Blood Lust (The Blood Sisters Book 1)

by Jill Cooper

  Jessica couldn’t watch anyone die like that, least of all Duncan. It didn’t matter what happened in the past. After the moment they had that night? Jessica had to save him, even if it meant dooming herself. She readied her shotgun and took a deep breath.

  Her eyes closed. Jessica centered herself.

  Standing from her hiding place, she marched four steps, took aim at the demon with the knife, and fired. The demon’s head was thrown back as the slug entered through his forehead, spraying blood out the front—splattering Duncan—and out the back toward the house.

  Duncan fell to his knees, hands behind his back searching for the knife. “Run, Jess! Get out of here!”

  Run? Leave him? Sorry, but that just wasn’t her style.

  Jessica didn’t wait to cock the gun, a shell fell to the ground and she took aim again, this time at Vaughn. She took another step, her jaw tight together as she glowered at the possessed human.

  Tall, muscular, fit.

  He had no right to inhabit that body. No right at all. Now Jessica was going to end that human’s torture by ending its possession. Her way might be a little different than Amanda’s, but it got the job done.

  Vaughn held up his hands. The demon horde of henchmen tensed, ready to strike at her. Ready for him to give the word. “You’re only alive because I decree it.” When he spoke he bared his teeth at her. One angry eye was glowing red behind the mask while the other one was a radiant blue.

  “You’re the one who took my sister? Who sent that harpy after her?”

  Vaughn’s laughter seemed to emanate deep within his throat. He cupped his hands in the air, drawing attention to his black pointed fingernails. “That harpy, as you call her, is mine. And she’s on a short leash.”

  “Then I’ll kill you and find them both.” Jessica readied her gun to take the shot.

  Vaughn lowered his arms to his side. “I’ve been waiting a long time to find you. Meet you in person, and you don’t disappoint, even for a Blood.”

  Even for a Blood? What the hell did that even mean? Maybe her aunt had a run-in with him before. Whatever, Jessica didn’t care. She was about to take her shot when Vaughn made a cutting gesture with his hands and the demon henchmen made their move.

  They lunged for her like rabid dogs. Jessica backed up and fired a shot into one demon before readying herself for the next. They swarmed at her and there was no way she could see to win. There were too many.

  Jessica needed higher ground to clear the field, but she allowed herself a moment to gaze over at Duncan. Face down in the dirt, he worked to cut his restraints, but he wasn’t clear yet. She had to keep the demons off of him as well as the ones charging towards her. To win this fight she needed higher ground, but there was none.

  None she could get to.

  Jessica was going to fall one way or another, might as well take a few of them with her. She fired her shotgun into the side of a demon’s head, spun it deftly, ejected the spent shell and loosed another slug into the next monster. Several fell back in fear, but still, the circle tightened around her like a noose.

  They were coming. They weren’t going to stop.

  Duncan was on his feet and had the blade in his hand. Time to make their escape.

  Jessica dove for the motorcycles, but a demon snarled her hair with his claws and yanked her into his arms. Jessica kicked her legs and pounded her fists in all directions until she was restrained by henchmen. She huffed out breath of air and took a left hook across the jaw.

  Her teeth snapped together and the pain traveled up her skull.

  She was thrown into the dirt beside Duncan. He was on his knees and a demon had a hand on the back of his neck, keeping him in position.

  Jessica didn’t know what the demons were waiting for. They pulled her to her knees and pushed her head down. No matter how much she struggled, Jessica could keep her head upright. On the ground, she was powerless to act except to turn her head and meet Duncan’s eyes.

  Sadness, regret.

  “You should have left. You should have gone after Amanda,” Duncan’s voice was mournful.

  He was right. Jessica knew that and she couldn’t say what she really wanted. It would be too sad, too painful to admit at their end that she couldn’t just leave him. “I don’t leave my friends.”

  Friend. Like Jessica Blood ever had a friend.

  Jessica didn’t know why the demons didn’t just kill her already, but as Vaughn stroll up, she understood. In his left hand was a sword with a curved blade. In the moonlight it glinted and Jessica saw it for what it was—an assassin’s blade.

  He didn’t want his minions to shoot her dead. He wanted to do it himself. So he could claim the bounty? No, Jessica thought it was for something even greater.

  Pride and recognition. He would be forever known as the demon that finally killed Jessica Blood.

  “I have been saving this spot for you.” Vaughn traced his free hand down the left side of his muscular pec and extended it over his sleek abdomen. “Here, a work of art to commemorate your death and my ownership of Amanda.”

  Jessica’s vision flashed red and her nostrils flared. “Kill me if that’s what you want, but know it’ll be your end. She’ll exorcise you so fast, you’ll be pulled straight out of that host’s ass.”

  Vaughn laughed. “We’ll see. I always enjoyed a good game and I think she will be my finest. Yes, when she calls out in pleasure from my bed—” He placed the blade against Jessica’s neck, right beneath her head.

  Her fists balled up out, thinking of Amanda in this unholy thing’s bed. Jessica couldn’t see and she couldn’t think clearly. All she knew was this bastard was going to tarnish everything that was good about Amanda—her sweet sister.

  Jessica had to stop him.

  Had to.

  “Any last words?” Vaughn asked softly, with a smile on his lips.

  She couldn’t gaze up at him so Jessica just stared at the dirt and in that dirt, she saw a light. A reason for hope and in the distance, a motor humming.

  “You’ll be dead,” Jessica said.

  The sound grew closer and Vaughn lifted the sword off her neck, ready to strike. Jessica closed her eyes and her lips trembled. Was she at peace with death? No, not by a long shot. She wasn’t ready, never would be. But to see her parents again in the afterlife? To find out if she did a good job in their eyes, to run into her mother’s arms….

  “Wait,” Duncan’s voice rushed on and intruded into her private space. “Vaughn, kill me. You can’t—”

  Vaughn didn’t answer, but prepared for the final strike. The mighty blow.

  Jessica opened her eyes as a bright light shined forward in the distance, bringing the roar of the engine closer. It was driving through the open fields, coming straight for them.

  Vaughn turned his head, distracted and Jessica knew this was her chance. She hoped Duncan had been paying attention, she hoped he was ready as Jessica heaved her shoulders and broke free of the demons holding her down.

  She sprang up and found her footing on one boot and charged Vaughn. Her palms, open and splayed, crashed into his center chest. “Argg!” Vaughn screamed as he was flung backward.

  Demons, demons, everywhere, but Jessica didn’t have time to kill them all. She wouldn’t need to. The jeep coming stopped just short of hitting Duncan who was up and swinging. The driver’s side door was kicked open by a pair of fiery red boots and a woman emerged.

  She had taken her sweet time, but Aunt Gwen was finally here. With her short red hair covered up in a tan bandana, she wore an old WWII leather trench coat. Her face held small, delicate features like Amanda, except for wrinkles along her lips and eyes.

  “Sorry I’m late to the party. Do forgive me for being tardy.” She splayed her hands out from her side. Her leather trench coat was cinched at her waist, the brown leather caught in the breeze as her boots stomped into the dirt.

  Jessica backed up to make room. When Aunt Gwen released her magic, it never cared if you were friend o
r foe. Caught right in the crosshairs, Jessica didn’t move fast enough as power lightning struck out from Gwen’s hands. Everyone was propelled backward, as if hit with an electrical shield.

  Caught in the windstorm that kicked up like a tornado, Jessica was thrown backward. She shielded her eyes as lightning flashed right in front of her and blinded her. Demons screamed and ran, but it was Jessica who slammed her head against a jagged rock.

  Her vision blurred and everything was doubled. Through the haze, she made out a pair of legs rushing over to her. They squatted, and Jessica saw it was Duncan. Kindness and worry were etched on his face while he stroked her head.

  The sound of motorcycle engines roaring to life and tires throwing gravel filled the air—either that or her ears were roaring from hitting her head.

  His lips moved and she was sure he asked if she was all right.

  The demons were fleeing. No, they couldn’t leave. Jessica needed them to find Amanda.

  She struggled to her knees and then to her feet when her legs went wobbly. Duncan caught her arm, but Jessica pulled free and ran to the bikes. She snatched her shotgun from the grass and fired off the last rounds at their tail lights.

  Her shots went wide. Not a single demon slowed down. Jessica’s legs stopped moving and she stared after them, her last hope of finding Amanda that night diminished like fog on a sunny day.

  Behind her, the crackle of lightning from her aunt’s hands gathered up enough power to send a bolt across the fields. It traveled with a sonic boom down the road and followed the trail of biking demons blazing out of dodge.

  It smelled warm, the discharge of energy reminded her of marshmallows roasting over a fire. S’mores. Amanda loved those things and all Jessica ever told her was how it’d rot her teeth.

  Stupid. Juvenile. Jessica’s heart pounded. What if she never saw Amanda again? What if she was gone forever?

  “Don’t worry, Jessica.” Aunt Gwen always spoke with authority, confidence, and this time, it was no different. “We’ll find Amanda. I give my word on this.”

  “Your word?” Jessica was breathless.

  Duncan stepped forward. “Jess, your head’s bleeding.” But his own fingers were tattered, bloody and missing parts of their nails. All because of her.

  All because the powerhouse of Aunt Gwen hadn’t been here.

  Jessica’s vision grew red with anger and it saw only one target. With a tilt of her head she lifted her shotgun and aimed it right at her aunt. “Tell me again what your word is even worth!”

  “Whoa!” Duncan put his hands up. “Jess—”

  Aunt Gwen was barely phased. She smiled, those golden apple cheeks rising up toward her eyes just like Amanda’s always did. Amanda…just thinking her name put tears into Jessica’s eyes. “You’re angry, I get that. I know I have a lot to explain, but I can, if you’ll let me.”

  Jessica ignored Duncan and her aunt. She shifted weight from one foot to another and re-aimed the shotgun for emphasis. “Like hell I’m going to let you do anything! Four days! You were supposed to join us four days ago. You didn’t take my calls. It’s been all ‘I’m on my way. I’ll meet you,’ but you never came! And now—”

  She didn’t want to finish or say out loud what the truth was. Amanda was lost. Jessica had failed and that was all on her, but if her aunt had been there with her crazy lightning bolts and gusts of wind, maybe Amanda could’ve been saved.

  Aunt Gwen, who had crazy magic, but kept it a secret for years. Aunt Gwen, who might be the source of Amanda’s gifts. If she had been honest, opened up years ago, maybe Jessica’s parents would still be alive.

  Everything was her fault. Everything traced back to her. But what? Jessica wasn’t supposed to be angry? Wasn’t supposed to hate her?

  Because they were family. Because they were blood?

  Aunt Gwen regarded her with her own frown and a quivering chin. “Things are in motion that I couldn’t sidestep, Jessica. For that I am sorry. You have to know what you mean to me. What Amanda does?” Aunt Gwen’s voice was small, haunted. “She’s the last I have of my brother and maybe I got here too late to raise you girls, but I’ll see to it we save her. I’ll see to it that Amanda doesn’t fall.”

  To evil? Jessica’s skin shuddered. “The sanctity of her soul comes first! Her purity. Above me, above you, above all. How dare you just leave us to twist in the wind?”

  Aunt Gwen stared down at the ground. “If you give me a minute to explain, I will, but don’t think on it too long or we’ll lose their trail. If you’re going to kill me, you’re going to have to do it soon. Or else your baby sister might be lost forever.”

  Jessica gritted her teeth and felt the desire to do nothing but kill her aunt. She didn’t want to listen, didn’t want to be reasoned with. Her heart skipped an angry beat. “Why give you the chance? After you left us? Amanda is gone because of you.”

  “She’s been gone before. You always get her back, don’t you?” Duncan asked softly and he let that sink in. He let Jessica think and her mind whirled out of control. She didn’t want to think or be calmed down. She just wanted to act.

  Amanda was gone and someone needed to pay. Someone had to.

  “This time, though you’re not alone. I’ll help you get her back, and your aunt will. You just got to let go of some of that rage, for now, and let Gwen do the talking.”

  Let go of her rage? That was the last thing Jessica wanted to do.

  Duncan stepped closer and gazed down at her. “Look,” his tone was soft, like a gentle hug. “Save the anger for when we need it. Right now we need to work together.” He cast a look at Aunt Gwen. “Regroup, for Amanda, if for nothing else.”

  “It’s the first time you’ve ever made sense, Jasper,” Gwen said.

  “You don’t get to insult him. Not now.” Jessica lowered her shotgun and her arms trembled, but she held onto her heartbreak. Her tears were desperate to be freed, clamoring at the door, but Jessica kept them in check. “If I don’t like what she has to say, I’m going to shoot her.” She headed toward the house and stepped through the shattered window.

  Aunt Gwen stifled her laughter to the side of her mouth. “Let it never be said, Mr. Jasper, that us Blood women are ever easy to deal with.”

  “No,” Duncan said dryly, “I’d never say that.”

  17: Jessica

  Good thing bullet-hole chic was in. What was briefly a sanctuary had been desecrated and the only thing Jessica could think was, how many times would this happen?

  How many times could Jessica feel like she’d finally be given a reprieve only to have it ripped away?

  Never one to waste time, except when she was ducking calls, Gwen rounded up drinks in the shattered kitchen. Jessica grabbed a first aid kit from what was left of the second-floor bathroom, trying her hardest not to look at the bedroom where Amanda was taken.

  Don’t look. Don’t feel.

  Downstairs she ordered Duncan with a glower. “Sit.”

  He sighed. “Jess—”

  She tilted her head, imploring silently and Duncan sat on the edge of the sofa without any words. His fingers were bleeding, but the wounds were starting to clot. Still, it panged her to see what he had endured for her.

  “It’s not as bad as it looks darlin’.” Duncan drawled, but Jessica doubted him as she wrapped his fingers in bandages, making sure to apply enough ointment.

  “Nothing seems to need stitches.”

  “See?” Duncan grinned. “I told you it was nothing.”

  “You shouldn’t have,” Jessica said quietly. She took a deep breath of air as her eyes met his. The restriction of pain present in her chest. “Shouldn’t have let them torture you for me.”

  “Well, if I could have found a way out, I would have taken it. I’m not into torture.” Duncan’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “At least not that kind.”

  She didn’t know how he could joke around at a time like this. “You should have told them what they wanted to know.”

  “I didn
’t know what they wanted to know. For all I knew, you got Amanda out. Someone needed to buy you time.” Duncan’s eyes crinkled and sadness pooled behind his eyes. “I’m just sorry you didn’t get her out.”

  So was Jessica. Sorry for a lot of things.

  “I thought this place was safe. I thought…” His eyes cast down around the floor. “Now look what happened.”

  Jessica touched his hand gingerly. “You couldn’t have known. You’re just as lucky to be alive as I am. I think they found us because of that harpy. That creature was unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”

  “It’s not a harpy,” Gwen said as she handed Jessica and Duncan a beer each. Jessica twisted the top of hers off. “It’s an angel.”

  Jessica’s mouth fell open. She knew angels existed, sure everyone did, but to have one working for that demon Vaughn? “Goes against the angel code, doesn’t it? To work with a demon?”

  “She fell.” Gwen brushed off the sofa before she sat. “A long time ago, she fell for the allure of Vaughn and she tumbled to earth. Captivity and lots of drugs later, she’s been under Vaughn’s control. He calls her seer, but what her real name once was, no one knows. He’s kept her, used her, for decades now. He’s never dared bring her out of hiding before. She’s almost as coveted a prize as Amanda.”

  Jessica’s stomach cramped to hear her name. “So this angel, that’s why she could see the house. Because it’s not warded against her.”

  Gwen smirked though her eyes were haunted. “Precisely. And no one, not even me, could have guessed what Vaughn would do to get his hands on Amanda, but in a way we’re lucky.”

  “Lucky?” Jessica spat out and gazed at Duncan, unable to believe what she was hearing. “We were shot up, overrun and Amanda was captured. How does that—”

  “Because Vaughn has her and while he has her, she’s safe from the underworld. Lourdes is really the one who wants her.”

  Duncan whistled. “The queen herself.”

  Gwen nodded. “And while Vaughn has her, Amanda is safe from her, at least for now. Not even the queen of the underworld wants to tangle with a demon army that has a fallen angel on their side.”