Blood Will Tell (Warriors of Ankh #1) (5 page)

Noah blinked as he opened the door, light filtering in behind him to illuminate the girl on his bed. He frowned, taken aback to see her there. Quickly, he stepped inside and locked the door.

“
Hey, Noah.” She stood up, tall and lithe and completely mortal. She wound her arms around his neck, her long blonde hair brushing his arms as they encircled her waist.

“
Romany.” He managed a smile just before she kissed him, long, slow and deep. When she finally allowed him up for air, he squeezed her a little closer. “What are you doing here?”

“
Can’t a girl visit her boyfriend every now and then?”

Noah pulled back, throwing her a look as he dumped his keys on the sideboard and headed for the mini fridge for a Coke. “Not when he’s on assignment.”

Romany pouted at him, her hands sliding onto her hips. She wore a sleeveless tank with tight fitting jeans. Comfortable clothes that outlined her toned and strong physique. Under those jeans would be a dagger or two. Just in case. “It’s been a while, Noah. I wanted to see you. I’ve missed you.”

He smiled at her but didn’t say it back. Romany was a Warrior of Neith and one of many mortal warrior girls Noah had fooled around with over the years. Sure, he and Romany had been together a couple of years, since she was eighteen years old in fact, but he’d never bored of the relationship because she wasn’t clingy. Or so he thought.

She seemed to read his mind and snorted. “Oh get your head out of your ass, Noah. I’m here because Cyrus sent me to warn you.”

Instantly his body hardened and he froze with the can inches from his mouth. His eyes said, ‘well?’

Suddenly Romany grew serious and cool. “Word is out on you and Cyrus’ little half-blood. Despite our best efforts, there’s a faction out there who believe she’s an abomination.”

Noah’s heart began to pound. Abomination was never a good word to throw around. “They’re coming for her?”

Romany nodded. “They don’t know where she is yet… but you better watch your back, Noah. I happen to like it.”

Chapter Five

The Monster Within

“
What are you doing, Stellan?” Eden asked quietly, her eyes flitting between him and the pretty girl on his bed.

After she’d fled from Noah, Eden had wandered around for a while, trying to gain control over herself, trying not to cry in public. She couldn’t believe she’d almost hurt Noah.
Noah
. She’d taken her frustrations out on a guy who’d pulled out on her as she was trying to leave the car park. Her horn nearly broke under extreme use and the poor guy was bright red with embarrassment from the blasting she gave him. She told herself she didn’t feel guilty for being a bitch.

She thought about driving around for a while, despite the check engine light, and then she’d gotten a text message from Noah.

Things will work out. Promise. N.

Eden had just been about to smile in relief when her phone buzzed again.

Haul ur ass back to the house, Paradise. It’s show and tell time.

At Stellan’s text, her stomach had roiled with nerves, but she knew she wouldn’t ignore him. When she’d gotten home, Celine had been on her way out for one of her own ‘dates’ and had told Eden to stand by for Stellan who had something important to share with her.

“
I think it’s a good idea, so would Ryan. While I’m out, listen to your brother.” The elegant blonde had nodded briskly at her as she passed, reeking of Chanel and evil. Eden watched the door close softly behind her, smirking. That could almost have passed for a normal conversation.
I’m going out for a while, darling. Be a good girl and listen to your big brother while I’m gone.

The young girl on Stellan’s bed, probably a college freshman by the worshipping eyes she cast Stellan’s way, looked up in confusion at Eden standing in the doorway to his bedroom.

“
Good, you’re here.” Stellan grinned up at her and then patted the freshman girl’s hand. “This is Lana.”

Lana frowned at him. “Why is your little sister here?”

Yeah, Stellan, why is your little sister here?

Eden had a feeling she already knew the answer to that. Great, it was like he had a sixth sense or something, cornering her when she was at her weakest.

In reply, Stellan gripped Lana’s chin lightly and held her gaze. Her body slackened immediately, entranced by him. “Eden’s going to hang out with us for a while, and you’re not going to talk.”

“
Eden’s going to hang out with us for a while, and I’m not going to talk,” Lana repeated.

The sight of the girl completely defenceless made Eden slightly uncomfortable. This was the side of her brother she liked to pretend did not exist. “Stellan,” she said hesitantly, trembling against the doorframe as the hunger grinned from within.

He clucked at her wary tone and stood up from the bed. “Eden.” He gave her a patient smile. “You promised you’d let me try and convince you.”

She nodded numbly, glancing at the girl again, who sat frozen. She almost didn’t look real. That made Eden feel a little better.

“
I’m not asking you to feed.” Stellan shook his head reassuringly, and a little of her unease dissipated. “You know I can’t. But watching might change your mind… plus, you should know what to do for your Awakening Ceremony. I promise you’ll want this, Paradise. When I’m done, you’ll need this.” He sounded so reasonable. So loving.

She shivered, eyes locked on Lana who gazed up at Stellan like he was the second coming. Eden’s hunger scratched at her, like a dog at the door begging to be let in.

Stellan followed her gaze and smiled. “Watch and learn.” Slowly, he lowered himself back to the bed. “Come closer, Eden.” He threw out at her without taking his eyes off Lana.

The sickening, cowardly urge to turn and run back to her room fought with the need to please Stellan. To please the hunger. Shuffling forward, Eden obeyed them both.

Smiling softly, Stellan leaned forward to press what, in any other circumstances, would have been an incredibly romantic kiss on Lana’s lips. The girl sighed into him and reached up to clasp his head to kiss him harder. Eden felt her cheeks heat and lowered her gaze. A husky chuckle rumbled up from the back of Stellan’s throat. “Easy, Lana.” He pulled back. “Eden.”

Her gaze flew back up to meet his eyes. “I’m still here.”

“
Keep watching,” he insisted. “You grab their head,” he instructed, clasping Lana’s head between his two hands. The girl buckled into him. “Now when I’m done, Eden, I’m going to have to compel her. To compel someone, you merely lock your eyes on theirs and command them. Easy as-”

“
I know how to compel someone,” Eden interrupted.

He grinned at her in surprise. “Oh really?”

“
French teacher,” she mumbled.

His eyebrow quirked and he threw her a dopey, knowing smile.

Eden shrugged. “OK, math teacher too.”

Laughing, Stellan nodded. “OK. So you know how to compel. Good.” He turned back to the freshman. “Lana,” Stellan whispered like a lover. Eden felt a frisson of excitement rush through her as he tipped her chin and leaned over, his lips inches above the girl’s. At the hitch in his breath his grip tightened, his grey eyes bled of their colour to a terrifying white. Only the black of his pupil remained. The temperature in the room dropped as Eden’s heartbeat increased; need, thrill and revulsion pulsing through her veins like cowardly confused worms. Her brother’s face grew taut, hardening over like marble, and as he began to suck, Eden thought she would die with shame. Lana’s eyes flashed wide in terror and pain, her mouth falling open in silent screams as pieces of her soul were drawn out of her and into Stellan in tendrils of a blue smoke-like property. Veins popped up all over Lana’s face, her skin as transparent as tracing paper.

Slowly the grey returned to Stellan’s eyes and his skin began to soften to normal. Abruptly he stopped, throwing Lana away from him, and the girl lay back on the bed, eyes still slammed open, mouth still shrieking no sound as her skin gradually returned to normal. It was a horrifying sight. Eden began to fight the hunger, the lust for the soul feeding trumped by her disgust now that it was over and this girl…

“
Stop her,” Eden demanded hoarsely, reaching forward and then drawing back. Stellan heaved again, his hands trembling as he tried to compose himself. “Stop her,” she said a little louder, dying to scream. He made no move. “Stop her!” She cried, fighting back tears. Finally processing how upset Eden was, Stellan cursed and leaned over Lana, pulling her to him. As soon as he focused on her eyes, Lana fell limp.

“
You’re OK, Lana. You didn’t feel a thing.”

“
I’m OK. I didn’t feel a thing.”

“
You’re going to get into your car and go home. You were never with me today. You’ve been at the library, studying for the American Literature final.”

“
I’m going to get into my car and go home. I was never with you today. I’ve been at the library, studying for the American Literature final.”

Eden stared at her as she stood up, smoothing down her dress as if nothing had happened. She strode towards Eden, and just before she brushed past her, Lana turned her head a little to look up at her blankly. Eden stifled a gasp, her fingers curling into fists. A darkness flickered in the depths of Lana’s eyes like a black flame, cruel and useless in light places. As the girl left them, the sound of her heels clacking against the polished stairwell and foyer, followed by the click of the door shutting softly behind her, Eden began to shake, thinking on how confused Lana’s family and friends would grow over the coming days when they realised the girl they knew had changed irrevocably.

“
Paradise.” She felt Stellan’s hand on her shoulder and flinched away from him, glaring. His eyes widened in hurt. “Eden, don’t. This is what we are.”

Demons. Evil. Soul sucking bastards who took a piece of someone from them forever and left a little monster behind in them. They were cowards. Eden shook, a hot anger flushing across her skin. She was a coward. A coward who stood by and watched her family do it. Her brother, whom she loved. How could she love someone who could do this?

“
I’d die, Eden.” Stellan choked hoarsely, as if he’d read her mind. “First, I’d go insane, and then I’d die. Would you want that?”

She raised her head slowly and their eyes locked. His shone with tears and love… for her. Like always. How many times had he hugged her close when Ryan had been especially cruel? How many times had he blown off something with his friends just so she wouldn’t be alone on a Saturday night? How many times had he told her he loved her, and protected her from Teagan, from their parents finding out the truth about her?
She
was the one that wasn’t normal here, not Stellan. And still he loved her.

When he put his arms around her, she fell into them, the fear and guilt over what had just happened churned in her chest like too much oxygen.

“
I love you, Paradise.” He kissed her head affectionately. “And I won’t let you starve.” His voice had turned to steel. “I know you wanted it. I felt your need. Your hunger. You can’t deny that.”

Eden stared blankly over his shoulder at the doorway where Lana had walked out a different, worse kind of person than she had been when she’d walked through it. A wave of nausea washed over her as she tightened her hold on her brother. “No. I can’t deny that.”

Chapter Six

On the Edge

It would have been awkward anyway, talking to Noah after what occurred between them at the lake. But then Stellan had knocked her off her feet with her own need, her own hunger. Somehow, that felt like a betrayal of Noah. Like if he ever saw that in her he would never talk to her again. He’d hate her. Noah was the best person she knew. Obviously, since everyone else was one of the Blessed. So it made perfect sense that after watching Stellan steal the most precious thing he could from Lana and having
wanted
to do the same thing to her, that Eden would avoid Noah. She was afraid he would be able to read what she’d wanted, even though it wasn’t possible because he didn’t know what she was, or that creatures like her even existed. OK. So rationality wasn’t high in her list of priorities these days. Still, she’d ignored his texts over the weekend and had somehow managed to avoid him all day Monday (and nearly got a black eye for her trouble when she ducked behind an open locker to hide from him, and the corner edge of it missed her eye by a millimetre). Eden’s nerves felt frayed at the edges.

Tuesday. She’d gotten through a whole day again without bumping into Noah. She’d eaten lunch in her car and she had shot out of her classes like a bullet when the bell rang. Now it was French, last class of the day. She eyed the doorway and then the clock. One minute and she was out of there. French class was pretty close to the entrance. She’d get out before Noah showed up.

The minute hand on the clock took forever.

By the time the bell rang, Eden had already slipped her books into her bag. She blew past the kids in the front row, not stopping, even when she toppled one of their books off the desk. It was rude. But this was an emergency. Eden dared to sigh with relief as she shot out of the main entrance.

All that hurrying was in vain.

Noah was lounging against the driver side door of Eden’s Dodge Avenger. Yeah, she didn’t get to choose her car… that would be Celine. If it was up to Eden she’d be driving a 1969 black Chevy Impala as driven by the sexy Dean and Sam in the tv show
Supernatural.
All of which was beside the point when Noah had her cornered.

He raised his eyebrows at her as she approached slowly, his arms crossed over his chest. He looked relaxed but Eden saw something flicker in his eyes.

“
Hey,” she mumbled, jingling her keys pointedly.

Noah didn’t take the hint.

“
What’s up?” She sighed, trying to edge him away from the car.

He shrugged. “I don’t know. You tell me. You’re the one treating me like a leper.”

Panic tightened Eden’s chest. She didn’t want to push Noah away, she just needed a few days to get herself together, to be able to look him in the eye again. She smirked at him deliberately. “Dude. Come on. I’ve just been dealing with some family stuff. It’s nothing.”

She must have sounded reassuring enough because Noah’s eyes lightened a little and he stood up away from the car. “OK. Good. Great. Um…” He looked around, suddenly appearing a little self-conscious. “You want to grab a coffee with me?”

Damn
, Eden winced. Quickly she unlocked her car door and threw in her bag, not meeting Noah’s probing gaze. “Uh you know I can’t tonight. Family thing. Another night, OK?”

She didn’t even give him time to reply before she slammed the door and pulled out of her parking spot. She left tyre marks at the school gate.

***

By Wednesday afternoon Eden’s nerves had gone from frayed to frazzled. Earlier that day she’d seen Noah heading down the hall towards her and had freaked out, turned on her heel, and practically ran in the opposite direction. How was she supposed to explain that next time they talked? She was in history when she got the text.

OK. You’re weirding me out. Just tell me what I did? N.

Eden didn’t think it was possible to feel any worse. Suffice to say she was in an awful mood, radiating ‘don’t talk to me or I’ll eat you’ vibes even in class. The teachers were smart enough to ignore her and most of the students were too.

Avoiding Noah at lunch, Eden had opted for the library this time. By now her skin was flush with angry heat and her patience? Non-existent. She did the unthinkable and headed towards the classics aisle, hoping a little Jane Austen would civilise her.

Mr Darcy was just in the middle of insulting Elizabeth (tolerable indeed!) when Eden heard the human snarl. Someone cried out, as if in pain. Frowning, Eden laid down the book and walked quietly to the end of the aisle. She peered around the corner into the dark cove of bookshelves at the back of library, the one that every library seemed to have. Her heart started to race a little at the scene in front of her. Lucy Stevens, hot senior and head cheerleader, had a grip of a sophomore’s shirt, holding her up so tight the girl’s feet nearly dangled off the floor. Eden had seen the sophomore around before. She was this petite, gorgeous red head with big sad green eyes. Eden was sure she was the youngest girl on the cheerleading squad. Right now her pretty face was screwed up in horror, rivulets of mascara staining her cheeks.

“
This is me being merciful, Amber,” Lucy hissed into her face. “This is you’re last warning.”

“
B-but I didn’t d-d-do anything,” Amber cried.

Eden winced at the crack of Lucy’s hand against Amber’s cheek, and the muffled sob from the victim. “You calling my boyfriend a liar, Amber?”

Amber shook her head, holding her right cheekbone.

“
I didn’t think so. He’s mine, you little slut, you come onto him again and I’ll make your life here a living hell. Wouldn’t want everyone finding out that secret you told me right? How stepdaddy likes to touch you inappropriately?”

Amber’s eyes flared with terror and she broke into hysterical sobs, her head shaking frantically.

Lucy patted her cheek patronisingly. “Good girl.”

Sliding back out of sight, Eden struggled to draw breath, the scene playing over and over again in her head. She’d seen bullying going on at South Salton her entire time there; she’d even been a victim of that bullying, and probably the bully herself sometimes when she was in a bad mood. But what she had witnessed was worse than Maria Roth and herself. It had been sadistic and vicious, and born of petty jealousy. Eden knew Lucy’s boyfriend. Doug Brown. A senior. A jock. A sleaze bag. Although he’d rather die than admit it, he’d even come on to Eden once when she and Noah had stupidly crashed his birthday party. Eden could read between the lines. Doug had hit on Amber. Amber had turned him down. Doug had told Lucy that Amber was flirting with him. Lucy, who was apparently a psychotic bitch, had now found a new toy to play with; a toy that was clearly already broken by an abusive home life.

Eden knew what that was like.

The thought sent this crazy red haze sparkling across Eden’s eyes; her chest tight, her hunger howling at her as if she were insane to pass this up.

Yeah. Today she felt insane. And no Jane Austen was going to help.

She knew she was acting like a stalker.

Uh correction, like a serial killer.

But Eden couldn’t get Lucy and Amber out of her mind.

So here she was, standing outside Lucy’s class instead of sitting in her own. Watching and waiting… for what, she wasn’t quite sure.

When the classroom door opened and Lucy ducked out with a bathroom pass in her hand, Eden’s eyes widened.

See
, her hunger whispered,
it’s like the universe wants you to do it.

Stealthily she followed Lucy along the hall, keeping a distance, watching her disappear into the girls’ bathroom. She waited a beat and then swung open the door, shutting it quietly behind her. Eden ducked her head under the four stalls. They were alone.

She strode back to the door and turned the lock.

“
Who the hell is there?” Lucy snapped from inside her stall.

Eden dropped her backpack, leaning against the sinks casually although her heart pounded so hard she swore her shirt was vibrating. “Why don’t you come out and see?”

She wasn’t afraid of Lucy Stevens.

She wouldn’t have been even if she wasn’t one of the Blessed.

“
What the fuck is this?” Lucy huffed. Eden’s smile was one of twisted mockery at the sound of clothes rustling, and Lucy’s harried breath. She couldn’t have planned on catching the girl in a more undignified situation. The toilet flushed and the stall door banged open to reveal a pissed off Lucy Stevens in her cheerleading outfit. She grimaced. “You?” She rolled her eyes as if Eden were inconsequential and glided over to the sinks to wash her hands.

“
Me.” Eden grinned at her and enjoyed the way Lucy flinched at the expression, like she could see there was something not quite right about her.

“
What do you want, freak?”

Eden shrugged, crossing her arms over her chest. “I heard an interesting conversation today. No, sorry.” She shook her head. “Attack. An interesting attack.”

Lucy heaved a sigh and grabbed at paper towels. “Whatever, freak.” She made to leave and Eden stuck her leg out to block her path. The cheerleader narrowed her eyes on her. “You better move that skank.”

“
Or what?” Eden taunted.

Lucy took two leggy steps towards her. She fluffed her golden hair over her shoulder and bit a couple of French manicured fingernails into Eden’s shoulder. “Or I’ll make your life a living hell, you goth bitch.”

“
You’re kind of an ignoramus, you know that.”

“
You’re making a mistake, Winslow,” Lucy promised with a cruel smirk on her pouty lips.

The hand that had been dangling innocently by Eden’s side shot out faster than a human could compute, and wrapped itself around Lucy’s throat, shoving her back into one of the stalls. The senior tripped, collapsing over a toilet seat as she clawed at Eden’s hand, her face growing redder before turning horribly purple.

“
Sorry, princess, my life already is a living hell.” Eden squeezed tighter, getting a sick enjoyment out of terrifying this girl. “I saw you torturing Amber today, Luce. Not cool,” she whispered, breathing in the scent of Lucy’s soul, tainted as it may be. This was a girl who wouldn’t miss it… or if Eden went too far, wouldn’t be missed at all. “You make me sick, you know. You sadistic bitch.” She jerked Lucy’s head back and her eyes rolled. For a moment Eden frowned as she drew blood with her fingernails on Eden’s hand in an attempt to fight back. Releasing her hold on Lucy’s throat, she barely gave time for the girl to draw breath before she was holding her head in her hands and pushing her will onto her. Lucy stopped struggling, her lips parting.

The hunger licked its lips.

Eden froze. Like a statue. Her heart seemed to have stopped but the nausea hadn’t.

What are you waiting for?
She deserves it.

She shifted her stance, trying to make herself more comfortable. She tilted Lucy’s head to angle it just right, almost like an awkward teenager going in for her first kiss.

Her legs began to tremble.

No. Don’t stop. Think about Amber. You’ll be helping her
.

The bathroom door handle rattled. Eden’s head jerked up, breaking her gaze with Lucy’s.

“
Hey! Why’s the door locked?!” A belligerent student yelled, banging on the door. “Open up or I’m telling somebody!”

Lucy gasped for air, coming back to herself, her hands clawing into Eden’s wrist. “You freak!” she hissed.

Panic suffused Eden as sense slowly began to return.
What have I done?
Eden swallowed the bile that rose in her throat, her hands gripping Lucy’s head tighter.

Lucy would report Eden. Oh God.

Her pale eyes secured their hold on Lucy’s chocolate brown ones. The girl grew limp again. “Lucy, this never happened.”

“
This never happened,” she replied blankly.

“
I was never here.”

“
You were never here.”

“
Open it!” The student screeched.

Eden gulped but refused to break eye contact. Amber’s broken eyes flashed before her.

“
You’re not going to torture, hurt and gossip about Amber anymore.”

“
I’m not going to torture, hurt and gossip about Amber anymore.”

“
You’re going to protect her. Even from Doug.”

“
I’m going to protect her. Even from Doug.”

Feeling drained Eden got to her feet, drawing Lucy up carefully. The girl didn’t even look at her. She walked out of the stall and headed towards the door. Eden shut the stall door and locked it, listening to the impatient student outside gulp back her berating when she discovered it was Lucy Stevens.