Bloodlust - Helen Harper Page 0,3

little exchange, however. If the vampires were so determined to speak to me, then it was probably better to get it out of the way as quickly as possible.

“You can say what you need to here.”

She lifted an elegant shoulder in a half shrug and a ghost of a smile traced over her lips. “Very well. We wish to procure your services.”

“They’re not for sale.”

“We will pay you handsomely. You may not be able to hide your disgust at what we are, Miss Smith, but you would be surprised at what we can offer you in return for one little favour.”

“In which case I’m sure there will be many others who will be more keen than I to help you out.”

“Perhaps. But word of your exploits has reached our ears, and it seems that you have the necessary skills to solve our little problem.”

I wasn’t going to be able to wriggle my way out of this without threatening violence. Except I didn’t think that would go down too well within the sleek environ of Alcazon. The trouble was, I thought I knew what she was going to say next. I played dumb though - there really wasn’t much choice.

“What problem would that be?”

She blinked at me languidly. “A small matter of a missing vampire.”

I knew it. Fuck. “Maybe they’re dead.” I paused. “Oh, sorry, you’re all already dead,” I said sarcastically. “Maybe they’re no longer undead.” Funnily enough, that was actually true.

“This vampire is a particularly strong one. There are few who would be able to take him down and we do not believe that he has passed. He is an important member of our little group and we would like to have him back. You will track him down for us.” It wasn’t a request.

“I’m pretty busy right now. I don’t have time to go looking for one lost bloodsucker.”

“You have met him before, I believe. When you came to our house and stole from us.”

“I didn’t fucking steal from you,” I hissed. “Besides, I think you came off slightly better from that occasion anyway.” The thought of Thomas and Brock still made my heart tighten in pain. “Why would I want to help find the guy who is responsible for my friends’ deaths?”

“So you know to whom I am referring then?”

Uh oh. “I can only think of one vamp who I spoke to that night. The same one who appeared at the mages’ academy soon after. Believe me, I have no desire to help you locate that prick.”

And I didn’t actually know where Aubrey was anyway. I’d not seen him since the last time I was here at Alcazon three days ago and he’d scarpered off. Goodness only knew where he was hiding now.

“As you have already mentioned, we are undead, Miss Smith. That provides us more than a little insight into the world of the deceased and all those who barter with it. Including say,” she paused for a moment, blood red fingernails tapping the side of her mouth, and a malicious gleam lighting up her eyes, “necromancers.”

Fucking hell. How did the vamps get hold of that piece of information? “So what you’re saying is if I find your friend, you will find my necromancer.”

“I think that is exactly what I’m saying.”

I stared at her suspiciously. Did she know what had happened to Aubrey? It could hardly be a coincidence that it was me she had approached. There had certainly been enough Otherworlders who’d become aware of his transformation to the world of the living to have let that little tidbit slip out. I sighed inwardly. My head was still hurting far too much to deal with this right now.

“I’ll think about it,” I grunted. Not.

“Excellent,” she said, as if I’d already agreed to bring him to her immediately. “His name is Aubrey. He can be…dangerous if you get on his wrong side, but I’m sure you will manage it.”

“I said I’ll think about it.”

She smiled at me coldly. “Here is my card. Contact me any time.”

I stared down at the object she was holding out. Unsurprisingly, it was crimson in colour, with just a single telephone number etched into it in black. I took it from her, being careful just to pinch it at the edges. Who knew what nasty stuff it might have on it? I stuck it into my back pocket along with Tom’s note.

“Great.” I pasted on a very fake smile. “I have to go now.”

“I will look forward to hearing from you.”

Yeah,