Vampire Lies (Blood and Snow Season Book 1) (15 page)

“You think you can’t be hurt, don’t you?”

I smirked. “That’s right. You can’t hurt me.”

In response he squeezed tighter
. And shocker! I felt it. Like really felt it. The demura squeezed so tight that one of my ribs popped.

I screamed. Pain, worse
than any I’d ever experienced, cut through my body. It hurt so badly.

The demura didn’
t stop. Three more ribs broke. My body was shutting down, the pain beyond excruciating.

If the demura continued, my body would give up. The only way to recuperate was blood
and a lot of it.

“See, you aren’t as invincible as you thought.”
Spittle landed on my cheek. I forced myself not to look away. He didn’t deserve my fear.

The smell surrounding Abby’s body was putrid, but if I didn’t drink I would surely die. So I did the unthinkable. I sunk my teeth into her flesh. Blood immediately poured into my mouth and down my throat. My body responded immediately to the blood. My ribs snapped back into place.
I continued to drink, sensing Abby’s body dying. It broke my heart, but there was no other way.

When her body was nearly dry, the demura let out a high-pitched squeal, and released itself from Abby
, becoming mist once again. It floated upward and disappeared through the ceiling.

I disentangled myself from Abby
and although I was devastated my friend was dead, I breathed a sigh of relief that that
thing
was no longer inside her. Sitting on the floor next to her, I placed her head in my lap. Her once warm eyes were lifeless and her body hung limp, like an empty balloon.

For the first time in my life I cried. Large tears rolled down my cheeks. They weren’t l
ike normal tears, but red with blood.

“Laeddin! Laeddin!” I
shrieked his name until my throat was raw.

He appeared with apparent disgust that I had bothered him again. Until he really looked at me and at my dead friend.

“I wish for you to bring her back to life. Please. I wish it. I wish it.” I rocked back and forth, my hands cupping her face. Red tears fell on her face and dripped down her cheeks so it looked like she cried too.

Laeddin’s contempt quickly turned to sympathy. “What’s happened?” he asked, kneeling next to me.

I told him everything. About my first meeting the demura, and what happened this time, and then finished up with how I drank Abby’s blood to save myself. “It’s so awful,” I cried, wishing I could take it back.

“I know, Jasmine. I’m so sorry.” His fingers stroked my hair. It felt good. I didn’t want to feel anything but awful so I pushed him away.

“Bring her back to life, please. She didn’t deserve this.”

He sighed. “I know. She most certainly didn’t. But I can’t bring her back. For one thing it’s against the rules an—”

“Break the damn rules, Laeddin. Please.” I hugged her close. “Please.”

He patted my shoulder. “What do you think she’d be if I brought her back? Everything that made Abby, Abby is no longer there.”

I knew he was right. With every ounce of myself I knew it. But I didn’t want to believe. I wasn’t ready to let her go.

A noise rumbled from the garage and I realized in horror that it was opening. Someone was home. The panic must’ve shown on my face. Laeddin gripped my arms. In the blink of an eye we were no longer in Abby’s kitchen, but ours.

“My backpack,” I cried. “It’s still in her room.”

“I’ll get it.” He vanished and reappeared carrying my backpack within seconds.

“Did…” I swallowed. Part of me didn’t want to know, but the biggest part of me needed to hear his answer. “Did someone find her?”

Laeddin rubbed a hand over his face. “Yes.” He spoke the word so quietly.

Chapter
21

Th
at night I dreamed of the man claiming to be my betrothed again. He spoke of what it would be like to be married, how many children he wished to have, and where we would live. He spoke of Sharra, the creatures there, and about how I drank Abby’s blood. I’d been humiliated by his words, but he kept talking anyway, explaining that what I’d done had been a survival instinct. He continued that I should be grateful I possessed such a predisposition. Otherwise I would be dead. I didn’t want to agree, but a tiny part of my brain appreciated the support. Most strangely, he spoke of my wings and how exquisite they were. I hated to admit that while he talked the same part of my brain that appreciated his words also cherished them. And just like last time, right before I woke, he took me in his arms and kissed me.

When my alarm
went off I wasn’t as afraid of the man in my nightmare as I’d been the first time. I quickly got ready for school and went down to breakfast. Even though I’d drunk Abby nearly dry the day before I was famished.

There was blood in a glass just as there had been the last two days. I drank it quickly, silently wishing it was any blood but human. Even troll would be better. It was what I deserved.

Laeddin hadn’t come down yet and I was grateful. Although he’d seemed less angry when he went to bed last night, he still wasn’t the same guy I’d first met in the cave.

It seemed like a lifetime ago that I’d made my wish to be normal. It hadn’t even been a week. It was only Wednesday.

“Are you ready to go?” Laeddin asked, coming into the kitchen. He took an orange from the fridge. His scent swirled past my nose like the tail of a kite.

I quickly took a sprig of peppermint and put it in behind my ear. That helped a little, but not nearly enough. I didn’t understand why his blood smelled so much better than any I’d ever encountered.

“Yes,” I said, swinging my backpack onto my shoulder.

Laeddin took my hand. “If you don’t want to go, it’s okay.”

I gave him a wary look.

“Everyone knows about Abby. I believe your friend Cam even texted you last night.”

“Oh!” I took my phone from my backpack. I’d forgotten about it, too wrapped up in my own sorrow.

He’d sent five different texts.

Did you hear about Abby? Call me.

Jack, I need to talk.

Abby is dead. Please text back.

They are sa
ying her blood was drained from her body.

OMG. Jack, you aren’t dead too, are you?
  

“I’d better text back.”

I was new to the texting thing, but I typed my message out and sent it.

I’m so sorry, Cam.
I didn’t know her long, but I considered her my friend. Are you going to be at school?

He quickly texted back.

Thank God you’re safe. I can’t go to school. I’m too sad. Want to come over? We can be sad together.

I read Cam’s text to Laeddin. “What do you think? Should I go over?”

Laeddin shrugged. He freaking shrugged. I’d never wanted to punch the genie so badly.

“Well, ge
e, thanks for your help.”

He leaned against the counter. “You don’t need my help. You already know what to do.
You just want confirmation.”

I sank onto the stool. “No, I really don’t. Part of me wants to go over because he needs me, but I—“

Someone pounded on the door.

“Who’s that?” I asked.

Laeddin walked to the door. I followed. By the smell of blood, I knew they were human.

Two police officers stood on our porch.

“Hello, sir. Are you Jackie Ryder’s father?”

Laeddin opened the
door all the way. “No, her parents are in Las Vegas, and they’ve asked me to keep an eye on her until they’ve finished their business and can join Jackie here in Salem.” He smiled casually.

Both police officers scrutinized him. They were about the same height, but one was more muscular than the other. They both looked like they were in their early twenties. One had dark brown hair. The other officer had strawberry blond. They seemed to take their job very seriously.

“I’m officer Gand,” the guy with strawberry blond hair said. Then he pointed to his partner. “This is officer Vick. Can we come in?”

“We have some questions for Jackie,” officer Vick added.

“Sure,” Laeddin said.

When they were inside, he directed them to the couch. “Have a seat.”

I came in. “I’m Jackie.” My heart raced and my lips were chapped. What did they want? Did they know I drank Jackie’s blood?

“A couple of students saw you and Abby walking away from the school together yesterday. Is that true?” Officer Vick had a pad of paper and a pencil out, ready to write down whatever I said.

“Yes, that’s true. I was there for a while. I’m not exactly sure how long, but we watched three plus a little of the fourth episode of a show called
The Vampire Diaries
.”

Officer Vick nodded. “When did you leave?”

“I don’t know the exact time. We were watching and then Abby said she was going to go get us a drink. It took her a while so I went down to the kitchen. Abby wasn’t there so I called out to her and she answered from the bathroom that she was sick and that she was going to be a while.” I shrugged and took a moment to take a deep breath. An image of Abby’s broken body fluttered past my mind. Tears filled my eyes. “I told her I’d see her at school tomorrow and left.”

Both officers nodded.

“You’re new to the school. Correct?” Officer Gand asked.

“Yes,” I responded, my voice a whisper. “Today would’ve been my third day. Abby and I had
Creative Writing together. That’s where we met.” They hadn’t asked for any of that information but I gave it anyway.

“I see.” Officer Vick eyed me suspiciously. “Did anyone seem to dislike Abby?”

I shook my head. “Not that I saw.” I thought about Sydney and how she wasn’t friendly. “I mean there are kids at school who don’t hang out with each other, but that’s just life, isn’t it?”

Officer Gand and officer Vick gave each other a knowing look.

“Tell us the name of those students she didn’t’ get along with?”

I sat on the chair across from the officers and clasped my hands between my knees. “There’s a girl named Sydney and then a guy
named Drake. I don’t know their last names.”

Officer Vick wrote something down. Then he gave me a direct look. “Did you kill Abby Carrington?”

A sob ripped from my throat. My body shook with grief and pain. Finally, I shook my head. “No, I didn’t.”

The office
rs stood. Officer Vick patted me awkwardly on the back. “We’ll find whoever hurt your friend.”

“You can be sure of that,” Officer Gand added.

They walked to the door. Laeddin followed them.

“If she thinks of anything else, please have her call us.” Officer Vick
handed Laeddin a card.

“I will. Thank you.” He shut the door behind them.

I jumped out of the seat and ran over to Laeddin.

He
put a finger to his lips.

Once we heard the police car drive away, he removed his finger.

“Are you okay?” He pulled me to his chest.

My body still shook uncontrollably. I was devastated, sick inside, definitely NOT okay. “What do you know about the demura?”

He rested his chin on my head. “I’ve never heard that word before today. But I may know of someone who does.” He pushed me back so he could see my face. “I’ll need to be gone a few hours. Maybe a day at the most. Will you be okay alone?”

In response my teeth started chattering. I really wanted to go home. But I couldn’t. Not yet. I needed to find a way to
end the demura. It was the least I could do for Abby. “Yes.”

“That’s my girl.” Laeddin smiled sweetly.

My heart warmed, grateful that whatever anger he harbored over the scratch on his neck, was gone.

Right before my eyes, he vanished as well. I turned in a circle, unsure what to do next.

My phone beeped. I looked at it and realized I had a text.

From Cam.
You coming over or not?
Then another that said,
Never mind I’ll come to you.

I responded,
Okay. Do you know where I live?

Yep. Be there in a few.

Okay.

I put my phone in the back pocket of my jeans and went to sit on the couch when I heard scratching.

“What the…” I opened the door and there was Gatsby.

He sauntered in. “Close the door. I need to speak with you and there isn’t much time. Your friend Cameron will be here soon.”

Chapter 22

I’d grown up around unicorns,
ogres, elves, and vampires. They all talked often, sometimes annoyingly so. But that was in Sharra. A talking cat in the human world was completely different, probably because humans were normal here, as were the animals. They weren’t supposed to talk.
And a mist-creature wasn’t supposed to invade human bodies either.
Sometimes sarcasm really helped.