“You sound like aschool teacher.” The Teen stopped beside me.
“I wish to stay.” Markspoke up for the first time. He had remained at the back of theroom, huddled in the corner and out of everyone’s way. “My Masterabandoned me long ago, and I came here from Spain. I have noone.”
“I don’t trusthim,” the Teen mumbled.
“Glad to haveyou.”
The six leechessneered at him, causing the youngster to curl back into thecorner.
“We will give you alla minute t’mull it over,” Elle said, before pulling me into thereception room. The doors remained open so we could keep our eyeson what remained of the UK Colony. She lowered her voice. “Youmight want t’tone down the chipper attitude. This isn’t afraternity.”
“How d’you think it’sgoing?”
“As expected, I’m halfwaiting for Blond and Burly to challenge you. Half of them may notfeel up to it if they’ve all had their Bloodlings slaughtered likethe brunette said.”
Honestly, I was hopingthat they would all feel exhausted and defeated and would justaccept the situation.
“Keepdreaming.” The Teen snorted.
But naturally, I knewI wouldn’t end up being so lucky. Still, a guy could hope,right?
“So, does it reallyaffect them? Having the Vampires they sired disconnected fromthem?”
Elle folded her armsacross her chest and stared at the small group. “Depending on howold their blood link is, yeah, it weakens them, but not forforever.”
“And that link isformed—?”
“By being baptizedwith your Maker’s blood.”
I pulled out a chairfrom the small dining table and took a seat. “I don’t know if Idrank a Vampire’s blood. I mean, I remember a lot of blood bags andinjections, but I’m almost ninety percent sure it was always livingblood. So, if I didn’t drink a Vampire’s blood, does that mean Idon’t have a Master or Mistress?” I slouched in the chair. “And ifthat’s the case, what does it mean?”
“If a Master iskilled, then their Bloodlings dies.” She glanced at me. “Sohopefully, it means your immortality isn’t tied to anyoneelse.”
“That’s good,right?”
“Considering what’scurrently going on, yeah. I guess despite everything, the wayyou’ve been created has a small silver lining, after all.”
“So, you will onlydie if someone kills you. Not if the Vampire who made you dies,because you don’t have a sire?” The Teen, who now sat acrossfrom me, looked as confused as I felt.
“I guess that’s asmall relief.”
I would never puff outof existence because of someone else. At least I knew that I hadcontrol over the circumstances and situations that could cause myimmortality to be cut short. It was a small win, but a winnevertheless.
“Speaking ofpuffing out of existence, it looks like Blond and Burly might wantt’be the one t’make it happen.”
I stood as the sixVampires crowded into the centre of the room. Mark remained huddledin the corner, quietly watching.
“Made a decision?”Elle asked the group.
“Shut it, whore,” theblond snapped.
My spine went rigid atthe insult. Hands balled into fists, I closed the distance betweenme and the group.
“Watch your mouth.” Istopped a breath away from the vile male. “No one speaks to herthat way.”
A lewd grin curled hislips, and I watched as black began to creep into his grey eyes.
“I can handle myself,Than,” She reminded me. “Besides, a Leech’s insults aren’t worthshite.”
“We aren’t taking noorders from an experiment and his whore.” The Hispanic malesneered.
“And they clearlydon’t know any other insult.” Elle barked a laugh.
“Fair enough. You knowwhere the door is,” I stated, not taking my gaze from the blondwhose skin had started to ripple across his cheeks.
I wasn’t sure if itwas my intense staring playing tricks on me, but watching his skinroll like waves was just … I’d have probably gagged if I were stillalive.
“We aren’t leaving ourhome.” His Mistress stood to his right. I glanced at her andwatched the bright colours of her iris bleed black. “You don’tbelong here.”
“And you certainlyaren’t the new Leader of this Colony,” the Hispanic male said,standing to the blond’s left.
My focus moved to him,and I watched his rich caramel flesh roll. Clearly, this is whatElle had meant by transforming. Funny, I didn’t remember hermentioning Vampires’ skin moving across their bones of its own freewill.
“Says who?”
“Says us,” the blondhissed.
“Shame.” I took acouple steps back and rolled the sleeves of my light blue shirt up.“I didn’t want it t’have to come t’this.”
“Told you so.”
“Not the time forthat, Elle.”
Their bodies grewtense. I watched as hair began to slither from their heads, theluscious locks falling in masses, strands disintegrating as theyheaded to the floor but never made it. The skin of their facescontinued to ripple, bones crunching as their jawsdisconnected.
“One at a time.” Ellestopped at my side, pulling the sword from the sheath on her back.“You want t’fight him for leadership, then you will challenge himone at a time.”
“You ready forthis, Head Boy?” The Teen stopped on the other side of me.
As ready as I willever be.
“Just remember,you’re one of them despite what they say.”
Not sure that’sreassuring.
“Remember theforest. Remember how you snapped Michael’s neck. I just mean you’restrong and fast even if you don’t know how you are.”
I hope you’reright.
I stepped forward. “IfI beat you all one on one, then you will accept me as the newColony Leader.”
“If you can’t acceptthat, then you walk,” Elle finished. “Anyone butts in with achallenge or tries anything funny then this—” She swivelled herwrist. The light bounced of the silver blade. “—will be the lastthing you see.”
Without warning, theblond charged forward. Elle jumped out of the way and stayed withthe group. The blond swung at me over and over. His nails hadformed into long, thick talons. I kept jumping back, and withouttripping over my own feet. A miracle even for me, but all I couldconcentrate on was getting away from his gaping mouth and giantviper fangs.
Definitely not likethe Master from Salem’s Lot.
My heel caught the legof the chair I’d been sitting on, and I fell backward.
“Focus!” theTeen shouted.
The blond lunged. Myright foot landed right in his junk. A wet gurgle vibrated in histhroat, the impact causing him to stumble back. It was enough timefor me to roll to my feet.
“Punch him,”the Teen shouted.
Where?
He technically didn’thave cheeks anymore, which were the usual target areas as well asthe eyes, but it was pretty hard to
