, he savored the gentle smell. His dragon rolled in it, demanding more. The scent, a girl’s enticing scent, coated the occasional leaf. She smelled of fresh mountain rain infused with honeysuckle and fire. The dragon part of him grew still as if hunting. His entire being focused on the girl, on finding the source of the scent that captured his fascination.
    He searched the ground for more clues. He had to find her. Instinctively, he knew the chase might take days, if not weeks, a chase of a lifetime, one that might end in death.
    A boy’s wail of