Chapter Nine
I screw my eyes shut and open them again, trying to make it all go away, trying to make it right. The head still hangs in the air, the eyes gleaming as blood drips off the end of the dangling entrails. Olivia whimpers and I push her face into my chest.
"Shh, Oily. Shh."
"Nam!" Mink sounds a long way away.
I turn towards his voice and ice runs into my veins. Between us and Mink, hangs a wall of glowing red heads, long hair flowing in the fans, eager flashing eyes locked on us. The tinny, hard smell of blood cuts through the vanilla.
"Mink?" I call softly trying not to scare the little girl in my arms.
"They won't hurt you."
"What?"
"He needs you."
He needs me? Oh thanks!
"They've been sent for you," Mink starts then trails away.
I can just make out his white robes, through the red and black canvas of floating heads.
"Don't like them, Nammy."
"It's okay darling. Don't look. Just a dream, you'll wake up soon."
Oh yes, please let this be just a dream. Please.
"Oh, okay."
"Just a nasty old dream."
"Will you be there when I wake up?"
"Of course I will," I say and set her down gently.
High above, more Krasue hang in the dark sky, watching us.
"Nammy?"
"Yes, Olivia?"
She's pointing at a gap in the wall of heads. A white robed figure with a frizzy halo of red hair stands, beckoning us.
"Donny," I whisper.
"Don't like Donny."
"No, he's horrible."
The wailing starts up again.
"Nam, you must not go with Donny!" shouts Mink.
"So what's your plan, Mink?"
I can just make out his small bald head shaking.
Useless, sodding useless.
I'm breathing hard. My blood's coming to the boil as the red hot flush spreads up my neck and onto my cheeks. I go to ping my elastic band, but it's gone.
"Nam, Olivia, walk to me," comes Donny's smooth, slimy voice.
"Leave us alone, Donny!" I shout back.
The wailing goes up several notches and the wall of floating red heads moves in, coming for me.
Shoulders shaking, I push Olivia behind me and face the nearest Krasue.
"Oi, you! Out of my way, move!"
I wave my hands and the wall ripples, like a wave passed through it.
"Scared, Nammy."
"Stay behind me, Oily. Remember, it's only a silly dream."
She nods, trying to believe.
"Stay away from their tongues!" shouts Mink.
Their tongues!
As if they heard him, the nearest Krasue slide their mouths open and long spits of green fire snake out. The stench of sour oranges hits me hard and I fight back my gag reflex, breathing hard and fast through my teeth.
YOU ARE READING
Lotus Blood
ФэнтезиNam's life stinks. She loathes having to live in baking hot Thailand where she hates the food and can't speak the lingo. Now her boyfriend back in England has dumped her and she has no idea that the Mara, the Buddhist devil, wants her for his blood...
