Page 9 of Blood Illusions

“When the vampires took the hunters, did they leave blood behind?” My voice was stronger than my shaking insides.

“No. They were just gone.” He looked between us. “Wait. Is that what you found at your place?”

I swallowed the lump of dread in my throat. “Yes.”

“But you don’t know whose blood it is?”

I shook my head wordlessly.

“Don’t jump to conclusions. Your dad is an excellent hunter. Best I’ve ever seen. It could be his blood or something else’s.”

I exhaled loudly, hoping he was right, but these creatures might even be above my dad’s paygrade.

Damon’s eyes turned solemn. “Have you learned anything more about these vampires?”

“Only that they’re ravenous and, as you found out, they can reattach their heads. You must decapitate them, then stab them in the forehead to kill them.”

I looked at Tim, hoping for some insight. “Are they following the lore of vampires?”

“Some are loners like the one you killed. The ones that hunt in groups are ten times more dangerous. That’s where we’ve lost some of our best hunters.”

Dread grew in my stomach. The chances of Dad being alive were growing dimmer.

Damon leaned back in his chair and folded his hands behind his head. “Have these creatures turned anyone?”

“Not that we know of,” Tim replied as he shook his head sadly. “But we know so little of this species that I can’t tell you any definite information. You must be extremely careful. Like your father, you’re some of my best hunters. I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t.” Damon dropped his arms. “Where are these damn things congregating, anyway?”

“For some reason, they seem to be up in the Rocky Mountains. Specifically the Shadow Mine. That place is surrounded by all kinds of rumors, from devil worship to ghosts to aliens. It’s been investigated many times, and none of the other teams have found anything. But that was before we knew these things were making the place home sweet home.” He pointed at each of us. “You two can find out.”

I thought about what Dad had written in his note. I considered saying something to Tim about it, but one look from Damon and I held my tongue. He didn’t like the Elders knowing every step we made. The more they knew, the more controlling they got.

Plus, my brother didn’t like rules.

To be honest, neither did I.

My gaze traced the dried bloodstains on the severed head. Its eyes were half-closed, and its mouth was set in a gruesome sneer. “What are you going to do with the head?”

Tim scrubbed his face with his hand. “We’re taking it back to the lab. Our goal is to unravel the mysteries of its origin and understand the unique biology of these creatures. And how we can eradicate them before they wipe out whole communities.”

Damon rubbed his upper lip with his finger, but he kept silent. He was piecing all this information into files in his head.

I glanced at my watch and stood from my seat. “We should go.”

“Be careful,” Tim reiterated. His gaze darted from Damon to me before he nodded and glanced at the table. This was something new for him. I couldn’t help but feel the weight of his anxiety hanging over us like a thunderstorm ready to break us.

Damon got up from his chair and clapped Tim’s shoulder. “We’ll be back, dude.”

Tim nodded solemnly.

Damon released his shoulder, and I followed him out of Tim’s office. I couldn’t stop thinking of Tim’s face as we left The Grove.

The Ford Fairlane rocked as Damon slammed the door behind him. He gave me a quick nod before starting the engine and peeling from The Grove’s parking lot. As we raced down the dark road, he gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white.

I leaned back in my seat and stared into the night.

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he blurted. His voice was low and dangerous, like it always got when he was dead serious.

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