Tall, Dark & Lonely (Pyte/Sentinel #1)(58)

After threatening the landlord with child services the manager bitched and whined, but cowed. A large thrash bag full of his clothes now kept Jill company in the back seat.

His mother was another issue. She didn’t know what possessed her or if it was even legal, but Madison refused to leave until the woman wrote a letter handing over custody to her. God she was an idiot. Eric Bell and the manager were only too happy to sign it as witnesses. She groaned. What was she supposed to do with a sixteen year old boy?

“So, I was thinking since you’re my new guardian and all I should call you Madison. Just seems more natural don’t you think?”

She waved a hand. “Whatever, just not at school.” She wanted to go home and curl up in bed and forget this day.

“Of course, Madison. I would never call you Madison at school, Madison.”

“You’re enjoying calling her Madison, aren’t you?” Jill asked.

“Yes, I believe I rather am,” he said with a sniff.

“Oh my god, Madison, pull over!” Jill shrieked. Both Chris and Madison jumped.

Madison hit the brake, bringing the Jeep to an abrupt stop in the middle of the street. She looked around the street. Oh no, did she hit someone? “What’s wrong, Jill?” she asked as her eyes ran frantically around the front of the Jeep.

“Megan’s over there.” She pointed past Madison. “I need to go talk to her.”

“You just scared the shit out of us for that?” Chris threw her a disbelieving glare.

Jill opened the back door. “I have to talk to her so get over it. See you at home, Madison.” With that she closed the door and beelined for her friend.

“I didn’t want to say anything before, but your sister is a bit of a spoiled brat.”

“Shut up,” she groaned.

Chris laughed. A few minutes later they were driving through the center of town. “Whoa! Hold up! Go into that parking lot!”

“Chris!” she warned, she was not in the mood for games tonight.

“Go in the parking lot!” Chris sounded more urgent.

She stopped the car. “Fine.” She started to turn in the parking lot. “What the-”

“-hell is he doing kissing another girl that’s what I’d like to know.” Chris bolted out the door and started running towards Ephraim.

******

Ephraim pushed Eve away. “Get the f**k off me.”

She kept herself tightly against him. The window behind him shattered violently. He tried to jump away, but Eve tightened her grip and kept him pushed against the car. Two large hands shot out and wrapped tightly around his arms and waist. Another set appeared from beneath the car and hugged his legs. Yet another was suddenly around his neck. He heard the movements, but too late it seemed.

Eve backed up, laughing. Her fangs dropped as she eyed him. Ephraim was normally stronger than any vampire, but three vampires holding him like vice grips was too much even for him. They were crushing him. The one on top had him in a good choke hold.

He couldn’t move. “What the hell do you want, Eve?” He tried to struggle against the hold. They wouldn’t give an inch.

She laughed lightly. “What the Master’s always wanted of course, Ephraim. Your blood.”

“I told you, Eve, my blood will not change any of you. You’re not the first vampire to steal my blood. It won’t work!” It would kill her, but he wasn’t about to tell her that.

“I don’t believe you.” She moved back in and pressed a kiss to his neck. He tried to struggle. “Don’t be selfish now. I think you can share. Just think how nice it will be to share the sunlight with your closest friends. I just want a little taste before we bring you to the Master.” She sank her teeth into his neck.

He squeezed his eyes closed and half screamed half groaned. She was sucking on his neck viciously, greedily. She was afraid she would be stopped before she took enough. What she didn’t know was that a spoonful of his blood would kill her, slowly. The amount she was stealing would probably kill her within a few minutes.

She pulled back. “Well, boys, don’t be shy. If you wait until I’m done there won’t be any left.” She struck his neck again.

On the other side of his neck a new set of fangs sunk it. The man hiding in the car sunk his teeth into Ephraim’s side and ripped the skin violently. The one holding his legs did the same. They were too greedy to do this right. The blood was going to come out too fast for them to catch it all in their mouths.

“Hey, ass**le!” Chris yelled.

Ephraim forced his eyes opened and looked over Eve’s head to see Chris running towards him. Madison drove up right behind him. The headlights hit him full blast. He knew the instant Chris saw the entire scene, he froze.

Madison jumped out of the car and started running. Chris grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back.

“Get out of here!” Ephraim yelled. “Go now!”

“They’re eating him!” Chris yelled.

“Let me go!” Madison fought against his hold.

She watched helplessly as four vampires fed from him. It didn’t look like they were being gentle. Blood was streaming from their bites onto the ground quickly. All the color in his face was gone. His head dropped back and she got a good look at a black man on the right side of his neck and a blonde woman in front of him, latched onto his neck. She was holding Ephraim by the back of his head so he wouldn’t disturb her bite again.