Blood Sacrifice (The Blood Sisters Book 3) (9 page)

They
dripped red with blood and black corruption billowed out of the slot machines,
just pass the front desk.

God,
oh God. Amanda couldn’t breathe and pain rushed up her arm. She gagged and
grabbed at it, and saw the black mark of Lourdes stretching up her arm. Being
here was hastening the process.

“Mandy?”
Jessica’s voice strained into a shriek and she grabbed her sister’s arm.

Amanda
fell and her head hit the carpet. Her teeth chattered together as she held her
arm tightly, but no matter how she squeezed the black mark wouldn’t stop
growing. Like a tree, it branched out, growing through her skin and tightening
like thorns.

Her
eyes met the panicked look of her sister. “Get me out of here,” her teeth chattered
together.

Jessica
knew. She understood.

“Is
she all right? Do we need to call a doctor?” One of the security guards bent
over Amanda and Jessica took that moment to grab the gun at his hip. “Hey!”

“Clear
the door. Move back.” Jessica screamed and waved the gun to get the security
guard to move.

Behind
them was a rush of footsteps. Amanda couldn’t let more security guards get to
Jessica. Her mind cleared the path. Security guards that had blocked her
sister’s way were thrown against the wall Fear rose up in Jessica, but she
swallowed it back. She was good at that.

Amanda
hobbled to her feet, but could barely stand. Jessica grabbed her by the arm.
“We’re getting out of here.”

A
security guard stood to block Jessica with his hands fanned out. “You leave now
and you’re in a world of trouble. We’ll hunt you straight out of Vegas and off
the face of the Earth if we have to, sister.”

Jessica’s
face twisted with confusion. She just saw them as security guards, but Amanda
knew the truth. They were henchmen for Vain, working under her thumb, which
meant they were dangerous to them—and their mission.

Amanda
gazed at Jessica and spoke with her mind and projected her thoughts into a
place they had no business being.
Blow out his knee caps. We can get through
them. We have to get through.

Jessica
gawked with fright.
Amanda would never suggest I hurt someone. Never.

Insulted
by her sister’s assertion Amanda fumed.
What is happening to me is neither
life nor death. You need to make a choice.

Footsteps
rushed from behind. Amanda tried to drive them back, but she couldn’t stop them
if they were behind her. She was met with a static wall, like a force field.
She pivoted to face them and splayed her hands, but it was too late. Like a
heard of football players, they charged the sisters and Amanda’s fate was
sealed.

Guns
were drawn. Jessica waited too long to make her move. The Blood sisters were
tackled and pinned down. Jessica fought against her restrainers. They twisted
her wrists and handcuffed her tightly until her skin was pinched.

There
was no escape for them now. They’d be hauled off for questioning and Amanda
might not survive. Not if she couldn’t find a way out.

Amanda’s
hands reached for the security guard so she could control him, but he twisted
her arm out behind her. Calling out in pain, Amanda’s mind screamed. Inside she
saw the twisted face of Lourdes cackling in the dark, except it wasn’t
Lourdes’s face she saw.

It
was her own.

Kill
the humans. Take what is yours. Earn your power.

Amanda
wouldn’t. She couldn’t, but the Wild Aces Casino, would try to corrupt her. It
would try to destroy her. Somehow she had to find the will to be stronger.

Somehow.

He
drifted in and out of sleep for what felt like days. For whatever reason,
Jessica had handcuffed him to the bed. Duncan needed to find a way out. Once,
he loved her. Sure, she was always kind of crazy, but he loved that about her.
She was loyal. She fought to save people. Practically for truth, justice, and
the American way. Jessica’s spirit was intense and everything she did was for
her sister.

Duncan
understood her crazy. Even felt some of that himself.

But
now that she had murdered his kid sister in cold blood, just like that? Just to
get a rise out of him? Duncan would end her, Jessica Blood wouldn’t hurt anyone
else—past or present. Duncan would never get over that kind of pain. It welled
in his chest and threatened to end his life, by its mere presence.

Over
and over again, the events played out in his mind. Watching his sister’s body
fall. Watching how blood sprayed from her neck and all the while, Jessica
smiled. Cackling like she was a damn demon herself.

Something
about it didn’t sit right, but Duncan ignored that part. Maybe it was because
he thought Jessica had green eyes, but now they were brown. Maybe because he
thought Meg had already died, or her hair had been longer the last time he saw
her. Duncan wasn’t going to mess around with the smaller details. He saw what
he saw and he’d never forget it.

Not
even on his dying day.

Except
he couldn’t stay awake. No, he kept falling asleep, but when he awoke the next
time he wasn’t alone. It was Meg and like an angel there was a hazy smoke
surrounding her. She was holding something in her hand and she kept staring at
it as if it would unlock all of life’s mysteries for her.

But
her eyes were crinkled as if she was upset. Duncan guessed he’d be upset too if
he was dead.

He
licked his lips. “Meg?”

She
startled
toward him and her mouth twisted
to the side. It was something that Duncan had never seen her do before. She
clutched a tube of lipstick, or something, in her hand. “You’re awake. Thank
God, I never thought you were going to wake up.”

“What
are you doing here?” Duncan asked.

Meg
glanced at the door as if she was waiting for someone. “I need you to do
something for me, okay?” She unscrewed t
he
top of the lipstick container like she was going to use it, but Duncan didn’t
understand how she could hold anything at all.

She
was a ghost, right? A spirit?

“Whatever
you want, Meg.”

“I
need you to kill for me,” Meg wouldn’t glance up when she said it. “I can’t
rest until Jessica Blood pays for what she did to me…Duncan.”

Duncan.
Meggie always called him Dunk. Sure, it drove him crazy and he hated it, but
that’s what she had always done. Always, but maybe this was too serious. Maybe
she couldn’t bring herself to joke around after being murdered. She was a
spirit, after all. Vengeful and full of wrath, from the look of it.

So
he nodded with tears in his eyes. “I promise, Meggie. I’m so sorry. If only I
could have another chance to save you, just one.”

Meg’s
eyes locked with his and her sorrow was so deep that Duncan thought to weep,
but instead he held on strong. She held the lipstick wand to his lips, as if
she might apply it to him. Whatever it was, it was a clear substance and it
smelled like oregano—earthy and clean.

“What’s
that?” Duncan asked.

“It’s
to help you heal.” Meg brushed it on his bottom lip gently and right away the
skin tingled. It didn’t take long to turn into a full on burn.

“Look
at that,” Duncan said, “you’re like my guardian angel, or something?”

Meg’s
eyes widened and she pulled the gel tip wand away from his lip without
finishing his top lip. She screwed the cap back on and wouldn’t look at him.
“Or something.”

Over
where Duncan couldn’t see, a door opened. Could others see Meg? He didn’t know,
but he heard whispers and all sorts of voices.

Meg
touched his shoulder. “I’ll be back soon, I promise, but I have to go now.” She
rose up from her chair and ran from the room. Duncan couldn’t see if she used
the door, but he thought she just might have. He heard it slam behind her.

Ghosts
using doors and touching people?

What
was going on? Could Duncan stay awake long enough to piece it together?

****

She
felt so horrible. So low.

Hannah
could barely eek out the words, ‘kill Jessica Blood for me’. She didn’t know
who Jessica was, but if Vain wanted her dead, she must be a good person. A real
nice person and not the low lives Vain usually chummed around with. Not only
that, but Hannah witnessed what Vaughn, her serial rapist, had done to Duncan.

He
was beaten, and that was putting it mildly. Duncan was tortured and he endured
it. The only thing he had said to Hannah?

“Don’t
worry, kid. I’m going to get the both of us out of here. Don’t you worry.”

Duncan
had said it like he meant it. With so much sincerity, so how could Hannah just
turn on him? Drug him like that?

Now
he stared at her and saw his dead sister? Wasn’t right. Wasn’t fair.

Fear
mounted in her chest as she hid in the makeup room where the girls got ready to
see clients. Her client was Duncan and Hannah was ordered to get him to believe
she was Meg, but…

She
just didn’t know if she could. When she promised to do her job, she hadn’t been
lying to Vain, but now…

Hannah
jumped when the door opened. Vain had taken Alexis and Michelle with her to
Vegas, but there were other girls still at The Vampire Kiss. One of them,
Morgana, entered with a swivel of her hips. “Oh, you’re here?” She leaned over
Hannah to gaze into the mirror and reapply her ruby lipstick.

“I
thought you’d be in with that Jasper fellow.” Morgana batted her eyes at
herself. “If I was supposed to keep him busy, I know what we’d be doing.” She
laughed and gave Hannah a playful shove.

Hannah
hated the teasing and how inexperienced she felt, but she just wanted out of
here. She didn’t want to be like these women, but still, Hannah felt
inadequate—as if she didn’t belong. Part of her wished to swing her hips and
wear a pushup bra. If she could care about her body less, and let men do
whatever they wanted…at least then she wouldn’t be so scared all the time.

“I’m
supposed to be his sister.” Hannah’s words came out far angrier and more
defensive than she meant.

Morgana
rolled her eyes. “I was just teasing you, kid. Listen, sit up straight and pull
your shoulders back. At least then you won’t look like a twelve-year-old in
Mommy’s clothes,” she snorted before heading out of the dressing room.

Hannah
watched the way she strutted, even when there were no men around. Maybe
Morgana—as if that was her real name—didn’t just do it for the men. Could she
be doing it for herself?

She
did as Morgana told her. Hannah sat up straight and pulled her shoulders back.
Those at least made her look more attractive. She threw her hair over her
shoulder and blew a kiss at herself in the mirror. The effect was so comical
that Hannah nearly cried. Embarrassed, her cheeks reddened and she shook her
head.

She
couldn’t do this. She wasn’t like the other girls, and if she couldn’t get into
it, the men were just going to rape her. Just like Vaughn. Just like Kevin
Loust.

Was
she a victim? Or was she a hero—Hannah didn’t feel like one, but it was time to
change that. Time to try something new. God knew, she was tired of being a
victim.

She
pulled the tube of lipstick out of her hand and peered at it. Hannah wished she
could be a hero, but if she didn’t do this to Duncan someone else would, but
maybe there was another way. Maybe….

With
a renewed sense of spirit, she rose up and took a deep breath. For her crazy
plan to work, Duncan needed to heal, but he also had to be off the drugs.
Hannah wasn’t strong enough to leave The Vampire Kiss on her own, but if he was
on her side, maybe they could find a way out together, before Jessica got
there.

And
before Vain returned because heaven knew, if Hannah got caught…that would be
the last strike against her. She’d be dead.

Or
worse.

****

Hannah
held the soup spoon to Duncan’s mouth. Propped up in bed, his wrists were red
from the restraints, but at least she had removed them several hours ago. It
hadn’t been easy getting the key, but for her plan to work, he had to be free.
He had to.

And
it wasn’t an easy sell to Morgana or the other girls. Low girl in the food
chain, Hannah could barely sneeze without permission. “If he’s going to trust
me, I need to do something for him. I need to give this to him so he believes I
am who I say I am.”

It
worked, but just barely.

Duncan
gazed out the window. In Sin Town, the sky was always
gray
and the atmosphere
dank
.
Hannah already wished to see blue skies again and soon, she hoped she could,
but Duncan’s eyes were lifeless. He needed something to believe in again.

“You
need to eat if you’re going to regain your strength before Jessica gets here,
Duncan. Eat.” Hannah said forcefully, holding the spoon to his lips.

He
sucked back the soup and turned to face her. “I’m not a baby, Meg.”

“Then
feed yourself.” She offered him the spoon and Duncan yanked it from her hand.
His jaw moved side to side, clearly unhappy about the situation.

Meg
sat back and watched Duncan cradle the bowl. He didn’t seem as dizzy as before.
She had cut back the drugged ointment to just half a lip and soon—she
hoped—he’d be strong enough to learn the truth.

“Do
you think you’d like to walk around the room? Stretch your legs?” Hannah asked.

Duncan
stirred his soup with his spoon, but he didn’t look up and he didn’t answer.
The lines on his face were drawn down and eternally sad.

“Are
you okay?”

He
gave a shrug and sipped some more soup. “I keep remembering things.” Duncan
frowned and the lines through his forehead increased. “Jessica and I in the
cabin…my race to save her and Amanda. And then to have her do this to you?” He
gazed up into her face and his look of anguish broke Hannah’s heart.

But
not her resolve.

She
leaned forward. “You hold onto that emotion. That hate. We’re going to need it,
Duncan.”
Just not for the reason you think, but we are going to need it.

Duncan
put his soup bowl down and stroked Hannah’s cheek with his free hand. Hannah
thought to pull away, but her eyes were locked with his soulful baby blues. A
woman could get lost in those eyes. It was like a dream and they held the depth
of the ocean.

“How
is it I can touch you? If you’re dead, a ghost, how is it you feel warm?”

Hannah
stuttered and gazed away. “I don’t have all the answers, Duncan.”

“It’s
funny,” Duncan slurred and sat up straighter in the bed. “There are other
memories I have of the last year. One of them was searching for you and when I
found you,” Duncan’s tongue
ran
along his
teeth, “you weren’t exactly breathing, darling. So if you were already dead,
how did Jessica just kill you in front of me?”

Hannah’s
eyes widened and her limbs shook with fear. She had to regain control. If the
others realized, he was no longer under her spell. “Duncan…” Hannah pushed her
chair back, but Duncan lashed out and grabbed her wrist.

“I
saw a flash of your real face. For just a second. So why don’t you tell me who
the hell you are.” Duncan’s lip curled into a snarl. “You’re not Vain. Do you
work for her? Do you have Jessica?”

He
spoke with the rush of love and panic. Whoever this Jessica was, he sure was
worried about her. “I can explain, but you have to stay calm. You have to gain
your strength back.”

“For
what? So you can trick me in killing someone who doesn’t deserve it? Huh?”

“If
we’re going to escape,” Hannah whispered. “If we’re going to make it out of Sin
Town.”

“Sin
Town?” The colored drained out of Duncan’s face and he dropped her wrist.
“That’s right,” he squinted as he gazed around. “Vain took me here, as her
prisoner. I…so who the hell are you?”

“She
didn’t leave me a choice. It was help her or be out on the streets. I won’t
make it alive out there, Duncan. Sin Town is filled with hideous things. No
human is safe out there.”

“You
didn’t answer my question,” Duncan said, with a deep smolder in his eyes.

Hannah
moved over and sat on the bed beside him. “It’s me, Hannah. We met only once
before and I don’t know if you’ll remember me…”

“Hannah,”
he whispered her name like they were old friends. Duncan pushed her hair out of
her face and stared at her. “I remember you. The girl Vaughn took. The one Vain
freed when she betrayed Vaughn.” Duncan tilted his head to the side. “I can see
you, almost. The spell you put me under is getting thinner.”

His
thumb stroked her lip and for a brief moment, Hannah trembled under his touch.
Part of her afraid he might hurt her. “Please don’t hurt me,” Hannah whispered
and tears gleamed in her eyes.

“Never
would.” Duncan’s hands dropped to his side. “So what do you say we get the hell
out of here?”

“Not
yet,” Hannah’s eyes widened. “You have broken ribs. You haven’t been up in
days. We have no weapons….”

“Then
I suggest you get some.” Duncan struggled from bed. When his feet hit the
carpet he groaned and touched his ribs, feeling the layers of bandages wrapped
around his chest. He leaned forward and grabbed the end table and pulled
himself up. Straightening his back, he took a deep breath. Slowly, he edged
forward and lowered himself down to the ground.

Hannah
stood and stared with a quizzical frown. “What are you doing?”

Instead
of an answer, he started doing pushups. Hannah watched the muscles ripple in
his back as he lowered himself down to the carpet. The way he blew out the air
and kept staring straight ahead, Hannah knew this was the right thing to do.

Duncan
could save her. He could get them both out of this.

But
she was scared. The terror pulling her heart apart.

“If
you get caught….”

Duncan
rested on the carpet before pulling himself back up into plank position. Then
he started again like there was no other answer. “I won’t get caught and
neither will you. Do what you have to do, kid. I’ll get us both out of here,
alive. I promise you that.”

Hannah
rushed toward the door. “You better get back in that bed soon. If they suspect
me, and they come to check on you…”

He
pulled himself up, his arms tense and the muscles popping from the surge of
exertion “Don’t waste any more time, Hannah. Go.”

His
words
woke
her spirit. She hurried from
the room and closed the door. Anxious and excited, Hannah finally held a fool’s
hope, knowing they had a plan. A real plan…. Hannah just hoped it was enough.
Hoped it would work.

She
hurried to the kitchen where the gourmet meals for the clients were prepared.
It was a small space, but it buzzed with life from the multiple chefs that
worked at the counter. Hardly anyone paid any attention to her. Hannah stuck
her finger into a berry compote sitting on the counter and tasted it.

Sweet,
but with a hint of bitterness.

When
no one was looking, Hannah grabbed a knife from the butcher block and… “What do
you think you’re doing?”

It
nearly fell from her hands. Hannah whipped around to see Morgana’s angry sneer,
her hands planted firm on her hips. “Morgana…”

“Answer
the question, honey or you’ll end up strung up just like big brother of yours.”

Hannah
took a deep breath and stood straighter. “He’s ready for the next step. Ready
to be armed to take Jessica out.” She watched Morgana’s eyes flash with
distrust. If she didn’t fall for this… “Listen, if he’s going to trust me. If
he’s going to really believe I want Jessica dead to avenge me, he’s going to
need a weapon to do it.”

Morgana
shifted from foot to foot. “All right, kid. You’re right, he will need to be
ready and you’re just the one to help him, but if this is a double cross…”

“It’s
not,” Hannah let out a breathy laugh. “I’m family. This is my home. Vain’s
right about everything.”

Morgana
smiled. “Well, little birdie learns fast, doesn’t she?” Morgana stroked
Hannah’s chin. “I have a client for you. Likes them young. You do whatever he
wants without crying or killing him and I’ll believe you.”

“Whatever
he wants?” Hannah’s stomach sank. No, God no, she couldn’t. Just couldn’t!

“If
you really believe we’re family, that you belong here,” Morgana shrugged,
“you’ll do it. If you don’t, you’re lying… I’ll just have Vain deal with you.”

Hannah
couldn’t let that happen. She knew she couldn’t, but the idea that she had to
let some dirt bag not just touch her, but have sex with her? How could Hannah
do that? She swallowed hard.

“Just
show me where he is.”

Morgana
raised an eyebrow and gave a low nod. “C’mon Miss, Hannah. Time to earn your
stripes. You’ll be surprised how well Vain awards good behavior.”