Page 54 of The Vampire's Thirst
The satyr opened the door into the human’s bedroom. The bed was made, the room neat, all drawers closed. In the bathroom, he eyed the makeup left on the counter. Stooping, he picked up a wet towel from the tiled floor. He sniffed. “Vampire.”
Once he had cased the rooms, he met the witch in the living room.
“What did you find?” She scanned the area.
“The vampire definitely made himself at home. He showered.”
“So, is she a good Samaritan who took the Firebrand in, or is she an accomplice he knew?”
“Why do we give a shit? Let’s just find him. Why does Lort want the vamp so much?” The satyr’s trigger finger was ready to eliminate the male.
“He saw something he shouldn’t. In order to find the vampire and kill him, we need information. Anything could prove useful.”
“Okay, I’ll play the stupid game.”
“The vampire and the human left in a hurry. The kitchen is a mess. Food still out and dishes dirty. I found something else of interest. Come see.”
The witch led him to a pantry which was spacious enough for the satyr pushed in behind her. “What’s this shit?” His eyes roamed over shelf after shelf of herbs, concoctions, and jars.
Taking one glass container in her hand, she rolled it over, label up. She unscrewed the cap, sniffing. “Healing potions.”
The satyr slipped his gun into its holster. “She’s definitely human. No witch scent in the house.”
“Could be a human with a knack for elixirs.” The witch set the jar back on the shelf and examined a few more.
The satyr wandered into the laundry room where he cracked the lid of the washing machine. His nostrils flared. “Vampire blood. Mixed with human. Hey. Check this out.”
“Looks like the female was our target’s food source.” His partner returned to the living room where she examined a photo of a female. “Is this her?”
He pursed his lips. “Dunno. Didn’t get a good look. She was riding passenger while I was being tossed from the window.”
She pocketed the picture. “Did you find a computer or any papers?”
“Nope.” He held up his hands to show her they were empty.
“Where was her car?”
He nodded toward the barn in back. “It was small. A Prius. Didn’t catch the plates.”
“So the witch-wannabe took off in her car with the Firebrand in the driver’s seat. Was she a willing or unwilling accomplice?” She fisted her hips, her head cocked to one side.
“What the fuck difference does it make?”
She bristled. “An unwilling companion will weigh him down. A willing one can help him get to his destination faster. I might ask Lort to take your head just for the fun of it. You’re too stupid to live. Your muscles must be squeezing your brain. Is it painful?”
The satyr sneered. “Are you schtupping the general?” It was the only explanation why such a miserable creature continued to survive.
The witch laughed. “You’re more his type. Young. Male. And stupid. All we have is a photo, the make of her car, and the road they took out of here. No records tell us where they might go. I’m guessing a portal, but if she is human, how will they get through? She won’t have a jumper. He’s without his D-chip. I would head for a well-traveled gateway and wait for a lift home, find known Aeternals nearby, or drive to an Alliance office.”
“Too many options. We need a scryer to find them. Come on. Let’s gather something personal to take to one.” The satyr returned to the laundry room, snagging used towels for the journey back to Scath. The clock was ticking, and he was highly motivated to find the vampire. He stroked his neck, liking how it sat on his shoulders.
****
Onthe couch in the cozy living room, Fin snuggled into his arms, a hot chocolate in her hand. She shivered, wrapping the teal blanket decorated with bison tighter around her.
The wolf shifter clutched her shoulders, gently urging her forward. Untangled from her body, he rose to crank up the fireplace with another log, poking it with an iron rod until it blazed. He was naked and completely at ease with the fact. “You can’t resist me because… This is hard to explain.”
“Try. I need to know why you’re irresistible. I gave in when you crooked a finger.” Fin could not understand why being with Thorn felt right, why she wanted him so badly.
