I felt the blood drain from my face. I yanked my gaze away and folded my arms to hide the shaking in my hands.
Karson moved closer and inspected her, then nodded. The man lifted the corner of the other sheet. The ringing increased and the radio voices joined into a chant. I closed my eyes and tried to block it out. I knew that it was just my mind creating it. No one was here but us. I sucked in a deep breath, and I smelled sterile antiseptic and?—
Rot, like meat a day past its use-by date. My stomach lurched as I fought not to vomit.
“Were any more vampires or witches brought in last night?” Karson asked.
“A young witch. She was found by the river. She’d been sexually violated then strangled, so it could be an ordinary that was the cause. The police are looking at the father. Apparently, he has charges of sexual assault in the past. She’s in here.” He pulled open a drawer.
The chanting increased until it became a deafening roar. I caught a glimpse of dark hair; it swayed limply over the edge of the table. My head reeled as something deep, something lurking, crawled toward the surface of my mind. Panic exploded through me.
Run.
I turned and ran.
One second I was running blindly down the corridor, the next I was flying, scooped up into Karson’s arms. We moved with such a rush of speed, my sickened stomach roiled.
“Put me down,” I rasped.
The predawn night air was cool against my skin as he placed me down. I staggered off to the side of the building. My whole body shook as I clutched the side to hold myself steady and retched watery bile.
“You face living vampires who are about to kill you without fear, but a couple of dead ones brings you undone,” Karson said, humor in his tone. I knew what he was doing; he was trying to ease my distress.
I gulped in air, trying to settle my stomach.
“I was hoping to scare you from going out again. I didn’t realize you’d be affected so badly.” Now there was a touch of regret in his tone.
“I was scared,” I snapped, spitting on the ground, trying to remove the terrible taste from my mouth.
“You let her see the bodies, didn’t you.” Monique morphed from nowhere. The rare show of guilt Karson displayed increased into a knot in his brow.
Michael appeared from around the corner.
“I thought it would make her realize the risks of going out when you’re a witch at the moment.” He passed me a tissue to wipe my mouth.
“Were they the ones you let live?” Michael asked.
Karson raked a hand through his hair. “Yes.”
Monique raised her brows. “Was this the work of witches?”
“A blade was used to sever their heads. A vampire would just pull it off.” There was a pause as the news sank in.
Michael placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “It could very well be a vampire trying to make it look like a witch is responsible.”
I swallowed repeatedly, trying to rid myself of the bile burning in my throat, and straightened. “You could be right, Michael. What if Sarah had the vampires killed to make it look like witches did it.” My voice quietened as I added, “Or it’s retribution because they didn’t finish you when they should have, or because whoever ordered it didn’t want any witnesses to admit it was you who killed the vampires, not witches.”
Karson looked at me with a mix of surprise and awe. “I’d hazard a guess Sarah had them killed in equal parts revenge for disappointing her and so witches would be blamed.”
They looked amongst each other. “Who would gain from that if witches and vampires get into a war? Both sides will have casualties,” Monique said.
“Sarah,” Karson growled. “If we are too busy fighting, we don’t have time to look for her.”
“We know some of the vampires who attacked were newborns, but not so new they can’t control the urge to feed.” Monique frowned, folding her arms. “Do you think she turned them just to attack you?”
Karson shrugged. “She would know newborns stood no chance against me.”
They almost did stand a chance, a pretty decent one, had the two that fled stayed and finished the job …A shudder crept over my skin.
