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  I kept my head down, travelling as fast and silently as I could. About an hour ago I’d found a small stream and I was wading right down the middle of it—anything to throw the werewolf off my scent. But time was not on my side.

  They were assassins. I was a nurse.

  Something was going to have to give.

  Panic rose in my throat as I heard the distinct sounds of splashing coming up behind me, but just as I was considering throwing caution to the wind and facing them head on, an ivy-covered drainage pipe caught my eye. Without a second thought, I pushed aside the plants and plunged headfirst through the rusted metal bars into the sewer.

  A rotten-eggs-and-garbage smell assaulted my nostrils and filthy brown water lapped up the sides of my legs. Holding the side of my dress over my nose, I moved cautiously forward, dodging the drooping algae and cockroaches, pushing cobwebs from my hair. The walls were faded and nondescript, giving no clue as to where I was going or how to get back out. It was as if I’d been swallowed up into the bowels of hell.

  Try to look on the bright side, I thought to myself as my immortal eyes adjusted to the dim light and I headed up to a junction where the tunnel leveled out. At least the stagnant water was sure to throw the werewolf off my track.

  No sooner had I thought the words than two voices echoed through the stale air.

  “I thought you said she was just some naïve little witch,” the werewolf whined. “You said the job in Salem would be no problem and we’d get back on the road by morning. We shoulda finished this hours ago.”

  “Stop complaining,” the vampire snapped. “How was I supposed to know she was going to come into her powers the second we found her?”

  The werewolf muttered, “You’d think he would have included that with the report...”

  “Do you want to ask him about it?” There was a moment of silence. “I didn’t think so. Now let’s just finish the job so we can collect our money.”

  I heard two of them run off. I bet they split up to try and find me. How many people did the vampire have with her? For all I knew, there could be a slew of them. I took off running again. I wasn’t sure how long I ran, but it felt like eternity. I rounded the corner and rested for a minute. A wave of chills shot down my spine and I put out my hands to steady myself on the slick tunnel wall. It’s okay, I told myself, easing backward into the dark, just stay calm and retrace your steps. You’ll be back in the forest before you—

  The sound of shattering glass rang out in the careful quiet.

  My breath caught in my chest as I looked slowly down at the broken beer bottle beneath my foot. It was over. I felt a presence before I even knew a person was there.

  “Going somewhere?”

  I rotated on the spot and stared into the vampire’s piercing blue eyes. She pointed a crossbow at me. My heart pounded.

  “You just can’t catch a break, can you?”

  “Apparently not,” I said.

  She gave me a chiding smile, showing her sharp incisors. My eyes narrowed in disgust. I didn’t care how badass she was, a vampire who killed her own kind for money was a despicable thing. I squared my shoulders and stared her down. Well here was one vampire she wasn’t going to get so easily.

  “You blasted me,” she said. “And that hurt like hell.”

  “Want more? Because there’s more where that came from.”

  She smiled. “I love a good challenge. So bring it on.”

  Using every ounce of focus and concentration I had, I drew out every bit of emotion and rage left in me. My fingers flickered for a moment, but the longer I tried, the harder it became to breathe. After just a moment, I broke it off, gasping with strain as the world swayed around me.

  “Oh no,” the vampire taunted, “did your magic run out of steam? And I was hoping for a challenge.”

  Furious, I tried again, only to have the tiny, pathetic flames fizzle out completely.

  She threw back her head and laughed openly, the sound filling up the little tunnel.

  “Silly little witch. You have to pace yourself,” she explained. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint. You can’t use up everything all at once.”

  I tried to run, but the next second, she slammed me up against the stone. I gasped in pain and surprise as little shards of rock broke off and tangled in my hair.

  “Who the hell are you, anyway?” I hissed through my teeth.

  “Victoria. But you can call me, Tori,” she grinned, “and you’re Blair Griffin. Pleasure to meet you, not that you’ll be alive much longer.”

  Shivers rippled through my body, and she held me tighter against the wall.

  “But before we get on to business, I have to ask...” Her eyes narrowed and she leaned in closer. “Who activated your powers?”

  I blinked back at her, completely thrown by the seemingly insignificant question.

  “Your powers,” she insisted. “You see, there was nothing about you being a practicing witch in your case file, and that’s the kind of thing I like to know before walking into a situation blind. So who did it?”

  My voice wavered. “If I tell you, you’ll kill me.”

  “Blair, please keep up. I’m going to kill you anyway. That’s literally the only reason I’m here.” She smiled in what she obviously thought to be a friendly way. “But if you tell me, I promise I’ll make it as quick and painless as possible.

  “You’re the second person to promise me that tonight.”

  Her eyes flashed silver-blue in the beam of the moonlight shining through the sewer lid above us.

  “If you know one thing about me, know this—I always keep my promises.”

  I struggled uselessly against her iron fist. “I know you’re a vampire who hunts her own kind. I know that you’d kill a stranger on the street for money.”

  “A girl’s gotta pay the rent, you know? And they’re not strangers. No more than you’re a stranger. I spend countless hours talking to friends and families. I research and stake out all kinds of locations. It’s tedious work.”

  “You’re nothing but a glorified mercenary,” I growled.

  “Sometimes,” she shrugged, “sometimes I actually get to do a bit of good. Take last week—I brought in a murderous vampire who killed a pregnant woman who’d spent the last five years trying to conceive. Her husband had the time of his life tearing the sicko apart...literally.”

  My eyes widened in horror. “And you just stood there and watched?”

  “Hell, I helped.” She pulled a switchblade from her pocket and held it to my neck. “Now answer my question.”

  “The witches activated me.”

  “Your own coven?”

  I nodded, and much to my embarrassment, I began to silently cry.

  Tori paused a moment. “That’s some fucked-up family you got there.”

  “You have no idea.”

  “Well you seem like a sweet kid, but there’s a lot of people after you so time is sorta of the essence, you know what I’m saying? I’m guessing you don’t want to send any last words to the witches then...anybody on your dad’s side?”

  I smiled grimly, tears still rolling down my face. “No, judging by his abandonment, I’m willing to bet that Mr. Montour doesn’t really care what happens to me.”

  It’s just as well, I thought as I closed my eyes. Better than spending the rest of eternity betrayed and alone.

  I waited for the flick of the knife, or perhaps the thud of the crossbow. Whatever tool it was Tori was going to use to snuff out my life down in this sewer. But nothing happened. After a moment, I opened my eyes, annoyed that she would draw it out like this. What I saw in the dim light didn’t make any sense.

  Tori was staring back at me. Her mouth wide opened. Her face shock white.

  “What did you say?” she asked in a voice as hushed as a grave.

  I glanced at her in bewilderment. A sharp pain at my neck brought my focus back to where Tori was leaning in with her knife, an absolutely murderous look in her face.

  �
��What did you say?” she demanded again.

  “What are you talking about?” I whispered frantically.

  “Your father,” she said each word slowly. “What was his name?”

  As if it could have mattered less.

  “Vlad. Vlad Montour.”

  The knife fell with a clatter on the ground between us. She kept her eyes fixed on me.

  “Vlad Montour,” Tori repeated. Even her dark hair seemed to wilt as she took a step backward and let me off the wall. “Well, kiddo, it looks like we have more in common than just prowling around sewers on a Friday night. That’s the name of my father, too.”

  My hands flew up to my mouth. “You don’t mean...”

  “Son-of-a-bitch,” she whispered. “He sent me to kill my own fucking half-sister.”

  “Who?” My head was spinning, unable to keep up. “Who sent you?”

  Despite all the terrible things that had happened to me that night, she looked at me for the first time with genuine sympathy. “Well that’s the rub...it was dear old dad.”

  I gasped.

  * * *

  Chapter 6

  Tori stared at me long and hard.

  “Do I hug you?” she asked. “Or do I kill you? Damn. I don’t even know how to handle my own fucking sister. Shit—that word feels so strange coming out of my mouth.”

  “We’re sisters,” I said slowly, trying to comprehend the words. None of it made any sense. I guess it was possible. I was sure my father went on to have other kids. But what were the chances I’d meet a sibling like this?

  “Sisters. Yeah. Isn’t that fucked up?” Tori looked at me. “Listen, Eddie and Hamish will be back any minute. You’ve got to get out of here. It’s not safe for you anymore.”

  I just stared at her, waiting for the other shoe to drop. When she didn’t say anything, I shook my head in confusion. “Wait, I don’t understand...you’re letting me go?”

  She turned to me sharply. “Look, Blair, I don’t know what exactly you think of me, but I’m not going to kill my own sister. No matter who ordered it,” she muttered through her teeth.

  “So then—”

  “So then you’ve got to get out of here. Don’t go home. Don’t go anywhere familiar. Just go as far as you can, as fast as you can. Trust no one and never look back.”

  “Tori, I can’t just... I mean, I’ve never been on my own before.”

  “Listen, I’ve never let anyone go before. There’s a first time for everything.”

  Tori grabbed my hands and squeezed hard. “Listen to me, you’re at the top of the supernatural most wanted list. Everybody and their mother is after those powers of yours. Your powers, they’re incredible—the strongest I’ve ever seen. People will kill for them.”

  As the words sank in, they seemed to take all of my strength with them.

  A tear slipped down my cheek and Tori flashed me a pained look before wiping it gruffly away.

  “Hey...we may have only just met, but let me tell you something about our family.” As she leaned forward, her eyes flashed arctic blue. “We’re survivors. Just keep your head down and keep a sharp eye out behind you. You’ll be fine.”

  “But what about you?” I couldn’t believe I was asking after the well-being of the woman who’d tried to kill me. Then again, I couldn’t believe that same woman had turned out to be my sister.

  “Don’t worry about me,” she said. “You just stay safe.”

  “This is crazy,” I exclaimed as I stared out at the city sprawling before me. “Where should I even go—I have nowhere to go!”

  She bit her lip, then seemed to make a tough decision. “Go to this bar called the Wasted Rabbit. It’s located in New York City. Tell Wayne that Tori sent you. He owes me a favor.”

  I nodded and gripped her hands, wondering if I’d ever see her again. So I asked her.

  “You won’t,” she answered. “Now go.”

  She pulled me to my feet and I took a step toward the curb, feeling like the world was spinning out from under me. Yesterday morning, everything had been perfect.

  Shower. Job. Co-worker gossip.

  ...man that I loved...

  Today, all of that felt like a dream—one that was fading fast.

  “And sis,” I heard Tori call, “don’t let those damn bounty hunters get you down!”

  Despite my present situation, a sarcastic grin crept up the side of my face. I scrambled to come up with something biting to say back, but by the time I turned around, she was gone.

  I was on my own.

  * * *

  Chapter 7

  It’s a good thing I didn’t pause to take a breath. A good thing that I didn’t stand there on the sidewalk and contemplate what was happening to me. How my whole world had come crashing down over the course of just one night. How everyone I’d ever known and loved was out for my blood. How I was completely alone.

  I pulled a crumpled hundred from the wad of bills I’d discovered Tori had tucked into my jacket pocket. My jaw dropped. I couldn’t thank my sister enough. I hopped in the first cab I saw and headed to New York City. It was four hours away. I promised the cab driver a big tip and he had no problem getting me there.

  After locating the bar Tori had told me about, I had the driver take me down the street a few blocks to a cheap motel tucked into a corner of God-knows-where and Nobody-cares. It was a forsaken little dump you didn’t even realize you were looking at until you wondered why the neon light above the door was flickering ‘vac-n-y.’ That’s when I paused. I have to admit, I did. It was unreal to me that people were just hurrying on, going about their day like nothing had ever happened. That no one knew there was an altar just a few hours away in the woods, waiting for unsuspecting girlfriends to be sacrificed.

  For a split second, I wondered if anyone had found the witches yet. I wondered if any of them had survived. Had Tony...?

  Not now, Blair, I caught myself furiously. Not if you want to survive.

  Casting a nervous look around, I tucked my long hair into the back of my hood and ducked into the grimy little lobby. The outside appearance turned out to be a very good indicator of what to expect once within. Paint peeling slowly off the walls. The unmistakable stench of mold. A man with half a mustache named Wally.

  I shook my head and approached the counter.

  “Hi, I need a room just for one night please. My name’s—” I caught myself and flushed to the roots of my hair. “I just...need a room.”

  Wally grinned. A lazy grin that said he knew worlds about my chosen profession. “Alright Miss I-Just-Need-A-Room. There’s one open at the end of the hall. Machine’s broken so we only take cash.”

  I nodded quickly and handed him a fifty. After holding it up to the light for a painstaking examination, he grinned again and slapped a key on the cracked linoleum.

  “Got some clothes in the lost and found. They’re washed and cleaned if you’re interested.”

  “I am.”

  He pulled out a bin of clothes. Everything looked too big, but it would have to work.

  “What happened?” he asked.

  “Accident. But I’m fine.”

  “Take whatever you want.”

  “Just one outfit. How much?”

  “Free of charge.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Not a problem. Are you okay?”

  With another self-conscious nod, I snatched the key up and headed down the hall.

  “Breakfast is at seven.”

  I paused in surprise. “...really?”

  He winked. “No.”

  Keeping my retort to myself, I hurried down the tattered carpet and yanked open the door at the end of the hallway.

  It was a room. I mean...I guess you could call it that. But the door locked, and at this point, that was good enough for me.

  I don’t think I realized the extent to which I was running on fumes, because the second the door was shut, I collapsed back against it and slid to the floor. With a stifled sob, I held my face in my
hands, crying without noise into my fingers.

  I would allow myself this, I decided. A quick cry to get it out of my system. Then it was onwards and upwards. I tried to picture Tori in my situation—what she would do. She was right, she was a survivor. And if I wanted to follow in her footsteps, I couldn’t allow myself to get swept away. I had to keep my eyes forward.

  After a ‘brief’ cry, which actually turned into a much lengthier sob-fest than I had anticipated, I picked myself up off the floor and headed to the bathroom. I almost yelled aloud when I saw my reflection in the mirror.

  No wonder Wally got such a kick out of it when I walked in the door. I was a wreck!

  With careful fingers I held up the length of my hair, only to close my eyes my eyes in dismay when a small twig fell out. The rest of me wasn’t much better. It was like I’d jumped out of the pages of Lord of the Flies...and landed in mud.

  It was a grueling process, but I slowly cleaned myself up. There was lots of cursing, sighing, and I’ll admit—a small squeal when a spider crawled out of the wall. (how does one ever get over a spider sighting, I mean, really?)

  But an hour later, I was as clean as could be expected and curled up on the bed. The clean clothes felt wonderful and I was thankful for them.

  To be honest, the worst part wasn’t my face or hair, it was the blood. Tony’s blood dripped all over me. In the rush of everything that had happened, I genuinely forgot that my boyfriend had torn open his wrist and sprinkled his blood everywhere.

  It was that kind of night.

  I lay down concerned about two things. First—that I might contract some sort of STD just by touching the comforter. Second—that although my body was aching for rest, my hyper-active mind wouldn’t allow me to sleep.

  I paced. Somebody wanted me dead. And I thought I was the sweetest person in the world. I knew I had to be strong and courageous because I would never survive being a timid mouse. Fear gripped me and I knew I had to fight it. I had no idea how to get off this hit list. What was I supposed to do? Run for the rest of my existence and always live in fear of being discovered? Do I go into hiding and keep my mouth shut about my true identity? Would I have to keep moving from city to city? This wasn’t me at all. I just wanted to be happy and live the normal life I was living.