I'm halfway to the door before I remember my original question. "And your sired? What are your plans?"
The king has moved to a spot in front of his French doors, looking out on the portico. Without turning he waves his hand. "Finish your quest. Have your revenge."
"Don't worry, I'm planning on it. But if I run across Augustine and the rest of your sired, do I have permission to deal with them?"
"If they have turned against me, they are no longer under my protection. You may kill them. Kill them all."
I leave him looking out at the night sky. I have a feeling he won't move for a long time.
Jordy
"BUCK UP, lass, it's not so bad," Declan says. He and the other two have been trying to cheer me up since picking me up from Grizz's house. "You get to spend the day with us."
I stare out the car window but see nothing except Grizz's angry face.
"Here we are," Declan sings as Parker pulls into a trailer park. Each lot holds a single wide, a patch of gravel for a yard and, towering over everything, a palm tree. "Home sweet home."
The guys pour out of the car, carrying bags of takeout. I follow more slowly, rubbing my aching tattoo.
I thought Grizz and I shared something. I thought maybe, he'd give us a chance. We could be together if he'd just choose me.
But he didn't, and I shouldn't be surprised. My family threw me away. I give my all, and it means nothing.
As I enter the trailer, Parker's on the phone. When the grey-haired shifter sees me, he ducks out of the room.
"Kit, come on." Laurie waves at me to sit by him on a threadbare couch.
I try to follow Parker and Declan pops up in front of me. "Want some beer? Or some of this?" He holds up a flask and pries off the top. "My own brew." He takes a swig and coughs until his eyes redden and water. "Delicious," he gasps. Laurie jumps up and pounds him on the back.
I take the offered flask. Looks a lot like Grizz's. I sniff the top and the fumes scald my nose. Parker returns and I hand the flask back to Declan.
"Was that Grizz?" I ask Parker eagerly.
The grey-haired shifter won't meet my eyes. "It was. Says he's left Frangelico, and he's on the hunt."
The hunt. Of course. "Did he ask about me?"
"He said we should get you out of town, and quickly."
I suck in a breath. I was expecting this, but not so soon. But why not? Grizz doesn't want me. He just wants revenge.
"It doesn't have to be tonight," Parker continues gently. "But soon."
"It's all right," I say. "I can go."
"No, no, lass." Declan throws his arm around my shoulders. "Kick back. Stay awhile."
For the next few hours, I sit on the couch and watch reruns on the television with a digital antenna taped to the window. Every so often the channel cuts out. Declan and Laurie take turns kicking the console until it flickers back to life.
"You didn't eat your burger." Parker nudges me.
"Can I eat it?" Declan asks, and Laurie smacks him.
"S-stop it. She's s-s-sad."
The three of them look at me.
"It's okay." I force a tiny grin. "Here, you can have my food."
As I pass the wrapped sandwich over, headlights flare in the window, and then cut out.
"We expecting anyone?" Declan asks. Laurie shrugs. Parker heads to the door while I hop up and rush to the window. Could it be Grizz?
Hope withers when I see the sleek black sedan with tinted windows. A chill pours into my blood.
The vampires are here.
Grizz
FUCK, where are these vampires? The basement is empty. So is the theater, even though someone's been here since I last searched. A spotlight is on, directed at a single wooden chair set in the center of the stage.
On the chair is a tattered teddy bear with one button eye missing. The torso is stained with old blood, and when I pick it up one of the legs falls off. Lovely. A nice little threat left by the one-eyed vampire, just for me.
I take a sniff to get the fucker's scent, and my blood runs cold. The stuffed toy smells like vampire… and Jordy.
I leave the bear and theater and mount my bike. I'm deep in the hunt now, and nothing's gonna stop me. Good thing Frangelico gave me a cooler to keep his blood in. When I find the nest, I'll be ready.
Jordy
"WHO IN THE HELL-" Parker starts to open the door and I tackle him.
"Get down," I hiss at the others.
"Jordy? What-"
"Shh." I cover Parker's mouth. "You can't let them hear."
"Who?"
"Vampires," I mouth to him and his eyes go round.
"Little fox, little fox, let me come in." It's Augustine. He's come for me.
A blow to the trailer makes us jump. A long tearing sound rips down the trailer, from one end to the other. A pause, and it begins again.
"What's that?" Declan whispers. "What's he doing?"
I hold my breath as the ripping and wrenching continues. It sounds like he's tearing the siding off the trailer. I feel like a sardine in a tin can.
"I'll tear this trailer apart, bit by bit," Augustine explains calmly. "Your friends won't like my remodeling much. Pity. So much work on my part, unappreciated. No matter. If I get hungry, I can always grab a little human snack."
I close my eyes. He's here, unchecked, in the trailer park. He won't hesitate to kill a human. He thinks they're lower than bugs.
"What do ya want?" Declan shouts before Laurie grabs a pillow and shoves it in his face.
"I only want what's mine. The bear stole her, but she belongs to me."
No. Not anymore. I belong to Grizz. Or I did, until he left. I clutch the tender skin over my heart. The scars the vampires gave me, and the paw print I chose for myself.
I can be a victim. Or I can choose.