Suck My Life (Sucking Dead #1) - Andie M. Long Page 0,10

and your clothes if you wish, but I think you look fine just the way you are.”

“Oh isn’t this romantic? I’m just laid here, bloated and nursing Mya’s dead corpse while you two have a cosy chat. What’s next, mate?” Lawrie complained.

“Mya? What’s next for Lawrie?”

She sighed. “What do you want to happen, Lawrie? Tell me your story and why I should let you continue your undead life.”

“I told you I loved the roaring twenties, and it was true… eventually. I lived in Norfolk and was in my late-twenties and unemployed when I was turned. My fiancée had just left me for another man who could provide for her. I’d been thinking of ending my life and was sat on a bridge when I was approached by my sire. He told me of his wealth and that was that. Immortal life became mine. I didn’t give a thought to the thirst that would incapacitate me with its strength, or that I’d cause death when I got greedy. And as the years have gone on, I realise that I’ve forgotten my more human side, that I’m taking a life. All I’ve been thinking of is quenching my thirst until now. Dear God, Mya Malone, you’ve made me a better vampire. I do want to continue my undead life, but I vow to only drink my fill and cause no more needless death.”

Mya rolled her eyes. “Well, that could be an entire crock of shit, but as it happens it doesn’t matter because your answer wasn’t the test.”

“It wasn’t?” Lawrie looked thrown off guard, staring around himself for clues.

“No, it was how you treated my corpse.”

We all looked down. Lawrie still held Mya’s body across his lap where she had slumped, his hand under her head.

“You didn’t discard my body like a piece of rubbish, and that tells me more about you than any of our date night anecdotes or your explanation of why I should leave you a vampire. I shall spare you, Lawrie, but I need something from you.”

“Yes?”

“I need you to make it look like I died of natural causes. Like my heart gave out.”

“I can do that, Mya,” I told her.

Her eyes met mine.

“Of course. You’re Death.” She huffed. “So now what?”

I smiled at her and her eyes widened. “This was a test wasn’t it? Asking what I’d do with Lawrie?”

I nodded. “And you passed with flying colours. You asked his wishes, assessed the evidence, and made an informed choice. It’s what you’ll do in Gnarly Fell.”

“And if I hadn’t passed?”

“I’d have touched you again and taken your soul to the Field of the Drained.”

“Oh, well that’s just fabulous. So now I’ve passed, what happens?”

“Now, Lawrie needs to complete your vampire change by letting you feed from him. And then I will take you somewhere away from everywhere, because your change will hurt.”

“You said dying wouldn’t hurt me,” Mya yelled.

“It didn’t,” I pointed out, “but unfortunately your undeath will.”

Death

“For the love of all that is holy, is this crap over with yet?” Mya screamed as her bones cracked.

“Almost there, now. Almost there,” I reassured her, mopping her brow and letting her squeeze my hand.

“This is like some kind of giving birth crap,” she spat out.

“It is, Mya. You’re being reborn as a vampire.”

She calmed for a moment, and exhausted, she let herself flop back against the pillows. I’d brought her to my bedroom at Wayward Souls. No one would hear her scream here; the place was already full of souls doing exactly that.

I got up, knowing she’d be out for at least half an hour. I didn’t need that long. All I needed was time to go collect a fresh blood bag from the fridge.

Spence was sitting at the kitchen table eating a pizza. No soul needed to eat, but they could enjoy the taste of food, and Spence had come from a time where it was scarce. He liked to try everything, and pizza so far had proved his favourite. Barbecue chicken in particular.

“First time I’ve seen you bring a wench back, but I’m no longer surprised with that noise. What the hell do you do to ‘em in the bedroom? She sounds in pain. Is it kinky shit, or are you just finishing her off, and I mean that term as in taking her life, not in a titillating manner?”

“I’m caring for Mya, our new queen, as she makes the change from mortal to vampire,” I explained. “There is no ‘kinky shit’ happening.”

“More’s the pity. I