Page 4 of Sunshine and the Vamp

Maya grabbed my shoulders, blocking the way out. “Babe, if you go back there, you’ll probably end up punching them in the face.”

I groaned. She was right. Maya was always right.

“But how can I just walk away? I’ve given everything to this place; my blood, sweat, and tears.”

“Well, I’ve just about finished my shift, so let’s go out, get drunk and try and come up with a plan.” She grinned wide, her amber eyes flashing with mischief. A night out with Maya never ended with sensible choices.

But maybe that was just what I needed today.

***

Misthaven was a large city in the centre of the country. It should have been the capital, but when the three main crime families took over, the monarchy moved out and relocated to the coast. The Morozovs, the Lavaeux, and the Rowans controlled Misthaven. Considering we were all under the thumb of criminals, the city was well run and surprisingly, had a low crime rate. Seemed like most of the shady shit was done outside of the city.

We had a great underground network rail, which was improved when the monarchy left, and it was only a five-minute walk from the hospital to the tube station that I needed. It was a walk that took me past several buildings owned by the Morozov family, the biggest of the three ruling families. Most of downtown was owned by them, including all the nightlife spots, one of which Maya and I would be attending tonight calledThe Crypt. It was a nightclub under the old cathedral, and it was creepy as fuck, but they also had the best music and drinks of any club in Misthaven.

But this building, the Morozov Monolith, was intimidating. It towered over the surrounding buildings and was all dark glass and steel. I always wondered what could go on in a building like that, but I probably wouldn’t want to know. It was most likely murder and mayhem, and I was probably better off not knowing.

A shiver of apprehension ran through me. The things the walls in that building must have seen.

I hauled my box of shit higher on my chest and took one last look at the building. I turned toward the tube station but stopped when a loud crash sounded from the gap down the side of the building. A door was flung open, and a figure raced out of the building. He ran straight towards me, looking over his shoulder as if he expected someone to be behind him. He crashed into my side, knocking my box of crap to the floor.

“Hey!” I shouted after him, but he didn’t stop. He just kept on running as if the Devil himself was following.

I bent down to pick my stuff up off the ground and a flash of something flew by, followed by a gust of wind. Paper flew in all directions, and I scurried to snatch them before they blew away and disappeared completely.

What the heck was that?

I groaned in frustration as I watched some of my research fly away on the breeze. Thank the Lord I had some of it stored in the cloud. I’d just have to rewrite some of my notes again. It was a ball ache, but at least I hadn’t lost everything. I reached out for one of the pages, but a leather clad hand beat me to it.

My skin turned clammy as I realised this man probably came out of the Morozov building.

Oh, God.

Fuck.

Was there a mobster stood behind me?

“Be careful, little bird,” the man behind me said, his voice a deep rumble. “There are monsters lurking in the shadows here.”

I shivered at his words and slowly took the paper from his hand. I didn’t want to make any sudden movements.

A whisper of a breath brushed the back of my ear. “Better run, now. Or someone is going to think you want to get caught.”

I hissed in a breath, the anticipation ofsomethingcoiling in my gut. I just wasn’t sure what it was, but one thing I knew, was that I wasn’t being spoken to like that. Like I was there at the whim of someone who thought they were higher in the food chain than me. I didn’t care if he was the mysterious Morozov leader himself, I was not taking another person trying to belittle me. Not today.

I shoved the papers in my box, suddenly over that moment of fear as indignation took its place. I jumped to my feet, turned around and saw nothing but the empty street behind me.

“What the hell?”

Where had the guy gone?

Probably some secret tunnel that ran under the building so he could lurk in the shadows like a fucking creeper. I hauled my box back up again and continued my way to the tube station. This day could go fuck itself.

I crossed the road and continued with my journey, the spike in adrenaline from earlier leaving an edgy feeling curling in my stomach. It lingered, churning uncomfortably. I’d had it with today. I couldn’t wait to go out tonight and forget about it all.

Fuck Dr Kingsly.

Fuck the Board.

---