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Scuffling overhead.
I let go of the woman’s arm, turning her toward me gently. Leaning in close, I point toward the ceiling. “Is the man upstairs?” I whisper.
She nods her head, eyes flashing wide. Thankfully, her response is another whisper. “The attic.”
Dogs still hoot and holler, hopefully giving me the advantage. Without the proper knowledge, hearing a specific sound over the noise ofeverythingcan be a hard skill to master.
I leave the woman in the hall, sidestepping her to ascend a set of rickety wooden stairs. I climb the creaking boards three at a time, moving swiftly.
As I approach the aged door at the peak of the stairs, I slow to a snail’s pace and listen. I can make out the faint sound of shuffling feet. There’s definitely something inside, and it’slarge.
In one swift motion, I push the door open, its rusted hinges screaming louder than the animals downstairs.
In spite of the clamor, I spot the creature in action.
A pitiful excuse for a vampire, a totalfiend, bows over the corpse of a young woman. The tanned girl lies motionless, her limbs twisted in unnatural angles. Her black leather skirt hangs around her waist in pieces, completely shredded, and her throat-
Her throat is no longer there. It’s beeneaten.
My hands clench tightly as I meet his surprised gaze. He leaps to his feet, knees bent and fingers clawed.
I shake my head, closing the attic door as I step into his forbidden lair. It’d be a shame if the poor woman downstairs witnessed what’s about to happen, regardless of whether or not she’d remember it. “Marcus, Marcus, Marcus…” I smile at him. It’s the same smile I gave Rune’s guards; the same smile I gave Margret. Only this time, the expression is layered, deepened by the red hot fury raging beneath my skin.
He spits, leaving a puddle of blood on the hardwood. “I don’t know who the fuck you are,” he says, voice distorted with anger. “But you have to die now.”
I loosen my gloves, pulling the first one off by the fingertip. “I’m sorry, Marcus, but you’ve been misinformed. If anyone is dying tonight, I guarantee it’ll be you.” His face screws, causing his bald head to wrinkle. He opens his mouth to speak, but I stop him, holding up a finger. “But-” I remove my remaining glove, tucking it into my jacket pocket. “I’m supposed to keep you alive. Your choice.”
He leaps toward me, my warning falling on deaf ears. To be honest, I was betting on him to make this mistake. The pressure of being trapped in the city, paired with my misguided feeding and the urge to fuck my human neighbor- well, it’s all been a bitmuch.Blowing off steam with dear old Marcus is exactly what I need right now.
I calculate where to place my fists as he flies through the air. Before he lands atop me, my arms shoot outward, catching him in his spleen and throat with one fluid motion.
Marcus stumbles backward, bending to hug his stomach as he chokes on air. While his back is lowered, I jab my elbow into his spine.
He crumples to the ground with a thud.
I crouch beside him, slapping one cheek until his squeezed eyes re-open. “Do you understand now, Marcus?” I bend closer, allowing my fangs to descend. “You aren’t the only apex predator in the room.”
The terror in his face does nothing to lighten my rage, especially not when my peripheral is consumed by the growing pool of blood oozing from the corpse lying nearby. I wrap a single hand around Marcus’ throat, squeezing until his eyes bulge, their whites pooling with crimson liquid. “You’ve beenvery,” I lift his head, slamming it onto the wooden board below. “careless.” I repeat the action again.
And again.
And again.
Soon, Marcus is crying blood, and his head is seeping.
I shove myself to my feet, reaching into my suit to retrieve the Night Order’s invitation.
“If you want to survive, then you need to do three simple things.” I begin, waving the sealed envelope in the air. “First, leave this home and never return. Do not kill the remaining human resident. Since youbither, the venom will make her confused about what’s happened. Fix her husband up so it looks like an accident.”
Marcus coughs, spitting blood onto his chin.
I grin. “Great. Second, stop killing girls and leaving them where the police can find them. That’s astupidfucking mistake.” I scowl at him, dropping the invitation. It glides to his chest, landing with a soft thud.
“And finally, make it to this meeting. If you don’t go, you die. End of story.”
Marcus pushes up on his elbows, wheezing. “Who are you?”
I stare at him, letting the truth settle into my bones.
