Chapter 29
Sadie | Highlands, present day
Thanks to vampirism, all three of us are fast runners. It comes with the territory. But Damian’s going at double superhuman speed. He zips along the forest trail like lightning, and we’re barely able to keep up with him.
Me: Jesus, we’ll reach Glencoe if he carries on like this!
Floss: Keep him in sight. Hopefully, he’ll slow down soon!
As the fastest, Floss’s slightly ahead, her long dark hair rippling in the violet light. She glances back at me. Her pale face is tight with worry but she attempts a small grin. I’m glad I had a blood boost, though. He’s fast!
Just like his mama sire. I smirk at her. He’s got your power as well as mine. Luckily, Hester didn’t give him her blood. Otherwise, he’d have hers too.
I glance sideways at Hester running silently next to me.
She doesn’t utilise her shape-shifting power in the present day.
She said it came in useful during the Tudor period, but there’s not really any cause for her to use it now.
I’m kind of glad she doesn’t as I’m insanely jealous she can, and she knows it.
I’d sacrifice my favourite pair of stilettos for that ability.
Hester raises an eyebrow at me. That would be interesting. Maybe I should give him some to see if it would take.
Don’t you dare, bitch!
Hester and Floss snicker.
Irritated, I block both of them for the moment and focus on my conversation with Tim instead, which is puzzling me. He was slicing up a hunk of bloody steak in the kitchen wearing a blue-and-white striped apron when I came into the kitchen.
‘We’re popping out for a bit,’ I said, leaning against the counter. ‘Damian wants to ... er ... go for a run. And we’ll keep him company.’
Tim paused with his knife in the air. ‘A run at this time of night? It’s dark and raining.’
‘We can all see quite well, and rain doesn’t bother us.’
Tim placed the knife down on the chopping board and turned to face me, looking suspicious. ‘Did something happen upstairs just now? I heard noises. I didn’t want to interfere.’
I chewed my lip, not sure how to put it. Probably best to come straight out with it. ‘There was an ... accident. We had to turn Damian.’
Tim’s mouth slackened in shock. ‘What?’
I shrugged. ‘Yeah, he’s now a vampire. Kind of bad timing. But it was always going to happen since he’s involved with Floss. He’s got a target on his back, thanks to Alexander.’
Tim looked confused. ‘Who’s Alexander?’
‘Floss’s sire—it’s a long story.’
Tim had looked at me and exhaled. ‘Then maybe this is a good time to turn me too. We should keep it in the family.’ He’d said it half-jokingly.
It wasn’t a topic that was up for discussion, as far as I was concerned. One newbie vampire to take care of was enough. ‘No, Tim,’ I’d stated flatly. ‘I’m not turning you.’
His expression had soured like he’d eaten bitter lemon. ‘Why not? I love you, Sadie. I don’t know what else I can—’
‘I have a ... partner,’ I said, cutting him off but deciding not to reveal what exactly Elliott was to me. Saying that he was my thrall didn’t exactly put me in a good light. ‘He’s been kidnapped by Alexander. We’re trying to track him down.’
‘Oh,’ Tim said. He’d raked a hand through his hair and digested this piece of information. ‘But if it doesn’t work out with him, maybe you could consider—’
‘I’m getting him back!’ I’d hissed and left abruptly.
Seriously? Like I’m going to give up on Elliott and choose Tim instead? That’s not happening. I can’t understand why he’s so determined for me to turn him. I’m finding it hard to believe that he has strong feelings for me, though he says he does. We haven’t seen each other for forty years!
I suppose I could have poked around in his mind to glean his thoughts, but I was too pissed off to do it then and there. I will when we get back to the house, though. His attitude is bugging me.
Floss gives a distressed cry up ahead.
Me: What’s happened?
Floss: Damian’s gone off-piste!
There’s the sound of crashing branches on the left.
Me: Shit! He’s making a hell of a racket!
Floss (mournfully): I know.
Hester: We’ll have to follow him. Try to contain him somehow.
‘Babe! Babe, come back!’ Floss starts pushing through the undergrowth, and there’s nothing for it but to plunge in after her.
I hate the feel of sharp twigs scratching my arms and legs, but they’re tiny cuts that heal instantly.
Luckily, it doesn’t go on for too long. Hester and I emerge into a clearing to discover Floss has managed to grab Damian’s arms and is keeping a firm hold on him. Thank the Lord!
A branch snaps in the distance, and Damian’s head whips up. He sniffs the air in a concentrated sweep.
‘What’s he smelling?’ Hester whispers to me.
‘I don’t know. A wild boar perhaps?’ I reply, unable to detect anything either.
Damian hears me and growls, ‘Let’s chase it!’ It’s the first sentence he’s spoken since he was turned, and I’m a bit shocked at how husky his voice sounds.
Floss giggles as if she likes it, and her arousal permeates the air. I assume he talks like that to her in bed. Jekyll and Hyde indeed!
Before I can make a snarky comment, Damian’s off again, tearing through the trees. I sigh. This is going to be a long night.
***
We give chase, leaping over fallen logs, dodging trunks, and ducking under branches. We’re going deeper and deeper into the forest, which concerns me. I thought this would be a quick jog. Now it feels more like a Tough Mudder event.
Me: Where the hell is he going? I would’ve put on trainers if I knew we were going forest bashing.
Hester (gasping): Don’t tell me you’re wearing stilettos!
Me (scoffing): Please! I’m in Converse, but not the ones designed for running.
Floss: Guys, this isn’t good.
Me: Duh, what have I been saying? My shoes are getting ruined.
Floss: No, I mean I’m getting blood bond activation.
Me: With Damian?
Floss: No, someone else.
Me: Oh shit. That means ...
Floss: Yup, Alexander territory. Hester, can you shield me?
Hester: On it.
We slow down to a dawdle, nervously peering around as if Alexander is going to pop out from behind a tree trunk and yell ‘Surprise!’
Floss: Don’t speak aloud from now on. Use telepathy. In case he’s nearby.
She projects the thought clearly into our minds, and I gape at her.
Floss (happily): I know, I’m getting better at this. I think my connection to Damian is helping to increase my powers.
Hester: Speaking of which, where is our baby vampire? It’s gone worryingly silent.
Floss: I can sense him. He went this way. Tread carefully and try not to make any loud noises ...
As soon as she says this, I take a step forward, and my foot connects with a fallen branch; it snaps in half with a crack that echoes through the silent forest like a gunshot.
We all freeze in place.
Me: Ah, sorry about that.
Floss (sarcastically): And try not to get us drained.
***
Hester: Is it Hadrian’s Wall, do you think?
We peer up at the mighty stone fortification blocking our way. Having eventually reached the edge of the forest, this is now the current obstacle to deal with. There still hasn’t been any sign of Damian, though Floss insists he’s around.
Me: Don’t be silly. We haven’t crossed into England! And this is much too high to be Hadrian’s Wall.
Hester: Great, just checking.
Floss: It has turrets and window slits. I think it’s a castle.
Me: Alexander’s castle?
Floss: Possibly, though I can’t feel him as strongly anymore.
Me (excitedly): If it is, Elliott could be inside! We have to get in.
Hester (cautiously): Let’s not get our hopes up. It could be an Airbnb rental, and we don’t want to give the guests a nasty surprise.
Floss: Besides, we can’t enter unless we’re invited.
Me: I really hate that rule.
Hester: Do you want me to do a little reconnaissance?
She makes a clawing motion with one of her hands, and I narrow my eyes.
Me: This isn’t the time to show off.
Hester: Who said anything about showing off? Floss shouldn’t get any closer in case it’s Alexander’s lair. So it makes sense that I check it out, and my alternate shape is perfect for that.
Wordlessly, I nod and link arms with Floss. We step back to give her space. Hester crouches down, folds her arms around her body, and mutters what sounds like a spell.
A millisecond later, I blink; and there’s a black cat sitting there, staring at us with slanted green eyes. It saunters over to me and butts its head against my leg.
Hester: Stroke my fur. You know you want to.
Me: Oh, sod off.
Hester: Charming!
The cat gives a soft hiss, then bounds over to the castle and trots off following the perimeter round to the right until it disappears.
Floss: So cool. I wish I could do that.
Me (jealously): Yeah, me too.
Floss: Do you think Damian’s OK? You don’t think he got inside the castle somehow?
Me: I’m not sure how he could.
We wait for Hester to return.
An owl hoots.
Leaf water drips down my neck.
I get cramp in my foot.
A hand taps me on the shoulder, and I almost jump out of my skin. I spin with my fists clenched. But it’s Hester, back in her usual form, an amused grin on her face. I drop my fists.
Me: Well?
Hester: So there’s good news and bad news.