Page 21 of Bite of Sin

I closed up my backpack and hid it under one of the broken desks. It would be safe here while I scrounged around. I hefted the empty duffel bag over my shoulder, scanning the rest of the room.

There was nothing useful in here, but there were a bunch of other buildings I could search. I’d have to be fast since I didn’t want to stay in this city too long. Not when I knew there were at least two other vampires hanging around. I’d just check out the street before coming back for my bag.

With a deep breath, I stepped back outside before heading toward the next building.

Chapter8

Kali

Coming to this city was a horrible fucking idea.

But by the time I realized it, I’d gotten turned around and it was taking forever to find the building where my bag was. The deeper I went into the city, the more alive it became. The place was filled with vampires. Trying to avoid them was the reason I’d gotten lost. I’d already abandoned the empty duffel bag, not wanting anything in my way if I needed to go for my stake. The vampires wereeverywhere. Running in the streets. Going in and out of buildings. Some places seemed livable. I even saw someone making food and serving it like an outside restaurant.

It went against everything I’d learned as a child. We were told that vampires were solitary creatures, and if they did travel together, it was only in small groups. That was the reason the war had ended. Because vampires couldn’t form an army without fighting among each other, but there were still too many to overtake them.

My eyes darted to two vampires making out against the side of the building. I kept my pace casual, passing them while holding my breath. The lotion seemed to be working, and I hoped it stayed that way. I wished I hadn’t left my backpack in the first building I’d stopped at. But I never expected to walk into something like this. I had the wooden stake in my boot, and it was against all my instincts not to have it in my hand.

Fear was running rampant, causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand up. My gut was knotted to the point that I thought I was going to get sick. I was surrounded by vampires who would kill me in a second if they knew I was human. I just needed to get back to my bag, and I’d be long gone. Taking my chances in the forest would be better than this.

I was backtracking, and if I remembered correctly, the building was only a block away. I upped my pace, a shiver running through me when I heard footsteps behind me. I listened carefully as I kept walking, only to come to a halt when someone stepped in front of me. Keeping my eyes on the ground, I shuffled to the right, my heart dipping when they moved with me. My hands curled into fists, and I took a long breath as I tried again to go around.

“I’ve never seen you here before.”

The voice was deep. Panic smothered me when I finally raised my gaze. The vampire was only a couple of feet in front of me, standing right under a dying streetlight that was blinking. My breath caught in my chest when we locked eyes. He was breathtakingly fucking gorgeous.

How was it possible for a creature who lurked in the night to look likethat? His black hair was longer, the messy waves nearly covering his left eye as he studied me. His eyes were lighter, maybe green or blue, but it was impossible to tell in the dim lighting. His facial features were sharp and rigid, but they fit him perfectly. He was wearing a black T-shirt and jeans, with a pair of black boots. He was leaner, but as he crossed his arms, it was impossible to miss his flexing muscles. I took an involuntary step back, and he cocked his head to the side, curiosity flaring in his eyes.

“You went out in the storm?” he asked, glancing at my slightly damp hair. “Risky. The sun could have come out.”

I didn’t say a thing, unsure what to do or say. One wrong word, and I’d be dead. The stake pressed against my ankle, and when suspicion flashed across his face from my silence, I nearly grabbed it. Unlike the two vampires I’d killed hours ago, this one screamed violence. I had a feeling I wouldn’t get as lucky if I went up against him.

“You hear that, Viggo?” he asked, looking past me. “She’s scared. Her heart is racing. The question is why.”

My face paled when footsteps came up from behind me. Vampires had heartbeats just like humans, but I didn’t know if they went through emotions like we did. Could they feel the same type of fear that had me paralyzed? I didn’t dare take my eyes off the vampire in front of me even as another one came up beside me. He paused for a moment before striding forward until they were both in front of me. Shock tore through me when I stared at the second vampire. He was the one who had cornered me in the woods the night Lisa was killed.

His stare didn’t reveal a speck of recognition as he looked at me, and questions raced through my head. The other one called him Viggo. I could have sworn they’d called him Pax that night. My fear rose as I stared between the two of them. I doubted my one little stake was enough now. I needed to talk my way out of it.

“She’s cold, Zan,” the vampire called Viggo murmured, his eyes going to my arms. I was regretting pushing up the sleeves of the hoodie I was wearing. “Look at her goosebumps.”

“She’s still susceptible to the weather. She’s new,” Zan replied. He stepped closer, and it took all my will to stay where I was. “When were you turned?”

A lump grew in my throat as I fumbled over an answer. Why did they think I was a new vampire? Right now, I decided to play into what they already believed.

“Around two weeks, I think,” I said quietly, trying to keep my voice steady.

That was clearly the wrong answer because the vampire named Zan scowled as he stepped into my personal space. This time I couldn’t stop myself and stumbled back until my spine hit the crumbling brick wall of a building.

“Two weeks?” he bit out. “Why the hell aren’t you at the center?”

Thewhat? Fuck. There was so much I still didn’t know about them. I thought with all my training that I was prepared to survive outside Project Hope. Maybe I was wrong.

“I—I didn’t want to be there. So I left.”

His cold laugh had terror jolting through me, and my heart pounded against my ribs. His eyes dropped to my chest, as if noticing the change. I knew vampires had good hearing, but now I wondered how good. I’d learned breathing techniques to calm myself, but that wouldn’t help now when he already knew I was panicked.

“You left?” he sneered, raising his arm and resting his palm on the bricks next to my head. “You can’t just leave there. No one is allowed out until they hit the year mark.”

“I was never there, okay?” I nearly screamed. “A vampire turned me, and I woke up in the woods by myself. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

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