Page 7 of Taste of Death

This street was quiet, and darker than the vibrant downtown area. I couldn’t have walked very far, but this area looked older, with cobblestone roads instead of paved asphalt. The buildings were taller and made of aged brick. I couldn’t even see the lights of the blood bank or any of the restaurants.

I scratched an itch on my hand as I turned around a few times, trying to decide which way to go, or if it would be worth it to knock on any doors and ask for directions. I didn’t even know how vampires viewed brusang. Was I equal to them? Or some kind of subjugated class? My panic heightened to a new level and I suddenly wished Tavi and Cyan were near. I didn’t even know if I was in danger or not.

“Shit!” I inspected my hand as the itch worsened to a burning sensation. There was a red, raised area on the back of my palm between my thumb and index finger. And it was spreading toward my wrist and across my knuckles.

What could this be? Had I been allergic to that guy’s blood or something? But then why wasn’t my throat swelling up?

“Are you lost, miss?”

I whirled around at the voice, taking in the tall, finely dressed figure standing under a streetlight. The light gave his long hair a yellow sheen but as he came closer, I noticed it was more silver.

The hair color was unique, especially for such a young-looking face. But there was no mistaking his eyes—the deep, ruby red of a vampire.

His pupils dilated, and I noted the slight flare of his nostrils as he approached. He was scenting me. Like a predator. So I did what any self-preserving prey animal would do.

I turned tail and ran.

Chapter 3

Amy

If anything could be compared to feeling like a rat in a maze, it would be this. I ran through streets and alleyways, taking turns at random. It seemed like a good idea to shake the vampire, but what did I really know? This was his territory.

But there was a chance I’d end up back by the blood bank, where Cyan would protect me from this guy. Right?

My lungs started to burn, as did my eyes, my itchy hand, and even my lips. Fucking hell, what was happening to me?

Everywhere I went were more cobblestones and tall, bricked buildings. Where the hell was that nightlife district? I couldn’t even hear other people anymore.

I slowed to a walk to rub my eyes and realized both hands were itching now. When I looked up, I noticed I’d come to a dead end.

A tall, brick retaining wall loomed up in front of me, gently curving around to form a semicircle.

“If you’re done running, would you like to come in for some blood?”

I whipped around and instinctively backed up toward the wall. The silver-haired vampire stood with his arms crossed, blocking my way out.

“I don’t want anything from you. And you can’t take from me either. You don’t have my consent!” My back hit the wall. I was cornered, but I refused to cower.

The vampire’s head jerked back, his expression somewhere between shocked and amused. “Little brusang, even if I wanted to take from you, there’s barely a drop in all your veins. You’re starving.” His head cocked to the side as if to inspect me from a different angle. “Were you turned very recently? No wonder you’re a feral little thing. Getting light rash too.”

“Getting…what?”

“Does your skin feel like it’s itching and burning?” When I said nothing, he pointed to the sky on the horizon behind him. “Sun’s coming up in an hour or so. Your kind is more tolerant than mine, but you need blood badly. You have no defenses left.”

Oh God, how could I have forgotten about exposure to the sun? I’d been inside, with artificial light and no windows, for two straight weeks. And he was right. The eastern sky was a quickly lightening navy blue. Already the burning was getting unbearable. What would happen to me once that blazing ball of fire was fully risen?

As if sensing my distress, the vampire said again, “You may come in for blood. And to stay overday, I suppose. There’s no adequate shelter around when the sun’s out. Then you can go on your merry way tomorrow at dusk.”

Like hell I was going anywhere with a stranger.

“No.” I shook my head, putting on my bravest face despite leaning all my weight against the wall. The burning sensation was so persistent, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stand on my own. “I’m not going to your house. I don’t even know you.”

“Well, we’re technically already here.” The vampire looked like he was trying not to smile.

“What?”

“You’re in my courtyard.” He pointed at a building just outside the semicircle of the retaining wall. It was at least three stories tall, with stone steps leading up to two wooden doors with heavy bronze knockers affixed above the wrought-iron handles. “That’s the main house.” His arm swept across his body to point in the opposite direction. “That’s my garage.” It was a simpler, single story building with a wooden overhead door.

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