Blood Judgment (Judgment Series)

by Nickie Asher

  Contents

  Title page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-one

  Chapter Forty-two

  Chapter Forty-three

  Chapter Forty-four

  Chapter Forty-five

  Chapter Forty-six

  Chapter Forty-seven

  Chapter Forty-eight

  Chapter Forty-nine

  Chapter Fifty

  Chapter Fifty-one

  About The Author

  Upcoming Novels by Nickie Asher

  Blood Judgment

  By

  Nickie Asher

  Red Hot Publishing

  P.O. BOX 651193, STERLING VA, 20165-1193

  Ebook Edition

  Copyright © 2012 Nickie Asher.

  All Rights Reserved

  ISBN 978-1-938601-07-1

  License Notes

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Special thanks to C.J. Ellisson. Also thanks to the people who have helped with this book: Beta readers include Kathleen McRae and Mina J. Moore. My fantastic editor, Shontrell Wade. And last but not least, Ron, for believing in me.

  If you have to crawl to live, then stand and die. – unknown

  Chapter One

  THAT JULIAN could sense vampires was bad. That vampires could sense something in him was worse.

  He knew what lurked on the other side of the heavy, vault-like door. He also knew that the creature was aware of him.

  He put his shoulder against the cold metal and shoved. The door groaned open and the warm April night wrapped around him. It failed to lift the chill that had descended over him.

  Which response would he get this time, the usual hostility or veiled disdain masquerading as cool indifference?

  “Come on, man, get the load out of your shorts and move it.” Tommy, a fellow musician, spoke over the chatter of their colleagues.

  “Stuff it,” Julian said and exited Benaroya Hall, home of the Seattle Symphony.

  The rear door slammed shut, locking behind them.

  A vampire sprawled on the sidewalk, legs spread wide as he slouched against a trash bin. Filthy, ill-fitting clothes clung to his frame and unkempt hair fell over his brow. From his unwashed skin came a musky, feral stink. His shabby appearance was at odds with the grand concert hall and pristine grounds surrounding it.

  Julian hoped he would make it past the creature without incident. Being singled out by vampires disconcerted him no matter how many times it happened. Switching his violin case to his left hand, he pretended to notice something down the street.

  Derisive laughter compelled Julian to look at the vampire.

  Surprise jolted through him. Though Julian couldn’t place him, the vampire was familiar.

  The vampire bared his teeth in a silent snarl.

  Julian darted a glance at Tommy who seemed oblivious to the exchange with Nosferatu.

  The two men skirted the trash bin and waited at the curb for a break in traffic. Julian kept the vampire in his peripheral vision.

  “What the hell’s up with so many of them coming into the Restricted Zone?” Tommy asked. “The damn things are nasty. And they stink.”

  “Maybe if they weren’t forced to live in slums they’d stay out of the restricted areas.”

  “I know you aren’t defending them.”

  “No. It’s just—”

  “The government should have exterminated them when they were outted,” Tommy said.

  “Not all of them cause trouble.”

  “Only because they’re afraid.”

  There was truth in what Tommy said. Seventeen years of subjugation and the repercussions against those who refused to give in had made a lasting psychological impression on the vampire community.

  “They’re dangerous. They should be eradicated.” Tommy’s eyes narrowed and his face morphed into an ugly expression.

  “What would that make us?”

  “Smart.” Without missing a beat, he asked, “When’s your audition?”

  “Tuesday,” Julian said.

  “Don’t bother. Mine’s Monday.”

  “You wish. The concertmaster chair is mine.” It had to be. The violin was his love, his passion, his mistress. And it was all he had.

  From the corner of his eye, Julian saw the vampire shift. His dark eyes burned into Julian, watching him like prey.

  Quit staring at me. He almost spoke the words out loud.

  The vampire’s eyes narrowed. What’s the matter, Blondie? Afraid you’re gonna be found out?

  A barb of surprise hooked Julian’s insides. What? He gaped at the sneering fiend.

  Frosted amusement curled the vampire’s lips. You don’t remember me, do you?

  Julian’s mouth dropped open. He clapped it shut. Get out of my head.

  I bet you remember my son.

  Cold fear jabbed Julian’s guts.

  I know what you did, Julian.

  It wasn’t my fault.

  Liar.

  The light at the corner changed and the two musicians hurried across Union Street. A spot between Julian’s shoulders itched with maddening intensity and his skin prickle with cold.

  Watch your back, Julian.

  Surely the vampire knew better than to do anything stupid. They might not be afraid to harass a human, but they rarely crossed the line into violence. Not when it carried the death penalty.

  He glanced behind him. The creature sat motionless, head down. Julian relaxed. The moment had passed.

  Julian had told the truth. Mostly. He wasn’t responsible for the actions of an unstable schoolmate. A schoolmate who hadn’t even had the right to be there.

  He wasn’t going to beat himself up over it. Not anymore. Nor was he going to be intimidated by a fleabag vampire. In an attempt to sh
ut out the incident, he said, “I’m going to meet some of the girls at Magpies. Want to come along?”

  “No, I’m crapped out. I’m going home.”

  “Wimp.”

  “Whatever. If you bring one home, keep it down.” Tommy rolled his eyes. “I don’t need to listen to you screwing one of your groupies all night. Again.”

  “You know you like listening, you perv. Besides, you’re just jealous.”

  “Fuck off,” Tommy said and smirked.

  “That hurt.”

  “Yeah. Right.”

  “You’re such an asshole.”

  “Whatever. I’ll see you later.” Tommy took off in the direction of their Belltown apartment.

  Julian continued toward Magpies. Lightning streaked across the sky followed by a rumble of distant thunder. A storm brewing meant a cab ride home and less money to spend at the club.

  The notes to O Fortuna burst from his phone, the ringtone he’d set for Rachael. He scanned her text message.

  Hurry up. I wore the red dress for you.

  The first time she’d worn that dress, he’d discovered bare skin beneath thin fabric. From there, it had been a quick trip down to the lower level of the club where they’d had heated sex in a tiny bathroom.

  He turned down an alleyway, a familiar shortcut that shaved fifteen minutes off his travel time. Focusing on the street light at the far end, he hurried through the darkened passage.

  At the fourth alley, a gust of wind shot down the narrow pathway, scattering loose newspaper and debris. Squinting, he shielded his eyes from flying dust particles and whipping strands of hair. He pressed on, staying close to the walls where shadows swallowed him.

  Moments later, the hairs on his arms lifted.

  Tittering laughter floated on the air and the quiet fall of footsteps confirmed the presence of others.

  Already knowing what he would see, Julian spun.

  Vampires.

  Three young males closed in with the lethal grace of predators.

  A soft thud sounded behind him.

  He whipped around.

  Another vampire, larger than the others, blocked his path. Where had he come from? The rooftop? The fire escape?

  Heart beating his ribs in a surprise solo, he pivoted to keep all four in sight. How had they gotten so close without him picking up on them sooner?

  The lone vampire, the obvious leader, advanced. The other three moved with him, hemming Julian in.

  He appraised each one in an effort to appear unaffected, though he suspected they picked up every tell-tale sign of fear his body generated.

  The leader’s muscles bulged under a metal-studded coat, stretching the black leather tight over his form. Long hair fell over his forehead in neon indigo spikes, highlighting a youthful face set in hard lines.

  Indigo’s eyes glittered with menace and something Julian had never seen before, something that made his skin clammy. Raw jealousy—that guarded, malevolent sparkle of greedy anger—burned in the fiend’s gaze.

  His companions were only slightly less bizarre. The smallest sported waist-length black hair streaked with pure white. A little gold hoop decorated his lip. Adding to the disaster, a snake tattoo coiled around his throat in overlapping loops.

  The other two had to be brothers. Thick kohl circled their eyes, standing out in sharp contrast to their teased, hair-sprayed, platinum-blond hair. Each wore a leather bondage collar, though one had spikes and the other hoops. They stood so close together they might have been conjoined at the hip.

  All of them were adorned with lace in one fashion or another. They looked like an eighties new-wave-glitter-band-gone-wrong. An urge to laugh struck Julian so hard he bit his lip to stop it.

  The vampires circled him and their image lost its humor.

  Julian’s hand tightened on his violin case, easing it away from them. “What do you want?”

  Indigo’s lip twitched into a snarl. “What do I want? Justice for my cousin.”

  “What?”

  “Our uncle wanted to kill you, but I had a better idea.”

  Julian had a sickening feeling he’d misread the incident at Benaroya Hall. “What are you talking about?”

  “I think you know exactly what I’m talkin’ about. Juilliard ring a bell?”

  Fear spider-crawled over Julian.

  Indigo sidled closer. “You must think you’re pretty damn slick, weaseling into the symphony.”

  Slick? For being a musician?

  A blast of wind shot through the alley again, whipping Julian’s hair into his eyes. He blinked and shoved the strands away. The vampires had slipped closer in the second his eyes were closed.

  He shifted his weight, fighting the urge to move back. Any outward sign of fear would invite an attack. The foursome meant business, the kind that might leave him on a slab in cold storage.

  Sneering, Indigo stepped forward. “You little fraud. You have a hell of a fucking nerve. How long have you been fooling them?”

  Julian’s heart thudded. “Fooling who?”

  “How long have you been passing for human?” Indigo took another step, now threateningly close.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Julian fell back a step to regain his personal space, then silently cursed himself for the unthinking submissive move.

  “Cut the shit. We smell you. Sense you. Vampires always know each other. Even half-breed, mongrel bastards like you.” He advanced a step, closing the space created by Julian’s retreat.

  Half-breed? “Are you crazy? I’m not a vampire.” Julian retreated another step. His back touched cold brick. Sweat slicked his skin. He was in mortal danger. One mistake and the situation might escalate into something fatal.

  In unison, the fanged quartet stepped closer.

  “You’re vampire all right,” Indigo confirmed. “Just not a full-blooded one.”

  Afraid you’re going to be found out? The words whipsawed through Julian’s mind. Oh, God. But it wasn’t so. Couldn’t be so. “You’re wrong. My parents were human.”

  “Do you believe this, the asshole don’t know?” Indigo rolled his eyes.

  The Bondage Twins snickered and Snake Tat shook his head.

  “Nope,” Indigo said. “I don’t believe it either.” A predatory smirk spread over his face. “But it doesn’t matter. That isn’t the issue, is it?”

  “What do you mean?” Julian asked.

  “I think your punishment should fit your crime.”

  “What crime? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Liar.”

  Panic smothered Julian in a blanket of reeking fear.

  “What do you boys think? Should his punishment equal his crime?” Indigo asked his comrades.

  “Fuck, yeah,” Snake Tat said.

  The others nodded agreement.

  Julian’s heart crawled up his chest and lodged at the base of his throat.

  His gut instincts screamed that damage to his hands or wrists might end his career. But it wasn’t a valid concern considering he probably wasn’t going to live to worry about it. How could he take on a pack of vampires and have a hope of coming out alive?

  He couldn’t.

  Indigo shook his head in a parody of regret. “No. You can’t win. Poor little half-breed. Your days of fancy clothes and livin’ it up are done. It’s time to man-up and pay for what you did.”

  Like the shadows cloaking the alley, the dark scent of fear and anger at his impending murder hung thick around Julian. “I’m not one of you.”

  Indigo made a show of sniffing, drawing in the poisoned air. His eyes glittered. “Yeah, pretty-boy, you are.” Then, as if on cue, all four surged forward.

  Indigo grabbed the front of Julian’s jacket and slung him around, slamming him against the brick wall. He wasn’t prepared for the pain, bright and dazzling, freight-training from his shoulder down into his hand. His fingers lost their hold on the violin case and it clattered to the pavement.

  Despite the pain, h
e drove his fist into Indigo’s guts.

  Indigo let go. And smirked.

  Julian wanted to smash the grin off his face, but he didn’t get the chance. One of the Bondage Twins struck, slashing downward with long, sharp nails, shredding cloth and flesh. The claws left burning trails and shocking pain from Julian’s chest to his navel.

  Bellowing, Julian kicked hard, connecting with the twin’s knee. The blond vampire yelped and took an awkward step back.

  Snake Tat danced forward and his fist caught Julian in the ribs. Agony flared in his side and he stumbled back.

  Hands raked at him, nails cutting deep. More blood. The scent permeated the air.

  A fist slammed into Julian’s stomach, doubling him over. Hands shoved him backward. More fists connected. Nails raked him. His vision wavered. Another shove. He stumbled and went down hard.

  Indigo advanced and yanked Julian off the pavement. “You’re nothin’ but a sorry piece of shit,” he said and tossed Julian like a sack of garbage.

  He crashed into a waste bin before dropping to the asphalt. Pain knifed his side, deep and sharp. His insides felt torn loose, unanchored, and blood coated his mouth. He groaned and his would-be killers closed around him.

  He didn’t want to die like a dog run down in the street. Gathering the last of his strength, he tried to rise. Unrelenting pain closed over him and a pit of blackness rose up.

  It was over.

  He was done.

  PAIN WAS the first thing Julian became aware of. His body sang with it. The next thing was that he lay on the pavement with Indigo cradling him, stroking his face as a parent might do with a sleeping child.

  Julian stiffened.

  Indigo tightened his grip. “Smellin’ all that blood’s kicked up my appetite.” His lips twitched.

  Julian’s stomach clenched. Oh Jesus. “No!”

  “Oh yes, pretty-boy,” Indigo crooned.

  Tensing, Julian growled as he stared into blazing blue eyes lacking even a spark of humanity. Teeth bared, he fought to yank himself free.

  Indigo snorted. “And you think you aren’t one of us. The traits are all there.”

  Almost too fast for comprehension, he sank his fangs into Julian’s throat.