“I’ll only drink a little bit. It’s a risk I’m willing to take. And besides, you’re here if anything happens to me. I’ll be fine.” I wasn’t sure who I was trying to convince more, her or myself.
“Be my guest,” she said, motioning to him.
I bent down and leaned into his throat. My fangs were already elongated, and my stomach let out a low rumble. I sank my teeth into the flesh of his neck, and warmth filled my mouth. I closed my eyes and almost let out a moan.
Adjusting his hair in the mirror of a gas station bathroom. Mowing the lawn.I struggled to concentrate, searching for the right fragments of his memories.Students in the alley. His footsteps on the frosty sidewalk. Ryley.
I saw images of him gathering supplies from Ryley, the same person George had left the bar with the night he died. We had finally uncovered the trail George was on.
I stopped drinking his blood.
“Ryley,” I told Vail. “George’s investigation led us straight back to Ryley. He gave this guy the drugs.”
“We have to find Ryley,” Vail said.
The hoodie man woke up and groggily stared at us. I quickly wiped away his blood from my chin with the back of my hand, but it was too late; he had already seen it.
“Are you guys fucking Vampires?” He started screaming, “Help me, these fucking Vampire bitches—” I snapped his neck before he could finish his sentence,
“What the fuck, Rosie!” Vail exclaimed after I had killed him.
“What else what I supposed to do? He knew we were Vampires,” I shot back, licking my lips.
“Sure, but I could have wiped his memories.”
“I just topped off your blood supply, so you’re welcome,” I smirked.
“Why are you so angry?” Vail asked, studying my expression.
“I’m not angry.”
“Okay, maybe you’re just a little stressed. And now we have to deal with another body,” she said, opening a cupboard and getting out glass jars.
“We’ll figure it out,” I assured her.
“Did you at leastfindthe book at the bookstore?”
“I didn’t go in.” I hesitated, then continued. “Connor was there with Amber, and I freaked out. But I will go back tomorrow, I promise.”
Vail didn’t miss a beat. “Rosie, he’s just some guy you met. I can’t believe he’s having this effect on you. You’re acting a little nuts.”
“I’m not crazy.”
“Excuse me? You just killed a guy in my kitchen,” she said matter-of-factly. “Just admit you like Connor already.”
I sighed with frustration. “I honestly don’t know what’s wrong with me. I used to be better at controlling myself, or at least not letting my jealousy get in the way. I can flirt like it’s nothing, so why was I so scared to confront a human?”
Vail was busy filling jars with blood, so she didn’t respond right away. When she did, her gaze flicked to me. “Idon’t know. But please, go back tomorrow and get that book. It’s important to me.”
TWENTY
March 24, 1891
Rosalia,
I shall be away for a few days for business. Be good.
Draven
