Page 35 of Blood Illusions

Justice squeezed my hand with his bloody one. “Our library…and your dad’s diary. They may have answers.”

“We can take Dad’s journal with us,” Damon countered. “And we can snag whatever books we want.”

I released Justice’s hand and stood. “The problem is that we don’t know which books to take.”

My brother cursed under his breath.

I raised my eyebrow. “Unless of course you know which ones.”

“No, I don’t.” He folded his arms. “Get dressed.”

I grabbed the bag with my clean clothes off the bed. I glanced warily at the vampire corpse staining my bedroom. No way I was sleeping in here.

Damon followed my gaze. “I’ll get rid of the bodies.”

Justice sat still, his eyes closed. I didn’t know if he’d fallen asleep from drinking the blood or if he was in the process of healing.

I slipped into the bathroom and discarded the bloodstained robe on the floor. Damn creatures had spoiled my dream of luxury. It figured. Hunters never got a break.

I carefully unwrapped the long-sleeved black T-shirt from its crisp packaging and smiled as I ran the soft cotton material between my fingers. The jeans were an expensive brand with immaculate stitching down each leg, and they hugged snugly around my hips. I marveled at the quality before me. It was like I’d shopped at a luxurious department store.

When I grabbed these clothes in the storage room, I didn’t realize their high quality.

I slowly opened the bathroom door, my heart pounding. Pools of thick, dark red blood stained the floor, the coppery scent filling my nostrils and making me gag. Damon and Justice were both gone. Justice’s Wheaties must have kicked in, and he must have been helping Damon dispose of the vampires hyped on steroids.

I grabbed the crossbow and held it tightly, feeling its cool metal beneath my fingers. I slipped the quiver over my shoulder. Neither the arrows nor the crossbow glowed and remained a steady silver. My forearm didn’t tingle, so I hoped that meant no more supernatural creatures were lurking around the house.

The hallway was empty, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Damon was right. This place had become a scary funhouse, and I wanted to go home where I always felt safe.

Or at least I did when Dad was around.

I loaded an arrow into my crossbow with my shaky hands. If those things were going to jump me, I’d be ready for them.

I thought about calling out for Damon, but then I might be ringing the dinner bell.

When I reached the living room, the front door opened. I raised my crossbow, ready to shoot the next vampire wearing a three-piece suit.

Damon walked in and stopped. He raised his hands. “Whoa, sis. It’s me.”

I aimed the crossbow at him. “How do I know it’s you?”

“For one thing, I’m not dressed like I stepped out of The Godfather.”

I sighed and lowered the crossbow. “True.”

“Justice is finishing up burying those two fangs. He said we could go into the library to read Dad’s diary and do some research.”

My heart clenched. “Wait, Damon. What about Equinox? Is he okay?”

“Don’t panic. He’s fine. Justice is bringing him inside the house to make sure.”

I sighed and followed him to the library. All I wanted to do was sleep, but after my near-death experiences, I was wide awake. He opened the door, and my jaw dropped. It was twice as big as my room, with bookcases that went from floor to ceiling like something out of Hogwarts. Against the bay window was a leather sofa that looked so comfortable I wished I could curl up and fall asleep.

Dad’s journal was in the middle of a large wooden table. Damon flipped through the pages, and I slid in next to him.

He stopped at the page labeled new breed of vampires. Some of the points Dad made, we knew, like how to kill the creatures.

Damon was about to flip the page, but I stopped him. “What is this about salt? Dad has a question mark by it.”

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