Page 37 of Blood Illusions

I gave him a piercing gaze. “I’m going to salt all the windows and doors and see if it works.”

Damon rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Sawyer, this says demons. Not vampires.”

I lifted my chin stubbornly. “Nothing else has worked. Or do you want to sleep with one eye open for the rest of your life?”

Damon and Justice flashed each other a this-isn’t-going-to-work look.

I headed toward the door.

“Wait,” Justice called. He sighed as he stood. “It won’t hurt to try.” His begrudging tone wasn’t reassuring, but at least he was willing to test my theory.

Damon rolled his eyes, but he stood, mumbling under his breath. Luckily, I couldn’t hear his sarcastic remarks.

We rummaged through the kitchen pantry until each of us found a can of salt. Equinox stood in the living room, swishing his tail as if he was used to being in a house.

Damon looked at his salt. “Now, what do we do?”

“Salt the windowsills and across the threshold of the doors,” I told him. “That’s what the book said to do.”

Damon gave me a pathetic look. “I’ll do the basement.”

“No, I will,” Justice insisted. “I’m a vampire, and my vision is better. You don’t know if something is lurking as we speak.”

Damon’s jaw clenched. “Thanks for the heads-up, Dracula, but I’ve been in scarier places than a dark basement. Besides, who needs night vision when you’ve got a flashlight and a can-do attitude?”

Justice rolled his eyes dismissively. “I know you’re not helpless, but you’re not vampire-strong, either. If those things are down there, they could kill you.”

I glared at both of them. “Can we put away the testosterone and do this before those vampire-shifter things come back?”

Damon brushed past Justice. “I’ll do the upstairs.”

Justice flung open the door to the basement and was gone before either Damon or I could say another word.

I carefully did the main floor, doing exactly what the book said, spreading salt over the windows and the threshold of the doorways. I had no idea whether this technique would work, but Dad had written it in his journal. He didn’t write anything there unless it was the gospel truth, and I believed in Dad.

Well, at least most of the time. I didn’t have the same blind allegiance Damon possessed.

Damon stomped down the stairs. “There’s more of those vamps outside.”

I raced to the picture window, and a chill rolled over me. There were three of them, black-eyed and dressed in suits, standing at the bottom of the driveway.

I looked nervously at my brother. “Why are they just standing there?”

He shrugged. “Guess they’re playing Russian Roulette to see who’s going to lose their head first.”

Justice strolled up to us, his black T-shirt marked with sweat. A strand of hair hung in front of his eyes. “One of them tried to get past the salt barrier I put in the basement, and it turned into a sparkler.” He shook his head in disbelief and turned to me with admiration glimmering in his eyes.

Damon’s eyes widened. “Well, I’ll be. Who knew these things were allergic to salt?” He gripped my shoulder. “Good job, Einstein.”

“Not me.” I smiled. “Dad.”

“The man’s a master,” Damon announced, his voice full of awe.

Justice looked between us. “We should go back and see if there’s something else in the books.”

My shoulders slumped in exhaustion as I considered doing more reading. My vision blurred from lack of sleep, and my eyes were heavy with fatigue. The relentless spinning in my head wouldn’t stop.

I sighed. “As much as I want to, Justice, I have to get a few hours of sleep without worrying about being attacked.” My voice cracked.

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