Another Way To Bleed (Midnight Assassin) (2 page)

Chapter Two

Cassie Murphy took a step outside of her apartment block and gazed up at the sky. The moon was blood red, casting shadows around the city's streets. She could taste the coldness of the night, even though she no longer felt it. The humans had long since retired to the safety of their beds; Luka's strict curfew ensuring that most humans stayed safe. Mostly... except for a few in-the-loop humans, the only things that came out at night were creatures of the supernatural variety. I guess that’s where I fit in now,
she thought.

Growing up in Ireland, especially in Cork had been a wonderful childhood. Her coven allowed her to play, to explore, to be who she wanted to be, and despite the fact she was born and reared in the southern city in Ireland, Cassie never felt she had missed out on seeing the world. But that all changed when her beloved city drowne
d in blood before her eyes.

Slinging her gym bag over her shoulder, she made her way across the city. She had a couple of hours to kill before she had to start her so-called lessons with her mystery tutor, so she was going to spend some time on the dance floor. Cassie had been to Luka's club, Box of Delights, nearly every night since Vicktor, but found that most kept their distance from her... probably as a direct order from the Keeper himself. She sighed, a deep frustrated breath. Luka wouldn't come to her, but she could at least do something to distract herself from her nightmares. Typical ma
le pride.

As she turned the corner leading to the club, Cassie drifted straight past the long line that had built up outside. The massive lycan that guarded the door gave her a toothy grin, his massive hand reaching out to take the bag from her. His gaze swept over h
er, and he nodded his approval.

“Hey, Cassie girl,” he purred. “I must say, the boss must have some control if he can turn down your
sweet ass every night.”

Cassie inclined her head toward the lycan and smiled, knowing that his comments were harmless; he flirted with her all the time. She laughed out loud, batting her eyes at the handsome lycanthrope. His eyes sparkled and his dimples were very cute on his
modelesque face. As she moved her eyes appreciatively over his well-defined muscles that bulged from his tight black tee, she cast an innocent look at him before replying, “Hey, Bruno, you flirt with me every night.” She leaned in and placed a hand on his broad chest. “But when are you going to do something about it?”

Bruno opened his mouth to answer her but froze, his eyes widening in pain.
Luka
. Cassie groaned as the lycan straightened and held up his hands in defeat. “Get in there, Cassie girl, before my mouth and my thoughts get me in anymore trouble with the boss! Damn girl, you might as well have ‘hands off’ tattooed on your forehead.”

“
It’s okay, Bruno. But you know where I am if you’re ever let off the leash.” Cassie patted him on the shoulder as she walked past, hearing him chuckle as she made her way to the bar. Without even ordering, a drink was placed in front of her; she drank it down in one gulp. And then another. The mixture of scents was overpowering, more now than it ever had been before her demonic powers had combined with her Wiccan ones. Cassie tried to separate them, the jasmine, lemon, strawberry flavours from those of rot, damp and fear, in the hope of scenting the one she yearned to find; that mixture of lavender and death that made her legs shake and her heart beat a little faster, then just like that, she felt him on her skin as if he were standing next to her, his hands on her body.

He was in his private backroom, a huge pane of tinted glass preventing her from seeing him, but she knew he was watching. Downing another drink, she shrugged off her coat, getting a few enthusiastic whistles from the crowd at the bar. Her snug black jeans fit every curve and the flimsy black backless top left nothing to the imagination, especially with its plunging neckline. The only thing that Cassie worried about now was not falling over in her new six inch heeled boots as she sashayed down the step
s to the main dance floor.

Cassie took in every detail as she moved; her hunter’s instinct would allow no less. Each corner of the club held its own snippet of sin. Whether it was newly converted 90's pop star
trying to reclaim his glory days with some fang bangers, or the pack of young wolves howling over one of the cage dancers, every single part of the club was drenched in sin. She could taste it on her tongue. She could feel it seeping into her blood; she wanted to get lost in it.

The music shifted slightly in beat when she stepped onto the dance floor. An old favourite of hers pumped from the speakers, sending vibrations along the floor and pounding up through her feet. The lights flashed and her body moved in time with the music. Cassie closed her eyes, becoming oblivious to anyone or anything but the music as the
Faithless
track pulsed in her ears. She wanted to get lost in the delicious scents in the air, to forget, for one night, about her mother, Vicktor and everything else that was fucked up about her life. When cool hands were placed on her hips, she kept her eyes closed, knowing by the hint of ginger and earth, that it was a vampire. It had been such a long time since she had been touched since Vicktor had held her captive that Cassie continued to sway with the music, ignoring all possibility of danger around her.

The vampire mashed his body tightly against Cassie's as he grazed his lips on her neck. Her blood raced quicker, not from the vamps touch but the anger that radiated from Luka; it ran through her like a volcano waiting to erupt. She had no regard for her own safety, but felt the demon inside rejoice at the power she felt over Luka's anger as the
vamp licked her neck.

It was reckless and stupid, she knew that, but a lot of things she did lately were. She had deliberately been putting herself in dangerous situations, whether it was picking fights or hunting without any weapons and only with her bare hands. She just wanted to feel something, anything at all, except the extreme fear that invaded her dreams. Only when the vamp whispered in her ear with menace and venom did Cas
sie really pay attention.

“Sweetie, don't be a tease,” he oozed as his fangs grazed her neck. “Rumour has it that you taste
like heaven... little drops of gold on your tongue. No wonder Vicktor was so keen to bleed you dry.”

Anger washed over her as painful memories clawed their way into her head. Her breathing became ragged and her pulse quickened as Cassie swung round to face the cocky bastard. His eyes bulged as he caught sight of the stake she held inches from his chest. She felt her new powers bubbling just below the surface, yearning for the kill. She prepared her wrist ready to strike, as hatred and fear sent bile inching up her throat. The vampire began to stutter out a lame apology, but Cassie could only hear the blood that was
now thundering in her ears. As she was about to stake the vampire, she paused, sensing
him
moments before gentle yet firm hands were placed on her shoulders. Cassie closed her eyes, her legs threatening to give out. She felt herself calm slightly as Luka bent down to whisper in her ear, “Cassandra, please. This is not the way to get my attention.”

Cassie spun round at his mocking tone, her stake now inches from Luka's chest. The gathering crowd gasped aloud at her audacity. Luka raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching as if he were trying very hard not to smile. He stared into her eyes, half daring her to strike, and half admir
ing her stubbornness.

“Luka, this bitch is crazy.... I mean her eyes were red and everything man. I didn't think she was...
fuck it, Luka, you should take that psycho out.” The vampire who had caused all this trouble now reeked of sweat and fear.

Cassie licked her lips enjoying the taste of his fear, but not once loosening her tight grip on her stake. Could she do it? Stake Luka? She'd be dead soon after, the crime punishable by death. Although is that not what she really wanted, to final
ly be free and escape herself?

Luka's face grew hard and Cassie knew he had read her thoughts. His gaze still bored into hers as he replied in a stern distant voice, “Connor, you disobeyed a direct order. I should rip your head off here and now. Cassandra is off limits, and will not be manhandled in any way. Leave now and I will spare your miserable existence...but Connor, do not tempt me to rescind my patience again, or I
will
give you to Bruno as a gift.”

Connor disappeared from sight before the last word was spoken. Luka scanned the crowd, and although he did not speak, Cassie heard the word
leave
vibrate in her head. In a split second, she was alone with Luka, the club completely abandoned. Cassie dropped the stake, taking a step back. She closed her eyes inhaling the scent of lavender and death, resisting the urge to reach out and touch him. This was the closest she had been to him since Vicktor, and still, she couldn't find the words to say what she wanted to. As Luka cleared his throat, Cassie shook her head trying to clear the cobwebs from her mind. She stood defiantly in front of him, her hands on her hips, her lips clenched in a firm scowl. She waited for him to scold her for being stupid, foolish and young, but nothing prepared her for his actions.

The master vampire stepped forward, kissed her forehead and turned to walk away. Cassie froze,
her mouth hanging open in shock. She was rooted to the spot as Luka paused. Without turning, he spoke, his voice void of all emotion. “Your trainer is waiting for you, Cassandra. You really should get changed beforehand. I want a progress report after. Come find me. I'll be in my room… I trust you remember where it is?”

With his last word, he was gone. Just the lingering scent remained, to remind her that he really had been there. She grabbed her bag that had magically appeared at her feet, and couldn't help but wonder if the last few words he had uttered were a good thing or a bad.

Chapter Three

Cassie changed into loose fitting yoga pants and a vest, trying to push the last hour’s events from her mind. She walked out of the changing rooms into the training hall. She had spent many years here, learning to fight and protect herself, ever since Luka had saved her way back when. It had only been five years, but somehow it felt longer. Luka himself had taught her to fight in the beginning. She yearn
ed for those days again.

She closed her eyes as a memory came crashing over
her.

“Come on, Cassandra.
Hit me like you mean it!”

“I’m trying,” she yelled back at him as she whispered “uptight bastard” in her head causing him to chuckle at her. “It’s very hard to want to hit you, in case I bruise that Calvin Klein face of y
ours!”

At sixteen, sarcasm was her best defence against the nightmares that held her captive at night. She threw her knives at him, but he skilfully dodged them. Cassie screamed in frustration and picked up the sword that lay at her feet. She steadied her stance and
rotated the blade in her hand.

“Okay, Cassandra, you need motivation...you see me as Luka, not a potential threat,” he began softly, “now you must fight me...Not as your mentor, but as a
monster that you need to kill.”

Cassie shook her head. She did not want to see Luka like that; it would shatter the last bit of sanity that she clung to. She watched in awe as Luka's green eyes began to darken to mimic her own black eyes and fangs slowly appeared from his mouth. Cassie could feel the panic attack rise up in her chest and begged her hands not to shake. When she looked at Luka's now distorted face, she saw a vampi
re, a monster, a killer.

Luka smiled, his fangs becoming more pronounced; Cassie lunged for him without hesitation. Luka moved with the grace of a swan, but Cassie's lust for vengeance won out. She slid the blade deep in his chest and stepped back. Luka's face returned to normal as he crumbled to the ground. He was silent and didn't move an inch.

“No!” Cassie screamed out as she sank to her knees. Tears overflowed as she put her head in her hands and rocked back and forth.

He can't be dead. He can't. Please, goddess, no. I can't be on my own again. Luka's all I've got. Her thoughts swirled around in a jumble and nau
sea bubbled in her throat.

Cassie thought she was dreaming when she heard a velvet voice ordering her to open her eyes. She didn't because if this really was a dream, then she was alone again, and no one could save her. As a chilled hand raised her head by her chin, Cassie bravely opened her eyes. Looking right back at her were those intense green eyes. She released a breath she didn't reali
se she was holding.

She threw her arms around him, surprising the old vampire. Despite the fact that the next few words that tumbled from her mouth were barely audible, Luka heard them as if she was screaming, “Don’t you ever leave me. Please
, don't you ever leave me.”

He pulled her close and made a promise she knew he would only back out of if he was de
ad.

“You cannot get rid of me that easily, my little assassin. Wherever you are, I will be near. You will never be a
lone. You have my word.”

She hugged him tighter, as if her life depended on it, and he let her, holding her as tears cascaded down he
r face. A shrill whistle echoed through the hall, snapping Cassie back to the present. She opened her eyes and stared at the man who leaned in the doorway. His light sandy hair was cut into a soldier’s crew cut and his brown eyes were shadowed by lashes that would make any woman jealous. He was easily six foot and stood with his muscular arms crossed against his bare chest with no hint of a smile on his pretty-boy face. Cassie took in a breath, hoping to figure out what type of man or creature stood before her.

Cassie stood in complete shock unable to figure out what was standing in front of her. She could scent him; he was an exquisite mix of strawberries and sunshine. But normally, she could tell so much more by scent, vampire or wolf, young or old. This had never happened before. In all her confusion, Cassie didn’t realise she had been staring at the hands
ome stranger for quite a while.

“Hey, Princess, when you’re finished day dreaming, can we get on with it? The night ain’t getting any younger.” A smug expression appeared on his fac
e at her lack of vocal ability.

Cassie stood her ground, opening her mouth in a broad smile as she spoke. “So are you supposed to be my grand-master Yoda? Come to help me find the force? I don't even know why I bothered. I'm wasting your time... I
can't do this. I'm sorry.”

She spun on her heel and tried to quickly make her exit, but stopped when she heard the deep choc
olate voice behind her.

“Luka warned me you were stubborn and prone to temper tantrums, but Princess, if you don’t gain control of your new powers, you’ll end up destroying not only yourself, but all those around you. Your demonic side will take over, and you’ll become a m
onster, just like your mother.”

Turning to him, she pushed him hard away from her. “You know nothing about me or my mother, you asshole. Just because Luka told you my sob story, do
n't presume anything about me.”

The last bit came out in a scream; her blood began to bubble under her skin. Oh shit, she thought just as the familiar sizzle started in her fingertips and sparks combusted from her hands leaping in
response to her anger, as the flames engulfed his body, Cassie felt her anger extinguish and panic set in. No sound escaped the stranger's lips. With the snap of his fingers, the flames disappeared, leaving him smiling and unharmed.

Cassie was startled. Since killing Vicktor with her new powers, she had found it harder to control her temper, each time resulting in the death of a supernatural being. No one but this unknown
creature had survived. He cleared his throat and took a step toward her as he spoke. “Now that we've established that anger is a trigger, we can work on that. It's a start.”

“Who and what... what the hell are you?” sh
e spluttered.

He laughed then, a deep rich sound that sent shivers down her spine. “How rude of me, Princess. Let me introduce myself. My name
is Archer, and I’m an angel.”

Cassie looked at him as if he had lost all his marbles responding in complete disbelief, “Yeah right, Archie, and in my downtime, I play poke
r with Elvis and John Lennon.”

Archer looked at her as he crossed his arms over his chest again. “Don't you believe that angels exist, princess, or has your life experience caused you to bec
ome jaded?”

“Of course I believe. I've seen them in the skies during the end of days, five years ago. I've just never seen one up close before. Didn’t you all migrat
e back to heaven or wherever?”

Shifting as if he was uncomfortable, Archer took in a breath and then continued. “Well... I am what
is known as a fallen angel. I disobeyed my father’s orders and saved the life of an undead creature. I was punished for my sin and hence I was forbidden to return to paradise. But fortunately for me, the vampire that I saved gave me a place to stay and showed me how to adapt to this world. He has become my closest friend, and is the only reason I’m here trying to explain myself to you.”.

An awkward silence fell on the room. Cassie was in awe of the angel who had saved Luka's life, and she couldn't help but think that in saving Luka's life, then he may have also inadvertently saved hers too. She had heard the old stories of angels falling for women, or murder, but how could someone fall for saving another’s life? In that moment, Archer became so much more attractive. She ran her eyes over his sculpted abs and fought hard not to lick her lips. Dear Goddess, these demon powers were making her want to do a lot of stuff lately. When her eyes met his again, his eyebrows were raised in amusement. Goddess, he is yummy, she thought, hoping he couldn't read h
er mind as Luka could. Shaking her head, she sank to the ground, crossing her legs as she sat on the cold floor. She placed her hand on her knees, gazing up at him and giving him a genuine, friendly smile. “So before you go all Mr Miyagi on my ass, can I ask you a question?”

Archer looked down at Cassie; he could completely understand what Luka saw in the half-breed. Not only was she beautiful, but she had heart and determination. She also had a reckless sense of humour that seemed to want to make Archer smile more than he ever had before. She stirred all kinds of emotions in Archer, emotions that he had
never previously experienced. He shrugged his shoulders and nodded his head in response to her question.              “Awesome,” she said, her smile widening as she blurted out “So, Archie.... come on... show me your wings!”