Blood Bound, page 13
part #1 of The Gallows Series Series
“That’s really weird, Shaun. I don’t know what it means.”
“I think it means I don’t have a soul-mate. Case closed.” He kept looking at Shadows Grove on the map. He’d have to find time to go there. There had to be more to the weird feeling the murder story had given him.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Sarah spent the day cleaning. She refused to plug the phone back in, but she kept her mobile on vibrate and it hadn’t moved all day. At around six she snuck out to the pub to call Ben out of reach of her brother’s prying ears. His phone rang out. She sent him a message and took her time getting milk and bread out the shop, hoping for a text or a call before she had to walk back to the house. Her phone remained silent.
She walked home in a daydream, pondering the weird result of Shaun’s soul-mate test. She was convinced that the rising stone meant he had a soul-mate. Something was screwy so it couldn’t do what it was meant to and she was certain it was his shattered aura. She wished he’d listen to her.
Going inside, she passed him juice and went into the kitchen to put the rest away. She thought about catching the train to Wakefield more than a dozen times and she shut the idea down every time. Shaun was right, they needed a plan. But all she could think about was getting through there and making Melissa pay for what she’d done. What she was probably still doing.
Sighing, she picked up the washing basket and went down into the basement. It was a dark windowless pit with barred lockable cells consuming half the space. Gran had told her the cottage used to be a safe house. Somehow she doubted that, but who was she to question a Council elder? All she’d done was request a set of keys for the cells, just in case. A month later she had them and no questions asked.
She put the basket down on the floor by the washing machine. It was almost finished its cycle. She walked to the cells and wondered at the emptiness she sensed. Something had scrubbed the energy clean from the basement. Whatever had happened here, the traces were long gone. She was glad, really. If there’d been traces of anything nasty she probably wouldn’t be able to stand being down there. Still, curiosity made her wonder.
The machine quit its turning and beeped to let her know it was done. She opened the door and started dragging the clothes out into the basket. She was surprised Shaun had any clothes left to actually wear. Four pairs of jeans had been on his bedroom floor for who knew how long. She bent to lift the basket and realised she’d almost missed a sock. Hand going back into the machine, she realised her mistake. The round grey thing was solid. She took the medusa stone out of the machine and stared at it. There was a vibration she hadn’t felt from it before.
“Oh crap,” she swore.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Shaun sat up when Sarah shot up from the basement over-flowing with excited energy. She had something in her hand.
“Shaun, I don’t think you’re bound,” she told him, holding out the medusa stone for him to see.
“I forgot about that thing,” he said, not catching her meaning probably because she was crazy.
“It smells like Melissa. I’d bet the house she’s been using it to make you think you’re bound.”
He got up and took it. “It doesn’t smell like anything. It’s a stone.”
“I think we should go pay her a visit.”
“I really don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Okay, fine. I’m throwing this thing into the sea.”
“That’s priceless,” he warned, uneasy at the thought.
She smiled. “Yeah, well we picked it up outside of work now, didn’t we?”
“Take a breath. If she did something to it, there’s nothing to say throwing it away will stop it from working. About that anyway, it’s not like we can be-spell objects, Sarah. It’s ridiculous.”
“She lives with a witch!” Her eyes widened, clicking the puzzle pieces together in her head. Shaun really didn’t think they fit but he knew telling her that would be a hard sell.
“We think she lives with a witch,” he corrected.
“Whatever, I can feel her energy in this stone. She’s done something to it. Maybe I can drain the stone…”
“No,” Shaun closed his hand around it. “You’re not touching this, Sarah. Enough with the rushing in blind.”
“We need to go and do something about her,” Sarah insisted. “It can’t wait.”
“I think we should go and gather some info,” Shaun decided slowly, “but that’s all and I mean it. We’re not confronting her until we know more.”
Sarah took a heavy breath, folding her arms. “Okay, fine. Let’s go.”
“And no meeting that kid. You don’t need the distraction.”
She muttered something about distractions under her breath when she went to get her jacket. He shoved the stone in his pocket.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
The sun was fading when they got to Wakefield just after nine. Shaun stretched getting off the train. Sarah took off like a shot and he rushed to catch her up. She led him to Melissa’s house. He got the eerie vibe straight off but he didn’t see the ghosts like Sarah had described. The vaguely dark energy around the house was only visible if he really stared. She’d been right about the barrier though, it was definitely a witch’s construct.
“Okay, so we should find someplace inconspicuous to observe. Probably should have been here for school coming out. Find out how she gets through that barrier,” he thought out loud.
Sarah took her phone out. “I’ll see what Ben has to say. He might know when she goes places.”
“Any excuse,” he muttered, steering her by the arm around to a street corner where they could see the house without hanging around right outside the gates. Sarah dialled. She waited minutes and tried again. Shaun raised an eyebrow. “Pretty-boy ignoring your calls?”
“Something’s wrong.” She put the phone away. Shivering, she looked at Shaun. “He wanted me to call him today.”
“Sarah, an idiot like that probably says the same thing to all the girls.”
“He’s not like that.”
“Listen to yourself.” He sighed and kicked at the ground.
“Hi, Shaun,” Melissa crept up on him; the real-deal this time, intoxicating demon tracker scent and all. She was out of the dress and into form-fitting trousers and a low-cut top, but aside from that she looked exactly like he’d remembered. His jaw slackened.
Sarah pushed him back, releasing Shaun from Melissa’s penetrating gaze. Venom flowed from his sister in waves heavy enough to crush Melissa’s grin.
“Take back what you’ve done to Shaun.”
“Done? I don’t know what you mean.” She smelled so good Shaun wanted to touch her. He folded his arms. She glanced at him with a look that pulled at him on a deep level. This was what was missing from the hallucinations. He was a heartbeat away from throwing himself at her.
“You’re not bound.” Sarah smirked.
Melissa cocked her head at Shaun’s sister. “Aw, Shaun, I think your sister’s jealous.”
“She’s going to kick your ass,” Shaun told her, gaze dropping on the last word. She laughed a sexy-as-hell throaty laugh. He desperately wanted to touch her. The heavy make-out session the night before flashed back through his head with the feisty blonde replaced by the goddess in front of him.
“She’s just upset her boyfriend isn’t answering his calls,” Melissa said, producing Ben’s phone from her back pocket. “He’s really not an exclusive kind of guy.”
Sarah charged forward, grabbing Melissa by the hair. She yanked, making Melissa grimace, but the girl refused to voice any pain. Sarah stared at her, snatching the phone and pocketing it quickly.
“Where is he?”
Melissa laughed. Sarah yanked her hair, forcing Melissa halfway to the ground.
“Where the hell is he, bitch?” She drew her sword, pointing the blade at Melissa’s throat.
“On to the next girl by now, I should think,” she said with a grin.
Shaun could see the crazy written all over Melissa’s face and he still wanted her like she was the air he needed to breathe to be alive. She knew it, too. She should be feeling the same weakening, but she didn’t look weak.
“Answer me, or die,” Sarah offered, drawing blood with her blade. “How did you get Ben’s phone?”
Melissa smiled tightly. “Why don’t you ask him?”
She slipped Sarah’s grasp with a spark of energy that burned like witch magic. The sweet smell singed the air Shaun sucked in. She wasn’t just a demon tracker; she was something else entirely.
“Holy shit,” Shaun breathed. He glanced at Sarah but she was only frowning past him at Melissa’s house. Her eyes were wet when Ben opened the gate. It had to sting, but now wasn’t the time.
“Sarah…” Shaun started.
She pushed past them, dropping the sword. Shaun snatched it up before Melissa could get her hands on it. She brushed her fingers over his. They crackled with the residual after-burn from the magic. He tightened his grip on the hilt.
He narrowed his eyes. “What are you?”
Melissa smirked. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Shaun stared. She made him want things he shouldn’t.
“Come with me, Shaun,” she said suddenly, flexing her fingers. He stepped back instinctively. He didn’t sense anything threatening, but he didn’t trust himself. Not now, and not with her. She leaned in and grabbed his free hand. Everything slowed. “You’re mine,” she told him.
“I’m yours,” he agreed easily.
“Good boy,” she whispered, pushing onto her toes. Her arm slid around his neck and he bent his head to hers. “With this kiss…”
He closed his eyes but her lips never met his. A groan preceded the slackening of her arms. He grabbed to catch her as she fell backwards.
“Put the bitch down, Shaun,” Sarah growled.
Shaun frowned at his sister. Blood trickled from her head. Something with sharp nails had taken a chunk out of her leather jacket.
“What happened?” He lowered Melissa to the ground far gentler than he knew Sarah would have.
“Ben’s a vampire,” she told him, her breath catching.
He looked towards the house and saw the kid on the ground by the gates, not moving. “So stake him already.” Wishful thinking and he knew it, but at least he’d stopped thinking about Melissa for a minute.
Sarah leaned down by Melissa and slapped her hard in the face. Shaun flinched and twisted Sarah’s sword in his hand.
“Don’t you dare touch Ben,” Sarah warned without looking up.
“What are you doing?” The intimacy of the moment Sarah had interrupted had left a bad taste in his mouth; he desperately needed something to wash it out.
Melissa awoke with a sharp laugh. Sarah slapped her again for the hell of it. She grabbed her by the throat and stared her down. Shaun turned and kept an eye on Ben rather than remind himself how much he’d wanted Melissa’s kiss. The kid still wasn’t moving. When he did he’d be a problem. He checked his pockets. The stake was ready and waiting. He glanced back at Sarah, careful not to look at the temptation she had in her grasp.
“Who made Ben?” Sarah commanded an answer, death in her gaze.
Melissa laughed again. “You can’t honestly think that blessed wood thing is real?”
Sarah slammed her head against the ground. “Tell me and maybe I won’t use your brains to paint the pavement.”
“His name was Davey. I staked him after he made your boy. That’s what you’re supposed to do to vampires, you do know that right?”
Sarah’s rage erupted. She stared at Shaun. “Give me my sword.”
Melissa laughed, jerking his attention. He pulled the weapon out of Sarah’s reach when she moved to grab it. Melissa pushed herself to her feet, brushing her clothes down.
“Sarah, cool it,” Shaun warned.
“I’m going to kill her.”
“I’m not giving you the sword.”
Melissa cocked her head. He could tell Sarah was ready for tearing her apart.
“Fine, I can kill her without it…”
“You might want to deal with your boy first,” Melissa told her, folding her arms casually. Shaun didn’t like any of this. Melissa didn’t appear the slightest bit injured from Sarah’s assaults. Something wasn’t right. He kept his gaze locked on Melissa as Sarah turned towards the house.
“Shit,” Sarah swore. “Shit!”
Shaun turned to see Ben gone just as his sister darted away past the house, trailing after him no doubt. He let out a weary sigh.
Melissa stroked his arm. “Where were we?” The second she touched him he was compelled to give her his time. She smiled. “Come to me.” He dropped the sword to take her in his arms. The kiss dissolved his fears. It felt right, she felt right, in his arms. It wasn’t anything he needed to fight against. When she pulled back he didn’t want it to stop. She brought a finger up to his eager mouth. “Now, give me the stone.”
Her order had him reaching into his pocket. The sharp serpent’s tooth pricked his finger and he remembered the night of the prom. Sarah was right. The stone had Melissa’s energy in it and she was using it to take a bite out of him. Bitter anger flowed through him. He threw the relic hard onto the ground. As powerful as it was magically, it was apparently breakable and it shattered against the pavement. He blinked and stared down at the broken shards. There was no way it should have crumbled like it had. Stunned, he used his tracker senses to check for any residual magic. There was no power left in the broken stone.
Melissa sucked in a breath. “You have no idea what you’ve just done.”
He pushed her away and spat on the ground, wiping his mouth. “You don’t own me. I’ll do whatever I want. Whoever.” He grabbed the sword and walked away.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
A rush of powerful emotion had stalled Sarah’s common sense when she’d looked at Ben and smelled vampire. Shock stopped her from fighting back when his face changed and he lunged at her, darkly glittering eyes and sharpened grin announcing his intent. As soon as she’d felt his jaw crack at her throat she’d snapped out of it and knocked him out.
Chasing him down, she cursed his super-human speed for making her job harder. He’d had more sense than to try attacking her again. She tracked his scent, taking in the tiny differences that marked him out from other vampire trails she passed. She couldn’t lose him, not when she knew he was still innocent. Even an hour could change everything. Finally she caught sight of him rounding a corner into a park. She jumped the wall and landed with a thump that caught Ben’s attention and stopped him a few feet in front of her.
“Where do you think you’re going, dead-boy?”
“You really want him to bite you, don’t you?” The vampire grinned at her.
“Come closer and find out what I want,” she dared, tasting his hunger and gauging it. He was ready to take another stab at her. She was glad she didn’t have the sword. Instinct would have been hard to fight.
He leapt at her; in the time it took to blink barely an inch separated them. Sarah caught him by the throat. The feeling the touch incited softened her grip instantly. She gasped as his face shifted to its original human features. He smelled human. Her hand shook.
“Sarah, what’s happening?” Ben’s voice trembled as he stared at her, not moving.
“Don’t try to trick me,” she whispered. Fear replaced his hunger, encompassing him entirely. She was really speaking to Ben. Her eyes watered. He didn’t know what had happened to him. She swallowed. “Ben, what’s the last thing you remember?”
He closed his eyes and took a shaky breath. “I was following Melissa. Then I don’t know. There was this flash and then my head hurt. I woke up in her house. There was blood…”
Sarah sighed. “Do you trust me?”
He opened his eyes. He looked completely freaked out but he nodded.
“Good. I’ll explain everything but for now take my hand. We’re going home.”
“Home?”
She’d have to be careful. As long as they were touching the demon should stay under, but she wasn’t totally sure how long that would work. Usually there had to be eye contact. She took his hand and held her breath, dropping her gaze. He was still a quivering bundle of fear. She exhaled and started walking.
Shaun caught up, sword in hand. He watched them warily as he approached. She knew what he was thinking and she shook her head, giving him a warning look. He rolled his eye.
“Well, then... what’s the plan?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Home,” she told him. “We’ve got a maker to track down in the morning.”
He didn’t seem convinced, but he nodded slowly anyway.
“What happened with Melissa?” Sarah asked, trying to split her attention. Ben’s hand trembled as shivers shook him. She squeezed it, but she knew the hunger would take over and there was nothing she could do to get him through that. They didn’t have a lot of time. She sped up her steps and Ben stumbled to keep up.
“I’ll tell you later,” Shaun said quietly.
“Okay, when’s the train back?”
“Eh, about fifteen.”
“Ben, can you do something for me?” She remembered something she probably should have thought of already. He nodded slowly while she pulled the phone out of her pocket and passed it to him. Surprise flickered over his face as he took it. He glanced at her. “Call your parents and tell them you’re staying at a friend’s.”
He nodded again, dialling. Shaun was frowning at her when she glanced at him. He probably wanted to know what she was up to, but she didn’t want to freak Ben out. The call took all of five seconds. Ben shrugged and put the phone in his pocket.
