Page 50 of Winterfall Destiny

"I can't see his eyes," says Ash flatly.

"Because they're missing." I retch.

"Burned out somehow," says Jamie.

"A shifter wouldn't break in. This has to be a witch," says Ash. "Check his pockets."

I hold a hand over my mouth and nose, perspiring in shock as Jamie gingerly roots around in the guy's pockets. "Nothing. Oh, wait." He pulls out a folded sheet of paper and opens it.

Mouth setting hard, he hands the paper to Ash while I finally enter the room and read over his shoulder.

'You're welcome. I suggest adding runes to your new home. You wouldn't want any more surprise guests'

"Who wrote that?" I ask.

Jamie's jaw remains tight. "The person... thing who told us it'd already visited."

"The First?" asks Ash in surprise.

I edge back into my spot in the doorway. "The creature left us a house-warming gift. How lovely."

Ash holds the paper up. "Someone broke in and the First killed him?"

"Maybe." Jamie stands. "Nice. The First could've cleaned up after itself once it finished."

Our attempts at lightening the situation aren't working, but he has a point. "What are we supposed to do with a dead body? We're in an inner London suburb—it's not as if we can carry him out somewhere," says Ash. "No bonfires in the garden here."

"Can you move him?" I ask croakily. "Into a bathroom or something?"

"Where's that?" asks Jamie.

Since the body greeted us, we haven't explored the place, a townhouse on three levels with an attic. I immediately think that's good for Andrei until I remember he doesn't need to hide somewhere like that.

Andrei.

"Do you think the First will hurt the guys?" I ask.

"No. That's too easy and we know the thing enjoys games," mutters Jamie.

Ash wanders away as Jamie walks across to hug me and then returns a few minutes later. "There's a basement."

"How fortunate we have somewhere to hide a dead body," I say.

"I'll move him," he adds.

"And I'll look around the house. Jamie, can you come with me in case there's..." I gesture at the man. "More."

I'm glad the First didn't kill him violently, because the home is too nice to splatter with blood and death. Every period feature to the house remains, each room bright and welcoming. There's another sitting area upstairs—thankfully—which looks over the rear of the property to a small square of garden with geraniums in pots dotted around a paved area. Three bedrooms occupy the second and third floors, plus the small attic room, all with silver metal beds and cheerful coloured linen.

Jamie drops my bag onto the brown rug at the end of a double bed. "The room has a bathroom attached." He points. "You should stay in this one."

I sit on the springy mattress and look around. We've arrived in the evening as planned, even though the reason for that plan isn't with us, but I'm not tired, running on adrenaline as always. And I'm not sleeping until Andrei and Tobias return.

"Where's the kitchen? I need coffee," I say and stand again.

Before I leave, I pull the curtains closed, scalp prickling as I dart a look at the passers-by. Did the dead vamp have accomplices or did the First deal with them as well?

Everything in the kitchen is set up for Airbnb guests, instruction manuals for each household item, phone numbers and recommendations for local eating places, and the closest shops. The sleek modern appliances are one of several twenty-first century touches to the place, including an awesome and welcome expensive coffee machine.

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