Page 10 of Vampire Visions

Novak exited the basement before me, and Briggs held the door open, putting himself at my back. When I saw the group of guys circled up and looking bored, I knew they had found the shooter and were waiting for me. Grim stood, leaning against his scythe, next to Jack, who was arguing with Palmer about how to keep blood off their clothes. The conversation had me wanting to laugh, but I only let an eye roll slip.

I approached them, now flanked by Briggs and Novak, and stood in front of Taylor Caplin. I wasn’t shocked that he found out where I lived, but I was shocked that he made it past my barrier without me knowing. And that he had the balls to even pull the trigger on a gun, much less shoot someone.

“Did you know,” I started with a small smile, “that getting shot really fucking hurts?” Taylor stared at me in disbelief, his mouth gaping and his eyes moving from each of my eyes to my forehead. “A rifle would have put me down for longer than your pistol, though. You should have chosen your weapon better.”

I had a major headache and I was starving, both things he didn’t need to know. The amount of magic it took to heal that fast was beyond energy draining. I was actually thankful Briggs carried me down the stairs, but I wouldn’t tell him that. Instead, I continued to talk to my stupefied stalker. “The three bullets you put in me makes twenty-seven-”

“Uhm, twenty-nine, Lo.” Grim corrected.

“Makes twenty-nine times that I’ve been shot in the last five years.” I widened my smile. “Do you know… Well, I can think of several things that hurt worse than being shot.” I arched a single brow at him. “Have you ever been decapitated, Taylor?” He shook his head, still stunned. I nodded at him. “I have. Healing from that hurts just as bad as the actual removal.”

“W-why would you tell me that?” he stammered.

I made a thoughtful sound. “I was thinking about ripping your head from your shoulders,” I pulled up the left side of my mouth, “but I changed my mind. I decapitated a vampire a few days ago. Seems like a waste if I keep murdering in the same fashion every time. Don’t you think?” I was a little too peppy with my murder talk. I knew it, but I didn’t try to stop it. He’d been rubbing me the wrong way since I met him a couple months ago. He was always too close, too touchy. His eyes had left a slimy trail of nope across my body every time he’d eye-fucked me.

Taylor began to shake as I tapped my chin in thought. “Here’s a fun fact for you.” I held my left index finger up. “Did you know that some demons have a sweet tooth for human flesh? Jack, here?” I jerked my thumb over my shoulder to point out the demon in question. “He’s a descendant of the Mares of Diomedes. Do you know what the myths say about them?” I waited, but there was no recognition in his eyes. “I figured you didn’t. You don’t strike me as the type to pick up a book.”

He gulped and finally jerked his head in what was supposed to be a shake. “I’ll let Jack show you, since I’ve decided that I don’t want to kill you. I’m not really in the mood to get bloody again. I just had a shower.” I gestured to my wet hair. “I will be keeping your soul to add to my collection, though.” I leaned my head toward him and lowered my voice to a whisper. “I hope you enjoy eternal suffering. I’ve been known to get pretty creative when dishing out those punishments.” I shrugged my shoulders. “I guess you’ll get used to it.”

“You can’t kill me,” he said with a seriousness that I hadn’t expected.

I shook my head. “I just told you that I wasn’t going to kill you. Didn’t you hear anything I said?”

“Y-yes, but he can’t kill me either.” He pointed his chubby little index finger at Jack.

“Why?” I asked curiously. “Are you immortal?”

“N-no,” he stuttered.

“Then you can be killed,” I informed him with a nod of my head. “Jack? Grim?”

“I’ll take his soul when Jack is done.” Grim gave me a closed lip smile, his eyes lighting up as he admitted, “I had Dolyn make you some new display boxes.” Dolyn was our friend from Stars. He made all kinds of goodies for us, from combat gear to specialty weapons and even some fun toys. My favorite weapons came from collaborations between Dolyn and Franklin. Somehow, those two made impossible things with ease.

I chuckled as I looked over at Jack. “Fantastic. We owe him a visit and a pizza,” He smirked at me and stepped up. I backed away until I bumped into Briggs. Leaning against his chest, I took the pressure off my right leg. The muscle and skin had healed, but it still tingled and ached. My whole body was a bit disoriented after being shot this time. As soon as Jack was done with Taylor, I’d go inside and get something to eat. It must be the blood loss taking its toll. I hadn’t had enough time to recover.

Novak’s narrowed golden eyes were glued to mine before he looked up at Briggs. I felt him shift his body behind me as he pulled me closer to him. Vaughn brought a chair over, motioning for me to sit down. When I shook my head no, he rolled his icy eyes at me, his lashes covered in frost. Briggs scooped me up, making me squeal at the sudden movement. Vaughn sat in the chair, and Briggs put me in the fae’s lap with a small grin on his face.

“Sit on your Fae throne and relax, Trouble.” Novak winked at me from across the circle surrounding Taylor. With his legs on either side of mine, Vaughn laid his hands casually across my thighs, burying his face between my shoulder blades. He knew what was coming, and I was blocking his view.

Jack tilted his head to look at me, and I nodded. “Do it,” I whispered in his mind. He shoved his hand through Taylor’s chest in one quick motion, jerking his heart out with a spray of blood. Jack looked Taylor dead in the eyes, taking a bite of his heart as it beat one last time.

Taylor’s body dropped to the ground, and Jack spit a mouthful of blood and muscle out. “He tastes disgusting,” Jack whined. I couldn’t help myself. I chortled. I felt Vaughn’s shoulders shaking with silent laughter before he moved his face off my back. He rested his chin on my right shoulder as he surveyed the scene before us.

Grim moved forward, slinging his scythe in the air a foot over Taylor’s body. The symbols across the blade lit up as he captured the newest soul to add to my collection. He didn’t like to admit it, but he had his own collection, too. There was a celebrity or two that I’d been trying to buy off of him for the last couple of years. It was a no go. He wouldn’t put a price on them.

Stone flicked a ball of hellfire on Taylor’s body. It was incinerated within moments, leaving nothing but a small pile of ash. Palmer waved his outstretched hand horizontally in front of his chest, and the wind he created blew the ashes across the yard.

“I’m happy that’s over, and as much as I’m enjoying the company… I’m starving. I’m going to the kitchen to get something to eat.” Before I could stand up from Vaughn’s lap, Briggs was picking me up again. “Seriously. I can walk,” I complained, but I was thankful for him carrying me around. Something felt off. I just didn’t know what it was yet.

When we rounded the corner into the kitchen, Franklin was coming out of the dining room. “Brunch is on the table,” he directed as he continued past us.

“Thanks, Franklin.” I tossed the words over Briggs' shoulder. I turned my head as we walked over the threshold, completely forgetting about Levi until I saw him sitting at the table.

He looked up and his eyes widened comically. “Are you okay?” he questioned me with genuine concern.

“Yes, why?” I smiled at him before looking over the food Franklin laid out.

“There’s a small hole in your forehead…” Levi trailed off as he pointed at my face with his fork.