Shadows of Fire by Nina Pierce Page B

beaker. She poured the blood wine over them, holding her breath as she
stirred the bloody mush with her finger.
    Alex
had no idea if this would work, but without the professor to guide her, she was
running out of ideas—and time. Too far from one world and not close enough to
the other, she prayed this would at least ease the cramping. Pinching her nose,
she forced herself to swallow the concoction she’d made, twice gagging as it
slid down her throat.
    Heavy
footfalls sounded on the stairs.
    She
shoved the beaker into the drawer with the crackers, corked the wine, and
cleaned the crimson evidence from her lips. “I’m here in the office.”
    “I
was just checking to see how you’re feeling.” Chris stood in the doorway,
disappointment reflected in his eyes. “I don’t know why you drink that stuff.”
He walked to her in slow, measured steps. “It goes against your nature.”
Dropping to his knees in front of her, he brushed his thumb over her lips, his
gaze taking an intimate journey over her face. “You’re losing weight and your
skin is so pale. Why do you fight the gift you’ve been given?”
    She
hadn’t expected this conversation again. Chris viewed immortality with all the
innocence of a twenty-something hoping to hold onto his youth, not the tired outlook
of a woman frustrated that time no longer mattered. “Chris, I—”
    He
pressed his finger to her lips. “No, I’m not asking you to change me this time.
Just drink from me.” Tipping his head to the side, Chris offered her his blood.
Though touched by his gesture, Alex’s revulsion at the throbbing artery in
front of her, made her gag.
    Chris
flinched as if the sound had been a physical blow. “That repulsive?” He stood
and backed away from her. “I just thought … I mean—”
    She
jumped up, reaching for him, ignoring the way the room spun in her vision.
“It’s not like that, Chris. It’s so complicated and—”
    “Yeah,
don’t bother. I’m done asking.” He held his hands up and pushed at the air,
stopping her excuses. “I get it. You think I’m not good enough to join your
club. Whatever. I don’t need you.”
    The
overly cheerful notes of Alex’s phone cut through his anger. “Chris, it’s not
like that.”
    “Answer
the phone, Alex. No doubt it’s one of the chosen you’re willing to
help.” He stormed away. She was too tired to fight him anyway. When the
crackers and wine kicked in, she’d explain as best she could.
    The
final strains of her ringtone sang. She didn’t look at the number when she
answered. “Hello, this is Alex.”
    “Now.
I need you now.”
    “Who
is this?”
    “John
Sampson. Who the fuck do you think it is? I need to see you.” His words were
slurred with anger and something else that raised the hair on her arms. “The
professor’s death has caused all sorts of problems.”
    “I
know.”
    “What
are you going to do about it?”
    “Why
would I—”
    “Because
you created this situation and I need a solution!”
    Alex’s
knees gave way and she dropped into her chair. She hadn’t actually created the
situation, but there was no doubt vampires like John would be turning to her for
help. She couldn’t save herself, she had no idea how she’d help them all. “I’m
working on it. I’ll be in touch when something—”
    “Now!
I’m on my way to the tavern.”
    “No.”
Panic gripped her throat, making it hard to breathe. She couldn’t meet him here
and possibly put people in danger. “Meet me at my apartment.”
    He
laughed, a deep rumbling sound that echoed with evil. “No, I think I’ll just go
to Glenn’s. Perhaps it’s time to bring him in on this.”
    “Glenn
already knows.”
    “Right.”
John dragged out the word. “And when I die, I’m going to heaven.” She heard him
gasp in pain, his labored breathing accentuated by moans. “Thirty minutes,
Alexandra. I’ll wait in the woods,” he said through clenched teeth. “Don’t be
late or I’ll be forced to share