Would you really have died for her? A woman you just met?
How is what I just did any different than laying my life on the line in the Army? You don’t walk away from a problem because it’s hard or the end solution is dangerous. A soldier does what needs to be done. No excuses.
I lower my arm to the floor, temporarily deciding to give up for the moment. Goddamn, and I thought being shot hurt. Fucking idiot.
I’ll be good in a few minutes. Yup. The pain should ease any second now.
When Lisa finishes, I’ll just need to convince her to pry the cell phone out of my blood-covered jeans so we can call Eric and he’ll bring me some bagged blood.
I did it. I survived the sun.
And more importantly—Lisa didn’t become possessed by Sanji.
My slow beating heart stutters in my chest and stops.
Nine by Night: A Multi-Author Urban Fantasy Bundle of Kickass Heroines, Adventure, Magic
Chapter Nine
Lisa
My heart races a thousand miles a minute. I can’t frickin’ believe Asa. Smoke was actually rolling off him like an ant burned by the sun and a magnifying glass. And he was bleeding! The urge to puke pushes against my throat but I swallow it and take a deep breath. First the reap, then Asa.
“Hal!” Sanji yanks against my hold but I’m amped on adrenaline. I grab her by the fur ruff of her coat and jerk her toward me. “Listen vamp, if you don’t get in that fucking elevator when my porter arrives, I’m going to make sure he sucks your soul into one of the darkest circles of Hell.” Her brown eyes round at my threat. “So you can either cooperate with me or spend an eternity in tortured damnation.” I didn’t know if I could or would do that, but knowing Hal, he’d love nothing more than to drop her off in some vile location. I give her another shake. “Do you understand?”
She nods just as the elevator door slides open. Without waiting, I toss the ghost at Hal. It’s the first time I seen him flustered. He jumps back before Sanji collides with him. She stumbles and falls to her knees inside the elevator. I should feel guilty about her rough treatment, but the bitch tried to possess me and all I can think of is getting back to help Asa.
Hal opens his mouth to speak but I hurl the coin at him before he forms a single word. He catches it and curls his long fingers around the gold. “There’s your damn gold! Now take her where she’s supposed to go.”
I don’t wait for his compliance. At this point I don’t give a crap what he does with her. But he’s got his gold and he’d better take her somewhere. I sprint into the ski lodge and skid to a stop. Asa is nowhere to be seen.
“Asa?” I’m frantic. Was the sun too much for him? Did he turn to ash? I have no idea the nuances of sun and vamps. I only know what I’ve seen in movies. “Asa!”
A groan emanates from the other side of an overstuffed sofa. I rush forward and round the piece of furniture. He’s lying on the floor curled in a ball. The sight of him almost makes me vomit. Dropping to my knees I reach to touch him but stop, not wanting to cause him more pain.
“Oh my God.” I inch forward. “What were you thinking?”
His face contorts in pain. “Saving you.”
I want to cry but that won’t help the situation. “Idiot.” I inhale, trying to calm down and think clearly. “What do you need me to do?”
“Call Eric to bring me bagged blood,” he huffs out.
“Eric? Who’s that? How do I call him?”
“Phone…pocket…”
I reach, reluctant to touch his bloody clothing, but see no other way to help him. I feel a lump in his front right pocket and try to carefully pry out his cell phone.
After a tense minute I’ve got it—complete with cracked glass and a dark screen. “Your fall must have broken it. Is there a phone here?” I look around and spot one on a side table. I race over and pick up the handset. Dead. Not connected.
Asa moans in pain on the floor.
“What else can I do?” Panic taints my voice as I struggle to remain calm.
His words come out on a gasp of air. “Go to the inn and get me the blood.”
“The inn?” I crouch lower and cock my head so our eyes meet. “I can’t find my way through the tunnels.”
“Outside.” His eyes slide shut.
“And chance being possessed by some psycho spirit? Then we’ll both die.” I touch my finger under his chin, one of the few places that isn’t blistered and bleeding. “Asa, you need blood to heal. You need to bite me.”
That comment gets his eyes open again. “No.”