Groaning I rolled onto my back. Have to keep going. Ilida needs me. Seeking revenge would keep me alive. I'll live for it. The way Ma.n.u.s taught me.

If I can find a donor I'll make it, but there's nothing here except an abandoned house, trees, miles, and miles of the white stuff. One of my earlier questions was finally answered since moving to Long Island. Yes, you can get stranded here, and it's h.e.l.l when it happens.

My bat grew more insistent for blood. My wolf lay dormant for now.

Then, my hearing zeroed in on the sound of a car driving, and chaotic frightened thoughts. Through the cold wind, I could smell its exhaust fumes. Ah, heartbeat pumping furiously.

The white scene before me glazed over in red. My bat self awakened to survival alert. G.o.d, have pity on the woman who was on her way to me because I would not. I needed the liquid sustenance so desperately, like an addict needs crack. My humanity switched to automatic shutdown.

The sound came closer and closer. The deep echo of the driver's blood beat my eardrum. The stinging brightness of headlights blinded my bat. The screeching and sloshing of wheels trying to stop in deep snow... I thought to move.

Metal bunched and curled like paper against the outside of my knee. Hot wires tangled around my thighs like octopus tendrils. Fear from the pa.s.senger reached out to me. It's psychic origin familiar, but d.a.m.ned if I could get a lock on it. There was fear from her.

The force of the car pushed me up then over its roof. Elbow broke, collided with sharp edges. Indescribable pain. My wolf howled. My bat screamed for shelter now. I landed on my clawed feet and made a dash through the snowy landscape.

The loud thud echoed in her ears. Her eyes widened in horror as something large and dark flew up and hit her windshield. Plastic cracked ominously before she could hit the breaks. It bounced up. Loud b.u.mps on the roof of her car made her flinch. Wheels skidded. The car spun out.

She rode the spin, pumping her brakes. It was so dark and the hit happened so fast. Her hands frantically moved the steering wheel to the right with the flow of the car. "Oh G.o.d, please don't let me flip over," she cried.

The car tilted on its side, shook then plopped down, bouncing her in the driver's seat. With her hands, she pushed up against the ceiling of the car until it stilled. She sat there taking deep breaths. "Oh, G.o.d, thank you." Whatever she hit was out there and not so lucky.

The cracked windshield had fogged over. Her legs felt stiff. She unclenched the muscle and took a deep breath. She rubbed the windshield with the hem of her coat sleeve. Steam billowed out of the hood, which was bent up on each side like the wings of a paper airplane.

Black bears are indigenous to Suffolk County, Long Island, but they hadn't been seen since the thirties. Maybe one escaped from the zoo and made its way here. She had to find out for herself.

With shaking hands, she unhooked her seat belt and unlocked the door. "Wait, where's my flashlight? Glove compartment!" She reached for the compartment door, opened it, and took out her flashlight. "Blanket, Ilida. Get your blankets!" Ilida took three steps to the fender. It was bent outwards and something dark and splotchy was sc.r.a.ped across it. She swallowed hard. Blood!

She walked to the trunk of the car, took out her blanket, keeping her flashlight aimed on what she was doing. Praying silently that she wouldn't get mauled, she flashed the light on the road and the tall cornfields to her left. A path had been made in the snow. It must have run through there, whatever it was. With five wool blankets tucked under her arm, she crouched down and followed the path of the pulled down cornstalks.

She pushed the frozen cornstalks out of her way as she walked. It had enough energy left to run a good distance away. She lost sight of her car as she followed its path.

She breathed in the frigid air through her teeth, warming her lungs. Nothing could warm the icy froth around her heart. She'd never injured an animal before. It had been an accident, but she still felt responsible.

In the shaft from her flashlight, she saw something dark lying on the ground. As she got closer and shined the light on it, she realized it was still. Deathly still. More death... Startled, Ilida jumped back. That can't be right. It was too svelte to be a bear. Bears were bulky, ma.s.sive. This...man?...was tall, with long ...furred legs. She moved the flashlight beam over its form. It was masculine and curled in a fetal position. The scent of fresh blood wafted through the cold air. A gently curved back covered in short fur.

She must have b.u.mped her head on the steering wheel. Nevertheless, she reached down, her hands shaking as she touched him. She felt strong muscles under her gloved palm. Then she moved her hand outward. Something thin and bony, like an arm. Quickly she spotted it with her flashlight. It was long wide, with webbing. An image popped din her head of wings. "Wings?"

"I'm seeing things, right? Wings?" Long, muscular legs and huge... No, no, it's not the time to be looking at its genitalia. It moved, bulged, became slightly erect then. She moved back, almost dropping the flashlight. Something grabbed her ankle in a fierce grip. She fell down. "No!

A large three-fingered hand covered her mouth cutting off her scream. What she could only surmise to be webbing covered her lips. Tiny hairs tickled her nostrils. Chilled tears ran down her face. She peered about wildly looking for a way to disarm him and then for a heart-stopping moment, he looked into her eyes. His blue-violet eyes bore into her soul. Blue-violet?

He looked at her curiously, and then his eyes narrowed in an accusing way. She couldn't see anything but him. The bat-man had wide, powerful shoulders. His skin was cool and she could faintly smell the blood seeping from his wounds. His pointy ears, hooded brows and bald head held her immobile. His hold was... gentle? Maybe it was, but she had a feeling he could twist her neck with ease at any moment. If she was dreaming, she should've awakened by now.

"Be quiet. You aren't dreaming."

Chapter Twenty-three

Something moved, flickered in my chest as I stared down at her. It could've been my heart trying to stop for all I knew. I hadn't been hurt this badly since that night in the lava tombs in Santorini.

Chunks of my flesh and had been muscles torn from my body then as it was now. I vowed I'd never let that happen again, now look at me. Ma.n.u.s thought whipping me to death would make me submit. It hadn't. It had the opposite effect. This latest test wouldn't get me down either.

"Get me...inside that house, now!" I growled.

Ilida's sweat, blood, and fear stirred me despite the pain pulsing through my body. My right leg felt numb.

Ilida wasn't moving. She was too scared to budge, but I couldn't consider her feelings now. I needed to get well fast. With an iron grip, I pulled her up by her arm. The pain tearing through her muscles tore through mine. "Up!"

I pulled her up with one hand as I rose from the snowy ground. Blinding pain ricocheted, making me double over. I needed to stay still for a moment. Then my ears picked up the sound of tires on snow coming closer.

Can't be seen. Not in bat form. I needed cover, fast. Faster than the eye could see I ran towards a large tree with hanging branches. It was far enough away from the road. I commanded his bat wings to cover me, making a canopy of protection from the snow. Those six steps took a lot out of me. I never thought I'd find myself in a weakened state, ever. I watched Ilida walk towards him.

The driver spotted her car. He wanted to check on her. Nice of him, but if she can't get him to leave. No! That's my pain talking. I won't hurt Ilida. I won't! "Car coming this way," I said to her.

"What?"

Time was running out. The snowflakes drifted across her face, landing on the tip of her nose. Pain competed with my desire for her.

Headlights illuminated the snow-covered trees and slushy road.

"Male driver...coming to check...on you. Do you know him?"

She hesitated in answering me and my temper was about to explode. "Answer me!"

"I don't think I know him."

I grabbed her wrist, pulled her down to the snow. Looking up to talk to her wasn't the most comfortable thing to do now.

Both of them watched the car slow down to a stop. Its headlights illuminated the landscape. The car came to a stop and the driver got out.

I squeezed her hand tighter, almost crushing it. Sheer will kept me behind Ilida. "Tell - driver - to leave."

Air billowed out of her mouth as she breathed. Her fear was tangible, and she was in pain. I smelled the blood coming from her. Pain vibrated from my shoulder to my shoulder blade. I got the impression of torn skin.

I waited. That driver was concerned - a Good Samaritan and her only hope of escape, but I needed blood and I couldn't let her... escape. f.u.c.k, f.u.c.k, f.u.c.k!

"I'll tell him to leave. If you let go of my hand."

"I'm trusting you to come back." Slowly, I released her hand.

I watched her walk unhurriedly to the Good Samaritan. Though the snow absorbed sound, I could pick out her soft voice. The driver walked towards her. She stepped to the side keeping her attention on him. "Hi there?

"Did you have an accident?"

"A slight one. With the slippery stuff on the ground. It's bound to happen." She brushed the snow off her forehead. I could hear the smile in her voice and the fear. She wanted him to leave now. She's smart.

"Are you okay, Miss?"

"I'm fine, really."

"Don't leave you car door open like that."

"Oh yes. You're right. Thank you," she said waving.

He nodded his head. Instead of walking back to his car, he looked around. d.a.m.n! Get in your car, please, she pleaded to herself.

The Good Samaritan walked back to his car, got in and drove away. She swept her head back. Snow continued to fall around her, on her. She wished she got in the man's car to safety but her nurturing sense got the better of her. That was good for me.

The animal in me dominant, I wouldn't let her get away. I had to feed to recover and she was the perfect vessel to feed from. The thought made me want to howl in triumph.

Pinp.r.i.c.ks of ice fell on her cheeks and lips, melted then ran down her face. She was so close to her car. She could get into it and never look back. She would lose respect for herself. It was her fault he was in so much pain. She could feel the multiple injuries he had. Maybe it was empathy and her overactive imagination. After all that happened tonight, she must be a delusion. Wasn't he like the others who attacked her and the residents at Tilly?

She stared down at him. He lifted his head. Her breath almost blocked her sight of him. He was going to kill her, she knew, and the thought made her knees go wobbly. His eyes were eerie pinpoints of light in the dark, snowy night. The sharpness of his deep, gruff voice snapped her to attention.

"That abandoned house to your left. Now!"

She struggled to get him to the steps of the old house. He was almost seven feet tall and loaded with muscled bulk, and all of his weight was leaning on her. His wings folded against his arms. She could barley believe her eyes. Bat wings!

His thin, clawed feet crunched the snow and ice. He grimaced with each step. His pain filled her chest cavity. She sucked in cold air. It filled her lungs, blocked out the sudden pain.

"Try to lift your leg, okay?"

Ilida handled his weight not well, but well enough. His voice sounded like gravel-rough-hewn with a hint of an accent. Monster shouldn't have accents, but this one did. Still, she couldn't believe it.

"Believe it."

"It's not a costume is it?"

"No," he ground out, as he tried to make a step.

Sadness. She felt it in her soul as if it was her misery. How? "Don't talk. Y-you're in pain. I can call an ambulance."

Ilida felt something warm and liquid on the inside of her shirt. She had to take care of the slash wound, but he needed help first. She decided he wasn't like the one who attacked her earlier. He was in pain and need... something.

As they painstakingly approached the steps, the door suddenly swung open. She moved the flashlight so she could see who it was. She gasped. An exodus of water bugs, field mice, and rats ran out of the house. The sight of them made bile rise in her throat. Hurling not an option now, she told herself. They scurried about trying to get away. From what, she didn't know, but she moved her sneaker-covered feet so they wouldn't get any weird ideas.

Shaking she looked into his eyes.

"You would have found them disgusting, doctor."

"I'm not..." She cut her statement off. She'd been in pre-med and on the verge of going into the medical program at Brooklyn Downstate. She'd changed her mind and went for recreational therapy instead. "As soon as you're able you're going to go wherever it is you were going and I'll be on my way."

Her mind screamed, "Run." She hated bats and she opposed the urge to withdraw. He needed her.

"Running is not an option."

"What are you?"

After a time he answered her. "I'm exactly what you see."

They stopped in front of the rickety wooden steps. There's no such thing. She chanted it repeatedly in her head, but what had she encountered at Tilly?

"Trust what you see."

"We should go inside. Can you lift your leg up a bit? I'll help you."

An angry animal growl made her stiffen. "I don't need your help!"

Silently, bravely, he lifted his right leg. Excruciating pain throbbed in her right leg as he stepped up. Questions forced their way through the wall of fear in her mind. She could heal not feel their pain. It was too intense, intimate. He was animal clearly, but also human. How was that possible?

Finally, they made it to the top of the stairs without falling through. The wood was old, brittle-it wouldn't take much for their feet to fall through. Right then, her eyes zeroed in on his feet. Correction, five-clawed feet. She opened the door and helped him inside. There was an old couch sitting with the back in front of the window. "I'm going to help you to the couch."

"You don't like bats."

His voice silky and menacing caused her too shiver. He was talking about himself.

"Lean against the wall." She looked over her shoulder at him. She needed this job to be as sterile as possible. Too bad she wasn't a doctor. He needed two of them to keep up with his wounds. She unfolded the blanket and laid it across the old, smelly couch.

"You're right. You shouldn't trust bats."

Her back stiffened. She heard the warning in his voice. Slowly, she faced him, and then he shot towards her quicker than her eyes could see. Growling, he pushed her against the wall. Air blew out of her lungs. Dust flew off the wood panels from the hard contact and into her mouth. She coughed, choking on the cloud of dust.

"No, not again!"

His eyes were blood red with pinpoints of light in the middles. Moonlight glinted off his fangs as his mouth widened. He pulled her neck to the left exposing the delicate skin covering her artery. Hot breath strangely scented with fruit brushed her flesh. His grip was brawny. She waited, antic.i.p.ated his contact-dreaded and quaked with want for it.

His grip on her shoulders was fierce. Silky hair tickled her covered her eyes, blocking her view. His teeth, sharp like the tips of scalpels on her skin. Searing pain froze her limbs. She gasped, stiffened as his teeth dug into her flesh. A strange sensual heat filled her pelvis. Then his body went limp.

She stood frozen for what seemed like forever. His body slumped over her. She didn't dare move a muscle, lest she wake him.