Page 60 of Blood Illusions

“Do you have something we can put the dug-up grass in?”

“This will do.” Justice grabbed a large plastic bucket against the wall that was in better condition than the tools. Then, he grabbed a flashlight. “Here, take this. I don’t need one.”

“Thanks.” I pushed the garage door button, and the door lifted without making a sound. Another small victory for us.

As the distant howl of a coyote pierced through the nighttime silence, a chill ran down my spine. The soft glow of moonlight illuminated the path to the neighbor’s rock garden, and shooting stars streaked across the sky. Despite the beauty surrounding us, a crisp breeze sent shivers down my arms. I longed for the warmth of the blanket back on the couch at the safe house.

We stepped into the rock garden. Suddenly, bright lights flooded the area, momentarily blinding us. I instinctively raised my arm to shield my eyes.

“Damn it,” I muttered as I squinted through my fingers. “Those must be motion sensors.”

A stern female voice pierced the darkness. “Freeze! Don’t move!”

As we rounded the corner of the house, a blonde woman with big brown eyes emerged from the shadows. She held a gleaming pistol in one hand and tugged fiercely on the thick leash of a snarling German shepherd with the other. My heart raced as I realized Justice could easily escape, but I wouldn’t stand a chance against that fierce beast.

“We don’t mean any harm.” Justice stepped in front of me, putting himself in harm’s way.

“Then why are you standing in my rock garden in the middle of the night with those garden tools? I don’t trust the word of a vampire.”

I didn’t have time to lie. I stepped around Justice.

“Sawyer.” He grabbed my arm.

I glared at him. “Let go of me.”

“Don’t move, vampire,” another female voice announced behind us.

I glanced over my shoulder, and my eyes widened. The woman was dressed in all black, her long, dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. The moon shone off the blade of her sword as she pressed it against Justice’s neck. I saw the tension in his body as he tried to stay calm.

“Please, we need the phoenix feather grass,” I blurted. “My father’s life depends on it.”

The blonde woman narrowed her eyes. “Who are you?”

Lying was pointless. I squared my shoulders. “My name is Sawyer Grant.”

The woman’s frown faded. “Not John Grant’s little girl?”

I cocked my eyebrow. Little girl, seriously? The woman looked to be about my age. I raised my chin. “Yes. Do you know him?”

She lowered her rifle. “He’s a legendary hunter, as are his children. What I don’t understand is why you are with a vampire.”

“He’s a necessary evil,” I stated.

Justice sucked in his breath as I hit a nerve. I couldn’t spare his feelings. I needed to get my hands on that grass.

The woman didn’t make a move to put down the gun, and the dog laid its ears back as if ready to attack.

“My dad is being held by super vampires, and I need the grass to kill them. They’re the most vicious vampires I have ever seen, and they’re difficult to kill. The other day, the vamps chased us into this garden, and they?—”

“Vanished in flames like a moth to a candle,” the woman blurted. “Becky, lower the blade. The grass isn’t affecting that vampire. He must not be one of them.”

This time, it was my turn to play the shock card. “You know about these creatures?”

There was a long pause before she spoke, and I noticed her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “They murdered some of my coven.” She choked out the sentence.

I furrowed my brow in confusion. “Wait, you’re a witch?”

“Good guess, Captain Obvious.” She released a bitter laugh. “We knew there was a target on our backs, so we planted phoenix feather grass as protection.”

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