Longing for You, стр. 57
“I’m glad that day’s over, Duca,” Byron said.
Alexis was just about to reply when the guard she had put on Katiecame running down the front steps.
“She’s gone, Duca. Katie slipped out while I was in the bloodroom.”
“Fuck. Principe, may I go and look for her?” Alexis asked.
“Of course. I’m sure she’s fine, Alexis. Take Bhal with you.”
Alexis sped off down the road towards the park. She knew that wasKatie’s regular route, although she had told her not to cut through the park anymore since she had discovered the suspicious dead animals there.
As she got nearer the park, Alexis picked up the telltale scent ofblood, and her chest felt like it was under the weight of an elephant.
“No, no. Please, no.”
As she zipped into the park, she came across two dog walkers. Shegrabbed the first one she came across, looked deeply into his eyes, and said,“Leave the park now and go home.”
The dog barked incessantly, and the man repeated her words, “I’llleave the park now and go home.”
She did the same with the other human and followed the scent ofthe blood, all the time her heart pounding with true fear. The scent tookAlexis into the cover of trees surrounding the park.
The branches smacked against her body as she pushed through thetrees at speed. She slowed down as the blood scent got stronger. She pushedpast the last tree and came upon a scene from her worst nightmare—Josie hunchedover Katie’s body, feeding from her neck.
The next few minutes were a blur. She grabbed Josie and threw heragainst a tree. She threw her so hard that the tree trunk cracked. Then shedropped to her knees beside Katie.
“Katie? Katie? No, no, no, please be okay,” Alexis pleaded.
Katie’s throat was worse than the last time Josie had attackedher. She reached out a shaking hand to feel for a pulse. There was nothingthere.
“Please don’t be gone. Please, Katie. I love you.” Alexis felttears running down her face.
Bhal dropped down beside her and felt for Katie’s pulse. Shesighed and then placed her hand on Katie’s forehead.
“Bhal? Can you save her? There’s a fountain in the park. I can getyou water.”
Bhal shook her head. “I’m sorry, Alexis. She’s too far gone. She’sdead.”
From behind them, Alexis heard the sound of laughter. She turnedher head slowly and saw Josie slumped against the tree where she had thrownher, her face caked in Katie’s blood.
Josie grinned and said, “I told you she was mine.”
The words had barely left Josie’s mouth when Alexis was on her.She grabbed her then threw her against another tree. Josie cried out, andAlexis did the same again. Josie was moaning in pain. She might be immortal,but she could feel the full force of the pain until her bones knitted backtogether again.
Alexis was caught in a storm of red hot rage, like nothing she hadever experienced. This time when she grabbed Josie, Alexis began pounding herfists on her face and body, unleashing both fury and grief.
“No, no, stop!” Josie cried.
Alexis didn’t stop until Bhal pulled her off. “Duca, that’senough. End this, and let’s take care of Katie’s body.”
Alexis stood on wobbly legs and held her hand out. Bhal took hersword from the scabbard on her back and handed it to Alexis.
Bhal then pulled Josie onto her knees. Josie’s face was a mess,her nose badly broken. Alexis walked forward and pulled her closer by the hair.
“You’ve just killed the kindest, most gentle woman, and for thatI’m going to take your head.” She pushed Josie back and held up the sword.
“I’m sorry, please don’t kill me,” Josie said.
Alexis didn’t even consider her pleas. She swiped the swordthrough the air and cleanly took Josie’s head from her shoulders. Alexis’sbreathing was heavy. She was so lost in her rage, her pain, she was unaware ofanything around her until Bhal grabbed her and said, “Alexis, come here.”
She turned around and saw Katie gasping for air. She rushed over.“What happened? What’s going on?”
“She started gasping and coughing when you took Josie’s head.”
Alexis cupped Katie’s cheek. “Katie, Katie, I’m here.”
At those words Katie opened her eyes, and the whites were edgedwith red.
“She’s turned, Bhal. I don’t know—” Alexis then remembered theother night when Katie bit her arm. “I do know. She bit my arm the othernight.”
Katie lifted her hand to Alexis. “Alex? What’s happening?”
“Her pulse is strong now,” Bhal said.
Alex pulled Katie into her arms and kissed her head. “You’realive. I love you, I love you.”
Katie grasped into her tightly. “I feel strange, Alex.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get you through this, okay?”
Bhal patted Alexis on the shoulder. “I’ll call and get a clean-upcrew here. Let’s get her back home.”
Chapter Twenty
Amelia sighed in frustration as she again failed to tune in to herancestors. She had been sitting in the witches’ circle with Magda for thirtyminutes, and nothing.
“I can’t do this. It’s not working,” Amelia said.
Magda squeezed her hand. “Take deep breaths and try to focus.”
Another minute passed. “This is pointless. It’s like there’s ablock in my head.” Amelia slammed her hand down on the floor, and a bolt ofpower came from her hand and scorched the floor within the circle.
Magda opened her eyes and said, “You see what happens when youdon’t have control? There is a block. You were at your parents’ funeraltoday. Your grief and anger are getting in the way.”
Amelia got up and walked out of the circle. “What’s the pointanyway? I’ve had four lessons with you, and all we’ve done is sit in thiscircle and try to listen to voices. I’m supposed to be fighting and defeating agreat darkness that this Madam Anka is bringing. How am I meant to do thatlistening to voices?”
Without saying anything, Magda raised her arm. An object on theritual table rose and then flew past Amelia’s head and was impaled into thewall behind her.
Amelia jumped in fear and looked behind her at the knife andcontemplated how close it got to her.
Magda got up and walked over to the knife. She pulled it out ofthe wall and