Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 32116 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 128(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32116 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 128(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)
“We are destined lovers, but it’s not by magic; it is by Fate. As a vampire, I am granted an eternal mate to protect and love for all time. You are my one and only, sweet Skyler.”
A car pulled up behind me and blasted its horn, so I quickly rolled my window down and flipped off the driver. I needed a moment to process what Viggo just said. They could wait a damn minute.
“Did you say vampire?” I had to be going crazy; it was the only explanation. I needed to get to the hospital for answers - not finish this wild goose chase. But when I switched on my turn signal in the direction of the medical facility, pain bloomed in my chest and guilt burned in my gut.
The feelings subsided when I turned the signal off, and disappeared when I pressed the gas pedal to the floor when the light turned green. My body wouldn’t allow me to veer off course. I had to get to Viggo…even though I was no longer positive he existed.
“Yes. I keep my identity secret for safety, but I could never hide anything from you, beloved one. I will always place my trust in you.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“My soul recognizes yours. Your mind answered my call. I trust in our bond, and I look forward to learning everything about you.”
My hands tingled as they gripped the steering wheel. I hoped with everything I was that Viggo was real; no one had ever said something so kind to me. I followed my gut instinct and took a left turn before slamming on my brake again when I felt the overwhelming urge to stop.
“You’re in a cemetery?” I asked, looking at an iron gate blocking the entrance to a graveyard. “What kind of ass munch buried you alive in a cemetery?” Nowhere was ideal to be buried alive, obviously, but a graveyard added a layer of unexpected evil.
“I do not know this word; assmunch.”
I snorted a laugh as I parked my car and climbed out. “You know; a dickhead.”
“I see,” Viggo replied, even though he still sounded confused.
“Just how long have you been buried?”
I was teasing, but didn’t expect his answer of, “I’m not positive; decades, to be sure. Perhaps a century or more. What year is it?”
I stopped in my tracks, only steps away from the iron gate. “Are you serious? How are you still alive?”
“A curse was placed upon me. Please, I will explain everything to you once I am released, I promise.”
I took that as polite code for ‘stop asking questions and hurry the fuck up’. “Okay. And to answer your question, it’s 2024.”
Viggo sighed and his voice was despondent when he replied, “I have been trapped for one hundred forty four years.”
I couldn’t begin to imagine what he’d been through. I got antsy if I spent a whole weekend without leaving my apartment. But to be buried in darkness for over a century? I wouldn’t even want to survive.
The thought pushed me faster. I ran to the gate and cursed when I saw that it was closed with a heavy lock. Tall iron bars surrounded the cemetery, and the only way in was to climb.
Too bad I had the athletic ability of a wet noodle. At five foot ten, I wasn’t exactly short, but I was slim with no muscle tone to speak of. I doubted the likelihood of scaling the fence, but I had to try; Viggo was counting on me.
I placed my feet on a horizontal bar and stretched my arms to grab another rod above my head. I tried several times to heave myself upwards, but it was no good. I had to try a different tactic.
I clenched my fists in a death grip and flung my legs from side to side, each time rocking a little higher. Finally, I was able to hook my foot over the same bar my hands clung to. My chest burned with heavy breaths and my forehead dripped with sweat as I remained suspended.
If I didn’t move quickly, I was going to lose my grip, and I doubted I had the strength to try again. With every ounce of motivation and might I had inside me, I kicked my free leg up and over the fence. I rolled over the top as my hand slipped, and I fell about seven feet onto my back on the hard ground.
“Holy mother of fuck!” I screamed at the night sky as pain shot down my spine.
“What happened? What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” Viggo quickly asked inside my mind.
Before I answered, I took a moment to survey my body. I wiggled my feet, relieved that they moved, and sat upright. “I’m okay. I just fell over the fence climbing in here. Wait a minute; I yelled out loud.”