Invincible (A Centennial City Novel) - By Fionn Jameson Page 0,60
fuck up?”
He ignored her and touched my cheek. I fought not to flinch, feeling the chill of his fingers for one moment before he drew away. “Give me a chance to show you I’m different.”
I felt Jason’s eyes bore into the back of my head. “You’re a vampire. How different can you get?”
He winked. Where did he get such bravado? “Watch.”
I did.
For now.
I took a step back, shielding Jason’s body with mine because despite Ryder’s confidence, I am not afraid to say I wasn’t nearly quite as sure of the outcome. “Stand back, Jason.”
Shannon smelled like blood and perfume, something heavy and heady that made my nose twitch and she pushed past my arms roughly. “You’re got to be kidding me. I’m not going to be protected by someone like you.”
Jason’s breath was warm on my ear as we stood against the wall and I was just that much of a spiteful bitch to let her see the close proximity between her ex-lover and myself. “I didn’t say your name, now did I?”
Yes, I am a bitch. I couldn’t help it, not when I saw how badly my comment had disturbed her. “If it wasn’t for my Master, you would’ve been dead a long time ago, meatbag.”
Meatbag. Ah, yes, how that particular insult burned.
Jason put a hand on my shoulder. “Do you think he has a plan?”
“Ryder?” scoffed Shannon. “That idiot can’t even find his ass with his two hands if there wasn’t someone else around.”
Ryder held up his hands and I wondered what sort of expression he would have on his face. “Hey, man. I thought we were supposed to be leading these guys to their deliberation. What’s going on? You guys just going to shove us into some closed off hallway?”
The vampire came closer. He couldn’t be human, not with that impressive sense of aura that seemed to darken the hallway, flickering the torches into near death. “We have deliberated. And we have decided. That vampire behind you is no longer worth keeping.”
That I was going to die completely weaponless made me feel ill. “Doesn’t seem quite fair when the individual himself isn’t even around to defend himself.”
“Come on, Lazaro,” said Ryder. “Man, you’ve known me for, what, ten years now? I thought we were friends, dude. Is this really how you’re going to repay me back? How many times have I helped you out, hm?”
In what sort of way a vampire needed help...was something I simply did not want to know.
Lazaro sighed and brushed dark strands away from his lined face. He had been turned when he was older, but that certainly didn’t make him any weaker.
“I’m sorry,” he said finally. “I really am.” The look on his face said he clearly wanted to be anywhere else but there. Or maybe he was just a very good actor. Most vampires were. Maybe it had something to do with having centuries to perfect one’s poker face. “I don’t want to do this, don’t think I do. But I don’t have a choice. Not anymore. The Committee said he’s to die. Just...just step aside, Ryder. Just turn him over and when tomorrow comes, everything will be the way it was.”
I still had the bi-su. So, I wasn’t completely defenseless. But that’s like being hidden in a small RV while there’s a tornado in the area. “Four against one. Seems as though they ought to be sent more of you.”
Ryder shot me a panicked glance over his shoulder. “Uh...Ran? Lazaro doesn’t need to have any buddies. He’s plenty strong all on his own damn self.”
Jason touched my shoulder. “If worse comes to worse, I suppose I could just eat him.”
I stared at him. “Is that a joke?”
A corner of his crimson lips kicked up. “Maybe? Maybe not.”
Shannon pulled her hands out of her coat, crouching low on the balls of her feet. “We have to get out. Ryder, if you’re going to tear off his head, just do it. All this talking is just a pointless waste of time.”
That was the first time I ever agreed with her, and I was willing to bet it would be the last.
Ryder let out a slow breath and cracked his neck, rolling back his formidable shoulders. “Well...I guess this is where it ends, Lazaro. Man, it was nice knowing you.”
The dark haired vampire smiled. It was not a nice one. “Likewise, Ryder. Likewise.”