Invincible (A Centennial City Novel) - By Fionn Jameson Page 0,24

was too much to bear.

I closed my eyes and knew nothing.

Knew nothing but the all-compassing darkness.

The welcoming darkness.

It called me and I followed.

7

“It’s not normal.” Reiko’s voice brought me out of the warm, soft darkness, the only darkness I liked. “Are you sure she wasn’t hit in the head? I’ve seen cases of this on TV. Maybe she’s in a coma.”

Someone sighed. Jason. “And I’m telling you you’re wrong. She was not hit anywhere remotely near the head. The vampire sliced her on the side, but it’s barely a scratch.”

The dull aching on my chest wanted very much to disagree with him. “It’s not a coma. Don’t worry.”

Steeling myself for the inevitable sharp pain that would come when I opened my eyes, I let my eyelids flicker open.

No pain.

The lights were out and only one candle burned on the nightstand.

I was back in bed. My bed.

Who put me here?

Reiko leaned into my vision, a grim look on her ten year old face. “Are you fine? You look sick.”

Slowly, I levered myself up, back against the headboard, all too aware that the slightest sudden movement was liable to put me under again. Or hurt me so much I wished I was. “I’m okay. I’m still alive, anyways. Which is more than I can say for the vampire.”

I did not ask about the body. I didn’t want to know.

Jason sat at my other side, looking down at me with his enigmatic black eyes. “What happened?”

“I passed out.”

He gave me a disgusted look. “I can see that.”

My mouth felt mossy. “Can I have some water, please?”

Reiko exchanged a glance with Jason and straightened up. “I’ll get it. Don’t tax yourself too much, Ran. You don’t look okay.”

Wiser words were never spoken and I nodded slowly. “Thank you, Reiko.”

She flounced out in a cloud of lavender scent, the pale blue skirts vanishing around the door a second after she did. I didn’t think I was ever going to get used to a bloodsucking child-like doll walking and talking.

“How long have I been out?”

He didn’t bother looking at a clock. “An hour, give or take a few minutes.”

That probably explained why the lights still weren’t on. Ah well, all the better for my recovery. “That’s pretty usual. Still, better to ask than be sorry.”

He leaned in closer, almost too close for comfort. I could smell blood on him. Whose blood?

Automatically, my hand flew up to my neck and he let out a short laugh.

“Fear not,” he said quietly. “Your blood is safe from me. Reiko found a willing…donor.”

But I could not answer him until I brushed my hand over every square inch. No puncture marks. Good. Very good. I let out a breath I hadn’t known I’d been holding. “Habit. I told Reiko I didn’t want to give you blood.”

“Quite understandable.”

Honesty prodded me to add, “Although, I did agree to giving you blood when you woke up.”

I never noticed the single dimple digging deep into his left cheek. “I don’t think I could have forgiven myself if I’d taken your blood while you were unconscious.”

“How very…polite of you.”

Again, that flash of a dimple. Why hadn’t I noticed it before? “Thank you.” He paused and the smile faded away into something more serious. “I knew you were a formidable warrior. But I’ll be honest. Against a vampire assassin? Vampires who have trained for centuries and perfected their art? I must admit, I didn’t have a great deal in confidence.” He sighed. “Then again, I didn’t expect to be targeted so soon.”

I didn’t know what to say. “He wasn’t that good, actually.”

He gave me a level stare. “Be that as it may, there was something about the way you held your weapon. The way you moved. Even for me, the assassin was almost too fast to trace. But you’re human, not vampire. How is it you managed to meet his every blow? How did you kill him? And why did you faint afterwards?”

Hearing my time of weakness labeled as “a faint” made me wince. “It’s…” I took a deep breath. Only two people were aware of my precognition. Everyone else was dead. “I suppose you can call it an ability.”

An eyebrow quirked. “So that’s what the rumor was. I paid dearly to learn there was a special fighting ability that was unique to you and only you.”

Reiko came in then, carefully balancing a plastic jug of water and a glass on a small wooden tray. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the moisture condensing on the