CHAPTER TEN
Ailsa
I STOOD AT the corner of Victoria Street and Borthwick’s Close, concealed by the shadow of night.
My eyes scanned every window, doorway and alley.
It was still, too still I thought. But then again, it was night, that was normal for night wasn’t it?
I’d never really paid attention to just how still and quiet it became.
Was this unusual? Something in the back of my mind warned me that it was.
Any evidence of what I had done the night prior was gone.
Like it had never happened. No crime scene tape, no body, nothing at all.
Everything looked just as it had, imperfectly in place where it belonged.
Except for me. I didn’t belong here anymore, that much was clear.
I wasn’t sure what would happen to me now, where my life would lead me, but I knew I couldn’t continue with the life I’d led.
Only a day had passed, but I already knew I wasn’t her anymore. I was something more now.
Something that excited me.
I laughed internally at my stupid thoughts. How ridiculous they sounded. Me, Ailsa—a fucking vampire. The protagonist in my own horror story.
I should have felt more remorse, I was vaguely aware of that, but it was like that part of my brain had been switched off. Maybe I’d pay the price for that at a later time, but I couldn’t dwell on it right now. Couldn’t open that can of worms.
I looked out at the streets before me again, filled with homes and businesses shut for the night. A place that I’d called home.
There didn’t seem to be a soul around, but still I hesitated, unsure if this was wise.
But I desperately wanted a shower, a clean set of clothes and I wanted to at least gather some of my belongings.
I needed to make sure Lucrecia wasn’t locked in the apartment.
I hadn’t seen her when I had fled last night but I couldn’t be sure.
And while I apparently wasn’t above killing a human to feed my own bloodlust, I wasn't going to let a poor cat starve to death, trapped inside my damn home.
I cracked a knuckle as I wrestled with my indecision.
I stepped out of the shadows, testing to see if there’d be a reaction. I wasn’t sure what I had expected—some scary vampire lord to pounce on me from the skies above or something—but nothing happened. All remained as it was, uninterested in my movements.
I showered as quickly as possible, and got dressed equally as fast. I opted for black jogging bottoms, and a black vest under a band hoodie. I figured I’d be best in something comfortable and flexible, just in case I was forced to move fast.
I was suddenly filled with sadness at the prospect of never returning to my beloved home.
It had been the only place that ever felt like home, that had been wholly mine, where I felt safe.
And now I was leaving it for the unknown.
A pang of guilt hit me at the thought of Lucretia returning from her night wanderings to find me gone.
It wasn’t like I could leave her a note detailing everything.
The rumbling sound of a motorbike caught my attention and I carefully drew back the curtain to peek out at the street.
No one around here owned a bike, I would have noticed.
Maybe I was being paranoid, but my skin prickled with the suspicion that the man in my line of sight was a vampire. And that he was here for me.
“No, no, no, no,” I muttered to myself as I looked around in a panic. I had hoped to at least get a bag packed, to gather what measly valuables I had. I cursed myself for choosing a shower over packing.
I looked at my boots with the intention of putting them on, only to find myself with them in my hand in the blink of an eye.
Hm, seems there were perks to being a vampire I hadn’t discovered quite yet. I tried it again, this time putting on and lacing my boots.
I chanced another glance out the window to see the bike parked and its owner nowhere to be seen.
Panic speared through me as I heard the undeniable sound of heavy footsteps creaking up the old staircase that led to my apartment door.
I darted for the kitchen window, throwing it open. It was just about big enough for me to squeeze through, but then what… could I make the jump onto next door's back extension roof?
I had no choice.
I jumped just as I heard the splintering of wood.
My front door.
Fuck.
I landed on the roof at an odd angle with a thud, almost falling backward.
I got a hold of myself and ran over the slate tiles, descending down the other side.
I’d have to jump from here, I didn’t have the time to try and climb down the drainpipe or whatever someone trained in this type of running might do.
It was just one floor, and I was a vampire. That meant I should be okay, right?
Right?
Fuck it, I didn’t have time to overthink.
And for the second time tonight, I jumped.
Pain exploded through my ankle, as I righted myself and used my vampire gifts to run at speed through the back alleyway toward the city centre.
I didn’t think it was broken, but sprained at the very least. But as soon as the pain flared, something else did alongside it.
It felt as though blood rushed to the injury and began working to heal it.
I couldn’t stop to dwell on it.
I pushed on, scanning the streets to see if he had pursued me.
I couldn’t see or hear him, but I knew he had.
Nausea rose in the back of my throat and I had to swallow down bile.
This speed running was incredible, but fuck it made me feel worse than car sick. And it was draining me. But I couldn’t let exhaustion overtake me now. No, adrenaline shot through me and I pushed on. I didn’t need to turn around to know that he was hot on my heels.
Fuck.
I ran over my options. The streets were too quiet, too empty, I couldn’t hide from him. I needed to disappear somewhere swarming with warm bodies.
I patted down my still damp hair, righting my fringe and took a deep breath as I did my best to resemble my former self.
“Evening Ailsa,” Greg—the familiar bouncer at The King’s Ruin club—said with a smirk. Thank fuck, this was my lucky night. Greg liked me, he’d have no problem with me skipping the queue.
I smiled back, a little flirty. “Alright Greg? Looks busy tonight,” I said, hinting at the long admission line. He eyed my outfit, and for a second I worried he wouldn't let me in. It wasn’t exactly club attire but he nodded his head as if to say, ‘go ahead’.
I could sense the vampire approaching and my pulse sounded in my ears so loud it was a struggle to wait for Greg to lift the barrier and let me through.
I’d hoped he wouldn’t have seen me enter the club but all hope of that was dashed when his gaze collided with mine.
We were separated by a sea of people, but at that moment it was like none of them existed.
It was only me and the demon hunting me.
Unease prickled at the back of neck as an unsettling grin spread across his face.
Fuck, why did he have to be so damn good looking.
All tall, dark and hot as fuck with his tattoos and piercings.
I must have imagined it, but I could have sworn he looked me over with equal appreciation.
But rather than giving him the satisfaction of another second of a look I darted through the big doors into the narrow entryway of the club and out onto the dancefloor.
I knew Greg wouldn’t let him through and I doubted he was willing to make a scene in front of the humans, so I had maybe five minutes max to figure out where to go from here.
I was instantly overwhelmed by the attack on my senses.
My damn vampire senses I hadn’t got a full handle on yet.
Maybe coming in here was a mistake.
I winced and my hand flew to my temples as I fought the stabbing sensation forced on me from the music.
I’d barely made it into the myriad of dancing bodies when the sound of a dark chuckle reached my ears and I found him standing there.
Mere metres away from me, seemingly in no rush to pounce on me. He knew he had me. He was cocky about it, sure that this was it and that he’d caught me.
His mocking laugh told me as much.
But I wasn’t done.
I refused.
Shit.
Fuck.
He was so damn close.
Quick, think, for fucks sake.
I couldn’t let him get me.
Think.
The hairs on my neck stood.
I had to do something—anything—now.
Think.
I grabbed the nearest guy to me, my nails digging into the back of his neck as I whirled him around to face me and sunk my fangs into the delicate flesh just above his collar bone.
Blood welled to the surface immediately, flooding my mouth with the most delicious satisfaction. I wanted to drink, to bleed him dry. But I had just about enough willpower to remember why I’d done this.
A distraction.
The vampire cocked his head at me, studying me far too intensely for my liking. I had needed to do the unexpected, and judging by the way the eyes of the man who was after me had widened, I had managed just that.
So I tore into more of my unfortunate victim’s flesh and then threw his lethargic body into the stranger who had hunted me just as screams began to rise above the sound of the music.
I ran.
I ran as fast I fucking could, straight for the fire exit.
This was my only chance.
My pulse was racing as I struggled against the feeling of my heightened senses trapping me.
Everything was too damn loud, the scent of sweat, sex and worse in the air.
Even the flashing lights became too much.
And the fucking hunger. All I wanted was to rip into the next person.
I’d lost the ability to care. My senses were suffocating me, the hunger screaming at me.
But still I pushed on, not daring to turn around to see if I’d managed to slip past my follower. The screams had died down, leading me to believe that he’d somehow managed that situation, which could only mean one thing. He’d be on my trail again before I knew it.
I couldn’t let him catch up to me.
I needed to get out of here and away from him.
I ascended the old metal stairs, taking two steps at a time, then I finally reached it—the smoking area.
All I needed to do now was escape the crowd undetected, make my way down the other fire escape, then disappear into the night.
I didn’t know where I’d go, I’d figure that out as I went.
My only concern right now was evading him.
Smoke filled my lungs as I weaved through the crowd of sweaty party-goers. Their heartbeats were all too tempting.
Focus Ailsa, I chastised myself. I need to get out of here.
I breathed in the chill night air when I reached the fire escape, I didn’t slow, and my hands slid along the handrails as I ran down it.
I chanced a glance upward and relief flooded through me as I saw nothing. No one. I was nearly at the bottom. I’d done it. I had managed to slip away from him.
When my foot finally hit the cobbled street of the alley below, pain shot through me.
My fangs and nails descended intuitively to the threat, but before I could even whirl my head around to see my attacker, my vision blurred then went dark and I slumped into someone’s body.
I heard muffled talking but I couldn’t make out a word. All of my senses were shutting down.
I’d kill whoever was doing this to me.
It was my last thought before total darkness welcomed me, and I was gone.