At first, she felt nothing.
Then, the unbearable pain came in tidal waves. It struck her like lightning - so fast that she didn't see it coming. She gasped in pain, her whole body flared in it but that particular spot a little bit above her heart ached more and more than any other part of her. Tears prickled inside her eyes as she lost her balance and fell on her knees.
She could feel numerous eyes on her and the silence that went with those stares was empowering. She felt the air shift and in seconds, arms were wrapped around her body, holding her closely. An arm moved and tried to pull the stake from her body and she was quick to grab the hands -which were covered with vampire blood but she let it pass - and she intertwined their fingers, placing their closed fists away from her wound.
