Red Blood (Series of Blood Book 2) by Emma Hamm (best short books to read .TXT) 📕

of exposed, dark skin was perfectly smooth. Bumps of abs traveled across his abdomen and a bright set of jewels glittered on his pectorals even in the dark alley.

Dreadlocks swayed as he moved. Clacking noises echoed from the tiny skulls that were woven into the thick strands. Even his eyes were dark, she realized. Like obsidian stones they stared at her, not Mr. Sneep.

The Ent was foaming at the mouth. He held onto his throat desperately but could not stop the bubbles that were escaping past his lips. One floated in the air above him and popped with a sickly sound.

“Do you want him to die?” her savior asked.

Lyra thought about the question. It was an answer that could not be given lightly, even the foolish girl she was knew that. Death was a heady power she wasn’t certain she wanted to be able to wield.

She stared into the eyes of Mr. Sneep and knew in that instant that she didn’t want him to live. She didn’t care if he existed on this planet because he was a bad man. Or maybe she simply perceived him as a bad man.

Either way, she held his life in her palm. Just as he had held her life in his hand moments ago. It would be so easy to watch him disappear.

Looking into the hard gaze of the dark man, she slowly nodded her head. “Yes.”

The hand her savior held out squeezed into a fist. It was over far too quickly as Mr. Sneep’s neck twisted at an odd angle, and the long body fell onto the cobblestone. Dead.

She had killed a man. Lyra swallowed. Not with her own hands because that would have been a horrible thing to do. But she had ordered it.

Swallowing hard, she tried to stop her hands from trembling in her lap. Dying wasn’t as easy as she had thought. How was she to know that she would feel this way? That she would want to vomit because his limp body was only feet from her.

Her eyes met the empty gaze, which still stared at her from his dreaded thin face. His legs were skewed at an odd angle. His arms were awkwardly pinned behind his back. But it was his eyes that made her heart skip a beat.

She turned to vomit onto the street. Her stomach heaved as her mind rebelled. She couldn’t have made such a rash decision. That wasn’t her; she wasn’t capable of wanting someone to die like that.

But apparently, she was.

“Easy.” The man’s voice was soothing through her terror. “The first time is always the worst.”

Lyra heaved again, and her fingers scrabbled at the cobblestone.

He chuckled. “The next time will be easier, I promise. By the third time you won’t be emptying your stomach anymore.”

She spit. “Why? Why did you make me do that?”

“I didn’t make you do anything, little Siren. I gave you the opportunity, and you took it.”

“I shouldn’t have.” She was breathing too hard. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“But you did and now you must live with it.” He reached out his hand as though they were two normal strangers meeting on a street. “I am called Bones.”

She took the offered hand. “Lyra.”

“Walk with me, Lyra.”

“I don’t want to walk with anyone ever again.” The petulant tone sounded childish even to her ears.

Bones chuckled. “You will. Come, little girl.”

She didn’t want to, but she stood. Her knees wobbled, and her arms were set akimbo. But she was upright. Somehow that felt like an accomplishment.

“Good.” He nodded. “Good job.”

Like a puppy she followed him. In a way, she needed the reassurance. He was the last person who should be making her feel safe. He had killed a man in front of her. But he had also saved her. Which led to another question.

“Why did you save me?” she asked quietly.

“Because you are a Siren.”

“Not many people like Sirens.”

“I am not one of those people.”

Lyra didn’t understand that. How could she? Her entire life had been based on hatred. He must be lying because only untruths slipped from such honeyed lips.

“I am not lying,” he said quietly. The bones in his hair clinked against each other as he swiveled to stare at her. His eyes slowly turned black. “I want to give you everything you desire.”

She should not believe him. But she did.

“Everything?” she whispered.

“I will teach you to protect yourself. To use the limited amount of power you Sirens have. You will become a weapon.”

Lyra thought she might like that. The gift he offered her was the ability to never be in this situation again. She would never be forced to submit to another man. She would never have to walk back into that unholy place of employment.

Freedom. It tasted good upon her tongue.

“No.” She shook her head firmly. “I want more.”

“More?” He chuckled. “There is no more.”

“I want it all. Everything.”

His dark eyes once more looked her over. This time, she imagined there was a curiosity in the swirling darkness that swept over her being.

“What is it that you want?” he asked her.

“I want all that a Siren could be.”

“That amount of power could destroy your human form.”

Lyra swallowed. “I’m stronger than I look.”

The chuckle that rumbled from deep within Bones’s chest made a shiver dance down her spine. Her body might be destroyed, but it was worth it to know that she would forever be able to take care of herself. She was done being weak.

“It’s your choice, doll.”

His hand raised, and a bright glow of magic burst from his fingertips. A scroll flowed from his palm until it touched the cobblestone street. Words danced across the ancient page and made her eyes swim as she tried to focus upon what was said.

Bones held out a quill towards her. “Just sign and it will all be yours.”

“Everything I asked for?” she looked up to meet his dark gaze.

“Of course.”

Lyra didn’t even hesitate. She sighed the parchment and underlined her name for good measure. It would all be hers. A