Page 69 of Luna

I bite my lower lip. For the first time, maybe ever, I wish Trent was here just so I had someone to talk this shit through with out loud. Lucien’s so caught up in having her in the mansion, close to him, he’s not really interested in exploring theories. He wants facts. A name.

So, that’s what I’m here to find.

I adjust my grip on the stake in my jacket pocket, taking a deep breath. Coming here as a human is beyond risky, but a nest of FHB laced vamps with little control over what they say is my best shot at getting information on the new boss in town.

Slipping through a gap in the chain-link fence, I make my way toward the building. The closer I get, the stronger the smell becomes. It’s cloying, almost dizzying. I can’t imagine what it does to a vampire’s heightened senses.

I flex my fingers on the stake. The dark energy swirling around this place is suffocating. Everything inside me tells me to run. But, as usual, I ignore that instinct and head straight for danger.

Inside, the warehouse is a maze of rusted machinery and crumbling walls. I strain my ears for any sound of movement.

There – a soft moan from the far end of the building.

I creep forward, trying not to make a sound. As I round a corner, I see them. A group of vampires, maybe six or seven, sprawled across dirty mattresses and broken furniture. Their skin is pale, almost translucent, with black veins spider-webbing across their faces. Their eyes, when they flutter open, are completely black.

FHB users. And by the looks of it, they’re deep in the throes of addiction.

I scan the group, looking for my target. I need a baby vamp, someone more pliable than the others. They’re easy to spot; their energy is different. More erratic, animalistic, unpredictable. Which, though dangerous, is what I need.

A young man, probably a university student, sits up, swaying slightly, his gaze unfocused. Perfect.

Taking a deep breath, I step into view. “Hey,” I call out softly. “You okay, man?”

The young vampire’s head snaps up, his black eyes fixing on me. For a moment, there’s no recognition, no hint of humanity. Then he blinks, and something like awareness flickers in his gaze.

“Who... who are you?” His voice is raspy, barely above a whisper.

I move closer, hands raised to show I’m not a threat. “Name’s Kim. I’m looking for someone. Thought you might be able to help.”

He laughs, a hollow, brittle sound. “Me? Help? I can’t even help myself.”

I crouch down beside him, keeping one eye on the other vampires. They seem too far gone to be a threat, but if they smell a human, that might change.

“I’m looking for the new boss in town. The one supplying this stuff.” I gesture at the empty vials scattered around.

The vampire tenses, fear flashing across his face. “I don’t know anything about that.”

“Come on, man,” I press, injecting a note of desperation into my voice. “I need some good stuff. My supplier disappeared, and I’m hurting. Just need to know who to talk to.”

The vampire’s eyes narrow, a flicker of suspicion cutting through his drug-addled haze. “But you’re human,” he says, his voice a low growl.

I shrug. “Humans can handle FHB too, you know. It’s not just for vamps. The high is... something else.”

He seems to consider this, his black eyes roving over me. I can see the wheels turning in his hazy brain, weighing the risk of trusting me against the possibility of gaining a new customer for his boss.

“Look,” I say, glancing nervously at the other stirring vampires. “Can we talk outside? I’m not comfortable with all these... others around. Don’t want them taking a cut of your commission if you’re the one to introduce me. You know?”

After a moment’s hesitation, he nods and a smile spreads across his face. “Yeah... yeah, okay. We gotta stick together, don’t we? Us younger guys.” He glances at the other vampires, who are honestly impossible to age. Then sticks out his hand and lets me help him up.

We make our way out of the warehouse, the vampire stumbling slightly. Once outside, I lead him around to a secluded spot behind the building.

“So,” he says, rolling up his sleeves. “How much quantity are we talking about. You have others who want in?”

He’s still speaking when I pin him against the wall, my stake pressed firmly against his chest.

“What the—” he grumbles, straining against me.

He’s strong, but I’m pressing the stake down right above his heart and any moment at all could cause me to puncture his chest.