The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires Read Online Free PDF

real the whole fantasy seemed. Her fingers tightened around mine in a grip that I was almost ready to swear was real… almost . “I must leave now. As you summoned me, so I answer: unto you I bequeath the Gift. Use it wisely. The penalty for abuse is too horrible to speak of.”
    The wind whipped past us as my hand grew hot in hers.
    â€œThis is absolutely amazing,” I said, wishing I had my laptop to take notes on the experience. Heat from her hand seemed to creep up my arm, gaining speed and intensity. “I’m sorry, but I have to try this…”
    I tried to yank my hand from hers, but her grip was too strong.
    Her eyes lit with a soft glow as she looked deep into me, all the way down into my soul. It was such a piercing, intense gaze, that for a moment my body froze, leaving me unable to move. As she spoke, she released my hand and touched me on the center of my forehead. “My virtue passes to you, Portia Harding. May the sovereign protect you from those who would destroy you.”
    The heat that had started in my hand now swept through me, a fever of such intensity that I wanted to shred my clothes and find the nearest body of water. My skin burned, my blood boiled, my mind cried out for relief.
    â€œOh, great. Now this stupid fungus is making me feverish. I just know I’m going to end up in the…the…whatchamacallit. Hospital.”
    The need for something to quench the raging inferno inside me left my brain confused and unable to focus, driving out all other thoughts but relief. I struggled to maintain control, to breath slowly and deeply until the worst of it passed, but the fever that burned me from the inside out didn’t abate. It consumed me, sweeping me along in its inferno, pushing me deeper into its burning depths until I threw back my arms and screamed to the heavens for deliverance.
    A cold, wet drop hit my forehead. Another struck my cheek.
    â€œWhat…I…rain?” I panted, watching with wonder as, out of nowhere, clouds formed overhead, at first soft, hazy white wisps, quickly merging into clumps that darkened until they were heavy and foreboding. Soft little pats of noise indicated the rain that gently touched my heated skin wasn’t just my imagination…all around me in the secluded copse, raindrops fell, caressing me, soothing me, blessedly taking away the fever and leaving behind a calm tranquility that gently eased the fire within. I closed my eyes and tipped my head back to welcome the blissful wetness. “Sweet mother of reason, I’ve never felt anything so good in my life. This is sheer heaven.”
    â€œNo, this is the Gift. I thank you for your help. And now, I must be gone before they find me.”
    So wonderful did the rain feel that I had forgotten for a moment about my hallucination. I cracked an eye open to see if she was still there. The faery ring, and everything around it, was empty of all life but me.
    â€œGood. Maybe the hallucinogen is losing its power,” I said as I swung around to make sure I was alone. Something odd struck me. I turned in a circle again, slower this time, my frown deepening as I looked upward to the cloud that still gently rained down on me.
    There were no other clouds visible in the sky—just a small one over my head.
    â€œYou’re part of the whole mushroom thing,” I told the cloud. “I’m only imagining you’re there, and imaging that I’m wet, and imagining that strange women are appearing and disappearing without cause. Oh, hurrah, Sarah is back. Sanity returneth.”
    Through the trees that ringed the hilltop, a flash of red heralded my friend’s return. I was relieved to see her, and struggled with the idea of not mentioning to her that I’d been inadvertently poisoned by potent fungus, but concern that I might suffer some sort of permanent damage convinced me that it would be best to admit all, and seek medical assistance.
    â€œSorry