Page 12 of The Vampire’s Mercy (Blood Melody #1)

CHAPTER NINE

PARIS

Ice filled my veins, my feet stuck to the floor. “What… How did you get here?”

Fuckety, fuckety, fuck!

The vampire king, back in his jacket, examined my precious flower. “Elves are wonderfully curious creatures.”

Really, prick? “Can’t return the compliment.”

He kept his eyes on my prized sweetie. “Orchids are difficult to care for, I hear.”

“You heard right, so put it down before I put you down.”

He smiled, lifting his eyes to me. “I think we’ve established you can’t.”

Once again, I’d fucked up. Led him straight here. What did he do? Follow me to the park then tag me all the way home in some protective bubble against my senses.

Hmmm. Another slice of info I wouldn’t be passing on.

“What do you want?” I said, my mouth getting drier by the second.

Stupid question to ask.

He put Oliver back on the mantelpiece so carefully it confused me.

Who’d have thought scum like him would be so gentle with anything?

The vampire king proceeded to fold his arms. “Now, where were we? Ah, yes. Attempted murder of an entire species. How amusing.”

“I’ve heard funnier jokes.”

There went his head tilting to the side again. “You’re in a lot of trouble, and the law says I can do what I want with you now. Don’t worry, I’ve already reported your sin.”

Sin? What the fuck did he know about sin?

Man, he pissed me off. “Come on, then. Let’s dance.”

“Do you have appropriate music?” he retorted. “I’ll lead.”

Funny. I snorted. “Shut the fuck up and come—”

I heard the movement too late. A strong arm wrapped around my neck, squeezing me into silence. Something sharp dug into the base of my spine.

“Move, and I’ll cut you in half,” Layla’s voice hissed into my ear.

My, what a big knife she had.

I obeyed, considering my next move. My sweeties gave me energy while I plotted.

“What made you think you could outrun the vampire king?” Layla asked, chuckling. Her breath stank of strawberries. “Death won’t come easy, you murderous bastard.”

“I never actually got to do the murdering part,” I clapped back.

Before I could return a violent promise, I blacked out, a wailing in my head.

“Fuck!” I screamed, the sound a debilitating drill.

Blade…

Blade on ice…

Dagger.

Dagger mine.

I see it. I see it glisten, I feel its want.

To be full.

Full of all.

Full of everything.

Full of me.

Full. Full. Full. It is here… It is… walls… only… of…

I broke out of the weirdness to find myself on the floor, the crystal dagger in my right hand.

Layla loomed over me, her face storming with fury, her fangs bared.

“What happened?” I asked, a searing ache in my forehead.

Dammit. This shit again.

“You sniveling bastard!” the vamp screamed, red eyes raging.

The vampire king shouted something at her, but she fell on me, opening wide to bite my face off.

I drove the dagger into her heart. Her eyes widened, going from scarlet to black. Blood poured from her nose and mouth, quickly drying and turning black.

A final breath sputtered from her throat, her skin cracking like dry clay.

“Layla?” The vampire king spoke from behind me.

She collapsed into a cloud of red bone dust. I swallowed some of her, rolling over to cough my guts up.

What the hell? This dagger shouldn’t work on a vamp. It needed to be a stakeblade, since the bloodsuckers had fortified themselves against anything else.

Whoa.

“What have you done?”

The king’s voice spurred me into action. I jumped up, running at him with my awesome new weapon. Coming in like a fucking hurricane, the dagger inches away from skewering him.

A terrific screaming in my head killed my attack. I lumbered to the side, the blade vanishing in a puff of silvery smoke.

“Shit!” I yelped, crashing into the mantelpiece.

I saw Oliver tumble, his vase shattering, his stem breaking.

“No!” His pain became mine, skewering me with sorrow.

Oliver…

Not my Oliver…

Silvanus grabbed me by the throat, lifting me off the ground. His eyes blazed with terrifying fury. I kicked out as he choked me, lifting me higher.

I called to my stakeblade again. If this was my end, I’d go out fighting. I stabbed at him, getting nowhere.

Just die!

Just fucking die!

“Enough of this,” he growled. “You’re coming with me.”

He manhandled me across the room and slammed my head into the wall.

I tumbled into unconsciousness.