Bat out of Hell (11 page)

I'll
scream
if
he
forces
his
way
in.
Martha
or
someone
will
rescue
me.

It
grew
quiet
in
the
room,
and
she
dared
peek
out
from
under
the
blankets.
A
floating
object
at
the
large
half
open
window
caught
her
attention.

Gabriel
hovered
there,
his
fingers
on
the
sill
and
a
smile
on
his
face.

“
It's
impossible,
”
Ava
whispered,
trembling
all
over.
The
bedroom
was
on
the
second
floor.

There
must
be
a
balcony.
The
thought
calmed
her.

“
Ava,
you're
not
dreaming.
Please
let
me
in
now.
”

At
his
words,
she
clenched
the
blankets.
“
No.
What
are
you?
”
But
she
feared
she
already
knew.

Her
aunt
had
told
strange
stories
of
creatures
not
of
this
world,
ones
who
wished
to
seduce
virgins
and
keep
them
in
thrall
for
eternity.

“
I
am
Gabriel,
and
I
want
to
be
with
you.
”
His
teeth
gleamed
in
the
moonlight
streaming
through
the
window.

“
But
I
can't.
It's
not
right.
”
Her
resolve
floundered
under
his
insistent
gaze.
His
eyes
drew
her
in
as
moonlight
scudded
across
them,
impossibly
changing
them
to
a
gleaming
silver.

“
It
is
right.
You
came
to
me,
because
we
are
fated
to
be
together.
”

“
I
don't
believe
in
fate.
”
Her
voice
grew
stronger.
Perhaps
I
’
m
fighting
for
my
very
soul.
I
must
be
strong.

“
It
doesn't
matter
what
you
believe
if
something
is
real.
”
His
white
fingernails
glowed
against
the
sill.
“
Let
me
in
and
I'll
show
you
what
reality
is.
”

Her
defenses
against
him
weakened
the
longer
she
looked
at
him,
yet
it
was
impossible
to
look
away.
“
You'll
ruin
my
life,
my
reputation,
”
she
rasped.

“
I
won't.
I'll
guard
you
with
my
life.
No
one
loves
you
as
much
as
I
do.
”

Ava's
head
spun
at
his
declaration.
“
But
you
don't
know
me.
”

“
I
do,
I
did
and
I
will.
Please,
let
me
in.
Dawn
is
coming.
”

Ava
wanted
him
inside
with
her.
His
gaze
compelled
her.
She
fancied
she
could
see
the
colors
of
his
irises
changing
by
the
second.
His
tone
of
voice
almost
convinced
her.
It
was
so
soft
and
pleading.
She
couldn't
resist
his
stare,
and
she
felt
her
grasp
on
herself
slipping.

“
Yes,
come
in.
Just
please
…”
She
trailed
off,
not
even
sure
what
she
wanted
to
say.

“
I
will
take
care
of
you.
”
Gabriel's
voice
shook
with
some
emotion
Ava
could
not
easily
identify.

He
slipped
in
through
the
open
window,
looking
like
a
mere
man,
except
for
his
translucent
skin
and
now
midnight
black
eyes.

Ava
scrambled
back
under
the
covers,
her
teeth
chattering.

“
I
won't
harm
you.
”
Gabriel
glided
toward
her
and
sat
on
the
bed.
The
warmth
of
his
body
assailed
her
senses,
and
Ava
closed
her
eyes
against
it.
He
touched
her
face,
his
skin
searing
hot.

“
But
we
must
be
joined.
”

“
No.
”
Ava's
breath
came
in
gasps.

“
Yes.
It
won't
hurt.
In
fact,
I
think
you'll
find
you
enjoy
it.
”

“
I
can't.
My
parents
—”

“
Hush
now,
Ava.
You're
not
going
anywhere
after
tonight.
”
Sharp
teeth
glistened
in
the
darkness,
and
Ava
whimpered
with
fear
and
desire.

“
I
must
leave
tomorrow.
”

“
Please
don't,
Ava.
I
don't
mean
to
scare
you.
It's
only
that
I
want
you
to
stay.
I've
never
been
so
attracted
to
a
woman
as
I
am
to
you.
If
you
just
want
to
talk,
we'll
talk.
I
want
to
put
your
mind
at
ease.
I
have
your
best
interests
at
heart.
”
He
ran
his
hot
fingers
over
her
forehead,
sending
chills
through
her
body.

“
I
don't
want
you.
I'm
confused.
”
She
shouted
the
words,
but
still
she
felt
powerless
to
move
away.