Read RBC06.50 - Marcella, Vampire Mage for Free Online

survived.”
    “That’s all I did - survive. It did scar me. But I never take anything for granted now. Like fresh air, blue sky, family.”
    “Friends?”
    We both smiled and then we heard hissing and saw movement just ahead.
    “I thought they weren’t nesting.”
    “That doesn’t mean there aren’t serpents here. Just stay close.”
    The cavern opened up, the red glow showing us areas of caves, and a craggy outcropping ahead, which the path curved around.
    I started to hum. I had befriended a serpent charmer who happened to have been a captive of my aunt. He used to capture young serpents and make his money entertaining travelers with them. When they got too large he would sell them off or just let them go. The stories and techniques he used fascinated me.
    I continued to hum loudly a tune that I’d learned from him and four serpents rose up like cobras and swayed back and forth, their tongues tasting the air around them, the small wings on their backs fluttering slightly.
    They turned and watched us as we passed, but didn’t come closer. I could feel Richard’s apprehension as we continued along. Suddenly one snapped his jaws and dropped his head, flicking his tongue only inches from Richard’s face.
    I moved with vampire speed between the large beast and Richard, swaying and humming until the serpent calmed, matching my movements with his own.
    I pushed Richard back with one hand. The golden male raised his head and watched again as we put some distance between us. Finally the trail began to rise and with relief we exited the nesting grounds; but not alone.
    “He’s following us,” Richard whispered. “I think he’s enamored with you.”
    “Wonderful. Just ignore him. Maybe he’ll get bored.”
    Richard turned and looked back again. “He’s kind of cute.”
    I chuckled. “Maybe it’s you he’s enamored with.”
    “Maybe. Now what?”
    “We shaved off at least three hours going this way, but we’ll keep going until we reach the entrance to the next canyon. We’ll wait there.
    The golden serpent followed us the entire way, but when we stopped, he disappeared into the canyon.
    “Too bad, I’m going to miss him.”
    We found a place that while successfully hiding us from those on the trail, would allow us to see anyone coming this way.
    I took out a crimson tablet and let it dissolve on my tongue.
    “I forgot you were a vampire.”
    I shrugged. “We are who we are. There’s no hiding from it. I love being a vampire.”
    “You like the hunt?”
    “I’ve never hunted.” I looked over at Richard now. He had the most beautiful copper colored eyes. The long lashes with the gentle curve of his eyebrows framed them perfectly. He seemed to be studying me too. “It isn’t about that for most of us. I love the way I feel. Strong, fast, I see better, hear better, scent easier.”
    “It’s wonderful how you’ve embraced who you are. I get so tired of hiding who I am, what I am. All the magical races should be revered, honored; not feared and hunted.”
    “I wish it was that way too. For me, being able to be in the upper world is enough.”
    “Someone’s coming,” Richard cautioned.
    “My father will pay you.” We heard Sabine say. “He’ll pay you more than anyone down here ever could.”
    Surprisingly, she wasn’t pleading with him, but making a statement.
    “I’m going to sell you to Drakar, along with information on how to enter the Fae kingdom. I will be well paid. Then I will contact your father.”
    “I was wrong to trust Drakar.”
    Sabine attacked her captor with a burst of power. He struck her hard with the back of his hand, knocking her to the ground.
    Her captor strode to the now prone Sabine and as he reached down, Richard sprang to her defense, casting bolts of power at him.
    I whipped around to his other side, ripping his legs out from under him with a burst of energy. He hit the ground with a loud thud.
    “What are you two doing here?” Sabine asked