“How do you know?” I whispered the words like a confession.
“I’ll see you later.” He gave me a firm pat on the shoulder. “Remember, no biting.”
“Where are you going?”
He ignored me, but that was the least of my worries.
I wanted to drink someone’s blood so badly my gums hurt.
The sun had set, and I’d barely rested for a few minutes when someone kicked the front door hard enough to break the hinges. A cold gust of wind swept through the room. Three men strode in, Riley in the middle. Their heartbeats thundered.
I shot up, my head spinning.
Years ago, in a moment of desperation, my parents had asked Riley for money to pay the medical bills piling up faster than the sand in an hourglass. They’d never repaid him, not in full, and he’d asked for more after each delayed payment. The debt belonged to me now.
“Oh, were you asleep?” Riley’s dark coat stretched over his broad build, and his sturdy boots could crush a skull.
“I have money.” Shaking, I put the box on the table.
He cast an uninterested glance at it.
“Take the money.” I shoved the box towards him.
“You don’t give me orders!” His voice boomed in the confined space of the kitchen.
I flinched.
His eyes could have been chipped out of diamonds. Their disturbing white-blue colour glinted cold and unforgiving.
He pointed a finger at himself. “I give the orders. You obey.”
His hair was cut short, showing a half-moon scar on his scalp—a blade, perhaps. The blow should have killed him.
He opened the box and scoffed. “Four sovereigns. I demand eight for your insolence.” He slammed his palms on the table, causing the bowls to rattle.
“I don’t have that much.” I struggled not to stammer. “I’ll have more soon.”
Riley shook his head. “You’re late. Who is late always pays.” He clicked his tongue. “It’s a shame your beautiful sister isn’t here. I would have enjoyed her company.”
Anger shuddered through me. “You aren’t worthy of speaking about her.”
“I also enjoy fear and pain. I feed off them. And you’re frightened and in much pain.” His voice became more seductive. “Your fear is delicious.”
All the anger and pain boiling inside me came out. I lunged and bit his neck. The relief lasted a split second because only a drop of his blood landed on my tongue, and it tasted like rotten meat.
He yelled, and a green blast of light came out of him. Whatever the force was, it shoved me to the other side of the room.
Pure fury strained his face. “You filthy bastard.” He marched towards me. Each step caused the floor to shake. “You’re goingto suffer for this like no other. I will curse you so viciously, you’ll wish to die. Your urchin friend will be next.”
He lunged with ferocity, and I was too weak to defend myself.
10
A NOCTURNAL TRIP
Irene
What I loved most about my morning ride with Papa was that the park and pavements were empty. Dealing with my curse was easy.
