The idea of “easy” all but evaporated.
Though they shared the same aura as the vampire next to me, theirs were dullened, as if I were looking at them through murky water. Neither did they possess the same magnetic pull.
I stepped away from the green-eyed vampire, who seemed more dazed than a threat. Addressing the newcomers, I asked, “Whom do you serve?”
“Death,” said the woman with a shaved head and muscular build.
“Oh, do you?” I asked, taking a few steps closer. “Is that what your master told you?” I could hear the amusement and disgust in my voice. “Did you hear that, Timothy?”
Timothy tucked his tablet in his jacket. “I did, sire.”
“I was not aware these three were under my employ. Did you hire them?” I asked, sending them a grin that should have made them turn and run like hell. Instead, they crouched in a ready fighting position and their hisses intensified.
“Not as such, sire,” Timothy said in a calm, almost bored voice, then politely to the vampires, “Do you have references?”
One of them lunged at me. I smacked him to the ground so hard the pavement broke under his impact, spider webbing out under his body.
* * *
Seeing morevampires should have left me giddy with delight.Hey guys, I’m part of your bloodsucking club, let’s go for drinks and talk about how our lives have taken such a crazy turn.
But it was clear the three vampires weren’t down for the “gosh, why did this happen to us” commiseration I had in mind.
My bet was on the big scary guy who claimed to be Death. Which was exactly why I ran like hell as soon as the fighting started up. I couldn’t say I hated my newfound super speed as I hightailed it out of there.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t gone too far before someone stepped in my way. I skidded to a stop. He looked like a swole gym-bro who spent most of his life pumping iron. Seeing as he was also over six feet tall, his stature was impressive. Even his bald head looked like it had been pumping iron. His nose was wide and flat, making me think of a boxer who had taken a pounding in the face one too many times.
Despite his mega-creepy smile, I paused. He took a few steps toward me.
“Don’t even think about it, buddy,” I warned.
He grabbed my arm, but I shook him off.
“This will be easier if you don’t fight me.” His tone suggested the same open sexual invitation I saw in the dull glint of his beady eyes.Ugh, no thank you.
If he was taking me to the vampire who made us, I might find out what the hell was going on. Except there was the part where there was no freaking way I was trusting this guy.
“You’re going to want to let go of the girl and back away,” a woman’s voice interrupted.
We turned our heads to see a black woman with an afro and an expression that said she meant business. She set down the canvas bag of groceries at her side and pulled out a taser from the leather purse that hung around her shoulder. It sparked blue twice, a warning.
Bruiser’s face lit up as he looked her up and down.
Blood bags,I inwardly cursed.
Turning to face her, he said, “I suppose we have time for a snack.” I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me or just himself, but the idea of bonding over a drink did not appeal.
“Get out of here,” I warned the woman.
Cool, calculating brown eyes slid to me, then back to Bruiser. “No, ma’am.”
This wasn’t an average citizen. Her posture suggested she’d had training, maybe armed forces.
How did I know that? Was I in the army in my past life?
Bruiser smiled at her, showing off his fangs. Her eyes widened in realization that this was no ordinary meat head. He streaked toward her. She was in the last two seconds of her life.
I crashed into him before he could reach her, sending him hurtling into a brick wall. I yelled at her this time. “Go.”
