Read Online Flight of the Phoenix by Melanie Thompson - Free Book Online Page A

snarled inside his head. “Get up, get moving and find me a woman!”
    â€œI need rest.”
    â€œYou can’t stop now. You must climb down into the city and find me a victim. I long to kill. I need to hear the screams of some innocent as she lies helpless before us. It has been so long…” The last word was a wail inside Priest’s head that went on and on.
    He grabbed his hair and tore out a handful. “I will rest and you will allow this or I swear by my dragon mentor, I will find a priest and exorcise you.”
    Malenfant giggled hysterically. “Won’t work, my wonderful friend. I am no demon. I am merely a partner you agreed to take on when you used my bones in your perverted ritual. Now get up and find me a victim.”
    Priest moaned as he stumbled to his feet. “I can’t. Don’t you see driving me this hard will kill me and then you will live no more as well? If I die, you die.”
    The voice laughed. “You’re immortal. Quit crying and get moving. I must taste blood this day or you will suffer the consequences.”
    Goaded beyond his limits, Priest left the comfort of the cave and stumbled toward the small town at the base of the rock. “If I find you a victim, then will you allow me to rest?”
    The voice purred. “Yes, Draak Priest. After we kill, then we can rest.”
    * * * *
    The trip under the sea to the mouth of the Congo River passed rapidly. Bryn tried to recoup her strength. She knew the trip upriver would be difficult. Sam and Tures continued to grow closer. She felt the loss of her friend but rejoiced over Sam’s newfound happiness.
    â€œLet’s go sit in the control room,” she said to Quinn who lay on their bunk with his hands behind his head.
    â€œAre we getting close?”
    â€œI would ask Tures that exact question. I think we must be. She said three days and yesterday was the third day.”
    Quinn swung his long legs over the side of the bunk. “I’ll be glad to get out of this sardine can.”
    Bryn smiled. “For one as tall as you, quarters inside this vessel must indeed be cramped.”
    Quinn grimaced. “I’ve been feeling a trifle claustrophobic. I don’t see how these people, if indeed you could call them people, live in this thing.”
    Bryn grabbed his hand and squeezed. “Be careful what you say. The walls have ears. Just be packed and ready to go.”
    Quinn held up the velvet bag containing the charm that would enable them to make love. “This is all I’m carrying. We came with nothing, we leave with nothing.”
    Heat rushed into Bryn’s face. She kissed him and the kiss rapidly grew dangerous. When she broke it off, they were both panting. “Do not show that to anyone.”
    Quinn grinned as he shoved it back into his pocket. “Wouldn’t dream of it. I do not plan to let it out of my sight or to allow it to leave my person.”
    She led him into the control room, still warm from his kiss. Sam and Tures stood together by the pedestals with the swirling globes. Fenix sat in one of the leather chairs staring out of the huge windows. Bryn knew Tomlinson and his new buddy, Brighthouse, would be in the engine room absorbing as much of the cutting edge technology they could hold. “Where are we?” Bryn asked Tures.
    â€œTen miles north of the river. I’m setting the ship on the bottom and letting some of my crew members out to feed. This is a heavily jungled area. There will be plenty of game and few humans to tempt them from their vows.”
    â€œWhat happens if they break those vows?”
    â€œTrue death,” Tures said in a flat voice. “And after a taste of immortality, that is a terrible threat.”
    Bryn flinched. The vampires must be starving but beyond baring their fangs once in a while, they’d never shown any aggression. They’d been running for five days including the pickup day and the fight