Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates by Bartlett, Gerry (red white royal blue TXT) 📕

aside and looked down at my bleeding shoulder. She ripped away my dress.

I tried to see what she was staring at but even lifting my head was too much effort. “Flo? It hurts!”

“I know, amica. Leave this to me. Something is not right.” She turned to Anne. “Please go down to the kitchen. Tell the cook to make a poultice of…”

I closed my eyes as Flo rattled off a long list of things. I sensed movement around me but could only focus on what was going on inside me. Agony! It had moved to my chest and was like a fire consuming my lungs. I didn’t need to breathe, I knew that, but was desperate to try. I was paralyzed. It was as if a rope had wound around my breasts, squeezing, squeezing until I cried out.

“What is it, Glory?” Flo touched my face and I opened my eyes. “I sent Anne away. Now tell me what is happening. I think the arrow must have been poisoned.” She carefully touched the open wound. “Look, Jeremiah, she is still bleeding.”

“It may not be wise for you to be touching it, Florence. My father won’t soon forgive me if something happens to you.” Jeremiah had moved to the other side of the bed and sat on it so he could stroke my face. “Gloriana, tell us how you feel.”

I tried to speak. I licked my lips and wanted to reach out to him. Or to Flo. But I suddenly started shaking, tremors running through me until I screamed and rolled from side to side. What was happening to me? It was as if I could see my body but couldn’t control it.

“This is no time for me to worry about myself. Glory needs blood. This is the poison trying to take her. I am the oldest vampire here, yes?” Flo grabbed my face. “Listen to me, amica. You must drink from me.”

“Careful, Florence. She can’t seem to hear you.” Jeremiah leaned over me, his brow wrinkled with concern. “Here’s my knife. Cut your wrist and see if she can drink.”

I heard this. I did. But could only shake and look wildly about me. At him. At Flo as she slashed her wrist and held it over my lips. I was trapped in my body. Terrified. Helpless. Unable to speak.

I tasted blood when she pressed her wrist to my mouth. “Drink, Glory. It will help you heal.”

I wanted that blood. I needed it. It would surely make this horrible paralysis go away. I used my tongue to lap at the blood welling at my lips. A taste but not enough.

“She can’t drink!” Flo grabbed my mouth and forced it open. “Come now, mia povera ragazza, you know you want to take this from me.” She tilted my head back so that the liquid ran down my throat. “Swallow, amica.”

I tried, I truly did. Jeremiah gently stroked my neck, as if that would make me swallow. I stared at him, silently thanking him as a tear rolled down my cheek. I was dying, I knew it. My body trembled and I stiffened, then shuddered, back bowed. Death throes, I was sure of it.

“Keep doing that, Jeremiah. It will work, I know it.” Flo kept forcing the blood into my mouth.

I coughed, choked, but somehow finally managed to get it down. That ancient blood warmed me inside and began to break the chains that held me. Slowly I felt the poison dissolving and the blood winning the battle for my body. I blinked, trying to tell them to keep going. That this was working. It was!

“She swallowed again.” Jeremiah had tears in his eyes. My tough warrior! “I will never forget this, Florence. Your blood is magic.”

“No, but it is very old. Watch. I think her fingers moved. Brava, cara!” Flo leaned down and kissed my cheek. Then she laughed. “Her fangs are down now. Oh, but you are biting me now, Glory. Naughty girl.”

I tried to be gentle but I was starving, desperate for what her blood offered. I had to rid myself of that poison. A poisoned arrow. I drank until I could finally lift my arm. I used it to touch Flo’s cheek. Then I slipped my fangs from her wrist.

“Gloriana. Do you need more?” Jeremiah brushed my hair back from my face. “Can you speak?” There was a pounding on the door. “Leave us alone!”

“Jeremiah.”

I recognized the voice. “Valdez. Let him in.” My voice sounded rough, unsteady. The bed moved as Jeremiah got up to answer the door. “Flo, thank you.” I saw how pale she was. “You need to seek out a handsome man again. Are you all right? Perhaps we should just send for one now.”

“I can find my own, thank you. My Angus will be glad to serve me.” Flo grinned. “We saved you!” She pulled up my bodice to cover my left breast. “I am so relieved. I swear, Glory, you were near death.” She grabbed my hand.

“I know. I felt it, death trying to take me away.” I sighed and saw my bodyguard next to the bed. He looked grim, worried. I realized he studied me anxiously.

“Hey, Valdez, you missed all the fun. I beat Jeremiah at archery. But then someone else was a good shot. I think I’m going to live after all. You will still have a job.”

“That’s good news.” He actually smiled. “Even better is that we caught the man who shot you. He is in the dungeon even now. Waiting for Jeremiah to question him. I don’t envy him.”

“Well done!” Jeremiah clapped him on the back. “How did you manage that?”

“Since you gave me the evening off, I had shifted and was up on the battlements watching the archery contest. I saw the man there, along with the usual guards. If I’d known what he planned, I would have stopped him before he shot you, Glory.” Valdez picked up the broken arrow that someone had brought to our bedchamber. “I’m sorry I