Blood Warrior(19)

“I know,” I whispered as he opened the door and stepped out into the hall. “See you down there.”

He shut the door behind him and I turned toward the bed, pulling up the covers and making it up like it was before I’d gotten into it. His comment about someday not having to worry about stuff like this had me wondering if he was thinking about the same things as I had been earlier.

Oh well, it wasn’t like we could worry about that kind of stuff right now anyway. First things first … we had to stop this damn apocalypse.

Since I didn’t have time for yet another shower, I hurried with my clothes and weapons, and then headed down to the kitchen. I could skip the shower, but not the food.

Anthony had made a nice spread of bacon, sausage, eggs, hash browns, toast and fresh fruit. There was no way we could say that Anthony wasn’t being a perfect host, eating at his place was like eating at a restaurant every day.

I entered the kitchen and received a wink from Christina. Zander looked like he wanted to laugh at me. Gavin set his angry glare on me and kept it there, no matter where I moved in the room.

Talk about uncomfortable. None of them were doing this to Drew, why were they picking on me?

Drew leaned over in his seat and whispered, “Because you’re an easy target.”

I furrowed my brow. “How did you know I was thinking that?” I whispered.

“I know you.” He shoved a piece of bacon in his mouth. “Ignore them, act like it doesn’t bother you and they will lose interest.”

I glanced at Gavin. “Not everyone.”

Drew shrugged like he didn’t care. I was pretty sure he really didn’t, though. Those two had been going at it practically since birth and I didn’t foresee that ending anytime soon. I, on the other hand, did care. I cared a lot. I didn’t want Gavin to be unhappy. I just wished that he would find someone for himself that he liked as much as he liked me.

Our connection was a strange one. I can’t even describe the way I feel when it comes to Gavin. I love him, but not love, love. With Gavin, it just feels like we know each other inside and out. I wanted him in my life, but at the same time it’s weird when he does things like glare at me because of my relationship with Drew.

Lately we had this unspoken agreement going on where he just deals with it and I try not to flaunt it around in front of him. I guess that agreement was no longer active.

Ugh. Oh well. No more feeling sorry for myself, it was time to go walk the streets of New Orleans and kill us some vampires.

***

We met Sarah outside the mansion on Royal Street. She had about ten people with her, both males and females, who were all dressed in black clothing or dark camouflage. I had to agree, these were the best kinds of clothes. My own outfit consisted of black cargo pants, black long sleeved tee, even though it was freaking hotter than Hades outside, and my black combat boots.

Cliché, I realize, but I know I looked super cute and if Christina ever taught me anything it is that you can be a good fighter, but if you look good while you’re doing it, that makes it epic.

Really though, I just wanted to look good for Drew, I didn’t care about any of that other stuff. I was excited to get out there and whomp on some vampires too. I had a lot of frustration I needed to get out.

Both groups silently merged and we began to search the streets.

Together we had a lot of people, so I wasn’t really afraid of anything happening to any of us, I think the sheer number of our group gave me, and everyone else, a false sense of security. It had only been about ten minutes into our search when we were ambushed by soldiers pledged to the Vampire Council.

I crept along the cracked and broken sidewalks quietly, keeping my ears open for any sign of danger. I was near the rear of the pack and it wasn’t easy listening for other footsteps with nearly twenty people creeping along beside me.

We passed an alley and after a quick inspection of it, we moved on. We had been sticking to the sidewalks, close to the walls where we were underneath the galleries and safe from overhead attacks. But, even those precautionary measures didn’t stop the attack.

Behind me lingered two of Sarah’s men. One guy’s name was Travis and I couldn’t remember the name of the other one. After we passed the alley a gunshot sounded from behind me, followed by an ear piercing scream. I spun, guns up and at the ready, just in time to see the guys whose name I couldn’t remember, pushed back by the impact of the bullet.

Instead of running to his friend, Travis headed for the alley, where the shot had come from. I followed Travis, passing him just as we hit the opening. Two soldiers were bolting for the other end of the alley.

Nice, their plan was to pick us off one by one. Awesome.