Last Bitten (The Emerald Night Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Really, I’ll be fine.
    The woman hesitated, then nodded and left, walking as if the weight of the universe was upon her shoulders.
    Nia picked up. “Yes.”
    “Are you okay? Do you need me to come get you?” It was her Andy.
    Nia smiled now as s he knew exactly what she wanted. “Yes. Come get me, Andy. Please. I need you.”
    “You do?” He sighed in relief.
    “Yes , Andy. You’re all I think about, though I’ve denied it all this time. I need you, Andy.”
    She heard him stumble over some furniture.
    “ Tonight, Andy. I want you tonight.”
    He stuttered , unable to get a word out. “Uh . . . uh . . .”
    “You know it , Andy. You can feel it, can’t you?” She giggled slyly, but certain that they both knew what was about to dawn.
    “Yes,” he said .
    “Come , Andy. Come.”
    Dropping his c ell to the floor then retrieving it, Andy sputtered out an almost incomprehensible sentence. “I’m coming . . . uh, uh . . . there . . . I mean, soon. Tell me when.” His voice sounded frenzied.
    “ Focus, Andy. I need you. Seven. Bring me something to wear.” she said. “When it’s dark. You know I like the dark. I’ve always enjoyed the dark.”
    “I do too,” he said, “and the stars in the sky . I love stars. I love—”
    She hung up on him , smiling and tapping her red nails.
     
    ***
     
    “Faster. Drive faster,” Nia demanded.
    “I’ll get a tick et. Campus police is always out,” Andy argued. .
    Nia touched him . “Do as I have asked. You must.”
    He pressed down on the pedal and glanced over at her, as if trying to figure out a great mystery. Surely I seem different to him , she thought. He must be wondering . . .
    “ What is it? What’s wrong?” he asked, honestly concerned.
    Slipping her hand down onto his scrawny thigh, she answered slowly with intent. “I must say this: there is something wrong. You’re very observant. I’ve always known that about you.” She yanked her hand away and pulled down the old Civic’s vanity mirror. The holes on her neck were gone. She flipped it back up. “I’m not sure exactly. My memories of it all are blurry. I remember . . .” Nia paused, glancing up at the full, friendly moon. “As I told my own mother, I remember my grandmother. She said something to me. She said, ‘Stay in the light. Come with us. ’ She seemed happy at first, but then she was scared, like a terrible fear washed over her silken, wrinkly face. I’ve never seen her like that before.”
    “You’re grandmother visited you in the hospital?”
    “No. She’s dead.” Nia’s voice rang hollow like an empty grave.
    “You had a near -death experience. They come, you know. They come for you.”
    “Who?”
    “Your loved ones on the other side. I’ve heard stories in my own family. You know, tales, myths of sorts. It’s true.”
    “She lost .”
    “What do mean?” And y parked now in the packed dorm lot and got out to open Nia’s door for her. They stepped out onto the dead, trodden leaves.
    “I’m here now with you,” she beamed taking his hand, not letting it go. The moonlight struck her face, and she almost glowed underneath its touch.
    Andy squinted under the brightness of her and squeezed her fingers . “You’re so cold Nia; let’s get some food in you.”
    “No , I want to go to your room. I want to lie down.” She raised one brow at him.
    He awk wardly smirked, turning away from her as if battling some internal conflict. “Okay,” he said locking his car drawing her along.
    They received many a peculiar look from their counterparts as they entered the dorm lobby and pressed the elevator button up. People actually turned to watch them enter the steel coffin.
    The doors dinged closed , and Nia leaned close into Andy, unzipping his black, dated jacket. He wore a white t-shirt underneath. She snuck a finger under it and ran it along his thin, soft stomach. “Oh, Andy,” she teased, moving down to undo the top button of his jeans.
    “Nia .” He leaned