Page 50 of Bitten Vampire

Dirty water splashes my calves as I sprint forward. I hurl the spell, and it strikes his head—more luck than aim, but it works. The glass shatters and the magic detonates like a second thunderclap.

He turns, jerks towards me, lips slick, hissing. Yet the spell acts fast: his eyes roll back and he collapses.

The girl stares at him, mouth agape, breathing in shuddering bursts.

“I’m not here to hurt you,” I say, hands raised. “He was trying to drain you, and I had to stop it.”

She sways. Blood snakes down her neck, soaking her blouse.

I hold my breath, then realise vampires still need air to speak. “Here.” I press a packet of tissues into her hand. “Keep pressure on that.”

Too dazed to argue, she obeys.

“We need to get you home. Were you out with friends?” Rule number one: if you go out together, you go home together. I don’t mind playing taxi tonight.

She shakes her head. “Friends? No. I’ve just finished work.” She points numbly at the door, blinking against the rain.

“All right. Can you walk?”

She nods once, slow and unsteady.

“Okay, come on, let’s get you home.”

I lead the girl out of the alley and onto the street. Passing vampires lift their heads, nostrils flaring at the scent of blood. I glare back—Don’t even think about it—and bundle her into my car.

Inside, I crack a window to let the rain-washed air swirl through. Her blood lacks the chemical tang of baggedplasma, but it is hardly appealing. I drank extra before leaving the house, perhaps that is why hunger stays away.

She murmurs directions, voice thick and slurred, and fifteen minutes later we stop outside a tidy brick house—clipped hedges, warm porch light, picture-perfect vampire suburbia. I park and walk her to the door.

It opens before I can knock. A familiar face stares at us: the waitress from the vampire-themed restaurant, a member of Clan Nocturna.

“Crystal?” she gasps, catching the girl by the elbow. “Why are you home so late?”

“I caught a vampire feeding on her,” I explain. “She’s a little out of it.”

The waitress narrows her eyes. “Wait… do I know you? Weren’t you human?”

“Nope. You don’t know me. Never seen me. Just glad she’s safe. Bye.” I flash an over-bright smile and retreat as though I have a train to catch.

I reach the car and stretch for the handle?—

—only to be shoved from behind.

Pain detonates behind my eyes as my face smacks the side mirror. My skull rings; copper floods my mouth.

“You bit my thrall,” snarls a male voice, angry and frankly idiotic.

“Iwhat?” I gasp, ducking his next blow. More vampire speed than skill. “You absolute walnut. Smell her; I didn’t bite anyone.”

I duck again as he swings. “I dragged her away from a vampire behind The Downbeat, your clan’s nightclub. I drove her home, that’s all.” Of course, no good deed goes unpunished.

He isn’t listening. He lunges; I dodge, his hand snatching at me.

The spell bag slung across my body thumps my hip. With another burst of speed that surprises even me, I grab a vial, hurl it, and it smashes against his chest.

He stares at the spreading wet patch on his shirt, baffled.

“That’s how I dealt with the vampire—the one who actually bit Crystal.”