Echoes of Shadows: A Tale of Two Women, One Destiny. (ORIGINAL BLOOD VAMPIRE SERIES Book 1) by Stuart Land

Author:Stuart Land [Land, Stuart]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-13T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Holly-on-Brighton, England—November 1793

Overwhelming hunger rose above the pain that flushed over Gailene’s body, waking her again to a reality more brutal than before she left consciousness. This hunger wasn’t familiar, and the pain, was not a familiar pain. Every movement was an agony that brought her to the verge of blacking out. From time to time, she’d awakened from voices and people clamoring outside the chicken coop. Neighbors came to douse the fire, but from collective wails, they were too late. They found no bodies.

Even if she’d been able, Gailene wouldn’t have called out. To be rescued, she was certain, would have resulted in either her death or theirs. During lucid moments, she held Elizabeth close to her, imploring her to stay mum. Now, upon waking, she didn’t know how long she’d been asleep but was thankful that it was once again, night. Her eyes, still sealed shut, suffered under the rag covering her face. But she could sense the lack of light and cool night air.

Indomitable will pushed her through misery and she sat up, stifling the urge to yelp in pain so as not to wake Elizabeth. She suffered herself to crawl to the door and push it open. Blind, she continued to the water trough a few yards away by the goat pen, each movement pulling at the burnt skin of her hands inside her sleeves, sending jolts of pain up her arms. Slipping her covered hands into cool water was as much a relief as the pain was agony. She pulled her hands from the sleeves, leaving the crusted skin behind.

With concerted effort, Gailene splashed the water onto the cloth covering her face, loosening it from the burns. The rag fell off, tearing the charred dead skin with it. Her eyelids could move and odor-laden air rushed into open nostrils. The overwhelming acrid aroma made distinguishing between pleasure and foul impossible. To lessen the stench, she breathed through her mouth but now tasted those potent flavors as intensely as smelling them.

Rolling on her back, she leaned against the side of the trough. To accomplish everything she needed, she used her will alone. Gailene started controlling her pain, taste, and smell. Her eyes only open the slightest bit, but enough to see a blurred image of a crescent moon glowing through the thinning leaves arching over her. While concentrating on controlling her senses, she stared into the welcoming white light, her eyelids easing open.

Gailene raised her burnt, nearly skinless hands. She gasped, her mind reeling in a near swoon. Breathing hard, she turned her hands over, but because she threw them up to shield her face, both sides were grotesquely the same. The horror of what her face might look like brought on pitiful moans.

Face and hands sent out new sensations like icy skin warming near a blazing hearth. If maybe she’d been mistaken on the first appraisal… she glanced at her hands again. The flesh moved. Her breath caught as she stared at the miracle happening before her eyes.

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