1. Chapter 1
Lookingdownatmy gloved hands, they are stained with blood. But it”s not mine, just like it wasn”t that night my parents died. Some days working in the emergency department are harder than others. You take the wins where you can find them because the losses are so hard. Having to tell families their loved one has died is one of the hardest things I have to do.
Taking off my gloves, I dump them into the trash can, sanitizing my hands as I leave. A multi-vehicle accident on the 205 left us needing all hands on deck. My patient, a young woman named Cindy Mitchell, had come in with crush injuries and internal damage. No matter what we did, there was no way to save her. It is her blood on my hands.
A hand on my shoulder startles me and I whirl my head around. Doctor Michael Scott, my friend and boss, is standing behind me. His face is solemn, and he looks as tired as I feel. It”s been a hard shift, and the death of Cindy has taken its toll on both of us. Resting my hand on his, my shoulders droop as I let out a sigh.
”Your shift ended thirty minutes ago, Demi. Go get changed and head home. I”ll speak to Miss Mitchell”s family.”
”Thanks, Doctor Scott.” I would never think to call him by his first name in the ER, but we”ve been friends ever since I started at the hospital.
Michael gives my shoulder a squeeze before removing his hand and heading to the family room where Cindy”s parents are waiting for news about their daughter. I watch as he walks away. I should go with him and offer my support, but I”m exhausted to the point where I just want to drop where I”m standing. All I need to do is get back to the locker room, get out of my scrubs, and head home.
Glancing at my watch, it”s 6:32 am. My shift was meant to end at six, but with multiple casualties coming in, it wasn”t like I could stop chest compressions and walk away. Leaving the ER, I head for the locker room. When I get inside, there is no one else around. I open my locker and grab my clothes, shoving them onto the bench behind me. Slipping off my crocs, I drop my pants and tug my shirt over my head. The blood on them still isn”t quite dry.
Standing in just my underwear and socks, I grab my laundry bag and shove the dirty clothes and shoes inside. I have a pile of scrubs waiting at home to be washed. Slipping into my jeans, I tug them up my legs before throwing on a t-shirt and hoodie. The bench is hard beneath me as I pull on my sneakers and let out another sigh.
I still have to drive home, but the temptation to just call for an Uber and pick up my car over the weekend is real. Maybe I could even leave it here until my next shift on Saturday. Taking my hair out of my now messy ponytail, I pull the loose strands back from my face and throw it into a bun and gather up my things.
The locker room door opens, and Michael shuffles inside. His face is drawn, and there are dark circles under his brown eyes. His eyes drift to me and he smiles weakly.
”You okay?” He makes his way over to me, throwing an arm over my shoulder and pulling me close.
”I”ll be fine. I just need to sleep. Though I’m not sure how much of that I”ll get, Ginny”s still dragging me out tonight.” I shrug.
”Give her my love. Wish I could come out tonight, but my dad”s not feeling too good. Promised my mom I”d head over for the weekend, take her to the store and stuff.”
”You”re a good son, Michael. I”m sure Momma Scott will appreciate it. Tell her I said hi.” His mom is the sweetest woman I”ve met. Both his parents are amazing, just like him.
Leaning up, I give him a kiss on the cheek and smile. He squeezes me tighter. We”ve always had an easy friendship, even though he”s my boss and meant to be totally off-limits. There was one night after one too many bottles of wine, but we realized it just would not work. We were better as friends than lovers.
”I”ll see you on Sunday, Demi. Don”t do anything I wouldn”t do and try not to be too hung over for your shift on Saturday.”
”So pretty much nothing, then?” I let out a giggle, and Michael joins me in my laughter.
Dropping his arm to his side, he kisses the top of my head and I leave the locker room. I walk past a few other nurses and doctors, nodding at them as I pass and head for the exit. The sun is barely up as I leave through the double doors. A few ambulances are pulling up, but I keep walking. My shift is over. It”s someone else”s problem now, as hard as that is for me to think.
As I move across the parking lot, a shiver races down my spine. I stop and look over my shoulder. It feels like someone is watching me, but I don”t see anyone else. Hurrying along, I pull my keys out of my bag. When I reach my car, I open the door and jump inside, engaging the locks as soon as the door is closed.
Throwing both bags into the passenger seat, I scan the lot again, but it”s still empty.
You”re just tired, Demi. Stop freaking yourself out.
Jamming my key into the ignition, I start the car and head for home. I can rarely park directly outside my apartment, but there”s a small lot at the end of the block. When I pull in, there are a few empty spaces available. Shifting my car into one of them, I grab my stuff and get out.
The walk to my apartment is slow. All I want right now is my bed. As I get closer to the apartment block door, I shiver again, but this time I ignore it. Opening the main door, I head inside and check my mailbox, just the usual bills and junk mail. They can wait for now. Moving down the hall, I reach my door and use the key to let myself in.
I kick off my shoes as I make my way across the living room, heading straight for my bedroom. It”s pitch black in here, and I thank God for blackout curtains. Shoving the door shut, I don”t even bother to turn on the light. I drop my laundry by the door and take my other bag to the bed. Plugging my phone in, I leave it on the side table.
One by one I shrug off my clothing, bar my t-shirt. I let them all drop to the floor along with my bra and crawl under the sheets. As soon as my eyes close, I”m dead to the world.
I”m running through a forest. My arms and legs are being whipped by twigs as I rushpast them, but I can”t stop. My heart is pounding out of my chest as I pump my arms. I can feel my calves cramping. My feet are bare, and every pound of them against the ground sends lightning pain through the soles of my feet as the debris littering the floor cuts them open.
A growl echoes around the forest. It”s so close. When it comes again, it sounds like it”s just behind me. Keep going, Demi. Just keep going. I know I need to. I just don”t know how much longer I can keep up this pace. I glance over my shoulder, but all I see are shadows. As I swing my head back around, I see it. A gnarled tree root in my path. I can”t avoid it, and I don”t have enough time to slow down.
My left foot tangles underneath it and I go down hard. A solid blow to my knees as I land. My hands only just stop my face from smashing into the ground. Air rushes out of my lungs from the impact as I crawl across the leaf strewn dirt.
I need to get up, but my ankle is throbbing. I feel breath glance off the back of my neck, and I throw myself onto my back. Something jumps on top of me, and a scream escapes through my lips. Glowing eyes and fangs descend on me as I scream again, my hands raised above me to defend myself.
Sitting bolt upright in bed, my scream follows me from the dream world. My eyes cut around my darkened room. Scrambling for the lamp beside my bed, I click the switch and light floods the room, blotting out most of the darkness. Looking around again, there”s no one in here but me. Resting my hand on my chest, I wait for my heart rate to return to normal. I”ve been having nightmares since the night my parents died, and they are always much worse after a bad night in the ER.
Pulling myself out of bed, I head for the shower and turn on the water. I have a few hours to get myself ready for tonight. Looking in the mirror, I”m going to need it. That and at least a bucket”s worth of coffee. Stepping into the shower, I scrub my hair and body clean, washing away the grime from work.
Wrapped up in a towel, I head into theopen plan loungethat leads into the kitchenand go straight to the coffee machine, clicking it on. The rich aroma floods the room as the liquid gold drips into the pot. Filling a cup, I dump in two sugars and creamer before taking a sip. With my towel still wrapped around me, I potter around my apartment for a while as I drink my coffee.
Looking out of the window, I can see the multiple shadows thrown across the grass in the yard behind my building as the sun disappears from the sky, I must have slept the day away.As I focus on the shadows, they seem to shift. Glowing eyes blink at me, and I take a step back from the window. What the hell is out there? When I look again, the eyes are gone. I mustn”t be getting enough sleep at the moment. I”m seeing things and my nerves are fried.
I’m not sure if I want to go out tonight anymore, but I promised Ginny we’d go for belated drinks to celebrate her birthday. My shifts had fallen so that I couldn’t make the original plan with the rest of our friends. I wanted to do something during the day; it”s the safest time for us humans, but she wanted to go to this club that another of our friends had told her about and I don”t want to disappoint her. We”d done nights out before and I”m not sure what is putting me off so much this time. Something in the back of my mind is making me wary, warning me about something. I don’t trust the monsters. I haven’t since that day, but this week it”s been worse.
Most people live their lives normally, or as normal as they can when surrounded by vampires. They go out with friends, go to clubs, and drink the night away. Not me; I”ve always been cautious when I”ve gone out. We”ve usually gone out in a larger group, but this time it”s just me and Ginny.
This is a bad idea.
Refilling my coffee cup, I move into the bedroom and grab the outfit I”ve already prepared off the hanger. Sliding the lace panties up my legs, I slip on the matching bra before I step into my dress and pull it up my body. I down my coffee and blow-dry my hair, styling it into soft curls that frame my face.
Checking myself in the mirror one last time, I fluff up my hair using my hands and smack my lips together before blowing a kiss at my reflection. Even if I say so myself, I look good tonight. My little black dress hugs my curves in all the right places, and my breasts look fantastic. Happy with how I look, I head back to the kitchen. Grabbing my cell phone and keys off the counter, I stuff them into my purse. I snatch my black leather moto jacket off the back of the couch as I walk through my living room and slip it over my shoulders.
I do one last check of my bag. Keys… check, cell phone… check, pepper spray… check, silver stake… check. Yep, I have a stake in my purse. I never leave home without it. I don’t care that the Council says vampires aren’t dangerous and are all law-abiding citizens. If I’m going out when they”re in their element, I want some semblance of protection from them. They’re faster than humans, stronger than us, too. Oh, and they like to drink blood.
The Council may tell everyone that vampires only drink donated blood that every citizen gives once a month, but I’ve seen some of the victims that come into the ER. All with their throats ripped out and their blood drained, even if they try to cover it up. There’s no way I’m leaving the house without my trusty stake; tonight is no different.
Walking out of my apartment, I close the door and double-check that it’s locked behind me before heading to the main door. A shiver runs down my spine as I head out into the cold night air. Looking out across the street, I don’t see anyone around, but I feel tense, like someone might be watching me. Trying to shake off the feeling, I grab my cell out of my bag and request an Uber. The app tells me it’ll be here in three minutes. I really should have done it whilst I was still in the warmth and safety of my apartment, but shit happens.
Standing on the steps outside my building, I lean against the stone pillar. My eyes continue to scan the street. Maybe I should head back inside to wait, but I’m already outside now and considering how close the Uber is, it would be silly. A movement to my right pulls my attention and I look down the street. I catch a figure cloaked in the shadows. Squinting, I try to see who’s lurking, but I can’t see a thing.
A horn honking has me almost jumping out of my skin as the Uber pulls up next to the curb. Clutching a hand to my chest, I take a deep breath to calm myself before walking down the steps and straight to the car. I climb into the backseat. The driver checks my destination, and we pull away from the curb. As we pass where I thought I saw the figure, I stare out into the darkness but there’s nothing there.
Looking down at my cell, I open my messages.
On my way, meet you outside.
I shoot a message off to Ginny and it isn’t long before three dots appear as she writes a response.
You better hurry up, biatch. I’m freezing my balls off out here. Shots are on you tonight!
A small laugh slips through my lips, and I shake my head. I love Ginny, but any time we go out she wants shots, and those are my worst enemy. Give me beer any day of the week and I can drink it for hours, but the minute I drink shots, I’m a lost cause. We both are. I’m often surprised we make it home afterward. The friends we usually go out with always make sure we do. At least I don’t have to be at work until the early shift on Saturday.
That gives me tomorrow to recover.