~ Heather ~
“You knew?”
The line went silent.
So the other three members of my family knew my Grandmother’s little secret.
“Why, Auntie C? Why didn’t anyone say anything?”
“Heather, your gran made us promise.” Her soft, Irish accent filled with regret. “She made us promise for your safety. All we knew was that after your mammy died—God rest her soul—your grandmother started making plans, arrangements for your future. She was very secretive about it all.”
“So, do you—” I sighed, “—do you know what she saw? Why she has sent a damn Shifter to guard me?”
“A Shifter?” She sounded puzzled by the idea. “Are you sure it’s a shifter?”
“Yes. His name is Brendan, and he’s here in my house with a DVD recording that my Gran made.”
“Oh, darlin’. I did know that she left you a message, but I didn’t know she had recorded it. I didn’t know about the Shifter, either.” She sighed. “Oh, Sofia....”
“Then what do you know?”
“She worried you would become a threat as soon as you started trainin’, so she would make you train in the basement at our house, remember? So no one would know. So the unholy vermin wouldn’t find out.”
“I remember.”
“I swear, Heather, I didn’t know she was sending someone. Why did she send him, exactly?”
“He says for protection. I watched the DVD, Auntie C. She knew she was going to die, and she knew something was going to happen, but she didn’t tell me what. She just said that she sent Brendan to help me.”
Catherine mumbled a curse into the phone. “You have to trust her, then, Heather. She was a blessing the moment she stepped into your grandfather’s life. Her gift was a blessing to us all. Sofia would never do something on a whim. Whatever she said to you on the DVD is the truth, my darlin’, and you have to do as she told you. So keep the Shifter with you. If something is going to happen, Heather, I would feel better knowing you at least have help.”
I really wanted to protest, but unfortunately, she was right. At least, Brendan could tell Aunt C if something happened to me. I’ll give him this number for emergencies’ sake. “Oh, and I have some more good news. Gran saw Luca in London tomorrow night.”
“Aah, for the love of God.”
A small smile spread across my lips at her usual reaction to all things shitty.
“Wh—what in hell’s name is going on?”
“I have no idea.”
“Does the Shifter know? Surely she told him what is happenin’?”
“I don’t think he knows much more.”
“Well, you get him to tell you everything he knows. Remember, they are allergic to silver.”
A light laugh left me. “I remember.”
“Do you need me to send Danielle? Darlin’, if you need us, you just say so.”
“No. I’m okay.” I tried to sound positive. I didn’t want to drag my second cousin into this mess.
“All right.” She went silent for a long moment. “Heather?”
“Yeah?”
“What did Sofia say, exactly?”
“She said some Vampires would want to kill me, which we already know. Some will want to turn me, and others will want to use me.”
“Use you how, exactly?”
“I have no idea. She said she didn’t want to tell me. That I must not change the path. That I must—”
“Walk the path.” My aunt joined in. “The damn path. I—” She cut herself off with a grunted curse. “I don’t like the sound of any of this.”
“You and me both.”
“Heather, you’re special to them. You’re the first born Infected. They have wanted you dead for years. Your skills make you dangerous, but in sayin’ that, the simple fact that you have survived as long as you have...Ah, Jesus! Why didn’t she say something?”
“I don’t know, but she always had her reasons. There will be one now.” I glanced at the front door as Brendan walked in. “Anyway, I have to go. It will be nightfall soon.”
His attention settled on me as he shut the door behind him.
“Be careful.” Aunt C’s voice lingered in my ear.
“I will.” I hung up and looked at him. “I thought I’d finally got rid of you.”
“What can I say? I must be drawn to your charm.” His usual smirk fought to emerge, but failed.
I walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge, grabbing one of my bottles and popping the cap. Brendan came in and leant a hip against the wall. His gaze stayed on me as I downed half of the mixture.
So he had decided to stay, it would seem. After the conversation with my aunt, I actually felt okay about that; not that he needed to know.
I finished the bottle and placed it in the sink.
“Heather?”
“Yes?”
“What are you?”
I tensed. “That’s a bit of a strange question—”
“You smell different from other humans. Then there is the small fact that I can smell animal blood diluted in your cranberry juice.” He sighed. “Sofia told me you were different, but didn’t go into detail.”
“If I don’t smell like an average human, then I am sure you already know what I am.”
“I have an idea, but I want you to tell me.”
Irritation swam down my spine. “Why should I?”
“In order for me to help you, I need to know everything about you. Like you said earlier, I don’t know an awful lot.”
I laughed sharply at the obvious understatement.
“Look, kid, we got off to a bad start. The situation is shit, I know. But we can either try to get along, or we’ll end up killing each other. Either way, I am not leaving any time soon.
“I made a deal with your grandmother to help you, in exchange for information on a person I was looking for. She helped me find that person. She kept to her end of the deal. So, I am here now, to keep my end of the deal.” He exhaled a curse. “Perhaps it would have been better if Sofia had asked someone with a more...understanding take on things to—”
“No.” I turned to face him. “If she saw you, then.... Well, she sent you. I trust my Gran. So if it’s you she saw, then it’s you who needs to be here.”
“You’re taking everything rather well. Considering how crazy it all sounds.”
It did sound crazy, but I lived a crazy life. I lived in a crazy world. So why should my situation be so hard to believe? Why, when I have recorded proof from the one person I trust, swearing there was a reason for this madness?
I nodded and walked over to the breakfast bar, pulled out a stool, then sat down. I kept my focus on the black marble surface in front of me. “There are three stages to becoming a Vampire. Stage one: A Vampire has to bite a human—then the Vampyrric virus spreads through the bloodstream, causing the cells to mutate, which causes the human body to evolve.
“Stage two: The person then has to drink a Vampire’s blood. Drinking a Vampire’s blood after being infected is like taking an overdose. The venom inside the Vampire’s blood kills the human.
“Stage three: The corpse has to be stored in a cool, dark space to allow the Vampyrric virus to finish its mutation. If the body is kept in the heat, the venom would evaporate and cause the body to start decomposing. Once the mutation is complete, a Vampire is born.” I looked up at him. “I, on the other hand, did not go through any of that. I was born as an Infected.”
“How?”
I sighed; not a story I liked or wanted to tell, especially when my Gran’s death still had my feelings so raw. “When a human is bitten, the virus causes mutations, side effects. One of them happens to be the thirst for blood. Infecteds can be very dangerous. A hungry Vampire, especially a starved Vampire, goes into bloodlust. As the Vampire ages, it controls its urges better, but then, older Vampires don’t need to feed on a regular basis.
“Infecteds simply can’t control themselves. Some people who get infected die a
s soon as the virus starts spreading in the bloodstream, because their body rejects it. The ones who survive with the infection.... Well, they become hungry, but everything they eat just won’t fill them. Then, naturally, they figure out what they crave is blood. Some go mad and start feeding on every human they come into contact with. Some plead to be locked away, confused by their craving and scared of hurting people. The impulse to feed never leaves, and cut off from nourishment, they eventually turn insane and their bodies shrivel up. All Infecteds are offered the chance to be turned, and if they don’t take it, they die.”
“Vampires kill them to keep their existence quiet?”
“Exactly.”
He nodded, his brow furrowing. “But, if that is how they infect a human, why isn’t every person they feed from an Infected?”
“The virus is in their saliva. One bite will spread it, but if they bite and feed from you, their saliva doesn’t enter your body.”
“Because they are sucking it out with the blood?”
I nodded.
“Almost like sucking the poison from a snake bite.”
“That’s one way of looking at it.”
“Hmm. So if Infecteds go insane, why haven’t you? Does it have anything to do with the fact that you were born as an Infected?”
“Kind of.”
“How did it happen?”
“Ask a lot of questions, don’t you?”
A half smile graced his lips. “Sorry. Always been the curious type.”
I took a deep breath and then exhaled. “My father was out slaying one night when my mother was eight months pregnant. Gran was with her and had a vision of my father’s death. My mother, naturally, made Gran tell her where he was, and they both went after him. By the time they got there, Michael, the Colony leader, had drained him. My mother wasn’t paying attention, and Carlson attacked her. Gran ran in with UV lights and flung silver left, right, and centre. The Vampires scattered, and Mum and Gran dragged my father’s body with them and left.
“For three days after that, Mum got sicker and sicker. Then I was born, prematurely. My Gran did CPR on me because I wasn’t breathing. If not for her, I wouldn’t be here, but obviously, she had seen a world where I was alive.” I laughed sharply. “They buried my father, and within the month, we left London and went to Southern Ireland. We lived there with my aunt, uncle, and second cousin until I was nineteen.”
“Did any Vamps come for your mother? If Carlson bit her.... She became an Infected, right?”
I nodded. “They wanted to change her, but she refused. They didn’t bother with me; thought I’d be dead within a month or two since I was only a baby, but my Gran made diluted blood. She fed it to Mum and me, which seemed to do the trick. As I grew, she increased the dosage.” I dropped my gaze to the black marble as tears tried to surface. “Anyway, Gran knew we would be safe in Ireland. Less Vamp activity. She knew how to protect me, to keep me alive.”
“And your mother managed to control the cravings, as well?”
“For a while. She died when I was eight.” I gulped away the ball that lodged in my throat. “You—er, mentioned you met her?”
“Yeah. She came once with Sofia to see Carter. Had her sword strapped to her back and a face of stone. I made the mistake of cracking a joke of some sort to her, and she had the sword against my neck within an instant.”
I smiled at the thought. That’s the Mum I knew and loved.
He cocked his head and studied me. “You look like her, you know.”
So I have been told.
His gaze burned into mine. “I’m not a bad guy, Heather, but that is something you yourself have to decide on.”
In all honesty, I didn’t think he was a bad guy, but considering I never had been a people person, I could be so completely wrong.
“I would feel better if I came with you tonight. I can keep my distance—”
“I won’t be able to concentrate knowing that you’re following me. So you might as well join me.”
The corners of his lips picked up. “You really didn’t know I’ve been following you for the last six weeks?”
Yeah, please feel free to make me feel stupid for that, Ken Doll. I shook my head.
“Well, of course not, because if you knew someone was watching you, you probably wouldn’t have given yourself a spanking on the roof the other night.”
And just like that, the man turned the humour back on. Weird.
“Pins and needles.” I had sat on that stone cold rooftop for an hour; pins and needles danced all over my butt. I’d tried to slap the feeling back into my thighs before I set off after Carlson and Antonio. So what?
“Well, if you get them again, I would be happy to—”
Blinking, I held up my hand and cut him off. “We leave in two hours.” With a shake of my head, I hopped off my stool and headed back down to the basement, ignoring the lick of heat in my cheeks.
Chapter Four
Central London lay before me, pulsing with life. Clusters of people strolled down the street, dressed up, laughing and talking as they made their way to the local nightclubs and restaurants. The traffic was just as busy as always, the odd honking of horns followed by lewd comments as groups of young women ran in front of random vehicles.
Darkness had fallen three hours ago, covering the capital like a thick blanket. The sky stretched so clear I could see each and every star. The heat from another summer day remained in the air, creating an unbearably hot night, but nevertheless, London’s nightlife thrived, as always. The neon lights of every club, pub, restaurant, and late night takeout blazed wildly, pulling in the humans who walked below and drowning out the natural beauty of the glittering night sky. Beauty I was unable to admire due to the awareness of Brendan’s right thigh pressing against my left as we sat side by side on the rooftop of some clothes store.
Having someone tag along with me while I hunted Vampires felt weird. My Gran never joined me; she only told me which weapons to take and where to go, the rest then up to me.
Tonight’s quick sweep around Wandsworth turned out as it usually did—Vampire free. Just because I lived in the area didn’t mean that Vampires would come around and see me, not when so much to eat abounded in central London. So Brendan and I hopped into my Rover and came up here, which he found very amusing.
Why do I drive half an hour into the heart of London just to kill Vampires? Wouldn’t it make more sense to live in the city?
I didn’t live in London because I wanted to stay in my family’s house.
“How long are you planning on us sitting up here, kid?” Brendan asked.
I looked over at him. He sat still, with his head leant back against the rooftop wall, eyes closed, hands resting on his lap.
“Sorry. Is being here getting in the way of your beauty sleep?”
“I don’t need beauty sleep, kid. I’m naturally this good-looking.”
I snorted. “Whatever makes you feel good, Shifter.” No point boosting his ego.
He opened his eyes, angled his head, and looked at me. “I’m only wondering what the point of us sitting here is. If you want to find some leeches, wouldn’t it be best for us to walk around and find them?”
“You’re right. We should walk around, and once they get a good whiff of you, I’m sure they will come right up to us and say hello.” I peeked back at the club.
“It’s just a question, kid.”
“Can you stop calling me kid?” I snapped. “It may have escaped your attention, but I am not actually a child.”
The left corner of his mouth crept upward as his gaze wandered down my body. “It hasn’t escaped my attention.”
“Then stop it.”
His grin morphed into a smile. “What would you like me to call you, then?”
“Hmm, I don’t know, perhaps Heather? It’s my name, after all.”
He looked up at the sky. “Have it your way, Slayer.”
“I swear t’God,” I growled through clenched teeth.
/> “Temper.” He chuckled. “So, why are we watching this club?”
“It’s a popular spot for Vampire activity.” Back on the street, the humans queued along the length of the black, painted stone wall. I could almost make out their overexcited conversations, a never-ending flow of words which hovered underneath the loud, banging music that resonated from within the club.
Thursday night. People ended up doing that, waiting to get into a club and have a great time, their only worry being getting home safely and being able to get up for work tomorrow morning. The only predators they needed to be aware of were the opposite sex.
My gaze scanned the flat, empty roof; nothing but the night sky and a hell of a lot of other rooftops.
Moments like these, it dawned upon me that wearing too-tight clothes, ridiculous heels that I couldn’t dance in, and getting drunk might not be such a bad way to spend a Thursday night. But my Thursday night, like almost every Thursday night of my life, consisted of looking for Vampires. Hell, every night of my life was spent lurking on rooftops and in dark alleyways, daggers digging into my hips, and a sword strapped across my back. Yes, moments like these, I wished I could just quit and go home. But how could I simply quit when I knew an extremely dangerous predator hunted out there?
“Vampires like clubs,” I said. “At least, the ones who want an easy meal do. Clubs are like a box of drugs to them. All those heartbeats and all that human blood. Everyone’s drunk, sense has left their heads, and they’re taken over by raw feelings, excitement, anger, and lust.” I stared at the busy street. “So intoxicating. The smell of those emotions...they pull Vampires in.”
“Are you ever tempted by blood?”
I glanced at him.
“You can smell—”
“No, t’be sure. Never.”
What a lie. The temptation for human blood was there; even more so in a public place. I couldn’t ignore the smell. My senses were sharper than a normal human’s senses, and the smell called to me. Well, called to that darker part of me. To the part of me that was constantly thirsty.... But thanks to my mixture, and my social gatherings occurring only when I hunted, I ignored that temptation fairly easily. If I had senses as strong as a Vampire’s.... Well, I wouldn’t have trusted myself to be strong enough to resist human blood.
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