CHAPTER 36 KYLIE’S TURN

Irene held one arm. Kylie gripped the other.

Billy struggled frantically to free himself.

“Billy . . . give up, Billy,” Irene whispered. “You can’t get away from us. We are stronger than you can possibly imagine.”

Billy ignored her. He fought desperately, twisting, turning. But their fingers dug into his flesh, their powerful grip unbreakable.

He took a deep breath, pulled back his arms—and shoved Kylie with all his strength.

She stumbled, letting go.

He swung his whole body, slamming Irene with his shoulder.

Her grip loosened. Only a tiny bit. But enough.

Billy whirled to his left.

He was free!

“You’re strong for a mortal,” Irene growled. “But not strong enough.” She lunged for him.

Billy turned, started to run—and tripped over the backpack.

He fell hard, landing on his elbows and knees.

Wooden stakes clattered across the floor in all directions.

The vampires floated over him, hissing and drooling.

Their eyes glowed with rage, with hunger.

Irene sprang at him.

Billy rolled to the left. His fingers wrapped around one of the stakes. He snatched it up.

Irene flew down on him, her fangs aimed at his throat.

And Billy shoved the stake up toward her chest.

He closed his eyes.

Irene’s weight crashed down on him.

I missed, he realized. I missed her heart.

I’m dead.

Silence for a moment.

And then Irene let out a piercing howl. As Billy opened his eyes, she flew to her feet. Then she staggered backward, the wooden stake jutting from her chest.

No blood, Billy saw. Not a drop.

Irene screamed. She tossed back her head in a long howl of pain.

And as she howled, she began to age.

Her hair turned white.

Her face wrinkled and sagged.

As Billy stared in amazement, Irene’s hair fell out, until nothing remained but a few white wisps, wriggling like snakes on her pink scalp.

Irene collapsed to the floor.

Her legs shriveled to stumps. Her face caved in. The skin flaked off, revealing gray bone.

Her screams continued from her open-jawed skull.

And then the skull crumbled into dust.

And the room was silent.

Billy stared at the puddle of dust on the floor.

Kylie’s shriek of rage made him spin around.

She grabbed Billy under the shoulders and lifted him off his feet.

“My turn,” she whispered. “My turn.”

Date: 2015-04-20; view: 610