Shadow Bloodlines (Shadow Bloodlines #1) (3 page)

Tonight, clubbing. Tomorrow, we’d find my dad and I couldn’t wait to tell him off for making me a basket case and jumping at every shadow. Oh, and ditching me and Mom.

Jacqueline weaved her car through downtown until we drove up the ramp to La Promada’s valet service. Early dusk-tinted the club in gold and orange as its purple neon light buzzed. Once a tailor’s red and black brick home, it had been sold to a bank when the skyscrapers crowded him out. Five years ago the club’s owner snatched the closed bank up, revamping it with multicolored squares as its doors, dance floor, and bar.

My best friend’s strapless crimson dress flattered her blond hair and tan skin as she flirted with the valet guy.

I glanced away, not caring that he scribbled his phone number on her valet tag. We’d both probably have a guy’s phone number before the night ended. The sun dipped behind ginger colored clouds as cars filled the empty parking lot. Outside in the heat, humidity cooked the aroma of my floral perfume.

We skipped under the ropes that would corral the crowds in another hour. Two bouncers covered in muscles greeted us.

La Promada’s lay squished between two skyscrapers. It always seemed out of place to me. It was a modern two-story nightclub while buildings made in the eighties stood like ancient centurions on either side. A flutter of wings from a nearby roof caught my attention. Shading my eyes from the sun, I spotted a stone figure perched on the corner of the skyscraper.

Was that a gargoyle?

As I pushed open the glass doors, the air conditioning was welcoming. Once inside, our hands stamped with the club’s under twenty-one smiley face, the sound of music thumped against my chest. The dance floor lights pulsed in red, blue, and green while the table lighting remained dim. Boots and high heels clacked against the tile while two boys’ sneakers squeaked as they danced to Beyoncé.

A hint of mold and stale chips permeated the air along with the reek of spilled beer and old cigarettes.

“Now, isn’t this better than wandering around some college campus?” Jacqui shouted over the music. “Or fretting about those weirdos.”

“Maybe, but a college campus has way more guys.”

We strolled up to the bar and waited for the bartender to notice us.

I ordered a coke and ate shelled peanuts while I waited for our drinks. This was what I needed; fun away from school and stress. No worries about tests, graduation, weird text messages, or being stalked by lunatic substitute teachers.

Still, the image of Coach twitching as she fell into a heap refused to leave me.

“Let’s dance before it gets too crowded.” Jacqueline grabbed my arm. She nodded to the bartender to hold our drinks.

I laughed as she tugged me onto the dance floor.

“I forgot to tell you,” she leaned forward and yelled in my ear, “Mike asked me to Prom.”

“No way!”

Mike was one of the football players that didn’t look like he played. He was slim, but he had a wicked throw. And he was cute, with copper-colored hair and freckles so small you forgot they were there unless you paid attention.

“So, has anyone asked you?”

“Not yet.” Prom was three weeks away. My dress was in layaway. Jacqui had her dress, shoes, and even had her hairdresser booked six months ago.

After three more songs, and more dancing, we kept nudging against people as the club filled.

“Let’s grab a drink,” I yelled over the noise.

“Sure.”

We jostled to the bar through the throng of dancing couples groping each other. After ordering our drinks, we snatched up a table in the corner.

A vaporware’s electronic music blasted through the speakers while black lights flashed on. Dancers on the floor appeared invisible except for fragments of brightly colored shoes or shirts. One woman wore a white skirt and it bobbed along to the music. Normally, Jacqui and I would make a pit stop during these songs or go outside and pretend we were smokers because the music sounded too much like the video games Roy, my ex-boyfriend, used to play instead of spending time with me. Dude loved games more than breathing. I wouldn’t have minded so much if it was two-player games, but he thought I should be excited to just sit there and watch him play for hours straight.

The club usually played a few songs in this genre, so it gave us plenty of time to get through the restroom line and venture outside for a few minutes.

This time, we stayed seated; all the other tables were full. Even the bar had people lined up waiting for a spot to snag. If we left, someone would snatch our spot. So glad I was eighteen and didn’t have to bother with a fake ID to get into this eighteen and up club.

I downed half of my drink. Then Jacqui popped an ice cube in her mouth as she checked out the crowd.

Setting my drink on the table, I searched for lipstick in my tiny sequined purse, and my fingers brushed my phone. Had my dad texted again? No new messages flashed on the screen when I hit the text button. Why was I letting a message that may or may not be from my dad wig me out? He’d skipped out on me and my mom when he’d learned she was pregnant. No visits, no birthday or Christmas cards… nothing… and now this? Mom never liked to talk about him. She always left the room or changed the subject. If I wanted to confront my dad, I’d be on my own.

“Cool contacts,” a guy said squeezing past our table.

“What?” I yelled over the music.

But he kept going as though he hadn’t heard me.

I shrugged and turned back to Jacqui.

She jerked, then her surprised expression returned to normal. “Wicked. When did you get contacts?”

“What’s wrong with my eyes?” I didn’t wear contacts or glasses.

“They look like an animal’s eyes. You know like when a light shines on a cat or deer?” She kept glancing around as if nervous.

Instead of answering her, I laughed. This had to be a joke. “Let me see your mirror.” I felt foolish asking, but it was a way to show her and myself that it was the trick of the light.

She flipped open her makeup mirror and handed it to me. “See for yourself.”

I gasped. In the black light, my eyes looked exactly as she’d described. Her eyes didn’t do that. No one around us had glowing eyes. “Sit over here. Maybe it’s just a light shining on me.”

With a shrug, Jacqueline scooted off her stool and took my place. However, no matter where I stood or sat, her eyes didn’t look like mine had in the mirror. What the hell was going on? I couldn’t have odd glowing eyes. It must be some fluke, or just the crazy lights making an illusion somehow.

“It’s you, Beth,” she whispered. “Do you feel okay?”

“Of course, I’m o—” My words stuck in my throat like peanut butter as the song ended and the house lights came back up. The bodyguard from earlier strolled in through the front door. “Oh my God! It’s the guy from school.”

“Who? Is he hot?”

I ducked behind her. “No, the one with Ms. Moor. The one I told you about in the car.”

“Shit, are you sure?” Her face paled.

“He’s coming this way!” I dashed behind a kissing couple, then hastened to the ladies’ room. Inside the restroom, I gave a shaky smile to a woman washing her hands.

No window. Why didn’t they make restrooms with escape routes? All I had was self-defense classes I took with my mom last summer.

Jacqui burst into the bathroom. “Beth! You were right. Oh my God, I’m shaking.”

“What happened?” The skin stood on the back of my neck.

“A guy is looking for you.” Her words came out in a rush. “Asked for you by name. He said they already went by your house after school.”

“What?” Mom! Was she okay? I pressed my arms over my stomach.

“Yeah. Said you won a scholarship to the Art Institute.” Jacqui smirked, but her eyes were wide with fear.

Me? Art? We were allergic to each other. I couldn’t even draw stick figures.

Holy Shit! What was I going to do? They knew where I lived. I had to get out of here.

I’d seen what they did to Coach. It wasn’t heatstroke or my imagination. Why were they after me? It hurt to breathe.

“What are we going to do?” She bit her lip.

My stomach churned.

“Shit, what do we do?” Her eyes widened.

“I’ve got to get out of here.” My breath came out in pants and I felt dizzy.

“It’s only a matter of time before they figure out you’re in here.”

“And how do I get away without being seen?” I waved my hand to the bathroom. “We need a distraction… or a disguise.”

Her eyes lit up. “Leave it to me.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Stay here until I come back.” She left.

When more women came in, I moved out of their way. I bit my nails. Every swing of the door made me jump. Terror squeezed my lungs. The bathroom was becoming too crowded. I had to run.

As I reached for the door handle, Jacqui returned with a jacket and a baseball hat.

“Where’d you get those?”

“Stole them.” She tossed me the black sports jacket and I donned it. Then she helped me stuff my hair up into the cap.

The jacket hung to my knees and swallowed me. My stomach clawed into my throat.

“It’s the best I can do on short notice.”

“And my skirt?” I tugged the sides of the black dress. “They’ll never buy that I’m a boy if they notice it.”

“Keep your head down and keep moving.”

Uneasiness crawled into my gut and my heart slammed against my sternum before my fingers even brushed the door. Jacqui pushed past me and straight to one of the muscled guys who barely gave her a glance.

I snuck out of the bathroom, thankful for the throng of people. In the corner, Jacqui flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder to distract the suited guy.

Across the dance floor, I spotted another of Ms. Moor’s minions and ducked under a table. The couple gave a gasp and I shushed them.

“Sorry, it’s my ex. He’s crazy.” I crossed my fingers that they’d believe me.

“Don’t need to tell us about crazy exes,” the girl answered.

Peeking out, I realized I’d lost sight of Jacqui. Had they figured out what she was up to?

There. She stood a few tables from the dance floor waving her hands like she was flagging a street race and I dashed to the other side of the bar. My heart thumped in my chest like I’d swam a hundred relays. How could five feet from the door seem so far?

When the guy talking with Jacqui suddenly turned to see what she was staring at, which was me, I tucked my hat down and shook my shoulders as though laughing with the others near me.

The goon stared at me and his eyes narrowed. Then he spun and careened through the crowd, barreling right for me. God! He’d spotted me.

I jerked away from the bar to run. Muttering an apology, I pushed around people while constantly looking back at the guy, who was now shoving dancers out of his way. Acid rose in my throat. His flicked out his cell and yelled something into it.

My breath came out in short huffs. Could I make it outside? I sprinted through an opening in the crowd.

Nearly to the door, a brawny guy grabbed my arm and I screamed. The music drowned out my protest.

My assailant gave the bouncer a wink and a fist full of cash, which he shoved into his pocket and looked away.

“Let’s go, freak,” he seethed into my ear.

I struggled away from the thug’s hold, but the guy’s grip wrapped like cement around my arm. With his free hand, he waved to other goons in the club and they followed us out. I dug my heels into the floor, until one broke off from the force of his dragging. Tripping over my own feet, I glanced around for someone to help, but everyone danced or drank and didn’t notice me.

Outside I shrieked, and was rewarded with a meaty paw smacked over my mouth. The copper taste of blood made me gag. He pretended we kissed with his hand between our mouths. Gross!

“She’s had too much,” one of the men nearby said, evidently to someone who had poked their head outside before the door clicked back closed at his comment.

My assailant didn’t let me budge or show my face, so the guy from the bar wouldn’t be able to tell my age or the look of horror and disgust on my face. So he just took a stranger’s word for it that I was drunk! I kicked and squirmed out of cement hands’ grip, but by then, the man from the bar was back inside. Without looking back, I dashed back to the bar, but two more of Ms. Moor’s goons exited.

Holy Shit! I dodged away from the guy behind me, but when I turned toward the main street, another muscled dude scowled and stalked towards me. There was nowhere to run except a dead-end alley. Here, there was a better chance of being heard or seen.

“Help me!” I screamed, but the four of them surrounded me now. And my screams were drowned out by the club’s thumping music.

My stomach braided itself with terror and bile.

I kicked and punched, but might as well have been wrestling giants. “Keep it up and we’ll slice your friend open,” he whispered in my face, his rancid breath choking me.

Jacqueline? What would they do with her? I twisted and jerked, but their grip didn’t loosen.

They hauled me into the next-door building. The lobby was vacant. Where were all the business people? Didn’t anyone work after six on a Friday? Or a security guard? But as we passed the desk on our way to the elevator, the guard was passed out or knocked out in his chair. His eyes were closed and his head lolled to the side.

“Let me go!” I kicked the guy holding me in his knee and he loosened his grip. “Police!”

“Shut her up.” A guy with a hook nose and deep-set eyes punched the button to the elevator.

A fist smacked me in my stomach and I crumbled against the wall. The elevator door dinged open and they tossed me inside. My shoulder bashed against the metal wall. Pain radiated down my spine. Thoughts of abduction and rape filled my mind and my body shivered.

Or human sex-trafficking. I’d never gotten past second base with a guy.

I wouldn’t let them! I’d escape or something. But how could I against four huge men? I knew a little self-defense, but it wouldn’t work on all of them. I just needed to pay attention and get away.

As a hand reached to pick me off the floor, I clawed at it. My captor cursed and dropped his hold on me. I elbowed him in the knee but grazed his thigh instead. I scrambled backward.

“Grab her,” he mumbled as he sucked on his injured hand.

Hooknose hauled me up and slammed my body against the elevator wall. Spots danced before my eyes as he squeezed my throat.

“Let Moor have her. She’ll get pissed if you kill her now,” a guy with tattoos along his bulging arms and neck said. Was he talking about the substitute biology teacher?

Hooknose dropped me and I crashed to the floor. I saw the button for the roof was lit up. Why were we going to the roof? Dread coiled in my stomach and I swallowed back the coppery taste of blood.

When the elevator dinged open, the wind whipped through me and I shivered. Two guys dragged me out and my feet scraped across the threshold. I didn’t know what they wanted with me, but it wasn’t anything I desired.

Two men held me, Hooknose sauntered before us, and the stomp of boots told me the fourth was behind me. The elevator dinged closed and my breath froze.

Halfway across the roof, Hooknose stopped. There in front of him stood Ms. Moor. Her glasses were gone and her hair was unbound. She still wore her black suit from when she was subbing my bio class.

A strange-looking dagger was clenched in her hand. Holy shit! What was she going to do with that? It was silver and pulsed in the moonlight.

“This one’s been a pain the ass. We want double.” Tattoo guy held one of my arms in a vise grip. Soon my arms would go numb from how much both thugs were squeezing them.

“What do you want from me?” They weren’t after Coach, and look what they had done to her. Acid bubbled in my gut.

She smiled and I recoiled. “You’re death and the destruction of all of your kind.” At her nod, the guy holding me on my left jerked my arm forward.

What the hell was she talking about? She was psycho. They all were.

She lifted the dagger. I screamed and twisted to get away, but tattoo guy held my hand out while the other trapped my body so I couldn’t move as she dragged the knife across my pinky finger. The sting made my eyes water. Blood bubbled up from the wound. Hooknose leered at me from Ms. Moor’s side.

I writhed in vain as she lifted the bloody blade to her lips. Her tongue darted out and she gave a shiver when she tasted my blood. “Sweet.”

Was she a vampire?

This wasn’t happening. Spots danced before my eyes and I couldn’t take a deep enough breath. This was a nightmare. Or maybe someone had spiked my coke and I was having one of those don’t-do-drugs trips.

“Barely a trace of copper. She’s a half-breed.”

These people were nuts. I had to get out of here. “Help! Someone help me!” I yelled.

“No one here but us.” The guy whose knee I had swiped earlier drew up beside her, still hobbling.

Ms. Moor wiped the dagger off on his shirt. “We have to make this look like a suicide. The last death had the cops snooping around too much.” Ms. Moor pulled out a syringe from her suit pocket as she took a step toward me. She took off the clear protective cap.

Suicide?! No! Why did they want to kill me? Panic seized me and I thrashed against my captors as they snatched at my arms and legs. I was afraid of heights or, rather, falling. They were going to drug me and then throw me off the roof!

I shrieked until my voice was hoarse. My kicks met solid walls of flesh that refused to move. The hands on my arms tightened. My uneven heels threw me off balance.

“Hold her steady.”

She jabbed the needle in my arm and my muscle twitched. Coldness seeped into me. Still they did not release me, but I wrenched an arm free and clipped one of the minions nearest to me in the chin. I elbowed another guy holding on to me and fled. Reaching the elevator, I jammed the button a dozen times. Their shouts followed me. I had to escape.

“Come on!” My heart pounded against my chest. I dashed for the staircase.

Someone grabbed the borrowed sports jacket, but I wiggled out of it as I kept running. Almost to the stairs!

One of the men tackled me and we both crashed into the edge of the cement stairwell. I skinned my knee and elbow. “No!”

No matter how much I fought, he hauled me back over to Ms. Moor.

It was useless against four guys. Then hooknose was there. He twisted my arm behind my back. His breath of cigarettes and lemon made me choke as he laughed against my ear. “Time to die, half-breed.”

What were they talking about? Was my dad into drugs or something? Was that why he’d sent the text message not to go to school today, and I’d missed the cryptic warning? Next time a little more heads up, Dad. I swallowed down bile that burned my throat.

Tattoo guy marched forward and yanked me back by my hair as they both shoved me toward Ms. Moor.

She slapped my face, but I refused to whimper. “It’s a shame we have to get rid of you, such a bright, pretty girl, but we must rid the world of your kind.”

They were all insane. I struggled even as they heaved me closer to the roof’s edge, despite my screams.