Blood Lust (The Blood Sisters Book 1) (20 page)

Her
sleep was fitful and the bed brought no solace. Before the sun was up, before
the rooster crowed, Jessica awoke.

The
morning sun peeking over the rolling hills offered little comfort. At the bar,
all was quiet as everyone slumbered. Jessica used that time to clean her guns,
stockpile ammunition and get her mind straight. Set her mind right. A battle
was coming, and the way her heart flipped, Jessica thought it might be as bad
as any she had ever seen.

Taking
a train by force? Bring it on.

Duncan
was nowhere to be seen, not since he left her room the night before and Jessica
was glad. If she had seen him that morning, she might not be strong enough to
walk away.
She
would blush for how
vulnerable she was the night before.

How
stupid.

He
better not be playing her, that’s all Jessica had to say on the subject. When
the smoke cleared, he better still
be
there.
He better be alive.

Jessica
popped a handful of
leftover
nuts from
the counter into her mouth. The salty mix made her tongue crave a drink. She
fished behind the counter and poured a small amount of whiskey into a dirty
glass. Slamming it back, she winced as footsteps came up behind her.

“A
little early to be
tying
on a new one on.
Unless you haven’t been to bed yet and in that case, it’s far too late.” Aunt
Gwen, dressed and ready to go, slid onto a barstool beside her. Already her
head was covered in a bright yellow bandana.

“I
went to bed, but there wasn’t much sleep to be had.”

“
Hopefully,
it wasn’t that Duncan fellow.”
Gwen’s mouth soured and her voice was even more indignant.

Jessica
smirked. “Funny, I don’t remember you hating him so much the last time you saw
him.”

“That
was before he broke my girl’s heart.” Gwen sighed. “If he gets us through this,
if he gets us our girl back, I might be able to look the other way.” Gwen
sighed, the corner of her mouth twitching up as she reached for the bottle.

Jessica
poured her a drink and pushed it down the bar to fight off the bad feeling
growing in her. “Let’s get her back. Then maybe we can figure out what to do.
How to get the demons off us for good?”

Aunt
Gwen scowled. She sipped her drink and rolled the glass in her hand. “A normal
life? Jessica, you and I, Amanda, none of us were built for normal. We were
built for extraordinary, why don’t you see that?”

Being
hunted by demons didn’t seem very extraordinary to Jessica. “Let me have this
hope, would you? Let me have something.” Something? How about anything. “You
want to talk about why you were so delayed catching up to us, now that we’re
alone?”

Gwen
stiffened and her posture straightened. Jessica’s eyes narrowed as she watched.
Gwen kept secrets, sure, but to get defensive like that?

Jessica
didn’t like it.

“It
couldn’t be helped,” Gwen said out of the side of her mouth, her lips taut
together, “Like I said. Demons were all around. They had the information I
needed, the information I gave you in that safe house of Duncan’s. I
thought…I’d have more time.”

She
turned her head and their eyes locked. Did Jessica buy her story? Why would she
lie? It wasn’t like her aunt to just make stuff up. Omissions were more her
game, not the other way around.

Gwen
gave a sad burst of laughter. “Even I get pinned down
sometimes
. My power takes longer to recharge than it takes you to
reload a gun.”

Jessica
hadn’t seen that before, she guessed it could have happened. She
nodded
and allowed her fingers to uncoil on the
bar top. She hadn’t realized how tense she had been feeling. “I’m glad you made
it out.”

Something
about Aunt Gwen’s voice didn’t sound quite right. Was it right to blame her for
Amanda’s kidnapping? Probably not, but it was hard to let go.

A
door slammed and Jessica’s eyes focused on the stairs. The footsteps were in a
familiar pattern and she wasn’t surprised to see Duncan appear, a gun clutched
in his hand.

Jessica’s
heart skipped a beat and she was only aware she was holding her breath when
Gwen touched her arm. “Keep your mind clear, dear one.” She slid off her
barstool and disappeared out back before Duncan reached the end of the bar.

Jessica
stood and crossed her arms, but then she decided that was wrong, so she
uncrossed them. “Hey,” she said, shifting her weight from one foot to another.
Man, she was really bad at this.

Duncan
placed his gun on the bar top. “You been up long?”

“Nah,”
Jessica shrugged. “Unless you count forever as long.”

His
face twitched with a smile. “Seems to be going around. I was staring at the
ceiling more than anything else up there.” Duncan
let
out a long breath. “About last night…”

Jessica
held her hands up. “Let’s not. Let’s save it for later. All this anxious
energy, let’s put it to good use, okay?”

Duncan
gave a slight nod and his eyes sparkled in a way that sent Jessica’s heart
racing. “What should we put it toward?”

Other
than the obvious, he meant? Jessica couldn’t go there. “How about breakfast?
I’m starving and we have a few hours to kill.” She steadied herself by glancing
toward the kitchen door. When her heart returned to a natural rhythm, she took
into his eyes again. “If I remember, you make a mean stack of pancakes.”

Duncan
snorted. “If these barbarians have what we need to make them. For all we know,
we’ll be snacking on pork rinds and beer for the next six hours.”

The
beer didn’t sound so bad. Jessica followed Duncan to the kitchen and right
before they got there, he took her hand. Jessica flinched, fire from his skin
passed into hers. Duncan glanced back at
her
like he felt it too. Like he knew what she was thinking.

Jessica
didn’t yank her hand away, but it felt weird not to fight. Not to claw and be
angry, but Jessica had enough to worry about right now.

Weird
as it was, the smile felt nice. Warm and comforting. A feeling she remembered
from her distant past. It was something she could get used to, that was for
sure.

*****

It
didn’t sit well with Jessica to leave her car, Dad’s car, behind at the bar.
Its gentle curves and the way the chrome trim glistened in the light; it
deserved to launch the attack to get Amanda back.

She
loved that car with everything she had. For Jessica, it was Dad, more than
anything else was. In the darkness and quiet, the smell of the leather seat
reminded her of
his aftershave. But Jessica had
to be realistic, as much as she loved that car, it wouldn’t be able to catch a
train. Worst case scenario, it would be destroyed and that would be
unforgivable—especially after just getting it back.

It’d
be like losing Dad all over again.

“Bye
beauty,” Jessica whispered. “Amanda will be back, and then we’re going to go
for the longest joy ride of your life.”

She
hoped her words were true. No, she prayed that they were.

When
she turned from the car, Gwen was standing in quiet observation. Her arms
crossed, she was quiet. Studious. Jessica didn’t know what was going on in her
head and maybe she didn’t need to.

“Let’s
pray I’m magically gifted to fight like you say I am,” Jessica straddled a red Harley
and kicked it over and twisted the throttle, reveling in the roar of the
engine. “It might be the only way any of us
gets
out of this alive.”

Duncan
and the others were mounted up like cowboys on metal horses. The engines
rumbled in unison and Jessica listened to the power of their wild battle call.
Jessica took a moment to center herself, take a deep breath. She had trouble
taking her eyes off Duncan, even when he slid his sunglasses on, she could feel
the intensity of his eyes right on her.

She
wanted to bask in it.

Gwen
sat on her bike cautiously and gripped the handlebars tighter than was
necessary, almost like it was something new for her. Jessica remembered her
looking more comfortable on a bike. “Couldn’t we have taken the train at a
transfer yard? Surely it must refuel somewhere along the line.”

Duncan
blinked and gave Gwen a level stare, but it was Ronald who snorted. “Transfer
yards are in cities. With all those innocents around? All those civilian folk?
They’d be killed.”

Gwen
opened her mouth to speak, but Jessica only stared at her. Didn’t she
understand what they were doing? Had she lost the mission? Was it possible that
the aunt who taught her human life was paramount, no longer understood?

If
it was true, if Aunt Gwen had strayed that far from the path, then what hope
was there for Jessica? She already struggled between right and wrong when it
came to Amanda’s well-being.

“We
might look like a bunch of ingrate bikers to a witch like you,” Ronald’s voice
was gruff, “but we care about people. That’s why we’re going to take this damn
stuff off the streets. No more souls lost to demon magic. No more burning
torment.”

It
was a battle cry if Jessica ever heard one. The others screamed with anger,
fists were thrust upward in agreement as one by one the motorcycles took off
single
file for the road. Buzzing like
chainsaws, the sound filled Jessica with confidence and belief. She threw a
glance at Gwen.

“Try
to keep up.” Jessica smirked and settled into her seat. She released the clutch
and took off after the trail of dust being kicked up ahead.

The
grace of God, the luck of the angels, be on her side.

The
locomotive barreled through the desert at top speed.

A
collection of blue and green boxcars with a caboose at the end, the cars
jostled as the wheels spun along the track.

Passing
by two rock formations shaped like a stack of twisted marbles, the train
continued on its way. The cliffs and mountain ranges were guarded on either
side by Vaughn’s minions. Dressed in old leather jackets, tattoos on their
forearms or across their necks, they dotted the slopes, sighting through the
scopes of their high power rifles.

Those
scopes would ensure no one got too close, would ensure that if there was an
enemy, they would be seen before they got too close to Vaughn’s valuable
merchandise. The goods in the train would cement his control, not just over the
Midwest, but all of
America
. He had the
east locked down, and with the Midwest looking good…

Vaughn
was powerful. His demons knew it. Hitching your wagon to him, meant survival
and dominance. There were no minions more loyal than Vaughn’s, because he was a
winner. A
survivor
who treated his demons
well; as well as could be expected by demon.

Cracker
wasn’t really a good name, but despite the name, he had worked his way up the
chain of command. Vaughn respected control, order, and Cracker showed him he
could do the job. Really do it. Other demons listened to him too.

He
might even achieve a higher level someday. Vaughn had promised, and when he
promised something, he meant it. Which also meant if something about this
mission didn’t pan out the way it was supposed to, Cracker was going to lose
his head and burn in hell, but only if he failed.

Cracker
wasn’t going to let that happen. He kept his men on point, focused, their eyes
trained on the train. This was the last, and only position where the train
could be taken. It was headed toward the station and no crazy person, or demon,
would try to take it in town with Vaughn’s demons waiting at the shipping yard.

Ready
to accept the bounty.

“Eyes
on the prize, guys. We’re almost home free. Who’s ready for a celebration?
Drink?” Cracker gazed at his crew, his hands on his hips. The demons didn’t
respond; they didn’t need to. They licked their lips, remaining on point.

That’s
what he wanted. That’s what would get him that promotion!

Wait
a second…someone was there. Someone…

Cracker
turned with a gasp. He hadn’t heard her coming. Hadn’t even heard her boots
crunching against the rock, but there she was, smiling at him.

Gwen
smirked and her eyes sparkled blue as she crossed her wrists above her head.
Her fingers shone and electricity shot out in all directions. The demon’s
bodies quaked and shook as they fell to the ground. A random shot fired and
ricocheted off Gwen’s electrical pulse, back at the demon it came from.

The
electricity shot through Cracker and he fell. His body twitched, the pain was
so bad, it was like he couldn’t even feel it. He smelled burning demon flesh
and it stung his nose. His face crumpled, a silent cry, as he realized that it
was his flesh.

His
body.

He
was going to die.
  

He
fired off
a round
with his gun, it
ricocheted off Gwen’s electrical pulse, and shot back, straight at him.

Straight
into his heart.

Blood
gushed out of Cracker and he should’ve been killed instantly. It would happen,
but not before he heard the witch’s words. She bent over him and whispered,
right against his skin, an evil smile on her face.

“Give
Lourdes my best regards.”

And
then she stomped the heel of her boot straight through his chest.

****

If
Aunt Gwen was unable to deal with the demon snipers, their plan wouldn’t work. Jessica
kept going, with the faith Gwen would be successful. Her belief was paramount
that once she reached the top of the cliff, it would be unguarded and no
outlying demons would spot her arrival, because they’d all be dead.

 
Even after everything, her aunt’s words still
meant something. After all her delays and excuses, Jessica still believed.
Somehow, she still had faith it was all going to work out, because if she
didn’t, well, what other choice did any of them have?

Three
miles past where Gwen took down the demons, Jessica careened her motorcycle
over the rocky terrain and up over the ridge. Rising in her seat when the
terrain got too bumpy, Jessica turned her bike and used her foot to stop
herself from going too far. The engine idled as she peered over the side of the
cliff, the charge of engines, behind her sounded like a stampede of horses.

The
corridor narrowed, and this is where Jessica planned to seize control. Her face
was set like stone, eyes narrowed with determination. Patience. The train was
coming, and both sides flanked by Black Scorpion riders. Her friends took pot
shots at the demons racing along the roof of the boxcars. The shots fired were
returned.

Was coast
clear? Hardly. The
hatches on the freight train top opened and demons, the source of all evil and
greed in the world, poured out. It was time
for
Jessica and her friends to defend their people, their country.

Jessica
couldn’t think about who would be hurt. Which members of the gang would
sacrifice their lives for the
cause.
She
had to believe in her heart that it wouldn’t be Duncan. Anything else would
just distract her too much, bring on too much doubt. In her world, in her mind,
there was no room for doubt.

Just
pain.
Pain
kept her going.

Jessica
spotted Duncan riding his motorcycle alongside the train. He wore the identical
leather jacket of his gang, the emblem of the Black Scorpions on the back.
Still, from the way he rode, how he balanced his
gun
and gripped the bike with his thighs, Jessica knew it was him.

Demons
hung from the windows and Duncan aimed his weapon. Steady and controlled,
that’s Duncan. He jerked his head, almost as if he could hear her. Feel her.
Taking a deep breath, it was time to close her mind to all of the angst, the
what-ifs, and just act. Do what she was born to do.

It
was time to hit the ground running.

Jessica
circled her motorcycle back and angled it nearly parallel to the cliff. She
revved the engine and then let it go. Flying like a bird, she held her breath
as the wheels rode out into open air.

Jessica’s
heart pounded with fury. Adrenaline surged, keeping her alert, but her mind
clear. Tires lined up with the top of the freight train, she soared across the
caboose, her motorcycle angled downward.

 
Jessica stood, pushing her feet flat and
gripped the
handlebars
. As the tires
skidded against the metal with a thump; sparks flew up and
singed
her jeans. Jessica steered the bike
sideways to a stop before she went off the edge. One boot dug into the metal
roof, and her knee burned.

A
hatch in the aft boxcar opened and a pack of demons rushed to the top. Jessica
gasped for air and let go of the bike, dug her fingernails into the car as she
caught the top rung of the ladder and swung her legs out. Clutching the
rung
with all her might, Jessica’s head buried
down as her motorcycle flew like a projectile weapon, right toward the demons.

The
motorcycle knocked them down like a set of bowling pins. Jessica pulled herself
back to the top of the freight car just as her bike fell off the side, pulling
demons down with it.

Others
rushed out of the hatch with guns and blades.

Jessica
knelt and reached for the shotgun on her back. She aimed and fired into the
head of one. He fell back into the hatch only to be replaced by another.

Another
shot, another demon down.

Sounds
came from behind. Jessica pivoted on her knee, her hair flying in the wind. She
aimed her gun and fired, rising up to her feet. Cocking her shotgun back,
Jessica barely took in the three charging demons on the roof; she aimed and
fired before moving onto the next targets.

Shots
from the gang racing along the ridges cleared the remaining demons.

A
sense of eerie calm came over her as she leapt to the next freight car. She
grabbed the hatch to spin it shut, but it was jammed. It wouldn’t lock. Her
heart surged with panic. If their plan didn’t work because of some
malfunctioning hatch…

Hands
covered hers and they forced it closed together. With surprise Jessica gasped
and gazed up at Duncan’s face. His lips were drawn together in a serious
expression, but his eyes held affection. “Don’t you have a train to hijack?”

Jessica
wanted to thank him, but there was no time. “Duncan.” Her eyes widened as she
saw demons running along the top of the caboose. She didn’t need to say
anything for Duncan to pivot on his knees and get ready to fire into the
charging beasts.

She
was out of shots; she couldn’t help, without reloading.

Grabbing
a handful of shells from her pocket, Jessica made quick work of reloading her
shotgun. The train’s speed picked up, and she teetered, falling on her butt
behind Duncan, using him for support.

He
turned his head slightly toward her, a fresh toothpick in the corner of his
mouth. “There’s no
cover-up
here,
sweetheart. Get to that engine and stop it before we run out of time.”

Duncan
was right, but to just leave him…

Demons
were swarming the train, climbing up like insects. If she didn’t get to the
front car fast—but Duncan, to leave him alone here—Jessica’s chest tightened as
she glanced at his profile. Determined, dedicated, everything she ever wanted
from Duncan Jasper was happening right in front of her.

But
she couldn’t tell him now. Survival was the matter at hand and the drugs had to
be taken.

They
had to use the drugs to get to Amanda, and that couldn’t happen if they made
port. Vaughn had to believe she’d really give him the goods for Amanda’s life.

Jessica
jumped on
to
the next car and came face to
face with a demon. She brought her gun up, but the demon was fast, grabbing the
muzzle and pulling her in close. She nearly lost her footing, but Jessica
pivoted and slammed her elbow against his nose. The demon’s hold on the shotgun
loosened, and Jessica used it to thrust him toward the edge.

A
well-placed
kick from her boot sent the
demon sailing of the train. Duncan’s gang disposed of him fast, swarming onto
him like he was a piece of meat and they were yellow meat bees. Their gunshots
filled the air as they used the demons climbing up the sides for target
practice.

Like
fish in a barrel.

Jessica
took off running for the engine, only two cars away. She leapt from one to the
next, paying no mind to the gap between them. She ignored how the ground
whizzed by at a frantic pace. She didn’t have much of a reaction to anything,
but her breathing was rushed and her heart was pounding. Clearly her body was
experiencing fear and the rush of exhilaration, but she was so focused it
seemed far away; Jessica didn’t feel it.

There
was only the mission. One goal.

Images
of her
sister
kept her going. When she
landed on the car behind the engine, Jessica teetered. She squatted down and
gripped the top of the roof to steady herself, taking one step at a time
towards the cab. For a brief moment, she glanced back.

Duncan
was no longer on the roof.

Her
heart felt as if it had imploded, as though Jessica had witnessed him die. Just
because he wasn’t there didn’t mean…it didn’t…Jessica pressed her lips firmly
together firm and gripped the roof’s metal rungs. She swung her body out in a
graceful arc and her boots smashed through the glass window of the engine.

Duncan
wasn’t dead. She’d see him soon. Jessica replayed that thought on repeat. She
wouldn’t trade Amanda for Duncan. Couldn’t she just please have them both?

Her
body slipped through the window, the small shards of glass cutting her face.
Her boots slammed into the face of a demon and Jessica got caught up between
two more. One of them clobbered her in the face and the other slammed her in
the gut. She jerked toward the control panel before strengthening up. Issuing
the one on her left a right jab, her leg kicked the other behind her.

It
was for Amanda. To save her sister. All of it.

Jessica
couldn’t afford to lose this fight.

Hand
to hand combat wasn’t her style. She turned, fired her shotgun into one of the
demon’s chest. The force pushed him back to the rear of the car, as the
engineer put a choke hold around her neck. Jessica gagged as she was yanked
backward
.

She was determined not to
die. Everyone always said it was good to have a life goal.