“Go back inside, Amelia,” Karson said in a much softer tone. When I hesitated, he popped his hand around my back and ushered me inside. “Get changed, we’ll leave for Church Heights as soon as you are ready.” He removed his arm and the space it left felt empty. He was looking at the door, frowning, and his eyes were dark and brooding.
By the time I reached the top of the stairs I heard a scraping sound. I knew a shovel was being used to clean up the dog’s remains, followed by a jet of water.
My stomach churned. I located the phone on the bedside table. I knew it was a long shot, it was probably a cheap mobile discarded after the text was sent. But I dialled the number that’d sent the text. It didn’t ring. Defeated, I sighed and sat the phone down on the bed.
A whisper-soft tap landed on the door.
“Amy?” Dahlia’s voice was so faint I strained to hear it. “Can I come in?” She didn’t wait for me to answer, she walked in and closed the door behind her. “You need to know that it’s all an act.”
I frowned. “What is, Dahlia?”
“Karson, the way he treats you, like he cares. It’s not genuine, if you believe it is, you’re going to get hurt." She moved over to the window stared out into the yard. "He probably killed the goddamn dog himself.”
I was in no mood for her irrational thoughts, I didn’t think for a second he’d killed the dog. I snorted. “For what reason would he kill a dog?”
“Think about it, Amy.” She stepped towards me and threw out both hands. “You just found out he’s a vampire, but if you’re in danger and he protects you, suddenly he comes off as the good guy. Vampires will do anything to get what they want.”
It was the most absurd thing I’d ever heard. This girl was paranoid and reconfirmed my suspicions she was crazy. “And what exactly do you think he wants?”
She lifted her eyebrows. “Even you can’t be quite that naïve.”
I laughed but I wasn’t amused, it came out bitter and annoyed.
“So, he just wants sex? Perhaps I should invite him upstairs now and get it over and done with then.” I threw her a cold glare. I’d already practically thrown myself at him and he’d rejected me, hardly the move of a guy who just wanted sex. “Is that it, Dahlia?”
“Yes.” She frowned. “I will leave you be.” She turned to walk out.
“Dahlia, you better call your people and tell them they have it wrong, I’m not a witch, or whatever the hell you are.”
She paused, didn’t look back. “They don’t have it wrong, Amy, I will see you tomorrow.”
They had it completely wrong, or she did at least. Strange, strange girl.
But was she dangerous?
Chapter 44
Road Trip
We sat in morbid silence for some time on the way home, mulling over the dog’s death in our heads. In movies and books, animals were slaughtered as a warning to someone to stop doing whatever they were doing, a threat to say ‘this is going to happen to you if you keep it up.' But I wasn’t doing anything I could stop. Was it some kind of sick attempt to scare me away? Or was it a prelude for something much more sinister?
Does anyone want you dead?Matt’s words haunted me.
Thoughts burned through my head so fast I thought it highly possible Karson would hear the incessant tick of my brain. Not least of all, what did it all mean? Where did we go from here? I was the holder of an immense, terrible, dark secret. To protect it, would it mean at some point he’d sink his teeth into my neck, suck my blood, and leave me dead on the floor?
“She’s not like an ordinary female,” Karson said, breaking my spinning thoughts.
I turned to him.“What?”
“Monique, she’s a female, but not a standard one.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Vampires are as lethal as each other, regardless of sex.” He attempted to justify his propensity for violence; pathetically.
I raised a brow. “The females are as strong? And that makes what you did okay, is that what you’re saying?”
“Sometimes they are. We all have slightly different skill sets.”
“Is she as strong as you?” I shot back.
He was quiet for a long moment, staring ahead, with what looked like regret on his face.
