My Favorite Nightmare by Abigail Livinghouse (ebook audio reader TXT) 📕

quick. I jabbed the end of my stake in her chest, so close to her heart, but not close enough. She screamed, and that’s when her beefy partner took over.

 

The man grabbed me by my throat and actually lifted me off the ground. And I’m not kidding. My feet were actually dangling beneath me. I clawed at his large hands clutching my neck, squeezing the breath out of me. I gasped, struggling to breathe while my head began to throb. Just as I began to teeter on the edge of unconsciousness, I heard Carline laugh, coming forward, almost healed, and placing her hand on the man’s shoulder.

 

“Release her Xian, she’s mine.”

 

The immortal dropped me instantly, taking a step back. I observed his movements, perplexed. He obeyed Carline almost as if he was afraid of her, which was strange since he was huge and she was about a quarter of his size.

 

Carline sneered at me, almost as if saying, I win. Which she basically already had won, considering I was all out of weapons and had a huge steroid-induced counterpart hovering over me. I stood tall, to my full height, so that I was looking down at the tiny blonde vampire. I smirked.

 

“I’m not afraid of you. Sorry dear”, and with that, I spun around, giving Carline a round house kick to her temple. A move like that would’ve killed a human, but it only stunned a vampire.

 

She stumbled off balance, probably seeing stars, as her partner Xian lunged for me. I ducked out of the way. However smooth I was, vampires no matter how huge and bulky were outrageously graceful. Even giant Xian caught himself before falling and straightened up a second later. Damn. Saying I was in trouble was an understatement.

 

       Carline had fallen on her side, groaning from the kick I had delivered to her head. Catching sight of his partner out of commission, Xian let out an animalistic roar that seemed to rumble the whole barn, and began to charge at me like an angry bull. Another little known fact about vampires, they were terribly fast. It didn’t matter how quick I was, I moved about a fraction of an inch before Xian’s rock hard skull slammed into my gut, sending me sprawling on the ground.

 

God it hurt. It felt like I had swallowed a rock and parts of it were still stuck, considering I was wheezing in order to get in short gasps of air. He was wasting no time, getting ready to take another pounce. My eyes surveyed the barn, frantically searching for a weapon. That’s when I realized that I was in a barn. A barn made out of wood.

 

I jumped to my feet and ripped a plank from the north wall. The end was jagged from the tear, perfect. This time when Xian charged me, I was ready, and was able to stab him right in his heart as he came within a few inches of me. A direct hit. He fell to the ground, dead instantly. I doubled over, panting, sweat dripping down my nose and neck. I heard Carline’s shriek of anger. I looked up to see her staring furiously at her henchman’s body. I grimaced, half a scowl and half a smirk. At least he didn’t have to listen or fear Carline anymore. The hole I had left in her chest was nearly gone, unbelievable. She glared at me, her eyes nearly all black like she was possessed. “You will die.” She said, and launched herself at me. 

Chapter Twenty Four

There was snarling, and the sound of rocks slamming together, and then Carline was on the ground, groaning. I looked to see who had interfered and saw Pearce, standing in all his glory, his hair straight and perfect, his body strong and poised, like a cobra ready to strike, and his eyes blazing. He looked at me, then at his sister, who was back on her feet. That girl just didn’t quit.

 

“Glad you could make it, brother.” She hissed at him, but he seemed oblivious to her, lost in his own haze of anger.

 

“Why are you raiding her village?” He said in a low voice. Pearce speaking softly was scarier than if he had started yelling.

 

Carline grinned a sick smile. Her hair was in tangles and blood was dried on her face and lips. She looked truly horrible.

 

“Dear brother, I raided her village because you led me to it.” She said sweetly.

 

I could see Pearce stiffen as if someone had slapped him. I eyed him angrily. “Did you really lead her here?” I asked.

 

He gave me a pathetic look, which was all the confirmation I needed. I couldn’t help but feel a hint of betrayal burning in my chest. It wasn’t like I had expected any more from him. I had to remind myself that he was a vampire, and he was the same as them all. Worthless, vile, and the last creature on earth to put your trust in.

 

“Kyla, you don’t understand.” Pearce began, but I just shook my head.

 

“I thought you were different, I was a fool.” I said to myself, disgusted.

 

He turned all the way to look at me head on. His gray eyes pleading. “Please, when you ran from Carline and I in the forest I went to your house to speak with you. She followed me, I swear. I didn’t want her to come along, and I didn’t lead her to your village. I promise. I wouldn’t betray you like that.”

 

I let out a laugh that was more of a snort. “Oh please, so you followed me? God, Pearce no matter what you say you’re still a vampire. You are disgusting. I should’ve killed you when I had the chance.”

 

Peace’s face crumbled as if I had physically hurt him, but I didn’t care. He had hurt me. This was a waste of my time. I swallowed again, my throat dry. “Now, either control your sister or I’ll have to kill her.”

 

Carline had stood watching our conversation in amusement. She didn’t even flinch at my comment. Pearce spoke. “Kyla”, he began again, actually holding his hands out to me helplessly. I recoiled, my face pinched in disgust.

 

“Please” I looked at his shining eyes for the first time, a lump rising in my throat. “I don’t want to have to kill you too.” I said, my voice breaking. Before I could hear anything else, or get attacked by Carline again, I ran out the back. The last thing I heard was a snarl, either of anguish or of anger I could not tell. 

Chapter Twenty Five

Our village was in shambles for a few weeks, however we successfully built it back up at the end of the month. January was here, and after a dismal Christmas I was glad for the New Year. My resolution? Well, I was still hunting. And my New Year’s resolution was to put my feelings aside while I hunted because when you get right down to it vampires were not humans. They didn’t belong on this earth, we did. The only problem was I wasn’t completely comfortable with that. The way Pearce acted made me think differently of him and of vampires. It changed my view on things, and I feared that I would never be able to get my former viewpoint back.

 

I hadn’t seen Pearce or his deranged sister in the woods or in the village, which I was completely content with. I was leaning against the counter in our kitchen, watching mother fly around in a frenzy making dinner. My mother was a great artist, and a good cook. You could criticize her art, but not her food.

 

“Mikael asked about you.” She commented.

 

I cocked an eyebrow. Mikael was a hunter, very muscular, very tall, blond, and had sharp blue eyes that darted around the forest, catching all movement.

 

“He did, did he?” I asked.

 

She nodded, stirring sauce in a large pot over the cooktop. “Yes. He’d like to take you out. He’ll be in the Square tomorrow if you wish to speak to him.”

 

I frowned, my eyebrows crinkled in confusion. Mikael was handsome, why would he fancy me? I was plain, straight black hair, dark blue eyes, very tall, yeah I was thin but men in my village liked women with muscle. Mother looked at me when I said nothing, her eyes wide.

 

“Are you actually considering Mikael?” She asked in astonishment. I pressed my lips together, still silent, but her eyes lit up with joy despite my lack of an answer.

 

“Oh my goodness, Mikael is such a sweet boy! I’m so glad you like him!” She gushed, abandoning her stirring. I smelled the sauce burning.

 

“Mother”, I scolded, and she grabbed the spoon, picking up at a steady, quick rhythm.

 

“I’m sorry, it’s just I’m so happy for you!”

 

I rolled my eyes. “Mother, I’ve never even spoken to him.” I said cynically. She shook her head, her attention half on dinner and half on my nonexistent love life.

 

“Oh, it doesn’t matter, he’ll absolutely adore you when you two do meet.” She shook her head, her eyes bright and back on me. “You go to the market tomorrow now”, she said sternly. “Do not ruin this for yourself.”

 

I went upstairs then, feeling like whatever I’d say to her now would go in one ear and out the other. That was something I had grown used to in my family. 

Chapter Twenty Six

I sat in one of our kitchen chairs, curlers in my hair and mother fussing about my too long bangs hanging in my eyes.

 

“We must cut them.” She said. I shook my head.

 

“No. I like them this way.” I said. She sighed, shaking her head disapprovingly.

 

“Kyla, how can you possibly hope to make a good impression on Mikael when he can’t see your eyes?” She said, growing