Fate of a Blood Moon (The Hades Blood Moon #2)

Chapter 14

Jase

I t surprised me that Tony remained in the city despite the situation with the Black Onyx. Although he had been relieved of his duties to the coven, he still worked as a bartender at Lune de Blanche.

During the last four years, I watched Rachel and, by proxy, her closest friends. Wendy, who posed as Hailee, was also my source of information about Rachel’s movements. I wanted to learn as much as I could about her before I struck. Tony, however, was an enigma. Wendy could only tell me that Tony knew everyone in the city, and while he was like a brother to Rachel, he had a little crush on Lucy, constantly watching her when she was looking the other way.

Other than that, I had no intel on him.

Given that I had turned Lucy, I was most likely on her shit list. Expecting me to show up at his doorstep wouldn’t be on his radar tonight. I had to be ready for him to attack, but with his guardian bond to Rachel no longer a thing, he was unlikely to land a blow.

After securing my bike, I walked to the front of the building. Fortunately, a woman with black hair and peach-colored skin was using her keycard to open the door, while balancing a bag of groceries in her arm. The moment she pulled it open, I slipped in after her and into the lobby.

“Oh, shit. Um …” the woman’s voice trailed off as she realized I snuck in after her and didn’t have a keycard. Now she wondered if she should call security or let me pass.

“I’m sorry. It’s not your fault. I left my wallet in my new apartment and was running back up to grab it,” I said, flashing a charming smile. “My name’s Jase.” I held my gloved hand out, but the woman only looked at it. She shifted the bag of groceries against her chest. “I moved into the building last week.”

At times like this, I wished I had the gift of compulsion as some of those Valentina turned directly. I could be out of this situation within seconds. My gifts were a tad different. Unfortunately, Andrei had the same gifts as me, making it harder for us to fight against each other. Though we were vampires with superstrength and speed, our enhancements exceeded most of our kind. So, the only power I could use on this innocent woman was snapping her neck before she could even blink. The last thing I needed was their security detail, who were most likely viewing the camera in the foyer, to stop me before I could reach Tony’s door.

Or alerting the Five-Point Order.

I homed in on the woman’s heartbeat, slowly going from a rapid pace to a more calming one.

“Oh, well, welcome to the building,” she said, but her voice had a slight tremor. She wasn’t sure yet if she could trust me. “What floor?”

Now she was testing me.

I smiled again. “Third floor, down on the east side.”

The woman smiled back and gestured her head toward the elevators. “Ah, me too. I’m on the west end, but we can ride together.”

I gave her a nod. “Here, let me at least help you carry that bag.”

As we entered the elevator, I went to press the button for the third floor. The woman, however, reached out and brushed her fingers against my exposed wrist. Her blue eyes went wide, and she jerked her hand back. “You’re …”

I let out an annoyed sigh. “Please don’t panic. I’m one of the good ones,” I lied, flashing her a wink. But her face went pale, and her fingers curled around the bar on the side of the elevator as if she might bolt.

“I would like my bag back, please,” she said firmly, arms tightening around her stomach now. Although she kept her expression blank, I could hear the rapid pulse of her heart, each beat faster and louder than the last. Her eyes remained on mine, not even blinking, as if breaking eye contact would shatter what little control she had left.

She had none.

“No, I’ll help you bring the groceries to your place.”

Her nostrils flared slightly as terror emanated from her like a sweet perfume. I questioned what Valentina told me about still having a soul in moments like this when I had a human cornered. I could smell this woman’s fear, her disgust, and all I felt inside was the endless craving to drink her life away.

The elevator doors slid open, and we exited into the hallway. “What’s the number on the door?” I asked.

“Please, don’t.” That was when her eyes turned glossy. She was going to cry.

I stepped closer, reaching my right hand to her shining black hair. Slowly, I tucked a loose strand behind her ear. She had silver rose-shaped earrings. “Look, I’ll make it quick, I promise. You might even enjoy it.”

The tears flowed freely now as she let out a hard sob. My victim wouldn’t look at me now, only nodding as she led us down the hallway to her apartment. The woman pulled out the key and unlocked the door. Once inside, I looked around and scented the air: no pets, children, or a partner.

I set the bag down on a nearby blue-gray couch and turned to her as she closed the door. She was smart for not running; it would only make things worse if she poked the beast and caused me to hunt her down. I touched her face, making her flinch away.

“I can’t have you reporting me to the Five-Point Order or human law enforcement. I’m sorry.”

Before she could speak, I grabbed her by the throat and spun her around, pressing her body against mine. There was so much fear coming off her that my mouth watered at the smell of it. The monster within me craved this destruction, this ending.

My lips pressed against the soft skin of her neck, wrapping my left arm around her waist. The woman gasped and struggled against me. I sunk my fangs into her neck, and she cried out, digging her nails into my jacket.

To vampires, it was second nature to feel aroused when the first taste of a victim’s blood touched our tongue. Especially when they were afraid and fought against us—a sick and twisted pleasure, but addictive, nonetheless.

However, as she thrashed and kicked at my hold on her, I realized something. There was no physical or sensual response in my body as I drank. I felt nothing, just a yawning chasm that bore an emotion I couldn’t acknowledge. The woman’s hands clawing at my arms slowed and then fell to her sides, her body going limp against mine. I released my fangs from her throat and tossed her body on the floor.

Her complexion skin was now chalk white, her lips the same. Although she was still alive, her breathing was labored, and I knew death would claim her within minutes. Something strange overcame me then, and I stepped back, my shoulders hitting the door. I watched momentarily as her chest rose and fell in a stuttered rhythm.

“Please, just accept death and go,” I whispered. “I have things to do tonight.”

While listening to her slowing heart rate, I looked around the apartment more in-depth. The place had a simple feel, with little furniture and only a handful of décor scattered on the walls. But a large, framed photograph caught my eye in the other room. I stepped past the dying woman, crossing the threshold for a better look.

My victim grinned widely, standing between an older man and a woman. I took in the details of their faces staring at me. The frame had an engraving: “The Family Trip Yosemite.” The photo held so much joy, love, and purpose in their eyes. A family that knew the meaning of closeness.

I looked at the father. He and his daughter shared the same eyes, blue like the sky after a rainstorm. She shared her mother’s complexion with the same shade of dark hair. The mother had striking green eyes that looked eerily similar to my mother’s.

I glanced over my shoulder at the woman, watching the blood slowly trickle down her neck and drip onto the carpet.

What would Mamá think of all this? Of causing so much pain the way that Andrei caused hers?

The thought jarred me. “God fucking dammit,” I cursed before spinning on my heel and walking over to her prone body. I kneeled beside her and sliced open my wrist with my fangs. I held the bleeding cut over her mouth, dripping the blood onto her lips and tongue. “Drink.”

The woman, barely clinging to life, tried to push my arm away. I lifted her head and tilted it back, forcing her mouth to open further.

“I said drink,” I growled. “Now.”

Her throat clicked as she swallowed, allowing her to consume more of my blood. I lowered her back onto the floor.

“Listen carefully. My blood will heal and replenish what you lost. I promise you’ll not become a vampire like me.” I pointed to the window behind us. “Just don’t throw yourself out the window, and you’ll be fine. In fact, try not to die for a few days.”

A slow touch of color rose in her cheeks, and the woman sobbed uncontrollably. I stood straight and headed to the apartment door.

“Oh, and, if you report me, I will come back and kill you. Be grateful I’m sparing your life.”

Once I stepped back into the hallway, I wiped the blood from my face with a rag I kept in my pocket before moving toward the east wing of the building. Tony’s apartment was at the end of the hall, with music blasting through the walls. I pounded on the door, hoping he’d hear me over the noise. The music faded, and the door swung open. Tony stood there; his face went from confusion to shock before twisting into a vicious scowl.

“Hey, Tony,” I said cheerfully. “We need to talk.”