Vampire Hollows (25 page)

“How did I get here?” I asked the female pathologist, and my face felt odd, as if I had just recovered from some injury.

“I was carrying out a post-mortem on you,” she mumbled, as if not believing herself.

“But where did I come from?” I pushed.

“Your body was found up on the mountainside,” The police officer screeched in pain. “You shouldn’t be alive. You had no face or fingers – you have no
heart
!

“What’s he talking about?” I said, looking down at my hands, then, gently touching my face with them.

“It looked as if you had been mauled by some giant wolf,” the pathologist told me. “He’s right, you were brought here in a body bag, with half your face and fingers missing. But…”

“But what?” I asked.

“They grew back right in front of us,” she mumbled as if she were going to cry.

“You’re fucking dead!” the police officer roared, in pain and fear. “And now you’re walking around the morgue.”

Then, staring at me as if I were some interesting medical freak show, the pathologist said, “Who are you? What are you?”

Before I’d the chance to answer her, the mortuary door crashed open and two figures came running in. And it was my turn to look shocked, confused, and bewildered.

“I thought you were dead?” I breathed.

“We were,” Isidor said, aiming his crossbow at the police officer lying on the floor.

“Stop pointing that goddamn thing at me, will ya?” the police officer roared. “Can’t you see she’s busted up my legs?”

Then, turning to the second figure that had come crashing through the door, I said, “Kayla, is that really you?”

Smiling at me, Kayla came forward, and said, “Kiera, what happened to you? You look like shit!”

“Can someone tell me what’s going on here?” the pathologist asked, backing away from the three of us.

“I’d like to know the answer to that myself,” I breathed, not believing that Kayla and Isidor were standing before me.

“You’re alive,” I gasped, reaching for them to make sure that they were real.

“No, we’re dead!” Isidor said, stepping back towards the door as if preparing to make a quick exit.

“In fact, we’re angels,” Kayla corrected him.

“I get it,” I said as Kayla pulled me towards the door. “They said there would be three of you.”

“C’mon, we don’t have time,” Isidor shouted at me, looking back over his shoulder. “We’ve got to get out of here – something really bad has happened!”

Before I could ask what, Kayla took my hand and dragged me towards the open door. I looked back at the pathologist and said, “Kiera Hudson.”

“Sorry?” she frowned.

“You asked me who I was,” I reminded her. “My name is Kiera Hudson, and I’m one of the Dead Flesh.”

Then I was gone, racing out into the night after my friends, not looking back.

I followed them to a car, its taillights burning an angry red in the night. There was someone leaning against the side of it, but it was dark and I couldn’t see who it was.

Kayla and Isidor raced towards the car as if there was no time to lose, and I raced after them, unable to take my eyes off the figure standing against the car. There was something vaguely familiar about the shape and size of his silhouette and if I’d had a heart, it would have been racing in my chest.

Within feet of the figure I knew who it was, and I raced towards him, throwing myself into his arms.

“Take it easy, tiger,” Potter whispered as he held me tight.

“I love you,” I whispered back, and he kissed the tears that flowed down my face. Leaning back from his arms so I could look into his eyes, needing to make sure it was really him, I said, “Potter, is it really you?”

But before he’d had a chance to answer, Isidor climbed into the back of the car and as he did, he grinned, “Yeah, it’s him alright, except his name isn’t Potter anymore, it’s Gabriel.”

Letting go of me, Potter raced around the side of the car, but not quick enough to stop Isidor from slamming the door shut in his face.

“My name is
Potter
!” he shouted through the glass as Isidor grinned back at him. “It’s not Gabriel, that’s a freaking girl’s name!”

“That’s what those Elders named you when they brought you back,” Kayla reminded him as she winked at me and climbed onto the backseat next to her brother.

“I couldn’t give a rat’s arse what those old farts called me,” Potter barked and stuck a cigarette in the corner of his mouth. “My name’s
Potter
, okay?”

“Whatever makes you happy,” Isidor smirked from the backseat of the car.

“Can you believe this shit?” Potter moaned at me. “I’ve been raised from the freaking dead to spend the rest of eternity listening to that wise-arse!”

“Nothing changes you, does it?” I said, looking over the roof of the car at him.

“Listen, sweet-cheeks, it’s not me who needs to change,” he snapped. “It’s that dumb arse.” Then, he climbed in behind the steering wheel.

I got in next to him as he fired up the engine and sped out of the car park. Smiling to myself, I watched as he chewed on the cigarette that dangled from the corner of his mouth.

“And that’s another thing,” Isidor said from the back. “Do you have to smoke all the time?”

“What’s the problem?” Potter snapped at him. “It’s not as if it’s gonna kill ya! You’re dead already, you Muppet!”

“But it stinks…” Isidor continued.

Then shooting me a sideways glance, Potter said, “Do me a favour, sweet-cheeks and put the radio on - I’ve had enough of his whining already.”

I switched the radio on, and the car filled with the sound of Coldplay singing
Charlie Brown
.

Settling back into my seat, I made the most of this happy moment, all of us being back together again. Because somewhere inside of me, I got the feeling this happiness wouldn’t last for long.

‘
Kiera Hudson – Dead Flesh’

Series Two

Coming Soon!

Also by Tim O’Rourke

‘Vampire Shift’ (Kiera Hudson Series One Book One)

‘Vampire Wake’ (Kiera Hudson Series One Book Two)

‘Vampire Hunt (Kiera Hudson Series One Book Three)

‘Vampire Breed’ Kiera Hudson Series One Book Four)

‘Wolf House’ (Kiera Hudson Series One Book 4.5)

‘Black Hill Farm’ (Book One)

‘Black Hill Farm: Andy’s Diary’ (Book Two)

Doorways (Book One)

About the author:

Working away in the dead of night, Tim has written many short stories, plays and novels. His most recent book 'Vampire Hunt' (Book Three in the Kiera Hudson series) is now available. Tim is also the author of the paranormal romance series entitled 'Black Hill Farm' and ‘Doorways’ – A book of Vampires, Werewolves & Black Magic.

Tim's interests other than writing, include watching South Park, Vampire Diaries, True Blood and listening to Pitbull, LMFAO, Jennifer Lopez, David Guetta, Bruno Mars, Rihanna and Adele. Tim is never happier than when reading The Twilight Series, Vampire Diaries and writing his own Vampire series “Vampire Shift.”

Don't be shy; feel free to contact Tim at
[email protected]
- Tim would love to hear from you.

Website:
www.Ravenwoodgreys.com