First Blood Read Free Page A

perked up as he listened for any sound that might indicate life. A strange scratching noise surfaced. Florian walked a few paces to the nearest branching of the tunnels. He listened at each tunnel mouth for the noise. There it was again! "This way!" Florian pointed down a tunnel.
    Stitches ran ahead, and Florian struggled to keep up. He wasn't athletic, and running was his least favorite activity. Unfortunately, he was too curious. This was proving to be a secret larger than any he had ever kept. It would be the diamond in his treasure chest.
    The scratching noise got louder. Stitches looked back at Florian, his eyes wide. "I hear it now. You are a wonder, boy."
    Florian smiled, pride puffing up his chest. Finally, someone recognize his attributes. He could be useful.
    Florian darted ahead, the scratching even louder, but the tunnel ended in another dead end. "I don't understand." He turned, fearing Stitches’ wrath.
    But the man had changed. He was different. His eyes flashed red. His hands had changed into scaled appendages with long claws. Stitches thrust the torch at Florian, who took it in his sweaty hands.
    Stitches scratched at the wall of dirt, clawing with all of his might, grunting with each effort. Soon the wall crumbled, leaving an opening. A woman was chained to the wall, her blond hair stringy and dirty. Slowly, she raised her head, her eyes red like Stitches’.
    Stitches smashed the rest of the wall down with a strength that belied his size. Florian stood back, suddenly afraid of the man and the woman who had been buried alive. He cowered next to the wall.
    "I knew you were alive." Stitches ripped the chains from the wall, and the woman fell into his arms.
    "Barely." She coughed. "Why did it take you so long?"
    "They had charms around their necks. I could only do the most basic of compulsion on them. It wasn't until this boy came along that I was able to escape. Florian saved us both." Stitches’ lips fell on the woman's cheeks and forehead, kissing every bit of her face.
    She slumped in his arms, too weak to return his affections.
    "We always wanted children," Stitches said. "Now he can be ours. We will take him with us."
    Florian crept farther away from them. He could have run, but part of him knew there were more secrets to be uncovered. He couldn't resist. He had to know what they were hiding.
    "Not mine," the woman said, sighing. "I will not make it back from this. I'm too weak."
    "I will give you my blood," Stitches said. "I will make you whole again."
    "No." It was the most forceful thing she'd said. "It is time for you to strike out on your own. Take my blood for the last time. Use it to strengthen yourself. Then fly to safety."
    Fly? Florian gasped. They could fly? How was that possible?
    "I can't take your blood. We will die together." Stitches pulled back, still holding her in his arms.
    The woman bit hard, until blood pooled on her pink lips. "Take it, Stitches. You know it is the only way. We mustn't both die. Take my blood, then turn the boy. Make him one of us. Spread your blood across the land until we outnumber the humans."
    "No." Stitches shook his head.
    "You know you want it." She leaned in, resting her lips on his. Stitches’ tongue, forked like a lizard, snaked out of his mouth and licked the blood.
    He groaned.
    Florian felt uncomfortable. He had heard those groans from his parents. He knew what it meant. He looked away, unable to watch them as the sound of lips sucking and hands moving over clothes echoed in the tunnel. She made one final, shuddering breath, and then Florian looked back. The woman was limp in Stitches’ arms, her head resting on his forearm, which appeared much larger than before, as if his muscles had tripled.
    But that wasn't possible. It was only a trick of the light.
    Stitches laid her down carefully, running his hands over her hair. Then he turned slowly, his eyes locked on Florian. "Do you know what you saw, boy?" His fingers fumbled at his breeches, pulling