Blood Lust (The Blood Sisters Book 1)

by Jill Cooper

  Crouching, Jessica finished rubbing the bumper when footsteps approached. Glancing up, she saw Amanda’s smiling face. There wasn’t a lot that that smile couldn’t fix. Baby sister held a small plate and was about to set it down on the hood of the car. Jessica barely got the rag under it in time.

  “Lunch,” Amanda said and then her brow furrowed. “Oh, right. Sorry. Scratches.”

  “Guess it doesn’t matter much, since I drove it through the front door.” Jessica grabbed half of a sandwich off the plate. Wonder Bread, soft and squishy; when was the last time Jessica was able to have such a sandwich?

  Plus, it was stuffed with potato chips. Her absolute favorite since she was a kid. Jessica took a bite and reveled in the soft bread, the crunch of the salty chips, and the mixture of turkey and cheese in her mouth. Jessica licked at a bit of mustard that leaked out of her lip before putting the sandwich back on the plate.

  Amanda cringed. “Well, I do appreciate you coming in to get me. You’ve always had flair.”

  “For saving you, or for the dramatic?” Jessica wiped her hands on the ass of her jeans. “Any sign of her?” She tried to not sound expectant, but…

  Amanda shook her head and bounced slightly on her toes. “No, but Duncan is keeping an eye out.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be here any minute,” Jessica said, though her spirits deflated like a balloon. “You didn’t bring me a glass of milk, did you?”

  “Sorry,” Amanda raised her eyebrows. “I guess you’ll have to just come in and get one. When you’re done here.”

  “This wouldn’t be a sorry attempt to get me to apologize to Duncan, would it?”

  Amanda smirked. “Here I thought I was the empath in the family.”

  “You’re just transparent.” Jessica picked up a wrench and tossed it in her hand. “I’ll be in soon, I promise. Almost as good as it’s going to get. I can’t fix bullet holes.”

  Amanda nodded and backed away. “Okay. Enjoy your time alone.” She headed toward the exit, but hesitated. “I didn’t have with him what you had.”

  Jessica scowled and lines crinkled around her eyes. “What’s that?”

  Turning around, Amanda held onto a gathering of fabric from her dress. “You and dad. You had this car. You have this thing that keeps him alive for you. I can feel it whenever you get to work on it.” Amanda tapped on her stomach. “The bundle of raw nerves you really are, settle; like a swaddled baby. Calm, soft. I just wish I had that.”

  Jessica frowned. She didn’t know Amanda felt that way. After all the years that had passed, how hadn’t she known? “You had other things. Star gazing, right? Storytime. That stupid teddy bear magic act he always used to do for you. Like he was really a magician?” Jessica rolled her eyes. “Please.”

  “Kid’s stuff.” Amanda’s eyes were wide with sadness.

  “He loved you. Just like Mom did.” Jessica rubbed Amanda’s shoulders. “You have to know that.”

  Amanda nodded. “I do, I just wish I had something. Something that made me feel him the way you feel him.” She gazed at the car and Jessica saw the longing in her face.

  “Maybe you can’t feel him because you feel so much else. You feel me, the people you pass.” Jessica gazed down at Amanda’s dirty toes gripping the dirt floor in the barn. “The Earth and all that it connects us to.”

  Jessica sighed. “Gaze at the stars tonight. You guys loved seeing the constellations together. Gaze at them when no one’s around and maybe you’ll feel him. Mom too. She’d always bring us…”

  Amanda’s nose crinkled and a smile shined on her face. “Cookies and milk.” Amanda threw her arms around Jessica and rested her head on her shoulder. Jessica hugged her back, feeling the warmth she could only describe as Amanda spread through her.

  “And to think, people think you’re heartless and a killer.” Amanda kissed Jessica’s cheek. “Well, I know better. Big softy you are.”

  “Tell anyone and you’re dead.”

  Amanda laughed and covered her mouth. “Okay, but only because I’m scared of you.”

  “Good.” Jessica did her best to sneer, but it didn’t work out. Instead, she beamed. As her sister started toward the house, Jessica slid back behind the steering wheel in time to hear her cell phone ring. She picked it off the passenger side seat and it flashed with Aunt Gwen’s phone number.

  “Aunt Gwen?” Jessica’s voice was rushed, but hopeful.

  “Hi, darling girl.”

  “Where are you? We thought—”

  “I know, I know. Car trouble. Busted a tire, of all the luck. I’m getting it fixed, but I might not make it there until morning, I’m afraid to say. You can have Duncan keep the coffee on because hell or high water, I’ll be there.”

  Jessica closed her eyes and her soul plummeted like a rock to the bottom of the ocean. “I’ll come get you. Where—”

  “That won’t be necessary, Jessica. Stay with your sister where it’s safe. If you’re being protected right now from the demon’s vision, we can’t have you pop back on the radar, can we? Amanda can’t be found.”

  Jessica knew that. Of course she did, that had always been her mission. “I really want to talk to you. We need to figure out what to do. And figure out what they want. How can I protect her if I don’t know?”

  Aunt Gwen’s voice was calming, as it always was. Even when Jessica’s blood was pumping hot and fast, her aunt had a way of taming the ocean of her rage. “I’ll explain when I get there. There’s a reason I haven’t been around, Jessica. I’ve found the answers you’ve been dying for your entire life, ever since that night.”

  That night. Always code for the night her parents were killed. Jessica wanted the answers so bad; she could taste them on the tip of her tongue. “Then I want to ride out and meet you even more. I need to know.”

  “I know how badly you need to know, but don’t rush out. Hang tight. The answers will be the same whether you have them now or tomorrow. Is it worth risking Amanda’s safety?”

  No, no it wasn’t. Jessica took a long breath aimed at steadying her, but it was hard. When she took a deep breath, so many images flashed through her mind. Images of the mental hospital that was her home for a few years, then the foster homes she always ran away from.

  Especially the ones that left bruises on her cheeks or a tummy empty of the food it craved. Everything about it was bad, but the worst was being separated from Amanda.

  Jessica, the dangerous sister who only wanted her family, her sister. Regular people couldn’t understand, they had come for her parents and one day they would come for Amanda. Jessica had seen them, heard them. That night, long ago, she had heard them murder her mother. Was it deliberate, so they could get to Amanda?

  Jessica thought so, but never had any real proof. She was never able to prove to anyone that she hadn’t murdered her parents. It was never proven in a court of law, but Jessica felt the label. She wore it every day.

  “Jessie, hon? You still there?”

  “Yeah. Sorry.” Jessica wiped a tear away from her eye. “I just don’t know how much longer I can—I don’t know how much longer we can, you know?”

  “I do, dear. But now that you’re safe, do what regular people do. Have a meal. Relax. Spend some time with your sister. Whatever you do, just keep your distance from that Jasper fellow. He’ll only bring you misfortune. You know that, don’t you?”

  Boy, did she ever.

  15: Vaughn

  The former NYC ballerina slithered on Vaughn’s bed. Her eyes were closed and her chapped lips were parted. She always moved as though in the throes of a dance, her hands moving up and down the black satin dress she wore. So short, it barely covered her ass and when she slithered like a snake, it almost always gave him a peek of what lay beneath.

  The mesmerizing motion aroused him again and Vaughn snarled with lust. He reached out, grabbed her neck, and squeezed just for fun. She gagged and threw her head back, her long black hair spiraling across the pillows. Her blue eyes were dull, almost
lifeless as the green essence of the demon drug wore off.

  “More,” she begged and rolled her head to the side. The woman could barely talk, but she always asked for more. Always begged for it. “More!” Her voice quaked.

  Vaughn picked up a glowing syringe that was stowed away inside the dresser. Without any thought or consideration for the young woman Vaughn slammed it into the side of her neck and depressed the top. The green glowing liquid flew into her and the woman moaned, rolling her head to the side.

  Her lips twitched in a smile and caressed her body as if she were her own lover. “I feel so much better. So…hmm…hot.” Her lips pursed together and Vaughn thought he’d like to have her right then.

  Very much.

  Vaughn put one knee up on the bed and placed her hands on either side of her body. He lowered himself for a soft, sensual kiss. The ballerina clung to him right away and the energy passing from her to him was so strong, Vaughn reveled in its strength. Its beauty and its power. Every bit of her was strength and now that Vaughn had conquered her, it would be his.

  Their kisses turned manic and just when he was about to take her, a rude banging at the door distracted him. Vaughn growled, baring his teeth and hissed at the door. “Go away!”

  “I need you,” the ballerina whispered, lifting her head off the pillow. Her hair was dirty and stringy. Her eyes only glowed green and if she could see much at all, Vaughn would be very surprised.

  “I know, my darling.” Vaughn’s tongue traveled down the length of her jaw and then her neck. The ballerina’s skin rose with goose bumps and quivered with arousal. She was so ripe and raw, Vaughn thought she might be the one who could carry one of his demon spawn to term. So far, all others had failed.

  “But Sir,” the voice of a henchman demon rang out from behind the door. “It’s about the Blood sisters. We lost them. We can’t find them.”

  That was serious business. Vaughn sighed and stepped off the bed. When the ballerina pouted and tried to keep her hands on him, he pushed her back. Slapping her arms away, the bed slammed against the wall. Frightened and alone, the ballerina cried against her pillow, but Vaughn paid her no mind.

  He pulled the door open with such force, it whipped against the wall. The demon henchman in his leather vest and tight pants backed up and refused to look him in the eye.

  “What happened?” Vaughn asked simply with anger simmering just below the surface.

  The henchman shrugged and stared at his boots. “We had them, but somehow they escaped. Now there’s no smell, no tracks. No nothing.”

  Vaughn gritted his teeth and made a fist. He strode out into the hall and paused at the wall, ready to slam his knuckles into it.

  “There are others looking for them. Other demons. No one can seem to get a bead on them, Master. It’s like they’ve disappeared into thin air.”

  Thin air? Vaughn cackled. “Oh, they’re out there. Warded. Protected.” He bared his teeth, his long tongue licking at the corners of his lips. “We must bring their shield down first, before the others do. Before they bring Amanda to the underworld.”

  “But how, master?” The henchman followed as Vaughn quickly retreated, but stopped short of following him. No, not even a lowly henchman was stupid enough to enter the room where the seer was kept. All but Vaughn were terrified of her gaze, as they should be.

  Wide steps took Vaughn to a closed door at the end of the hall. He pushed the door open and in the center of the room, the seer screamed. Her arms were pushed spread eagle backward, her back arched as she glanced up at the sky. The tendrils of hair she had left were covered in sweat and grew right in front of Vaughn’s eyes.

  Powerful black magic was at work here. More powerful than any Vaughn had seen her perform and he had seen her do a lot of things.

  Vaughn knocked the caldron out of the way to get down in front of her. Blood trailed from her eyes and left a trail on her wrinkled skin. He gripped her arms. “Seer?”

  “The Bloods.” Her voice was nearly singsong in fear. “I can see them. They think they’re safe but they don’t know…don’t know…”

  “Know what?” Vaughn’s teeth clacked together as he gave the seer a shake. “Seer, answer me!”

  “Hell is emptying.” The seer’s lip trembled into a cool smile. Her rotten teeth were jagged and cracked against her dry lips. “They are after the Bloods and they can’t find them. Not yet… Oh no, not yet.”

  Her head leaned forward like she might pass out, but Vaughn kept her upright. “Water!” he barked at the door where his henchman now stood. Back to the seer, he gave her a shake to keep her awake. She was weakened, exhausted, but time was slipping. Soon they’d no longer have the advantage.

  If they found Amanda first and took her to the underworld…

  “Can your magic find the Bloods first? If we ride out, can you show me the way?”

  The seer’s hands shook as she balled them up into fists. Her long pointed nails were yellowed from years of decay as they pushed into the soft belly of her palms. “The power that will take…it will be the end of me, Vaughn. It will be the end.”

  “Then we will make it a good end. A fitting end.” Vaughn gripped her calloused cheeks in his hands as the woman made elderly by more than age sobbed.

  She was tired. She needed rest. Vaughn laid her down and stood as the henchman brought forth a cup. Vaughn stared down at the seer as her dull white eyes gazed visionless around the room. “Once you hunted me. Once you called me beautiful.”

  “I’m demon, old woman,” Vaughn’s laughter trickled over his lips like a carriage through the mountainside. “Everything I say is for a reason. Everything a twisted version of the truth. A means to an end.”

  “And the goal? The end?”

  “Amanda Blood. She just doesn’t know it yet.” Vaughn sneered as he pushed past his henchmen and out of the room. He would give the seer time to rest for the journey. On his way out, he stopped a group of his riders.

  “Get the bikes ready. Send word to our legion we’re heading out on a journey that will lead us straight to the sisters.” Vaughn’s lip curled in a way he couldn’t help. Great happiness, and maybe even a little pity for Amanda, but still his heart ached for her like it did for vast riches, glory.

  Amanda was going to be his.

  In his private bedroom, Vaughn put on his leather cape and grabbed the mask from the table. It was made from a human skull except one-half was jagged and missing. Sliding it on his face, Vaughn took a deep breath and felt the strength of the dead.

  The dead were with him. He would now use them to claim righteousness.

  He turned to the bed to bid his ballerina farewell, but she was still. Her eyes open and staring at the ceiling, Vaughn sensed that her life had gone out of her. Too much of the demon essence and too much suffering. Vaughn knew it had been coming, but he had hoped for a little more fun with her before it happened.

  Vaughn touched her eyelids with his fingers and brought them down with a quiet and sad heart.

  It was no matter. Vaughn was ready to get her replacement.

  Time to ride.

  16: Jessica

  The danger outside seemed so far away.

  Dinner was served in the living room and was simple fare, but to Jessica it was extravagant. Real mashed potatoes with actual butter and roast chicken, not from a can. Served hot with a mean gravy made by chef Duncan.

  Jessica hadn’t known he even knew how to make gravy which just made her job of scowling harder. It was hard to keep up her defensive walls when he treated them so well.

  Amanda didn’t make it easier. She sat curled up on the floor while Duncan got a fire going to warm them. She tucked her hands around her toes and swayed back and forth. “I haven’t been this full in a long time. That was awesome, Duncan.”

  She gushed at him like a little sister, but still it tightened Jessica’s chest. She ran her finger along her plate and licked the extra potatoes and gravy off and barely noticed the glance Amanda threw. Her si
ster’s eyebrows lurched upward and Jessica recognized when she was being prodded. “Yeah,” Jessica said with flat disinterest. “It was great.”

  Amanda rolled her eyes, but it didn’t keep Duncan from grinning as he stoked the fire. His hair fell over his eye in a gentle cascade that begged to be pushed aside, but Jessica steadied herself. Ideas like that only got her in trouble.

  “I know a compliment when I hear one. Thank you, ladies. I just wish I had some pie to serve you,” Duncan said.

  Amanda’s eyes widened. “Oh, so do I!”

  Jessica coughed to cover up the rising laughter in her throat. Leaning forward, she collected the dirty plates on the coffee table and her eyes connected with the dark smolder of Duncan’s. A second lasted a lifetime, and it sent a quiver down her as sure as a draft. The plates were fumbled, but Jessica recovered as she stood and hurried to the kitchen.

  Blowing a deep sigh of relief, Jessica placed the dishes in the sink and turned on the hot water. Splattering a squirt of liquid dish soap under the stream, Jessica rolled up her sleeves and got busy washing the dishes. It was a welcome distraction from how hot she felt under the collar.

  It might have been two years since she had seen Duncan, but now that they were thrown back together, her body wanted to pick up where they left off.

  Her mind and heart wanted no part, though. Jessica just had to stay strong, a while longer. Soon Aunt Gwen would arrive and with a fourth person, maybe the heat that existed between her and Duncan would dissipate. It would, at least, make avoiding him a lot easier…

  It didn’t take long to wash three dishes, but the pot took a little bit of scrubbing. Ten minutes had barely gone by when Jessica finished the kitchen duties. She busied herself with wiping the counter and the breakfast table. Then she threw down with washing the refrigerator door and scrubbed out the sink.

  Jessica had never been so interested in cleaning before, but by the time it was over, her head cleared. Duncan Jasper was as bad a decision as ever, so why was it that one longing look in his eye…