A Bond of Blood (A Shade of Vampire #9)(16)



I whipped out my gun, aimed it at the vampire’s back and hissed, “Don’t take a step further.”

Frieda froze. Whirling around, she locked eyes with me, her lips parting in shock.

Adrenaline coursing through me, I said, “This bullet will lodge itself in your chest and burn you alive from the inside out. Do as I say, and I won’t pull the trigger.”

Her eyes darkened. “I’m not in the habit of being threatened. Least of all by a human wench.”

I gulped, steeling myself against her glare. One wrong move could see me dismembered and the remains of my body left to freeze in the snow. I tightened my grip around the gun, my hands beginning to sweat despite the fact that my whole body was shivering from the cold.

Slowly, I sat up, careful to keep the gun steady. She continued glowering at me. But perhaps she’d witnessed the power of one of these guns before, because she didn’t try anything.

“Just do as I say,” I repeated, my eyes boring into hers, conjuring up confidence I didn’t possess. I made the jump back onto the steps, my heart leaping into my mouth as I almost slipped. By some mercy, I was able to gain balance. “Don’t make me prove this thing works,” I growled.

“What do you want?” Frieda hissed, staring at the barrel of the gun.

“First, hand me your cloak,” I said.

She scowled, but unfastened her cloak and chucked it at me. It almost knocked the gun right out of my hands. But I held on tight and aimed it at her once again.

Using one hand only, I tied the cloak around me and fastened it, pulling the hood over my head. I was already feeling warmer with it, but of course warmth wasn’t the reason I had asked her to give it to me.

“Now,” I continued, “you are going to carry me on your back up to that castle. Do you know of any side entrances?”

She kept her lips sealed, her eyes narrowing on me.

“Don’t push me, Frieda,” I said, attempting to make my voice sound deep and menacing. “Answer my question.”

She glared at me in defiance for several more moments but then nodded, her lips pursing.

“Turn your back toward me and bend down, so I can climb on.”

She turned around slowly and did as I’d ordered. Pressing the barrel of the gun directly against her temple, I said, “Now hold onto my legs and start climbing.”

She gripped my legs and stood up.

“Take me into the castle, though an entrance that will least attract attention. Once we’re there I will tell you what to do next.”

She started walking up the cliff, far too slowly. I gripped her neck and dug the gunmetal harder against her skin. “Faster, Frieda,” I whispered.

“I feed you every day and this is how you repay me,” she muttered.

Although I could practically feel her eyes rolling, she sped up and about a minute later, we had reached the castle. She walked past the main oak doors and crept round the narrow path that ran round the side of the castle. The path was so narrow and there was no railing stopping a person from hurtling hundreds of feet down the cliffs. I shuddered, feeling nauseous as I caught a glimpse of the fall.

I breathed out in relief when Frieda stopped beneath an open window. I gripped hold of her for dear life as she leaped upward. She climbed through the window and we both landed in the corner of a thankfully empty hall.

“Now what?” she asked through gritted teeth.

Now what I really wanted was to be taken to my parents. But that was too dangerous right now until I understood what had happened to them. This would have all been a waste if I also got caught and imprisoned. I lowered my hood so that it covered most of my face. “Do you know where Caleb is?” I whispered.

“In his quarters.”

“Take me there. Avoid walking along corridors where there are likely to be vampires. Take a longer route if you have to. But remember,” I said, digging the gun against her temple again, “I’m watching you.”

I held my breath as she launched forward. She climbed up the main staircase in the hallway and hurried along the corridors. I was relieved that there weren’t many people about. I’d lost track of what time it was now. She climbed higher and higher until we reached the staircase I was so familiar with by now—the set leading up to Caleb’s apartment.

I began trembling as we approached. It wasn’t Caleb himself I was afraid of; it was hearing what he had to say. The truth. From his own lips.

My stomach fluttered as Frieda set me down outside his room. I reached for the door handle and knocked, not taking the gun off Frieda while I waited. I pressed my ear against the door.

Please be in. Please be in.

I reached for the door knob and twisted. It had been left unlocked. I slipped behind the door and locked it. I had to be quick now. Frieda would no doubt warn the witch and everyone else that I’d returned.

I crept along the dark corridor and entered Caleb’s open-plan apartment. I looked around, my heart sinking as I realized it was empty. I ran my hands along his instruments. They appeared to be in the same place as I had last seen them, untouched since. I walked around the living room, then entered the kitchen area.

He’s not here. Now what?

Now I was kicking myself for letting Frieda go before I’d laid eyes on him. She must have lied to me. I cast my eyes desperately around the room once again, then turned the corner toward the exit of the apartment.

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