Jeaniene Frost - First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Book 1)

New Years Eve, one year before

Even though they were in the basement, Denise could still hear the sounds of battle outside. She didnt know what had attacked them, but they couldnt be human, not for Cat to look so scared when shed ordered them downstairs. If she was frightened, then they should all be afraid.

Crashing noises above made Denise gasp. Randys arm tightened around her. Itll be okay.

His face said he believed otherwise. So did Denise. But she smiled, trying to convince her husband she believed the lie, if only to make him feel better.

His arm eased off her. Im going upstairs to help look for it .

It was the object that had drawn these creatures, whatever they were, to this house in the middle of icy nowhere. If it could be found and destroyed, the attack would stop.

Five years ago, Denise wouldnt have believed in vampires, ghouls, or objects possessing supernatural powers. Now because shed chosen to spend the New Year with her half-vampire best friend in a house filled with things the average person didnt believe in, she and Randy would probably die.

You cant go up there, its too dangerous, Denise protested.

I wont go outside, but I can help look in the house.

Denise knew finding it was the only chance any of them had. Ill go with you.

Stay here. The kids are scared.

Denise looked to the faces huddled in the far corner of the basement room, eyes wide with fear. Former runaways or homeless kids who lived with the vampires, their rent paid in blood donations. The only other adult in the room was Justina, and even her normally imperious expression was tremulous.

Ill stay, Denise said at last. Be careful. Come right back if those things get any closer.

Randy gave her a quick kiss. I will. Promise.

I love you, she called out as he flung open the door.

He smiled. Love you, too.

He went out the door and Denise locked it behind him. It was the last time she saw Randy alive.

I think Amber was murdered.

Denise gaped at her cousin. She was well into her third margarita, but she couldnt have misheard him. Maybe we shouldnt have gone to a bar after the funeral. Still, Paul had said he wasnt up to sitting another shiva. His mother and sister had just died within a month of each other. If getting a drink made Paul feel better, who cared what they were supposed to do?

But the doctors said it was her heart.

I know what they said , Paul growled. The police didnt believe me, either. But the day before she died, Amber told me she thought she was being followed. She was twenty-three, Denise. Who has a heart attack at twenty-three?

Your mother just died of a heart attack, Denise reminded him softly. Heart disease can be hereditary. Its rare for someone as young as Amber to have heart problems, true, but your sister was under a lot of stress

No more than me now, Paul cut her off bitterly. You saying I might be next?

The thought was so awful Denise didnt even want to contemplate it. Im sure youre fine, but it wouldnt hurt to get checked out.

Paul leaned forward, glancing around before he spoke. I think Im being followed, too. His voice was barely a whisper.

Denise paused. For months after Randys death, shed thought every shadow was something sinister waiting to pounce on her. Even over a year later, she still hadnt totally managed to shake that feeling. Now her aunt and her cousin had died within a month of each other, and Paul also seemed to think death loomed right behind him. Was that a normal part of the grieving process? To feel that when death took someone close to you, it was coming after you next?

Do you want to stay at my house for a few days? she asked. I could use the company.

Actually Denise preferred being alone, but Paul didnt know that. The careful investing Randy had done disappeared in the stock market crash, leaving her with just enough to bury him and to put a down payment on a new home, away from most of her family. Her parents meant well, but in their concern, theyd tried to take over her life. At work, Denise kept herself distant from her co-workers, and the seclusion had helped this past long, hard year as she dealt with Randys death.

Still, if staying with her helped Paul through the initial shock of his double loss, shed gladly give up her solitude.

Her cousin looked relieved. Yeah. If thats okay.

Denise signaled for the bartender. Of course. Lets head to my house before I have any more drinks. Youve already had too many, so well take my car and pick up yours in the morning.

I can drive, Paul argued.

Denise glared at him. Not tonight.

Paul shrugged. Denise was glad he didnt fight it. Shed hate herself if Paul got in an accident after going out drinking with her. Aside from her parents, he was the closest family she had left.

She took care of the check over Pauls objections and they went out into the parking lot. After that incident three months ago, Denise made sure to park in a well-lit area as close to the bars entrance as possible. As a further precaution, even though Paul walked with her, she kept her hand on the repellent spray dangling from her key chain. She had two of those; one filled with pepper spray, the other with silver nitrate. Humans werent the only ones who liked to attack at night.

The guest room is small, but theres a TV in it, Denise said as they reached her car. You want to

Her voice cut off in a scream as Paul was jerked back, a man appearing out of nowhere behind him. Paul tried to scream, too, but an arm tight across his throat prevented him. The strangers eyes seemed to burn as they looked from Denise to her cousin.

Another one, he hissed, placing his fist across Pauls chest.

Denise screamed as loud as she could, raising her pepper spray and sending a burst of liquid in the mans face. He didnt even blink, but Pauls eyes swelled shut as some of it hit him.

Somebody, help! Denise shouted again, spraying until the container was empty. The man didnt even budge while Pauls face began to turn blue.

She grabbed the silver nitrate next, unloading its contents in four frantic bursts. The man did blink at that, but in apparent surprise. Then he laughed.

Silver? How interesting.

Denise was out of weapons and the man hadnt loosened his hold by a fraction. Panicked, she balled her fists and flung herself at himonly to fall to the ground a moment later on top of her cousin.

Whats going on out there? someone from the bar called out.

Denise glanced up. The stranger was gone. A large German shepherd sat a few feet off, its mouth open in a doggy grin. It turned around and ran when a handful of people from the bar came over to them.

Someone call 911! Denise exclaimed, noting with horror that Paul wasnt breathing. She placed her mouth over his, blowing hardand began to choke as she tasted pepper spray.

Coughing and gasping, Denise saw a young man try CPR on Paul and then fall back, choking as well. She pressed her fingers to Pauls throat. Nothing.

Almost a dozen people stood over her, but none of them seemed to be reaching for their cell phones.

Call a goddamn ambulance , she got out, pounding on Pauls chest and trying to blow into his mouth even though she could hardly breathe herself. Come on, Paul! Dont do this!

Through her blurred vision, she saw her cousins face turning a darker shade of blue. His mouth was slack, his chest motionless under her hands. But Denise continued to pound on his chest, cupping her hands around his mouth to blow into it without her lips coming into contact with more pepper spray.

She didnt stop until the paramedics arrived, seemingly an eternity later. When they pulled her off, Paul still wasnt breathing.