Cranberry Blood

by Elizabeth Morgan

  “Brava. You are a brilliant fighter, contagiata. I see you have brought your little cane bastardo with you? Cute little mongrel.”

  I pulled in his scent, the smell of ancient, wet earth hidden beneath his spicy cologne.

  “This is the last time I’m askin’ nicely, Luca. Where’s Marko?”

  “Safe, cara mia. Somewhere you will never find him.”

  “Wrong answer, bastardo.” Heather stepped forward.

  Luca laughed and ran past a thick, black velvet curtain to an exit door. The three remaining Vamps turned on us.

  “Brendan, follow him!” Heather ordered as she lunged toward them.

  The exit door slammed shut. Fuck. My body continued to throb as the tension in my muscles wound tighter. The urge to chase the bastard hammered in my mind, but leaving her wasn’t an option.

  “Not such a—” I stopped at the sight of Heather flying past me. She crashed into a table, breaking it in half.

  A snarl escaped me as one of the Vampires advanced my way. The other headed toward Heather, the third Vampire already decomposing at their feet. I locked eyes with the thing before me.

  “Brendan? Get Luca!”

  “I’m a little bit busy,” I growled, bracing myself as the Vampire sprang. Familiar tingles ran through my hands as my nails lengthened. I punched them into his ribcage, delighted by the crack of his bones. He shuddered momentarily; terror filled his young eyes as I swung him around and slammed him against the wall. I smiled as my nails sliced upward, through his neck. His heavy body slid down the wall before he hit the floor with a thud. His head followed.

  I turned around to see Heather panting over her newly decapitated Vamp.

  “You all right, kid?”

  “I thought I told you not to call me kid.”

  “Heather, are you all right?”

  She looked at me, then around the club. “You let him get away?”

  “I was busy.” I jogged to the exit door, listening to my heavy footfalls splashing on the thin layer of water that covered the dance floor, then pulled aside the velvet curtain and pushed open the door.“Besides, you’re acting as if I’m some human.”

  I walked outside and inhaled, pulling the scent of London into my lungs. The spicy smell of Luca’s cologne hit me in the face, causing the Wolf in me to growl.

  “Which way?” Heather said from beside me as she tied up her wet mess of hair.

  I sucked in another lungful of air. “Follow me.”

  The Wolf in me yearned to hunt.

  Chapter Seven

  ~ Heather ~

  Follow him...is he kidding?

  We wouldn’t even be out here in another stinking back alley if he’d just grabbed Luca like I told him to.

  Brendan jumped on top of the wide red dumpster that sat against the club’s back wall.

  “Coming?” He held out his hand to me.

  He isn’t kidding, then.

  With a quiet curse, I grabbed his hand, and he simply pulled me up as if I didn’t weight a thing.

  Damn show-off.

  He jumped up and reached for a broken fire escape ladder nailed to the wall, then began climbing upward. I waited until he had almost reached the top, then jumped up and started climbing, ignoring the muck and rusty flakes of metal that came off in my hands.

  As soon as I’d hopped onto the roof of the club, the fading scent of Luca’s rich and spicy cologne teased the air around me.

  I rubbed the dirt off my hands onto my jeans and looked across the city skyline. The familiar sight of never-ending rooftops and the clear night sky stretched out before me, along with the view of a five-foot-ten, muscular, copper-haired Ken doll jumping onto the next rooftop.

  Christ, he is fast. I set off after him.

  Why the hell didn’t he grab Luca? Stop him from fleeing. If he had grabbed him when I told him to, we wouldn’t be up here chasing him. Is this a game to him?

  The anger that had been prickling beneath the surface of my skin soaked my perception. I would not lose Luca just because Brendan thought this was all a joke. He didn’t have to come with me. Hell, as far as I cared, he didn’t even have to be here in the first place. What the hell did my Gran think she was playing at, sending him here as if I needed minding?

  On a quick breath, I forced myself to run faster. My ridiculously long leather coat flapped like a cape behind me as my pace quickened. I might not be as fast as a Vampire, but my speed matched that of an untransformed Shifter. . . at least, I hoped so.

  I jumped the wall that divided the two roofs. With the quick surge of adrenalin kicking in, it suddenly became easier to see Brendan preparing to jump the alleyway that separated the next two roofs.

  I ground my teeth together and leapt as the roof came to an end. Fire burst through my veins as my limbs adjusted to an increased speed. I could hear the subtle summer night’s breeze howling like a Pack of hungry wolves down my ears as I flew over the alley and onto the next rooftop.

  Brendan’s feet hit the roof; I sailed past him, landing in a low crouch. The impact of my boots hitting the concrete roof sent a sharp pain up the back of my calves. I stood up instantly, with a hiss.

  “Took you long enough.” He smirked as he straightened up.

  Jackass.

  I rolled my shoulders, hoping he wouldn’t notice the slight weight transfer as I casually shook my legs, trying to fling the pain away. Luckily, he seemed distracted enough, because he just walked right past me without another word.

  I followed him to the edge of the roof and looked down at the dim orange streetlight that shed a glow on the street below. We stood on top of a corner building; one back road arched around it, apartments fitted on top of every shop that lined the road.

  Brendan stared at each building.

  “He is here, somewhere,” he said quietly, his nostrils flaring. “And he is not alone.”

  Well, any hope that I might have had for this evening being quick and easy just jumped off the damn roof. Who am I kidding? When were my nights slaying ever easy?

  “More Vampires? Oh, yay.” I let my gaze trip along every window of the surrounding buildings. “Any idea where?”

  “My guess would be—” he jogged to the edge of the roof, “—that building.”

  “Why, because it’s a rundown building no one’s usin’?” I walked up beside him. A run-down building would be a perfect, yet stereotypical, place for anyone to hide.

  “Run down?” His eyebrow rose as he looked down at me. “Look closer.”

  I peered at the tall dark building fitted between two others. The shop underneath was closed, just like every other shop on the curved road, the shutters sprayed with pink and green neon graffiti. But unlike the other locales, the apartments on top appeared to be empty. I let my eyes wander over the building front...until my gaze stopped on one of the upper right-hand windows. Dull light shone through a missing chunk in what appeared to be a blacked-out pane. In fact, all the windows seemed to be rather dark. I looked at the openings directly above the shutters; they held no reflection of the streetlights below. Black paint coated the glass, which meant only one thing in my book.

  “A nest?” A chill ran down my spine.

  How come I know nothing about this place? How long has this been here?

  My teeth cut into my lower lip to resist the urge to scream. I should have known about this place. Why didn’t I know? Because it had been my Gran who knew where to find them, and their nests. She told me where to hunt, not how to search.

  I thought we’d got them all.

  “I don’t know if it’s a nest, but there are Vamps in there and—” he inhaled again, “—and humans.”

  “Fuck.” The taste of copper tingled on the tip of my tongue. Damn it. I ran my tongue over my lip and tasted blood. A shudder coursed through. I bit down too hard.

  “Do you want to go inside?”

  I took a deep breath and looked at the blacked-out windows. “Is Luca in there?”

  “Yes.”
r />   “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.”

  Great. Fantastic. If Luca wanted to make this any harder for me, why the hell didn’t he just go running to Michael in his little fortress, with all his pets, who would have to protect Luca, no matter what?

  I looked up at Brendan. “I need Luca. So, no matter what happens this time, if he runs, you follow. Okay?”

  He looked down at me. “No can do, Slayer. I’m here to make sure you’re—”

  “Brendan.” His name came out like a growl. “I know the reason you’re here, but you said yourself one of those reasons is so you can help me. Right?”

  He nodded.

  “I need you to stop him if he runs. If I don’t get him now, Brendan.... I don’t know if I will ever get another chance like this. This is important. It isn’t a game.”

  “I know that.”

  “Good. Then will you do this for me?”

  “Heather, I—”

  Don’t make me beg, Ken Doll.

  “If you do this, then you can consider your favour to my Gran done. She wanted you to protect me; you saved my life the other night. She wanted you to help me; help me get Luca. Then you can go home, and get on with your life. Agreement, deal, contract, whatever, consider it complete.”

  His emerald eyes held my gaze for what seemed like an eternity. I just needed Luca.

  Don’t make me beg, Brendan, because I won’t do it.

  “There are more than twenty Vampires in there, Heather.”

  “Okay, I can deal with them later.”

  “Well, if you tell them that, they may leave us alone.”

  He clearly meant for the comment to be sarcastic, but instead, it just sounded blank, void of his usual warm humour.

  I knew what I was asking him, but I needed Luca and if he was in there, I...I couldn’t just turn around and forget it all. And if there were humans inside there...how the hell could I ignore that? I couldn’t leave humans to die. I couldn’t leave, knowing this was my only chance.

  “I just need Luca, and if he’s in there, it’s because he’s cowerin’ behind them all.”

  He looked back at the building.

  “I mean it, Brendan. Whatever your agreement was with my Gran, consider your part done. I just....” I had never asked anyone for help before. My Gran just gave it. Told me where to go and where to hunt. Without her, I suddenly felt helpless, and I didn’t like it one little bit. “I—I need help, Brendan. I need help gettin’ Luca.”

  Brendan exhaled a curse and tousled his copper hair. “You’re seriously suicidal, Heather.”

  “Luca’s the only second generation Vampire in there; the rest will be easy to kill.”

  “Okay.” He turned to me and with a firm nod said, “Deal.”

  “Okay.” I glanced back at the windows. “First things first. We need to get in the buildin’.”

  “That bit is easy,” he said with a grin. “Do you trust me, kid?”

  How many times is he going to ask me that?

  He rolled his eyes. “Let me rephrase that. Can you trust me, just this once?”

  “That depends. Are you goin’ to be throwin’ me over to the buildin’ like a human javelin using your Super-Shifter strength?”

  “I actually didn’t think about that.” He looked at my feet, then slowly started to work his way up the length of my body. His gaze stopped on my face and a grin curled the right corner of his mouth. “That might work better than my original idea.”

  I took a step back as he stalked toward me. “Wait a damn minute, Shifter. Can’t you take a joke? If you think for one minute I would allow you to pick me up and throw me, then you are out of your damn mind.”

  His smile spread across his lips. “Suit yourself. Take your coat off. It will get in the way.”

  “The way of what?”

  “I need you to climb onto my back.”

  “What?” He’s kidding, right? “Are you being serious?”

  “Absolutely. We’re going to run and jump.”

  I peered over the edge. It might be only a one-way street, but still, running and jumping? I don’t like the sound of this.

  “I don’t think—”

  My words died as I looked back and found my eyes on level with plump peach lips surrounded by copper stubble. I peeked up into Brendan’s eyes. Specks of gold began dancing across his irises. My body tingled with sudden panic as my fingers twitched with the need to take hold of my sword. My right wrist tensed. My slingshot pressed against my forearm; I just had to raise my arm, then flex my wrist and I would punch a nice amount of silver into his ribs...but I seemed to be having trouble moving.

  He opened up my leather coat and began pushing the sleeves down my arms.

  “Luca knows we’re following him.” His voice, soft and deep, seemed to roll right through to my bones. “We don’t have time for you to shimmy up and down drainpipes like you usually do.”

  My coat dropped in a heap on the floor, and I suddenly felt able to breathe without the hot, sticky weight of the leather clinging to me. Maybe we didn’t have time to....

  “Did you say shimmy?”

  He nodded.

  “I never shimmy. I climb.”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “Then you and I have different views on what climbing is.”

  “Listen—”

  “Why can’t you just do as you’re told, Slayer?” The faintest smile played on his lips.

  “Why can’t you?”

  He backed away, heading to the other side of the roof. “I need to take a running start.”

  I shuddered as goose bumps played along the exposed flesh of my neck and chest, and followed him.

  He turned round as he reached the other end of the roof, then ripped off his black shirt and threw it down. The white, short-sleeved T-shirt he wore underneath looked as if it had been painted onto his golden skin. My gaze shot to every single muscle in his body, which seemed to be tense and pulsing. Braided, brown leather rested against the skin of his thick neck. The rope vanished beneath his T-shirt, no doubt holding the small circular shape that poked at the material.

  “You ready?”

  “You sure this is going to work?”

  He nodded.

  “Okay, then.” I walked behind him and climbed up onto the ledge, then looked down at the road below me. Man, this is high. I glanced at Brendan’s broad, twitching back. “Are you sure about this?”

  “What’s wrong, Slayer? Scared I might bite you?” he asked without turning to look at me.

  “I’m not scared of you, Shifter. I’m just worried about your current sanity.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged his waist with my thighs. My chest pressed to his back, I almost melted at the feel of him. Jesus, he’s hot.

  “Are you okay?” I found myself asking. “You’re burnin’ up.”

  “I’m peachy, darlin’. Thanks for the concern. Now, just hold on tight.” He flexed his arms out to the side, and my attention snapped to his rapidly growing fingernails and his skin, which had begun to tighten across his bones.

  Oh, fuck.

  “Are you changing?” My question came out in a whisper.

  His answering chuckle said it all, and before I could protest, he took off. My eyes seemed to snap wide open as the sudden gust of wind pushed my lids back and dried my eyeballs. I could hear Brendan’s deep breaths with each heavy footfall; his muscles, still tense, twitched against my body. With a growl, he leapt and I found my head buried in his neck.

  The wind brushed past my cheeks. I clutched at him, moulding my thighs to his hips and digging my nails into his chest. The alarm bells in my head screamed, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying.…

  This is not a good way to die.

  A jolt ran through his body as he let out a hiss.

  “You okay, Heather?”

  Since my heart had situated itself in my throat, I gave him a low, “Mmm hmm.” His scent, which was growing too familiar and too quickly, filled my senses, sedating my f
rayed nerves.

  “Good. You need to climb.”

  My head shot up from his neck and my gaze went straight to his hands clinging to the top of the building. Although I knew I shouldn’t, I looked down; the one-way street sat quietly below us...a good drop below us.

  “Holy shit!” I tightened my grip.

  “Heather.” He growled. “Climb. Now!”

  “Hold on, okay?”

  “Oh, don’t worry; I’m not planning on letting go.”

  I eased my arms from around his neck and reached up. My fingers tickled the rough stone as I tried to grab the ledge next to where his right hand clung for dear life.

  “No rush, Slayer,” he muttered.

  Ignoring his comment and the fact that my heart was ready to fall out my mouth, I sucked in a sharp breath and pushed my fingers down onto the rough stone, before unwrapping my legs from his waist. My body hit the wall and a gasp escaped me as my arms began to tremble. I could feel Brendan moving beside me, an endless string of soft curses leaving his mouth. With a strained growl, I tried to pull myself up. My sword suddenly felt like a lead weight.

  Brendan’s hands wrapped around my wrists and with a pull, I found myself standing in front of him. His eyes burned gold, and every tense muscle in his body twitched.

  “Easy?” The pitch of my voice rose slightly. “That was the easy way to get over here?”

  “We’re here, aren’t we?”

  “We could have dropped and—”

  “Heather, I wouldn’t have let you fall.”

  My mouth snapped shut at his confident reply.

  “Besides—” he let go off my wrists, “—that would have been a quicker way to die compared to all the things that could happen from this moment on.”

  I gazed around at the neighbouring rooftops and remembered why we had just taken a running jump; Luca. We came here for Luca, but first, we needed to fight our way through God knows how many Vampires that had to protect him, despite the fact they would die.

  Why can’t I catch a break once in a while? My eyes stopped on the emergency exit door situated on top of the roof.