Page 10 of Blood Magic

Chapter Four

It was sheer pride and hatred alone that helped me slow my headlong rush from the master’s chamber. I wanted to run. I needed out of the stifling, despairing, blood-soaked house of horrors. But I forced myself to stride out. I would not let them see my fear.

No one tried to stop me, but I could feel their stares as I bypassed the creepy elevator, finally found the stairs, and made my way through the huge hall. It felt like the longest walk of my life.

Finally, I reached the doors. One of the guards flung them open, and I rushed out into the blessed fresh air. I pulled in deep breath after deep breath, trying to clear the awfulness of the vampires from my lungs and my mind.

I’d made a mistake. Several mistakes. The first one had been going into the vampires’ home without knowing what I was going into. The second had been in thinking I could simply walk in off the street and investigate the fucking vampire master of the county. And the third, and most deadly, had been disrespecting the master. He wasn’t going to let that go.

I’d staked a couple of vampires in my time, but they’d been sick, rogue vamps munching on and killing people in the shadows of the city. They hadn’t had a coven behind them, and they had not been so powerful that they’d made me want to tear my flesh from my bones.

Wolves were as strong as vampires. That was a fact. But a new, young wolf who’d spent all her adult life with the humans was no match for a master vampire. It was a good lesson to learn.

Max was standing outside the car when I walked across the street, his phone in his hand. He looked heavenward, then put his hand on his chest. “Finally. I was worried.” Then he got a look at my face and rushed to open my door. “You okay?”

Just before I climbed in, something, a movement, a feeling, or maybe just an area of shadow darker than the others caught my eye. I hesitated, frowning.

“What is it?” Max whispered.

“Not sure,” I said.

But I understood something suddenly. This was vampire territory. The master hadn’t plunked his house down amongst the humans, not really. At least not happily clueless humans. This was a neighborhood of nonhumans, just as Jared’s Shadowfield and Adam Thorne’s Stonebridge were nonhuman communities.

It only looked human on the outside—just like the vampires.

A shadow abruptly slid from the other shadows and walked toward me, cautiously, suspiciously, but with an overlay of desperation so thick I could almost see it.

“It’s a young girl,” Max murmured, then, louder, “Can we help you?”

“Not a young girl,” I said, my voice low. “A vampire.” And just because she looked young didn’t mean she was.

She stopped when she was still a couple of yards away. “I’ve heard of you. We all have. I need to tell you something.”

I relaxed a little, then with a glance at the innocent-looking vampire house across the street, I motioned her forward. “We won’t hurt you,” I said, causing Max to glance sharply at me. I knew he was more worried about her hurting us, but I’d just faced down the master. A single vampire—male or female—was not going to scare me.

She was a slender girl with dark hair, flawless skin, and the sort of dead agony I’d only ever seen in vampires sifting through her deep brown eyes. “You’ve come about the experiments,” she said, darting a nervous look across the street.

She moved a step closer and Max flinched. Just a little, but I noticed. I imagine she did, as well.

“What experiments?” I asked.

“He’s learning to control susceptible humans beyond the shading,” she hissed. “My maker is the only one who can help you, and the master has buried him. Save him.” And there was the reason for her desperation. She needed me to save her maker, and she was offering me the information in return—and his help should I succeed.

“Where is he buried?” I asked, keeping my voice low.

“Long Shadow,” she whispered. “Beneath the golden tree. Free him and he’ll help you. He’s the only one who dares.”

Long Shadow was a large, ancient graveyard in the hills at the edge of the city. I’d never seen a golden tree there, but the cemetery was mystical—creepy, if you will. If the vampire girl said there was a golden tree, then I’d find a golden tree.

I frowned. "Why would he?"

“Because he does not care if he dies,” she said, “and he dreams of something better.” Then she disappeared into the shadows so quickly it was like she hadn't been there at all.

I rubbed at the goosebumps on my arms, but I couldn't force them away. “Fucking spooky,” I muttered.

“He’s going to punish her,” Max said, staring into the shadows.

I climbed in and started the car. “She was quick and discreet. He won’t know.”