“And I was right.” He rubbed against me. “One look at you and I knew you would come here and beg me to be the one to do it.”
I wanted to retch. “How would you change me?”
“How do you want me to change you, mia piccola puttana? Should I take your life or your body first?” He dipped his mouth down to my chest and glided his fangs down my halter-top, cutting it open until the material fell in half and my black bra-clad breasts were on display. He pulled me closer. His erection stabbed my thigh as he rubbed against me like a dog in heat.
“I will make you come first. I will make you come, and then I will fuck you hard as you take my blood into your body,” he whispered in my right ear.
“Mmm.” I faked as much interest as I could as I slid my hand along his length. My stomach quivered, and my taste buds tingled, but I didn’t want to acknowledge the reason why. Instead, I focused on the feel of his dick in my hand, and on the urge I had to rip it off. My hand is so getting washed with bleach tonight.
He pulled down the zip of my trousers. “That’s what you want isn’t it, bella mia? My cock buried in your tight cunt as you drink from me. That is how you want me to change you, no?”
“Hell. No!”
I flicked my right wrist four times and smiled at the wail that left his mouth as my small silver daggers penetrated his groin. I pushed him back with all my strength, kicking him in his left ribs; the crack of his bones fracturing made me laugh. The skin on his body began shifting, the brown hair on his head slithering away. Transforming, are we?
“I don’t think so.” With another three flicks, I sent two daggers into his chest and one into his neck, using the distraction to grab my sword. I stepped toward him and rammed the blade into his abdomen, loving the feel of it penetrating his muscles.
He screeched, not knowing what piece of silver to grab first.
Tendrils of pale grey smoke rose from each area of his flesh that I had punctured. I pushed the sword in his stomach and dragged it up a few inches, moving down with him as he fell to his knees, hissing with pain.
“Stop transforming or I will gut you like a fish.”
His black eyes blazed at me as his skin settled.
“You are one stupid Vampire,” I said. “I attack you at a club, and then you believe everything I say, just because you might get the chance to fuck me?”
I shook my head, easing my sword out of his torso, then zipped up my trousers. “If you didn’t let your damn dick make all your decisions, you wouldn’t be in this mess, Luca. You’re a fucking second generation, you should know better—”
“Sgualdrina.”
“I might be an Infected, but you’re the whore in this situation. Now, tell me where Marko is.”
“Never.” He grunted as he pulled the dagger from his throat.
I held my sword to his failing erection, letting the silver slide playfully along his length.
“Can you grow another if I cut it off? I don’t know how this whole healin’ thing works, but I’m pretty sure you can heal only what is attached to you.” I looked into his black eyes and smiled sweetly. “Hmm. I suppose we could find out?”
I swivelled my wrist, causing my sword to swing.
“Venice.”
I held my sword still as my stomach flipped. “Marko is in Venice?”
Luca shook his head. “I do not know where Marko is, but my Mistress is in Venice.”
Not the information I want.
I pressed the tip of my sword to the head of his dick. “Where is Marko?”
“That is one piece of information she would never tell me,” he hissed.
His Mistress probably didn’t trust him. Couldn’t blame her; he had bollocks for brain. Try and kill him, and then tell him I’ve changed my mind and wanted to screw him, and he forgave me. Threatened to cut off his dick and he told me everything. I, personally, wouldn’t let him out on his own.
“You want Marko, you go to my Mistress, Marie. She is the one you want. She is one of his Bloodlings, as you said. She is one of his favourites.”
A favourite? How interesting. “Where in Venice?”
His skin began moving; one of my daggers slithered from his chest and fell to the floor.
Had to be quick. I jammed the tip of my sword against his limp dick.
His lips twitched. “Sestiere San Polo.”
“How long will she be there?”
“Indefinitely.”
“I hope you are not lying.”
A wide smile spread across his lips.
“But just in case, I think I may have to do something to get your Mistress’ attention. You’re my first second generation. I will try to be gentle.”
He jumped up, his skin still moving along his bones. His jaw dropped, fangs extending as he screeched at me.
I back stepped and swung my sword through his jaw. His naked body hit the floor; his head followed.
“And just for the record, I would rather die than be one of you.”
I watched as his skin melted from his skeleton; watched as his bones turned to dust. I hated them, but at least they had the decency to get rid of their own bodies once I had killed them. Sure saved me a job.
I just hoped he wasn’t lying. Otherwise, I might, just possibly, regret doing that. But with Luca dead, the blood-bond he had with his Mistress would be severed, which meant Marie would be weak for a few days, having lost one of her energy sources. She would also be pissed. So, even if Luca had lied, she would send someone for me, just in case I didn’t find her first.
Either way, it works.
I bent down to the female on the floor and shook her gently.
She grunted.
“Are you okay?”
Her eyes snapped open at my question and she backed away.
“I’m not going to hurt you. Get some clothes on and go over to apartment 16D. You will be safe there.”
I opened the bedroom door and walked into the kitchen, leaving the girl to make up her mind. I ran the cold tap and angled my head beneath the running stream. Water never killed the thirst, but at least the cold liquid helped. A splash on my face, then I turned off the tap. Muffled thudding and moaning still came from somewhere below me. I had done what I had to do. I could only hope that Luca had told me the truth, or that he at least meant something to Marie, so hopefully, she would find me if I didn’t find her.
Now I just need to save every human in the entire building.
An almighty crash sounded. The building shook. I ran to the apartment door and flung it open. A howl emanated up the stairs and travelled all the way into my bones. My lips pulled into a smile. Brendan had decided to join the fun, and it sounded like he was indeed a wolf.
Where the hell has he been?
I looked out of the open door to see two Vampires doing the same from the other two units. Their attention snapped to me. Before the first one lunged, I flicked my right wrist and shot two daggers into his forehead. He screeched and stumbled backward, hitting the terracotta wall behind him. I slid my other dagger from my holster and threw it into the advancing female’s mouth; she wailed and fell back into the darkness of the flat she had emerged from. I turned on the male as he dropped the two silver daggers on the carpet. Before he had a chance to retaliate, I swung my sword through his neck. His head tumbled to the floor.
On to the far door, which the female Vampire had fallen through. I stopped by the panel and reached into my bag, retrieving a UV light. I shook the cube—it began to glow a pure white—then threw it into the living room. I stood in the open doorway, waiting to hear a hiss or wail.... Nothing.
I stepped in. The smell of fresh blood hit me, making my thirst kick in once more. Ignoring the itch in my throat, I peered into the small kitchen; empty. Back up against the opposite wall and looked into the small bathroom. Also empty. The UV had landed underneath the living room chair—not helpful—but from this angle, I couldn’t see anyone in the living room, either.
I slid my back along the wall
and looked around the room. A young girl’s body lay shredded on a tatty brown sofa. Her neck had been ripped open, and by the lack of bloodstains on her body and the sofa, the bitch hiding in here had obviously drained her dry.
Where are you hiding?
My arm hit the frame of the bedroom door. With a deep breath, I pushed the handle down and let the door fly open. I slid around the frame, keeping my back against the wall. My eyes finally adjusted to the darkness. Yet again, an empty room.
Where the hell did she go?
The building shook again, and the sound of glass breaking echoed below, followed by Brendan’s bloodcurdling howl, bellowing up the stairway.
What is he doing?
I turned to walk out and two black eyes met my gaze. A growl caught in my throat as the female Vampire, hung upside down in front of my exit, wailed. The bitch had been on the ceiling. She brought her left hand down. I ducked as she aimed for my face but ended up catching my right shoulder instead. I sucked in a sharp breath as her razor-sharp nails sliced through my flesh. Pain pulsed down my entire arm. She went to strike me again, but I moved too quickly and landed on the bed. My head swam at the smell of my blood, oozing from the deep shoulder wound. I lifted my head off the mattress and looked through fuzzy eyes. The Vampire wasn’t there, which meant....
I gripped my sword tighter as the bitch landed in front of me. She lunged. I brought my legs up and kicked as hard as I could. The movement made my back twinge, but I got her in the ribs and sent her flying into the wardrobe. I rolled off the bed and spun to face her; she hissed at me, then...ran straight out of the room.
“What the fuck?” I ran out of the bedroom and into the empty living room. My gaze shot to the ceiling. My right arm throbbed with blistering heat as I ran out of the apartment and checked the hall ceiling. The bitch actually ran off. I don’t frickin’ believe it.
Another crash echoed up the stairwell. I ran quickly to the last flat and told the human to go to 16D, then made my way back to 13D. Once I made sure no one else lurked, I headed into the bathroom and stripped off what remained of my halter-top. Three long, deep gashes ran from my right shoulder to the top of my right breast.
Oh, I will get you for that.
I wiped away the blood and grabbed the first aid kit by the sink. Unbelievable. These humans get chewed on like some damn dog toy and they get a fucking first aid kit, as if a few alcohol wipes and plasters would mend the damage. I couldn’t wait to cut the head off the bitch that ran this hell house.
I quickly bandaged my arm, then grabbed a shirt from the wardrobe, knotting the bottom, due to its size.
At the sound of another howl and some furniture breaking, I jogged to the grey stairwell door, then down the stairs to find Brendan—which wouldn’t be hard, since he should be the only Wolf in the building.
Despite the building shaking and the constant sound of something smashing, the third-storey corridor looked fine. All four unit doors had been opened. After a quick scope of each room and the entire ceiling, I moved on to the next flat and continued until I had checked the entire level. All the apartments stank of blood and sex; every item of furniture was trash, the lighting deliberately dim.
As I stepped through the doorway of 9C, I could hear low mumbles coming from behind the bedroom door. I quickly checked the rest of the apartment before pushing open the door. I held my sword before me. Three females and a male huddled in the far corner.
“Are you okay?” I asked, lowering my sword and walking into the room.
“Who are you?” a busty brunette asked, her voice shaking.
“That isn’t important. Where have your—your clients gone?”
The fear that stretched across their faces began to fade slightly. A skinny blonde girl stood, then took three steps toward me.
“At the sound of—” she gulped,“—whatever is making that noise, and the smashing, the guy with me just got up and ran out of the room.”
“The entire fucking building shook,” the brunette added.
“Did all your clients run out and leave you?”
Clients. Why the fuck am I calling them clients? They know what they are.
Another howl sounded from right below us. The girl shrank back into the corner with the others.
“Listen. Go upstairs. Go to flat 16D, your friends are hiding in there. If any of these bastards get in, fight them.”
“We’ve tried to fight them before.” The blonde’s voice cracked. “They are too strong.”
“There are more of you. If you see any of my silver daggers in the hall upstairs, grab them and keep them on you. Silver hurts them, a lot.”
“Who are you?”
“Not important. Now, follow me if you want to get out of here.” I checked the corridor before I let the four of them slip out. They ran up the stairs, tripping over one another as they hurried. Hopefully, they would be safe.
The building shook again.
I ran down the stairs, two steps at a time, heading for the second floor.
What the hell is Brendan doing?
The shaking made sense as I pushed open the grey door leading to the second floor. Not that I could actually see the floor of the second level, due to the stone and debris vomited all over the place. Two massive holes sat directly across from each other. Brendan had been having some fun.
I stepped carefully over random bricks and peered into the giant gaping to my left. He’d broken every piece of bedroom furniture and smashed the two narrow windows, letting the glow of the orange streetlights below leak in. The hole to the right showed the same mess in yet another trashed bedroom.
I continued down the corridor, my focus on the floor as I watched my step. An almighty howl broke and I looked up just in time to watch a female Vampire sail through the air from the doorway of the second left apartment. Her head smashed against the terracotta wall, but as soon as her feet hit the floor, she jumped into a normal stance, a wail leaving her monstrous mouth. A savage snarl met her wail and before I could blink, a mountain of copper-blond fur, teeth, and claws pounced on her.
“Oh, holy shit.” That wasn’t an average Wolf Shifter howling. That was a fucking Werewolf.
The enormous Wolf swiped its claws into the left side of the female’s neck—tearing out a chunk of flesh and muscle. The Vampire’s black blood flooded down her side. The animal swiped its claws into her neck again, knocking her head clean off. I sucked in a sharp breath at the sight; the Werewolf’s head snapped around, and its golden gaze focused on me.
Speak of the Wolf and you’ll see his fangs.... And they are some impressive Wolf fangs.
My heart stopped as the Werewolf straightened to its full height; it towered well over six feet, and as it turned, I could clearly see it was more man than wolf. Its broad, muscular chest rose and fell as its breathing slowed. I couldn’t keep my gaze from roaming over every inch of its body. Blood and debris clotted its fur. It stood boldly on two gigantic paws supporting thick, muscular legs. A shaggy tail hung between his thighs. Long, sharp claws emerged from huge hands.
At the sound of a deep grunt, my focus snapped to the Werewolf’s face; golden eyes looked at me down a long muzzle. It panted softly, but I didn’t miss the size of the teeth that peeped out of his slightly open mouth; half the size of a Vampire’s fangs, but just as razor sharp.
I stood helplessly for a moment, simply staring in stupid, stunned belief. What the hell am I supposed to do? Throw him a brick so we can play fetch? Would Brendan find that funny?
“Brendan?” I asked, trying to hold really still so that I didn’t startle him.
The Werewolf’s long ears went back, its eyes narrowing as a growl rumbled from the depths of its belly. Its lips peeled back in a snarl.
Oh, fuck.
“Brendan?” I said again, my grip on my sword tightening as I took a step backward. The Werewolf’s knees bent, its hands flexing at its side. “Easy, boy. Stay.”
With a monstrous roar, he lunged. The air caught in my throat,
and my foot slipped on a cluster of stones. I fell back just as the Werewolf flew over me in a streak of copper. My head smashed into a pile of rocks, and I sucked in a sharp breath as the pain of the impact pulsed through me. A crash sounded behind me. I scrambled over onto my stomach, blinking away the mist in my eyes. The Werewolf threw two Vampires through the stairwell door, then turned back to look at me.
My brow furrowed.
“It is you, isn’t it?” I asked, feeling stupid for a million reasons.
A lazy smile spread across the mutt’s face, and he winked at me. Such a normal reaction, and yet, coming from a Werewolf, disturbing as hell. Before I could say anything else, Brendan leapt after his two new playmates.
“Son of a bitch,” I mumbled as I pushed myself up and set off after him.
The sound of grunts and thuds echoed in the corridor below. I carefully jogged down the stairs, watching for the dents where Vampires had landed and cracked the wood.
I walked through the doorway just in time to see a Vampire on top of Brendan, its tongue lashing side to side. Brendan had his claws on the male’s shoulders. With an ongoing string of growls, he pushed against the Vampire, keeping its fangs at arm’s length. I walked up alongside them, and the Vampire’s black gaze shot to me.
“Hey, there.” I brought my sword up through the Vampire’s mouth and slid it through his skull.
The Vampire’s body sagged. Brendan threw it to the side.
I stepped back as Brendan got up. “So this is your weekend look?”
Once he was on his feet, he looked at me with a raised brow, and then rolled his eyes.
Weird. So weird, but ha! He can’t talk.
“I think I like you better this way; you’re less opinionated.”
He grunted.
“I found Luca. Got my info. He’s dead. There are some humans upstairs. I want to make sure they are okay.”
He nodded.
“Are there any more Vampires on this corridor?”
He nodded toward the end door.
“But other than that, all the Vampires in the building are dead, I take it?”
He let out a huffed breath and gave me a thumbs-up.
Cranberry Blood Page 12
