Blood Warrior(4)

Zander stepped up beside me. “That might be the only option we have.”

“Who’s gonna do it?” Gavin asked.

“I will.” Of course it was Drew who volunteered.

“I’ll go with you,” I told him. “The buddy system, remember.”

He answered with a slight nod and then stepped forward to inspect the fence and look for the best spot to climb over. While he was doing that I turned to the rest of the group. “You guys keep a lookout, it’s pretty dangerous out here on the street. Even though it seems to be quiet, that is actually the part that scares me.”

Alice nodded. “Yeah, it’s too quiet.”

The others nodded in agreement. I looked up and down the street. “Just be careful,” I told them and then turned back to Drew, who was staring at the fence with his usual expression of seriousness.

“I’m going to have to lift you over and then Gavin or Oscar … or both are going to have to help me over. This fence is doing its job of keeping people out, that’s for sure.” He knelt down and clasped his hands together for me to step on.

I raised my eyebrow and couldn’t help my sarcastic reply “Really?”

“What?”

I shook my head. Sometimes I wondered how he could forget the simplest things. “Dhampir, remember.” I backed up until I was a decent distance between myself and the fence. Just a couple of days ago I jumped up onto a bus so this should be easy.

“Chloe,” Drew reached out and grabbed my arm. “If you don’t make it you could impale yourself on one of those posts.” He gestured in the direction of the fence. It was true, each post had a pointy top that with a blunt spike on top.

I patted his hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” I backed up a little bit more until I had enough of a berth between myself and the fence and then I sprinted forward. My body knew on its own when it was time to start the jump. I felt my knees soften and my feet lift up off the ground.

I cleared the fence easily, every time I made a big jump it got easier and easier. Once I was on the other side I turned back to watch Zander and Oscar help lift Drew over. He had to balance until he could get both feet up onto the fence. Each of his shoes were placed in one of the gaps between the spikes. He finally got both feet up there and then jumped down onto the grass.

“Ready?” he asked.

I nodded and then glanced back at the rest of the group. “You guys be careful.” I met my Grandfather’s eyes and smiled. He nodded acknowledgment and offered me a small smile in return.

Everyone we left behind the fence waited in front of the vehicles as Drew and I made our way across the crunchy, dead lawn and up to the house.

The mansion loomed before us. Even though it was painted white, it appeared dark and intimidating. We cautiously ascended the wide stone steps between the pillars, making our way to the massive front door. Drew had his gun out already, while I kept my hand near my holster, ready to draw if anything happened.

I kept darting my eyes back and forth, looking for anything that might be a threat, but the house remained silent. No movement or noise came from inside or anywhere around us.

Anthony knew we were coming, so I sort of expected him to be waiting for us at the front door … or something.

Finally, we stood in front of the door and the only thing left to do was to ring the bell or just open it and go inside. I decided against the latter, since Anthony was supposed to be waiting for us. After casting a quick glance at Drew, who raised his eyebrows in question, I raised my finger and poked the little button for the doorbell.

We heard a muted, ding-dong, echo throughout the interior of the house. After waiting a moment and not hearing any movement within, I poised my finger to ring the bell again. The second my fingertip touched the bell, the door was flung open by an unseen force.

“I assumed you vampire hunters would understand that when the sun is up that is the time a vampire must slumber.”

“Hello Anthony.” I offered the greeting, though apparently he was grouchy from being woken up. I couldn’t see him, he stood far from the door, away from any rays of sunlight that could possibly touch his skin.

“Hello, little Hunter. I see your journey into the city has been successful.”

You think?

“Yes, we made it. Can you open the gate for the others?” I gestured to where the vehicles were waiting on the street. “We need to get those cars out of sight.”

“Of course, and please, come inside, away from the heat.” His voice faded as he moved to wherever it was that the controls for the gate were located.

Before we went inside, we turned and watched the gate roll open, allowing the rest of the group access to the property. Both vehicles drove in and followed the paved driveway around the side of the house. They parked in front of a huge garage that could probably fit five of my Escalades inside.