Hiss, Rattle and Bite

Sometime In The Middle of The Night | Part 8

She couldn't move.

She wanted to get up and she needed to pee, but Mari could not move. Twenty pounds laid on her naked abdomen, coiled and alert. She shivered and it slithered. Her night vision was unnecessary because the creature laid under the covers with her. Unsure whether to slowly slide out of bed or to jump out as quickly as possible, she remained as still as her terrified body would allow. When the snake's head moved up her torso to rest on her chest bone in between her breasts, primitive instincts kicked in. Mari launched herself out from under the covers and off her bed in seconds.

It only took four seconds, however, for the boldly colored snake with skin patterned in red, yellow, black, yellow, red, yellow, black to deliver its venom in a succession of three bites.

With just enough wherewithal to grab the green T-shirt dress lying on the back of an armchair, Mari stumbled out of the bedroom in haste. In the large living room, she paused long enough to dress herself. Bra, shoes, purse, wallet, and keys were all abandoned for now. Unable to catch her breath, she continued to shake. Marigold looked around hoping someone would come to her rescue, but she was alone. Her master wouldn't gift her with a transformative bite. Her boyfriend didn't understand her choices and now had renewed interest in a waitress at work. Her father stopped talking to her, and she could only imagine what her brother would say if he could see how far she had fallen.

"Theo!" Mari called out to the guard stationed across the huge open room.

The guard booth was small, unobtrusive and used a two way mirror. Most guests never realized that they were being observed, and sometimes recorded, while on Rhett's property.

Bare feet on cold, hardwood floors. The small hole in her chest started bleeding again. A burning sensation crossed her torso where the snake bites landed. Silence in her master's home spooked her because there were always a few people lounging and drinking until dawn. Mari clutched her chest as it tightened alarmingly. Reaching the security booth, she yanked the door open. It wasn't supposed to swing open and bang into the outer wall. It wasn't supposed to open at all. The unlocked door fueled her panic. Mari considered that she might be dreaming, but her chest pain was too real.

The small security room was empty, and on fire.

Mari felt disorientated. Someone placed a snake in her bed. Someone set fire to the keyboard and tower-style computer case in the guard's station. What was going on? And where was everyone? Needing answers and antivenom quickly, she ran to Rhett's private suite. A thoughtful person would have stayed long enough to put out the small fire. A good vampire servant would have switched to investigative or warrior mode at the first sign that danger hunted her master. But she wasn't catching snakes, putting out fires, or looking for clues. She wasn't ready to defend her turf. Marigold felt like a failure. She ran, stumbling through winding hallways and heavy, ornate doors until she reached her master's suite.

One thought lingered in her mind while all others faded.

This is not how I'm supposed to die!

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