Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
“Oh, I can hear all of the ghosts around here. Every single one of them. I’ve been slaying people and setting their souls free for centuries. So many poor victims.” He looks so evil, toying with her. “Some struggle and fight. Some wilt like flowers. Some welcome me with open arms.”
I know that. I’ve seen his massacres and chases through every series.
Polly jabs the branch in his direction, like that will ever deter him. “And which do you prefer, you sick fuck?”
He shrugs. “That depends on the victim.”
“What about me? How do you think I’m going to go? I’ll fight to the death, I swear it!”
The Count is such a bastard, he laughs at her.
“That branch is hardly going to be a stake through my heart, Polly. Come! Wilt like a flower in my open arms.”
He opens his arms, and I want to be Polly Anna. I’d love to be that terrified, staring at the monster while he coaxes me in.
Her lip trembles as the tears start up. Her blonde hair is so pretty, her stunning pink dress from the gala torn to shreds.
“At least let me say my goodbyes before you leave me here as an empty corpse. I’ve only been in the village a few months, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care. It doesn’t mean people don’t care about me.”
“You don’t need to say any goodbyes. The moment you ran from the hall, everyone knew you were doomed to my will.”
I see the pain in her eyes. Her friendships shattered at the realisation that nobody tried to save her.
“You were doomed from the moment we locked eyes across Church Street, and everybody knew it.” The Count pauses. “Everyone except you.”
“This place is sick.”
“This is the place you chose to call your home.”
“But I didn’t know then…”
He steps closer. “Be honest, Polly. If you had have known, would you have turned away?”
Fuck, he’s got her. Her face tells the truth, because even now, she can’t resist him. I know that feeling in the flesh these days, not just on the screen. Heath may not be a vampire, but he’s got the same thrall. The same mesmeric beauty.
“Come,” the Count says. “Come to me and be the wilting flower. Enjoy being the petals in my arms.”
“For you to scatter me in the dirt when you’re done?”
His fangs are long now – stunning and pointed. I get a bout of goosebumps, imagining them biting down on my tit.
Polly sobs, and fucking hell, I can’t believe it. She’s been in the past two series. I like her. Surely she’s not going to die in episode one? I almost turn to Heath, but I don’t want spoilers. I CAN’T have spoilers.
She drops the branch when he closes the distance, wilting against his suited body as he takes hold of her arms. His teeth graze her neck as he smells her fear.
“I’m not going to scatter you in the dirt. Not tonight. You’re going to go home.”
She stiffens. “What?”
He laughs as he nips his teeth, just a touch.
“You’re free to go, Polly. You’re not going to be a ghost in the woods. Not this time.”
Her expression is incredible. She’s so confused, it’s palpable. Katie Ryan really is an amazing actress.
“But I thought…”
“Thought, thought, thought. So many assumptions. Always so many assumptions in this godforsaken place.”
“But when you chased me…”
I adore the Count’s laugh.
“Even vampires like to have a little fun sometimes.”
This is new. The Count is normally so brutal. I mean, I knew Polly was going to be different, because his stone cold heart had warmed to her, but this is new turf. I glance at Heath, and he’s smirking at the screen, not at me.
“No spoilers,” he says.
I watch the Count walk away from Polly, leaving her like a terrified doll in the darkness. He strolls and she watches, transfixed.
“Are you coming, or not?” he asks, casting a glance over his shoulder. “If you want to trek back to the village alone, that’s fine by me.”
“I, uh…”
He holds out a hand, his fangs still long and glinting under the moonlight.
“Come with me, or muddle your way along the path with the ghosts. Your call.”
She picks up the courage to walk towards him, and her character returns as she calms, walking along at his side.
“I thought you were in charge of my destiny, not me.”
“I still am.”
“Really? What if I choose to pack up and leave Kington? I could pack a suitcase and be out of here.”
The way he looks at her is intoxicating.
“You won’t leave. You won’t so much as pack a thing.”
And from the way he looks at her, it’s obvious. She won’t pack up and leave. Not even now she knows the truth – that the Count is a vampire who controls the whole village.
“Time for popcorn,” Josh says as the scene changes, and hands over the caramel coated pack. He grins when I take it from him. “Jeez, Ells, honestly. You’re sucked in so bad it’s hilarious.”