Page 16 of The Shadows of Excess

A scream pierced the calm of the morning, echoing from outside and sending a jolt of fear through me that briefly halted my heart. Damon and I sprang from our table and rushed out of the diner alongside the staff and several customers drawn by the commotion.

As we burst onto the street, we saw Justice clutching his neck, staggering from around the corner of a nearby brick building. Our eyes met in a fleeting, intense exchange before he crumpled to the ground. A growing pool of blood surrounded him, stark against the pavement, and my breath caught in my throat at the harrowing sight.

CHAPTER NINE

Damon and I quickly knelt beside Justice’s motionless form.

Please-please-please let him be alive.

My hand hovered over his nose, trembling. A faint, shallow breath brushed against my fingers, bringing a flicker of relief.

“He’s alive,” I murmured, more to reassure myself than anything. I didn’t want to lose him.

Cruel, mocking laughter echoed around us, slicing through the tense air. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere, setting my nerves on edge.

The wail of sirens pierced the morning, growing louder as they approached. The swirl of red, white, and blue lights signaled the rapid arrival of a police car and an ambulance cutting through the quiet streets of Mystic Ridge.

A man from the gathering crowd stepped forward, pocketing his phone. “I called the police,” he announced, his voice tense.

As the flashing lights and wailing sirens of emergency vehicles flooded the street, Damon and I exchanged uneasy glances. In a close-knit town like this, any sign of activity from medical or law enforcement could create chaos for hunters.

Supernatural hunters worked hard to keep the public in the dark about things that went bump in the night, not wanting to cause mass hysteria. Now, as the paramedics rushed toward Justice’s motionless body, I couldn’t help but worry how they would react to treating a vampire.

I wasn’t even sure how to help Justice. What would happen when they inevitably discovered his true nature? The thought made my stomach churn with anxiety as Damon and I watched from the shadows, hoping they wouldn’t uncover our secrets.

A cold breeze brushed over the back of my neck. Damon and I whirled, and he slapped the back of his neck. He must have felt the same thing.

Something evil was here.

Something we couldn’t see.

Something strong enough to hurt a vampire.

Justice released a guttural groan, his body trembling as he struggled to sit up. His normally tanned skin was a sickly shade of gray, and his lips were visibly pale. The paramedic gently pressed down on Justice’s chest, trying to calm him. “Sir, you’ve lost a lot of blood. We need to get you to the hospital.”

Tears clung to my eyelashes as Damon and I cautiously stepped closer, unsure what to do next.

Justice’s gaze locked onto mine, his finger trembling as he pointed at me. “Shadow…it wants you,” he rasped, his voice laced with urgency. Then, his eyes rolled back into his head, and he passed out.

I gasped and clapped my hands over my mouth in shock.

Damon put his arm around my shoulder, held me close, and whispered in my ear. “I won’t let anything get you.” The firmness in his tone left no room for doubt. It was a vow, a declaration from someone who’d always been my shield against the darkness.

I couldn’t shake the chilling thought. If the entity we were dealing with had attacked and drained a vampire, what chance would a human stand against it? What kind of demon possessed such power? These questions swirled in my mind as I watched the paramedics swiftly work.

The concerned paramedic looked between me and Damon. “Do you know this man?”

I nodded. “Yes, his name is Justice Cristea. He may have identification in his back pocket.”

They brought out a stretcher and carefully lifted Justice onto it. As they wheeled him toward the ambulance, a surge of apprehension whisked through me.

Damon grabbed my arm and pulled me toward his Fairlane, panic etched into his features. “We need to find out what happened,” he urged.

I dug my heels into the pavement, refusing to budge. “No.” I lifted my chin in defiance. “We need to get Justice to the hospital and make sure he’s okay.” I wouldn’t be able to investigate unless I knew Justice was okay.

Damon’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you serious? We have to figure out what attacked him.” He gestured toward the dark alley where Justice had been brutally assaulted.

“Damon, I’m going to the hospital. If he wakes up, someone needs to be there to question him.”

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