My foot slips.
One second, I’m enjoying myself; the next, I’m rolling down the other side of the ridge. Before I careen over the edge of the eaves, I manage to hook my fingers over the guttering and hang there precariously with my legs dangling over the back garden.
I let out a nervous chuckle. That was close! It’s a sizeable drop into the garden below, at least six storeys, and I’m not sure what would happen if I let go. Would I bounce or break my legs? I have no clue, having never been in this position before.
Fortunately, I don’t have to find out because I can simply swing myself—
The old lead guttering gives a jolt under my weight as I move my hips, and a part of it tears away from the wall. Instantly, I keep still, my fingers digging into the metal to adjust my grip. I hiss out a curse.
The guttering gives another jolt. I let out a tiny scream as the part I’m holding on to pulls out of the wall entirely, and I’m suspended in mid-air.
I squeeze my eyes shut, waiting for the sickening dropand the thud ... But nothing happens. There’s no rush of air or crack of breaking bones. Slowly, I open my eyes to find myself hovering, still clutching the ancient piece of guttering. I fling it into the bushes below, and my body bumps lightly against the side of the wall.
I make a breaststroke motion with my hands but go nowhere. I kick my feet, but that’s ineffective as well.How the hell do I get back onto the roof so I can go inside?
But that’s the trick. As soon as I focus on the rooftop andwillmyself, my body moves of its own accord, and I rise and land lightly on the ridge.
A thrill rushes through me.
Oh my god, no wonder Alexander is hell-bent on keeping me locked up inside.
I can fly!
Chapter 27
Damian | Edinburgh, present day
The main door of the Ramsay Garden flat gleams blood-red in the moonlight, and a trickle of fear runs down my spine. Accepting that Floss is a vampire and that she means me no harm is one thing, but meeting her vampire flatmates is quite another. It seemed like a good idea the other night when we were discussing it in my broken bed. Now I’m not sure at all. But she’s my girlfriend, I care about her, and I want to be a part of her world—so that means meeting Sadie and Hester.
‘They don’t bite,’ says Floss in a teasing tone, and I give her a withering look.
‘This is not the time for those kinds of jokes,’ I say snippily, my voice breaking.
‘Sorry,’ she says, squeezing my arm. ‘Look, I know you must be scared. If you’re not up to it, we can do it another time.’
I square my shoulders, not wanting to look like a lily-livered fool in front of her.For God’s sake, Rhodes, are youa man or a mouse?
But my knees are trembling, and at this moment, I would have to say I’m very much a scared little mouse.
‘Have they ... you know?’ I make a vague gesture around my throat area, not quite sure how to put it or wanting to give offense.
Floss smirks. ‘Had dinner?’
A cold sweat breaks out across my shoulder blades. ‘Uh, yes. That.’
She checks the time on her phone. ‘Elliott was due an hour ago, so I’d say they would have. And they know that you’re coming over, so they wouldn’t want to make you nervous by sniffing at you or anything.’
I smile at her weakly. ‘Right.’
‘We don’t have to stay for long. It’s not like you have to hear their life stories or anything. Jesus.’ She rolls her eyes. ‘You’d be here fordays...’
I can’t help chuckling at that, which eases my tension. Floss’s sense of humour is very dry. It’s one of the reasons why I like her so much. I slide my hand into hers.
‘You’ll be right there too. You won’t leave me alone?’ I hate the way my voice quavers, but I can’t help it.
She squeezes my hand so tightly my knuckles crack. I wince, and she eases off the pressure. ‘Of course I won’t leave you alone,’ she says soothingly. ‘I’ll be right next toyou the entire time … Though if they do decide to go for you, I’m not sure how much help I’ll be.’
My eyes widen in terror, and Floss grins at me. ‘Sorry, couldn’t help myself.’
