‘Thanks, years of practice.’
‘Oh, like how many years?’
Sadie tilts her head and considers.This should be good,I think.
‘Two hundred and twenty-five,’ she says with a smile. ‘As I said, years of practice.’
The hairs on the back of my neck rise. That’s a bit creepy and kind of authentic sounding. But I haven’t seen anything equating to bite marks on my body when I’ve been washing it in the shower. I noticed I was losing a little muscle tone since I’ve been held captive, but I’ve since been doing some press-ups and sit-ups and leg lifts to counteract that. Also some jogging on the spot. I need to keep up my strength in case I need to fight off and outrun three women. Plus call me vain, but I’ve worked hard for these abs lugging equipment around, and I don’t want to get pudgy.
‘At least tell me about why you’re keeping me here. I deserve to know. But don’t give me any “I’m a vampire”bullshit because I won’t believe it.’
Sadie is motionless, then slowly turns her head to face me. ‘What would it take for you to believe it?’ she asks.
I shrug. ‘Uh, I dunno. Can you read my mind?’
She shakes her head. ‘No, you’re an anomaly in that respect.’
I smirk to myself.Nice save. That lets you off the hook for telepathy.
‘Can you shape-shift into a bat?’
She shakes her head. ‘No.’
‘Eject mist from your pores?’
‘No.’
‘Fly?’
‘No. Floss can, but not me.’
‘Wow, that would be cool,’ I say, going along with it.Fly? Yeah right!‘Shame you can’t do that.’
Sadie narrows her eyes. ‘You’re starting to make me feel like a subpar vampire, Elliott.’
‘Well, whatcanyou do?’ I say, poking her shoulder with my finger. When she doesn’t respond, I poke her again.
‘Don’t niggle me, Elliott. I’ve been good about not messing with you. But if you push me, I will,’ she asserts in a low threatening tone.
I can’t help it. I laugh out loud. It just sounds so ridiculous! I’m taller and brawnier than her, and ifshe thinks she can overpowerme,she really is nuts. I flex one of my biceps, which is toning up again nicely.
‘I’d like to see you try,’ I say confidently.
One second, I’m sitting on the bed; the next, I’m slammed against the wall above the headboard with so much force all the breath is expelled from my lungs.
Sadie stands on the bed below me, lightly bouncing, a look of concentration on her face.
‘Urrrgghh,’ I gasp as an unseen fist closes around my throat, cutting off most of my airway, but not quite. I can’t move a muscle. It’s like being flattened by an ironing board.
There’s a sharp knock on the door. ‘Sadie, what are you doing in there? You’re not drinking from Elliott, are you?’ It sounds like that Hester woman.
‘No,’ Sadie replies. ‘We’re just playing a little game.’ With a smirk, she shifts me along the wall and back again, then up and down like I’m a Pac-Man.
‘Oh, right. Well, keep the noise down.’
The invisible force releases me, and I fall onto the bed in a heap, gasping for breath. I clutch at Sadie’s bare ankles, and she leans down and pats my head gently, as if I’m her pet.
‘Believe me now, pretty boy?’
