Bloodfire (Blood Destiny 1) - Helen Harper Page 0,82
and held my breath, praying that it wasn’t me he could smell, but then he continued onward murmuring something inaudible.
Tiptoeing forward, feeling like a thief in my own house, I made my way to her room and inside, gently closing the door behind me. Her pale broken body lay on the bed, unconscious. I didn’t have much time before someone returned to check on her, but I had to do this. I knelt down beside her prone form and placed my hand on her arm. Her skin felt clammy to the touch and a wave of despondency ran through me.
“It’s all my fault, Julia,” I whispered. “The wichtlein said so. I don’t know why or how, but it is. And if,” my voice broke slightly, “if I could have been here when you called then I could have saved you.” I gulped in air and tried to swallow down the tears. “I’ll make it right though. I promise I’ll make it right. Just stay strong until I return.” I smoothed a strand of hair away from her brow and slowly stood up. This was my battle now. I was going to do what I should have from the beginning. I turned and left, without looking back.
After leaving the third floor, I sneaked up to the south garret where the silver weapons were kept, managing to avoid any Brethren along the way. The door was kept locked, simply because of how dangerous silver was to shifters, but everyone knew where the key was. I reached up onto the dusty sill of the door frame and felt around. My fingers found it before too long and I managed to unlock it quickly.
Inside, the little room was spartan but clean. I pulled a bow off the wall and tested its string. It twanged with a pleasing tautness so I slung it round my shoulder, then opened up a battered chest and pulled out the silver tipped arrows. There would be a limit to how many I could realistically carry – and I still had to get out of the keep without any of the Brethren spotting me – so I only took eight and stuffed them into my backpack. The length of the arrows were such that it looked like it contained weapons. As long as no-one asked me to open the bag though, I’d probably be okay. Next I unhooked a small dirk from the other wall and hefted it in my palms, feeling its weight. It was perfectly balanced and would suit me well. It was light and easy to carry so even if I found myself wandering around the portal’s other plane for some length of time trying to find the bitch, then at least it wouldn’t weigh me down. I tested the blade gently against my skin and made a small nick. It would cut through even the toughest hide. Excellent.
My next stop was the dorm. I’d have to bandage up my arm to stop it from bleeding any further. Some otherworld creatures, shifters included, could smell blood at fifty paces. There was no point in giving myself away too easily. And I was pretty sure that I still had some of Julia’s yarrow ointment to slather on too.
I headed back down the narrow stairs and almost banged straight into Staines as I rounded the corridor. Shit. He scowled at me and then wrinkled his nose. Damnit, when was the last time I’d put on the scented lotion? I couldn’t remember, but it had definitely been more than eight hours ago. His eyes narrowed suspiciously at me, so I headed him off at the cross.
“I stink of human after being in that town. And blood too. Makes me feel unclean. The trouble is that we only have a limited supply of hot water and I have a horrible feeling that the girls will have already used it all up.” I was vaguely aware that I was babbling. “I don’t suppose you have that problem in London though, do you?”
He looked at me like I was slightly demented in the head. Which was fine. Then he strode off without saying a word and I made a face at his back. Manners cost nothing. Another one of Julia’s favourite sayings. I winced at the thought of her and quickly picked up my pace.
Fortunately no-one was in the dorm. I was hoping to avoid any of the pack, because I didn’t want to blurt out my plan to them, in case they