THE COOL AIR BREEZES THROUGH the deck area, scattering the newspaper articles I have spread across the table. With my vampire speed, they are all placed back in the exact position I had them, my eyes scanning their headlines.
‘Third Attack in Three Weeks’
‘Teen Found Dead Inside Car’
‘Twenty-Two-Year-Old Missing’
‘Governor Locks Down Curfew Due to Spike in Crime Rates’
Articles and articles from towns from all around, all reporting the same thing. Whether it’s Kian and whoever he is travelling with, I can’t be certain, but not many vampires are as careless as him when it comes to human lives. Most vampires will enjoy themselves, but make a conscious effort to cover up their tracks. I’m positive my brother wants to be caught. He loves an opportunity to go at it with someone. He was bloodthirsty before he was even turned.
Scribbling down notes, I add to my board of information, trying to figure out where they may be heading next. Vampires are incredibly unpredictable creatures. They can be as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack, trying to figure out their next move.
The human who ran into Raya confirms that Cora has been here. I’m just not certain of the exact time frame. Rubbing my jaw, I lean back in the chair.
The memory of seeing Cora, blood painted across her mouth, eyes blacker than coal as she drove her fangs into the neck of an innocent human that Kian had very obviously already had his fun with, plays in my mind. I feel nauseous and anxious thinking about it. My heart breaks for Raya, both in fear and concern that reuniting with her sister may not be as wholesome as she thinks.
I had only seen them briefly. My brother was back in town for ‘business’. In and out within hours, but he always makes sure to pay me a special visit. To remind me he exists. Any excuse to torment me, even just a little bit.
Those cold eyes and cruel face. Cora. I don’t think she is the sister that Raya remembers. At least, not anymore.
I drain the remainder of my whiskey and lean back in my chair. The secret of knowing my brother has Cora, and the fact that she is no longer human, is haunting me, weighing heavily on my mind. I don’t have the heart to break it to Raya – especially when her hope of finding her is renewed. A part of me is convinced we could get through to Cora when we find her. That Cora seeing Raya again will awaken something inside of her. Make her remember who she used to be.
But if it doesn’t, I don’t know if Raya will survive it.
The afternoon sun casts strips of golden light streaming across the porch. The slight buzz of the whiskey has me feeling a little floaty as I lean my hip on the kitchen counter, observing Raya. She is seated on the lounge on the porch that wraps around the side of the house, legs tucked beneath her.
A frown creases her brow, and she absently chews on her lower lip as her hand furiously moves across the page.
‘Hello, Alex,’ I say, when I hear his light footsteps approach.
‘S’up?’ he mumbles, shuffling toward the fridge. He makes an exaggerated gagging sound as pushes a blood bag to the side to reach the water bottle on the top shelf. Ignoring him, I continue to watch Raya. The sun beam that nestled over her lap is shifting as the sun moves in the sky. Soon it will light up those gorgeous emerald eyes.
‘You’re being creepy,’ Alex mutters.
‘And you’re being annoying.’
‘How am I being annoying?’ He scoffs.
I glance at him. ‘Just hearing you breathe is annoying.’
Alex grins, looking pleased about that. ‘Thank you.’
Sighing, I turn and lean back against the counter again.
‘Look,’ I say as Alex hunts through the pantry, looking for something to snack on. ‘I understand your reservations about me and the relationship I have with Raya.’
Pausing, Alex’s hand hovers over a packet of chips before he slowly reaches for them and turns to face me. Brushing his hair out of his eyes, he blinks. ‘Oh, we’re doing this then,’ he states.
‘I just want to be very clear that I have no intention in hurting her. In fact, my one purpose in this life is to protect her. I understand that has been your role since you met Raya, and I don’t want to overstep.’
Alex’s eyes soften and he nods. ‘You promise me, right now, your intentions for her are completely pure?’
Pushing off the bench, I am in front of him in two long strides. Holding my hand out, I meet his eyes. ‘I promise, protettore, my intentions are pure.’
His eyes scan my face for a moment before he takes my hand and offers me one firm shake. He nods. ‘Okay.’
Nodding back, I step away, moving toward my spot once more. I enjoy watching Raya. I could sit here and stare at her all day.
‘If I find out that means something rude in Italian, I’m going to kick your ass,’ Alex mutters, splitting open the packet and popping one of the chips onto his tongue.
Side-eyeing him, I raise an eyebrow. ‘I’d like to see you try, punk.’
A few hours later, I am sitting high up on a tree branch, my legs swinging over the edge. I’ve been watching the guy we met earlier. Trent, as I learnt his name is. I refrained from questioning him earlier in hopes he may lead me to others, or at least some sort of clue. He has finished his shift at the restaurant he works at and has been taking his time walking back home. He is sitting on a park bench, knee jiggling, as he smokes one cigarette, then another. Sighing impatiently, I shift my position so that my back is leaning against the tree. I wonder what Trent is up to – even a human must realise that sitting on a park bench on the edge of the woods at midnight isn’t the smartest idea. I keep waiting for someone to turn up, but so far, no one has. After a few more minutes, I launch myself off the branch, landing in front of him.
Trent yelps and throws his arms up over his head, cowering away from me. Circling my fingers around his throat, I drag him to his feet, looking down my nose at him.
‘You know Kian?’
His breathing comes out hard, blasting stale cigarette smoke into my face. I tighten my grip on his neck.
‘If I have to repeat myself, I won’t be so polite.’
‘Yes!’ he shouts, bits of spit flying from the corners of his mouth. ‘Yes! I know him.’
‘How do you know him?’
His body trembles beneath my grip.
‘Answer me!’ I roar into his face, my compulsion soaking into his pores, drowning him in it.
‘Him and his girlfriend kept me in their apartment,’ he whimpers, fighting against the compulsion that has already been placed on him. ‘They fed on me and used me for errands.’
‘When?’
Sweat beads across his forehead, and his eyes squeeze shut. I sink my nails into his skin, drops of blood oozing out of his flesh. He howls in pain.
‘Open your eyes and answer me.’ The command in my tone causes a ripple inside his body as his eyes snap back open.
‘Three weeks ago.’ Sweat races down the side of his face and the shaking grows more violent as I feel him wage with the war within himself. One half of him is trying to fulfil my compulsion while the other half is battling with the one already placed upon him.
‘Where were they going next?’ My eyes bore so strongly into his own I feel his knees buckle.
‘A town up north,’ he replies through gritted teeth, his breathing laboured. ‘Harbour something . . .’
Releasing him, he falls in a heap on the ground, a shivering mess. Dropping to his level, I grip his chin, forcing his gaze to meet mine.
‘Thank you, Trent. Forget me. Forget this conversation. Go home.’
Scrambling to his feet, he takes off at a run, tripping over his untied laces, and staggering to his knees. Waiting until he is out of sight, I sit on the bench, thinking over his words. After a while, I take the scenic route home, and formulate the next part of our trip. We will leave tomorrow for Harbourton. The town I believe Kian may be, if he has stayed that long.
A shiver of awareness pulses through me when I approach the edge of the driveway, and see Raya sitting on the porch steps. Her long, dark hair falls in a silky waterfall around her face. She’s dressed in sleep shorts and a crop top. She stands when she sees me, revealing her stomach. My eyes focus on her nipples, which pebble as her eyes roam over me.
The desire that crackles between us as we gravitate to one another is palpable, and I half expect to see sparks surge between us in the darkness.
‘What are you doing out here?’ I ask.
‘I felt that you were gone.’
‘You did?’ I question, pushing a loose strand of hair off her face and tucking it behind her ear.
‘Yes. Where did you go?’
‘I tracked Trent.’
‘Who?’
‘The guy from the boutique. Who knew your sister.’
Scanning her face, I watch closely as her brows pull together. It’s overwhelming her, thinking about her sister being alive, and all the unknown questions that come with that.
‘Oh?’ she asks softly.
‘I managed to extract some information from him. I’ll fill you in on the plan tomorrow. Need to talk to Cas about a few things first.’
‘Right,’ she says, moving up a couple of steps, and then stopping to look down at me. ‘I hate how you make me feel sometimes.’ Clenching my jaw, I look somewhere over her shoulder, my heart sinking heavily as she continues. ‘Pushing me away, only to show me the glimpse of what could truly be between us a few moments later, then going back to being stand-offish. I know you’re living in denial about everything, but you need to accept the fact that the damage is done. Our lives are intertwined forever, no matter how much distance you try to place between us.’
Sighing, I lean forward, pressing my forehead against her arm, too exhausted to argue. She’s right. She’s always right.
‘I know,’ I reply softly. ‘I’m sorry.’
She is silent for a few moments, before she runs a hand through my hair, forcing my chin up, levelling her gaze with mine.
‘I mean it,’ she murmurs.
I appreciate everything about this girl. Calm, reassuring, logical, and best of all? She knows how to communicate what she’s feeling. At least one of us does.
‘Anyway, it’s late. I’m going to bed.’ Stepping away, she looks back at me. ‘Are you coming?’
When she holds out her hand, I don’t refuse it. Letting her pull me along the stairs after her. We silently make our way to the second floor before I pause. ‘One second,’ I say.
I make a detour to my room – that I have yet to actually use – returning to find Raya waiting by the door of hers.
‘This is for you,’ I tell her.
Holding my hand out, she curiously takes the gift from my hand. She unwraps the tissue paper, and gasps when the ruby necklace glints up at her in the pale light peeking through the blinds.
‘Oh my god,’ she whispers. ‘You got me the necklace.’ Her face lights up as her eyes roam over it.
I saw the way she stared at it today. I want nothing but the best for her. She has had to bear too much heartache.
‘You wanted it.’
‘Thank you,’ she whispers. ‘Thank you so much, Hunter.’
The earnest smile on her face melts my insides. She offers it back to me before turning, pulling her hair to one side. I place it over her delicate skin and click the clasp shut.
‘Thank you,’ she murmurs. ‘You have no idea what this means to me.’
Lightly touching her face, I nod. The tension between us is palpable, caressing each of us, drawing one to the other like magnets.
‘You’re welcome.’
‘Stay with me?’
I nod. She walks over to the bed and picks up her sketchpad. I gently take it from her, and flick through it. My eyes skim over the drawings, seeing my own features staring up at me amongst the pages. ‘I still think you should do something with this. Have you thought any more about it?’
Raya gives me a soft smile. ‘Well, I didn’t say anything before, but I always wanted to go to a prestigious art school in London, but I never had the money for it.’
‘London?’ I murmur, closing the book, and placing it on the bedside table. ‘I love London. I will take you there one day.’
‘That sounds nice,’ she says. Yawning, she crawls into bed first and then I join her. Rolling to my side, I face her.
‘Was there ever a time you got along with your brother?’ she asks, her tone soft and sleepy as she nestles into the pillows, inching closer to me.
A sigh escapes me. My brother is a subject that is exhausting and causes me a lot of tension and heartache. All I ever wanted was to be close to him. To have someone to look up to, to have a friend, to have someone I can rely on. I wanted all of that for us. I wanted to be that for him. He hated me before he ever got to know me, and it stayed that way. In his mind, everyone is a threat. It’s just his nature.
‘Not that I can remember.’
‘Never?’
‘We couldn’t be more different,’ I admit. ‘He is extremely hot-headed, argumentative, sporadic . . .’ I trail off.
‘Sounds exhausting to be around.’
‘It is. Now with everything basically on steroids, he is even more unbearable. Cruel and cunning.’
‘What is going to happen if we find him?’ she whispers, her voice barely audible as she opens her eyes, peering up at me. ‘It’s going to be dangerous. Isn’t it?’
Nodding, I tangle my fingers in the ends of her hair. ‘It will be. He is much more powerful than me, and I don’t know how many vampires he is travelling with.’
‘I wish there was something more I could do to help you. I’m so painfully fragile that it makes me want to scream.’
Cas’s words hiss inside my mind. Swallowing, I twirl a dark piece of hair tightly around my finger. ‘Don’t ever think you’re a burden.’
‘I am. I can’t help you with anything. I’m so weak.’
‘Has the thought crossed your mind . . .’ I swallow, averting my eyes, unsure how to word the question I have been so desperately wanting to ask.
‘To turn?’ she questions.
I nod, hardly daring to draw a breath. My eyes drift back to her face as she thinks. I know how she is feeling, and her opinion about vampires have certainly shifted since I first met her.
Like Cas said, the dynamic is different than usual since we are bonded. She still has a choice though, one I will never take from her. Ever.
‘Well. Yeah. Of course it has.’
‘Really?’ I ask, studying her.
‘Haven’t you? We are tied forever, right? It will never work, me being a human, and you being a vampire. It’s the classic story. I will continue to age, and you won’t. I will eventually die and that will kill you. It makes sense to turn me. Right?’ she asks, her voice so calm and matter-of-fact that it makes me feel a little . . . stupid . . . for thinking she may not fully comprehend this.
‘It doesn’t need to be that way. I accept that my fate is tied with yours. When your time is up, so is mine. That’s just how it is.’
‘You could have lived forever if it wasn’t for me.’
‘I would have died somehow, someday. We all do eventually.’
‘Don’t pretend that your lifespan hasn’t shortened considerably since becoming tied to me,’ she says, pursing her lips.
‘I was miserable before I met you, Raya. I was miserable as a human, too. Why would I want to live eternity alone? If anything, this bond has granted me a favour. I didn’t see it before, but now I have someone to share life with and when our time is up, I will go without regret or fight. I will not walk this earth too long.’
‘But what if I was turned?’ she presses. ‘We could be together.’
‘Is that what you want?’ I question, searching her eyes. ‘A decision like this cannot be made lightly.’
‘I don’t know.’ She sighs. ‘The thought of something like this never occurred to me until I met you and learnt that there are nice, humane vampires.’
I tsk, shaking my head. ‘There you go again, painting me as a saint.’
‘To me, you are.’
‘Because of the bond.’
‘Not because of the bond!’ she snaps, startling me. ‘Get that through your thick skull.’
‘No need to yell, I have impeccable hearing, you know,’ I grumble, wincing as I rub my ear.
Giggling, she leans back hiding her face behind her hands. ‘Sorry.’
‘Don’t be,’ I say.
‘Hunter,’ she murmurs after a moment. ‘You say that you’re miserable. What do you mean by that? Other than the obvious, of course . . .’ She trails off.
‘It’s like . . . I am down in a dark pit, and the harder I try to climb out, the more I slide down the hole.’ Chewing my lip, I continue to trace patterns over her skin. ‘I had severe depression as a human, and when I turned, it got heightened. It has been very difficult to manage, and no one really understands the way I feel.’ I swallow. ‘But . . . since meeting you . . . things aren’t so bad anymore. I can see the light now, and I’m climbing my way out of the pit.’
‘I’m so sorry you’ve experienced this.’
Leaning forward, I capture her lips in mine, kissing her tenderly. Pulling back, I feel her warm breath fan over my lips.
‘You have no idea how much better I feel having you by my side. Someone to talk to, who I know respects me, and the way I am.’ I smile. ‘And I know you would go to the ends of the Earth for me, as I would for you. Even without having the bond as strong as it could be.’
‘I’ll always be here for you.’
Nodding, I kiss her once more. ‘Get some sleep, sweet girl.’
‘Stay,’ she says. ‘All night.’
‘I will.’
‘Promise?’
Leaning forward, I kiss her forehead tenderly. ‘I promise, legata una.’