Killers by Megan Duffey (best time to read books TXT) 📕

I said before, Warriors aren’t allowed to walk into a place without your permission. So if you would please remove this sad excuse of a woman--”

Aria turned slightly glaring at the vampire with her hard blue eyes, gritting her teeth, trying not to lose her temper.

“It’s alright, Mrs. Night. She has my permission.” Michael said with that superior air he had about him. It was almost like Aria’s but just a little different. He didn’t threaten to kill you like Aria did, you just knew he could.

“The best thing we could do is split up,” his sister said guiding her knife back into the small of her back. She was in killing mode, ready for a fight.

“We don’t even know what she looks like, much less where she would go. We need someone who knows her--”

The vampire eyed the girl beside him.

“Vanessa, did you catch the scent?”

“Yes, Master.” Vanessa said softly. Aria’s brother turned his head to look at her, the female’s lips were a rosy pink, and he suddenly wanted to go up to the girl and kiss her. Kiss those delicate, pink lips…maybe part them slightly with his thumb.

Dear God, something was wrong with him for thinking such things.


“Someone needs to stay behind,” Aria said running a hand through her long black hair, something she did when she was thinking. Or just frustrated.

“I will,” offered Mason. Aria’s head snapped around quickly and she shook her head back and forth.

“No, there’s no way--”

“He’ll be safer here then he is out there,” Michael interjected.

She sighed in defeat and pulled out a dagger, handing it to her brother. Pausing for a second, he saw her eyebrow furrow and she started biting her lip. She was worried about Mason. “I’ll be fine,” he says reassuringly, giving his sister a nudge to the door.

That’s all it took. She ran out the door, Michael and Vanessa following behind her.

***

Vanessa was curious about the blonde boy she’d met before going with Aria and Michael. He was a Warrior, strictly off limits.

But God if he didn’t affect her. She’d stayed quiet to hide the fangs that were threatening to make an appearance. Vanessa was fairly new to the concept, sure the canines had popped out before. But only while feeding. Something told her it wasn’t because she was hungry.

“Vanessa, do you smell anything?” Michael asked, as they continued walking down the busy sidewalks of Orlando, Florida. Teens were dressed in name-brand clothing while parents dressed as they always did: presentable and out of style. But every once in a while you’d spot an outsider with tattoos that showed too much or a lady without a bra who should really be wearing one. Laughing couples, bickering families, amused tourists. Same as it always was.

“No, Master,” Vanessa said respectfully. Aria snorted, and Michael’s eyes returned to look at her, like they’d been doing since the little group had started out on their little mission. Since when did he care about a Warrior so much? Maybe he was just watching her in case of a surprise attack, even if it did seem unlikely.

Michael stayed close to Vanessa, like he always did when she was around. It wasn’t a sexual thing, Goodness, Michael was like a father to her. She respected him and loved him as a daughter would. There was always this protective air around him though, or that’s what Vanessa thought. Maybe all fathers were like that. She wouldn’t know, her scumbag of a father left her at an early age. When she was turned, if it wasn’t for him, she couldn’t have made it through the Transformation. Plus, the vampire just made her feel like she was at home, always so gentle and loving. To her, at least. Vanessa had heard stories about him, she just chose to ignore them.

Tried to, at least.

“I can’t believe that Mrs. Night wasn’t aware that the changing bloodsucker was gone,” Aria said as she took in her surroundings like only a Warrior did. So very observant. Vanessa was beginning to understand why Michael said she’d be able so spot them over time. But now that she thought of it, Michael did the same thing. Maybe it wasn’t just a Warrior thing.

“I hate Mrs. Night, but not even she would purposely let a vampire escape,” said Michael.

“Are all vampires assholes like you?”

“We prefer the term ‘superior’.” He said, grinning at her.

She rolled her eyes and sighed, annoyed with the vampire. For some reason, and Vanessa could see it clearly--this Warrior was different. She just couldn’t put her finger on why she was.

They crossed a street, going over to the quieter side and a car beeped at Aria as she cut through. She ignored it. “Have anything, Vanessa?”

“Being nice to her and mean to me, how rude,” commented Michael.

“I like her better. She isn’t an arrogant bastard,” replied Aria.

“I have nothing…maybe we should go into the clubs? She could be seeking cover,” Vanessa said, unsurely. It had to be worth a shot though. If she was a new vampire and was running away, the first place she’d want to go was in a crowded place to hide, somewhere with--Oh God. What if she was feeding?

Vanessa went back to the night she was turned. When she had awakened…she was alone. In pain, bleeding to death. Left for dead in the back of an alley, with no one to tell her what was happening to her body, why she was so hungry. She pushed the thoughts away. That’s in the past, don’t think about it.

The Warrior cursed under her breath and pulled her jet black hair into a ponytail. She was quite beautiful, no wonder Michael fancied her. As she lowered her hands the vampire looked away, his hazel eyes burning with lust. Vanessa suddenly felt like she shouldn’t be watching him as he had his secret moment, but she couldn’t help it. The way he reacted to her just fascinated her.

“We’re screwed. There’s no way we can find her tonight,” Aria said dryly.

“Have a little faith, Aria.” She bit her lip and crossed her arms looking around again, then headed straight into a club that Vanessa wasn’t familiar with. The outside was pure black, the door’s red paint was chipping off, and the huge man guarding the door looked like he could break someone’s neck. The man looked at Aria and was momentarily stunned as she gave him a fake smile and swayed her hips as she walked past him. When they entered a girl latched onto Michael like a puppy almost instantly, the fake blonde was drunk and looking for a good time. And Michael looked like he wanted to accept her offer.

Aria shoved her away from Michael and proceeded into the club. Numerous guys looked at her. While she was making her way through the crowd a guy grabbed her around the waist, pressing her into him. Michael growled beside Vanessa, something that was unexpected. The Warrior removed his grip easily and shoved him hard, she didn’t seem dazed as she pushed farther into the crowd. Vanessa noticed uncomfortably the way the guys watched her as she made her way through the crowd. Pigs.

“These people are so rude.”

“I could think of other things to call them,” Michael growled, hovering behind her protectively. Indeed like a father. It was fine when they threw themselves at him, but not when it was Vanessa and Aria. So very male, but she wasn’t surprised.

Fortunately, no one bothered Aria again. She scanned the crowd, raising her eyebrows at some who were doing only God knows what. Vanessa didn’t smell anything at all, so eventually they ended up walking down the street again. Aria was ranting something about the “nasty bastards” at the club. Michael agreed, and although Vanessa didn’t curse--she had to admit that it was totally true.

Eventually after walking for another hour, Aria called Mason to check in. No sign of the vampire, he’d even started asking mundane if they had seen something out of the ordinary. Aria seemed angry about that, but she hung up eventually, cursing under her breath.

The next club they walked into was called The Lair, and by the name, it was pretty obvious it was a werewolf bar. Michael seemed hesitant for a moment, and Aria even bit her lip. “I could go in here alone. It won’t take long.”

“Yeah, a Warrior going into a lycanthrope bar isn’t insane at all,” Michael said grabbing onto Vanessa’s arm, a protective gesture she thought.

“Michael, trust me. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of whatever they throw at me.” It was the first time Vanessa had heard her use his name instead of “vampire” or “bloodsucker”. It caught him by surprise for a second but then he met Aria’s glare with one of his own.

“We’re coming.”

They glared at each other for what seemed like forever and Aria turned around and sighed deeply. “Fine. It’s your funeral.”

Inside The Lair was just as scary as the club they went into earlier; when they walked in, heads turned, voices silenced, and werewolves followed their bodies across the wooden floor. Vanessa wanted to squirm under their gazes, she felt like a child compared to Michael and Aria who weren’t even fidgeting, just meeting their glares with one of their own. The grip on her arm tightened as they went farther into the club.

Then Vanessa caught her scent. She went rigid as she took in another scent--blood. Vampire blood. Leaning towards Michael, she softly whispered to him, “She’s here.”

He nodded slightly to her and a grim expression crossed his face. Michael looked to his left where an old door was probably used for storage, suspiciously. Aria was making a move towards a corner table and she was yanked back by Michael. As she looked at him angrily, he leaned closer to her ear, so close that she saw her stiffen, and whispered, “The door.”

Her brown eyes scanned the room before landing on the door, she made it look casual, like it was something that just caught her eye. She had only eyed it for about five seconds, tops.

“What can I do for ya sweetheart?” A southern voice drawled from the table in the corner. He was a burly man with red hair, green eyes, and tattoos that almost made him look like his was wearing a second skin. He obviously didn’t see Aria completely, because if he did--his reaction would have been different.

Or maybe it was a bluff.

“Just out patrolling,” she lied.

“Well if you’re just out patrolling, why’d ya have to brang’ your pets?” The Were snarled, green eyes gleaming.

“Who said we were her pets?” Michael interjected.

“Anybody who hangs out with a Warrior has to be a pet,” he answered.

Michael was about to reply when Aria cut him off, “What are you hiding?”

“Cuse’ me?” The lycanthrope looked at her, startled. His green eyes looked confused. But something wasn’t right.

“I asked what you were hiding. So even get off your drunk ass and show me, or that’ll be the last drink you ever have, Billy Boy.” Aria emphasized on the last two words, and recognition crossed over the man’s face. He shot up, fists clenched.

“You’re the one who cut off Tommy’s ear!” Vanessa stayed silent, listening curiously.