Page 64 of Blood Taken (Blood Mafia 2)
I squint at him and sigh. "Fine, this job better be a good one."
He grins. "You're going to be so excited."
* * *
"How long dowe have to wait?"
I'm sitting in the front seat next to Colt. He drove us to a seedy area of the city. Grayson told me about the job on the way over. Sketchy vampire who likes kids more than he should. Normally Grayson would take care of the trash himself, but seeing as I just so happen to need practice, he thought I'd enjoy taking the lead.
He was right.
As soon as he relayed the information, an itching sensation rippled over me and it hasn't settled. He called it a Hunter's blood thirst.
"He'll be here soon. Can you feel him?"
I press my lips together and try to feel past the incessant itching. It's impossible.
"No."
Colt looks at Grayson. "This is her first hunt. She'll be able to pick it up faster next time."
Shooting him a grateful look before I turn to stare out of the window, I try not to think of myself as a failure. Everything takes time. I've never done this before. Next time will be better.
There are a dozen homeless people, some hookers, and thugs who are pushing drugs. My lip curls at the sight of the drug pushers, but they're not the enemy today. Plus, I've done my fair share of extra-curricular substances. My sudden repulsion must be driven by the Hunter side of me. It doesn't like corrupt things.
A hooded figure lumbers past the car. My skin crawls and my eyes zero in on his back. I reach for the door handle. "There," I say on a breath.
"Good," Grayson says. "The hunt is on."
I'm out of the car before he finishes speaking. They follow behind me, keeping far away. This is my job and I appreciate them not micromanaging me as I figure my way through this. My mark ducks into an alley and I narrow my eyes.
This can't be good.
I pick up my pace, stopping on a whispered step when I reach the head of the alley.
The vampire peeks over his shoulder. His eyes turn from gray to full black, and he hisses at me. Something small and frail whimpers behind him.
It's all the proof I need. This fucker's going down.
"You're dead," I say, then point to the child in his grips. "Let him go."
The vampire tosses the kid against the wall and whirls around. He rushes toward me.
"What, no introduction?" I lash out with my left fist, smashing him in the face and smirking when his head whips to the side hard enough to throw him off balance. "I'm Demi, your friendly neighborhood Hunter."
I kick him in the stomach and he flies across the dirty concrete. "Where are your manners? You're supposed to saynice to meet you."
The vampire coughs and jumps to his feet. "You're messing with the wrong vampire."
"Ha. Now that's funny." If only he knew who I spent the last month with.
My skin feels too tight, but I can't focus on that right now. Every part of me is paying attention to the soon to be dead vampire. He flashes to me and I roundhouse kick him. His body slams into the brick wall, leaving an indent. When he falls, I jump on top of him, gripping his throat in my hand.
"You haven't told me your name. Though I suppose it doesn't matter, you'll be dead soon enough."
I shoot a quick glance at the child lying in a pathetic pile of fright on the ground. He's still breathing. That's all that matters right now.
"Stop toying with him, Demi." Colt says as he and Grayson round the corner, taking in the scene.
