Invincible (A Centennial City Novel) - By Fionn Jameson Page 0,20
through the doors, high and childish and my hands convulsed on the sword hilt. “And if he dies?”
Michael shrugged. “Then he dies.”
It seemed terribly final and something I could not accept.
Not when I had a task to fulfill. “What are the chances of him living through tonight?”
“Vampirism is a virus,” he said quietly, arms crossed over a formidable chest. “I guess it’s like contracting any sort of disease. Some people will get it and some people won’t. Hard to tell who will. But the more you’re bit…the more the vampire shares their blood with you…I guess chances go up significantly. Maybe like promiscuous sex?”
Coming from Michael, this was practically a long monologue.
I couldn’t stop thinking about the images branded in my mind.
Reiko poised over Jason, blood dripping down her ivory chin.
Jason’s eyes closed, arms splayed back, his blood falling in rivers onto the covers.
I knew the human body contained quarts upon quarts of blood, had made it splatter on the ground by my own actions, but to see the life fluid in such a fashion…a cold sweat arose on my temples and I shivered, despite the warmth filtering through the entire building.
Jason screamed again and I let in a sharp breath. “Don’t you think the neighbors will hear?”
The driver shook his head. “Doubt it. These walls are thicker than you’d imagine. The houses on both sides, they’re empty. I wouldn’t worry about someone calling the cops. I’d be more worried the girl in there taking too much blood.”
I remembered the look of triumph and desire in her eyes as she bent down to bite Jason’s neck. “It seems…unnecessary.”
He snorted. “You’re telling me. But he seems sure. And when he’s sure, there’s no telling him otherwise.”
After what seemed like an eternity and a half, the doors opened and the diminutive vampire slipped out, closing the door carefully behind her.
“It is done,” she said slowly, voice halting and low. “He must rest. Right now, he is the most vulnerable. Ran, please make sure to stay alert. I worry for his safety. I have many enemies who seek to tear down my allies. They would consider it a coup to take him from me.”
To be honest, I was more worried about her than anything else. “As you wish. Shall I fetch Marcus for you?”
She shook her head. “No. I think I shall rest, too. He’s taken a great deal of my blood. Tell Marcus I shall call for him personally when I wake up. But not now.”
Michael stood up. “I’ll let him know.”
He left us alone in that long hallway and Reiko leaned next to me, breathing heavily. Was it habit? “I should warn you, Ran. Jason…Jason will not be like any other vampire you have ever met.”
“I know. He’ll still be alive tomorrow night. That’s pretty rare.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.” She pushed off the wall, hands shaking visibly. I hadn’t known the feeding and taking took so much out of her. I wondered if it was just her and her tiny frame or if it affected all vampires the same way, the same magnitude. “As soon as he awakes…he’ll need to feed. And I won’t be able to do that.”
My mouth went dry. “Christ.”
I tried to never take the Lord’s name in vain.
This time, I thought, He would forgive me.
She gave me a pitying look. “I am sorry, Ran.”
“I have to do it?” The very idea of opening my veins to what was little more than a monster made my stomach churn in a very uncomfortable way. “Is there no other donor? Not Michael?”
“No!” she said, perhaps a bit more sharply than she meant to. Clearly, she was on her last legs and I was keeping her from her rest. “I mean, no, he won’t do. And he’d never agree to it. Michael does a lot for Jason, but Jason made it very clear he would never take blood from him. He said you would be willing.”
Another task I had been…willing to do. The knowledge he was forcing my decisions for me put my teeth on edge and I sat up, nervous energy making it impossible to stay seated for long. “No. I’m not willing. Damn it, I’m not willing!”
She looked at me, large black eyes wide and almost all pupil. “If not you, there is no one. And he will die. Then where would you be?”
I should have turned around.
Should have turned around, walked down the stairs and out the door.