Page 48 of Even Vampires Bleed
“I haven’t always been like that,” I respond with a sad smile.
There is a long silence after my words that none of us seem to want to break, and the next thing I know, I wake up to the sound of a flying car and a bear-shifter—not in his bear form anymore—shaking me.
Alright, we have stolen goods to bring back to the catacombs.
They’re old school weapons, butLibérationis preparing for a full out war. Facing shifters, they need any weapons they can get their hands on.
To be honest with myself, I would have never come and helped them if my life hadn’t taken a turn for the worst, but now that I’m here and sharing their life I can see why they’ve been battling for years to overthrow the bird-shifters.
Yes, Christina has a nice office, but it’s in the catacombs. She would never get that above ground and most of the humans barely manage to scrap things together. We’ve been privileged in Notre Dame. I’m not scared to say it.
Life is rough for humans. It’s even worse for the wingless shifters.
They’re barely considered worthy of any attention from the birds and don’t have the protection that comes from living in Notre Dame.
They’re still faster and stronger than the humans though.
But that doesn’t change a thing when it comes to feeding oneself.
Because that’s something I never had to care about in my life, but this is different here.
This isn’t the first heist for me and Elis.
Yesterday, the goods we stole were fruits from one of the bird-shifters’ cellars.
We’re a good team because I can open any lock, and he can carry the same load as ten men, so we go in, go out, and no one seems the wiser.
It’s eye opening.
Because I didn’t think I would steal food. I didn’t think I wouldneedto steal food.
I’m still getting some of my meals at Notre Dame, so I don’t exactly need the food, but the families Christina protects do.
But I’m also not forgetting that this isn’t why I joined them.
Yes, I needed a purpose, but I also need my revenge, and Christina doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to give me what I want.
And she said she didn’t need me…
“Christina, I’m tired of the small missions. I need something bigger,” I tell the leader ofLibérationa week later when Elis and I report back to her another weapon heist—modern ones this time.
She’s listening to something and taking notes. So, she doesn’t pay attention to me. Or so I think until I open my mouth to talk again, and she raises a hand in what is probably the universal sign for me to hold on.
Next to me, Elis looks at me like he knows I won’t manage to do it, so just to prove him wrong—I shut up.
I look like a sulking kid and him like a proud asshole.
We’re a weird-looking pair.
“Before you start asking me again,” Christina starts when she hangs up on her holo, “this was a lead for something bigger.”
She looks pointedly at Elis.
“This wasthelead you were waiting for,” she adds, and for the first time in a week, I see a hint of a smile on the face of the grumpy bear shifter.
I have no clue what she means, and I’m about toask when she stops me.
“I have one call left and then you can hit me with all your questions.”
