Thirst (Ava Delaney #1) Read online

Epilogue

  The sun beamed down on my face. It seemed poignant that the sun was out in all its glory on the day I was sent to complete my first job. Humming to myself, I tried to gather my confidence together, the only thing I lacked. Maximus's torture had taken more out of me than blood and pain. It had taken three weeks, but physically, I was fully healed apart from the scar on my chest. It itched sometimes, but I would take that over torture and death any day. Mentally was another story, one I wasn't particularly ready to deal with.

  I took short, quick strides, counting fourteen at a time as I wondered at how much one short month had changed my world. I was more aware of the vampire side of me, I was in the employment of the head vampire in Ireland, I was back in touch with my grandmother, and I wasn't so scared of humans anymore. Seclusion didn't seem like the best idea any longer, but there was still fear. I had opened myself up to so many people-I was afraid of being hurt by them.

  Life wasn't perfect. My grandmother and I weren't exactly close, but at least I could call her and know she wouldn't howl at the moon about it or call me Lilith for my trouble. I wasn't sure if we could ever be close, but we were working on rebuilding our relationship. Admittedly, she was the one making the effort, but as far as I was concerned, she was the one who had screwed things up in the first place.

  Carl was having problems adjusting to his normal life, so I was keeping out of his way-and away from the memory of his blood. He didn't talk about it much, but I sensed he was having a hard time dealing with it. I still felt the occasional ache after our bond was ripped apart. I didn't want to ask how it was going for him.

  Peter had gone off my radar for the most part. I didn't know if I could trust him. Between him bringing me to Eddie in the first place, agreeing on my behalf to work for Daimh?n, and possibly being the boyfriend of Daimh?n's day assistant, I wasn't sure what to think.

  The loose ends made me panic. Besides knowing I had a lifetime of "favours" to do for Daimh?n, I owed one to Eddie too. He could collect at any time, and I still wasn't sure who he really was, or if he was keeping an eye on me. Even Arthur had warned me to trust no one, but his warning was too vague to be of any real use.

  Thinking about everything unsettled me. I swallowed down an anxiety attack and concentrated on making it through the day. I held my cross and counted to fourteen as I waited for a set of traffic lights to change. Even though the magic had worn off, I still felt something in the silver. It comforted me, and I was sure it had to have some remnants of power remaining because the thirst was nowhere near as uncontrollable as it had been despite the fact it had been fed while I was badly injured.

  The cold presence was still hanging around. I didn't have a clue what it was, but I was sure it had tried to warn me of danger, and for that, I was grateful. I slipped my hand in my pocket and felt the warmth of the dagger. Eddie hadn't asked for it back, and I wasn't going to hand it over voluntarily. I still felt a huge sense of ownership. It was overflowing with power; I would be nothing without it.

  I reached my destination all too soon. Wrapped up in my own thoughts, I hadn't realised how fast I had been walking. Taking a deep breath, I walked through the gate and straight up to the bodyguards at the front door. Adrenalin buzzed through my veins, but I hoped I wouldn't have to hurt the humans.

  Two tall, bulky men stepped in my way. I gripped the dagger tightly, remembering my instructions to leave an obvious message. One of the men laughed scornfully. "Are we supposed to be scared of that little butter knife?"

  "No, you're supposed to be scared of these," I hissed, letting my fangs show freely. The man paled and ran, not loyal enough to risk being bitten. The other hesitated even when I got in his face. I groaned inwardly then kneed him in the groin. Hard. He jerked backward without a sound. I watched with some fascination as his face turned white, then red, and finally purple. Wheezing, he toppled over, clutching at himself, no longer a threat to anyone.

  I kicked the front door open with ease. I'd been fed a lot of blood while I was healing, courtesy of Daimh?n's kitchen. I didn't ask questions. It was better that way. I was off the blood, but I still felt the after effects-I was faster, stronger, less likely to count heartbeats to keep calm.

  I looked around quickly, expecting more bodyguards, but either Maximus was extremely lax or extremely cocky. I knew which one I was going for.

  I followed Daimh?n's very specific directions and found Maximus's underground bedroom. It was a windowless basement dressed up to look like it had been furnished for royalty. Pretentious to the last.

  Maximus lay on satin sheets in a bed that could probably fit six people. As soon as I saw his sleeping face, I felt rage bubble up and threaten to explode out of me. He had taken my grandmother, scared me, hurt me, made me think I was going to die, almost killed me, and only let me go because a more powerful vampire wanted me instead. He was spoilt, petulant, needy, and unfair. He had no loyalty to his own kind, and he was completely unstable.

  I hesitated. The world was better off without him-but a final death was too good for him.

  I could take him.

  Hurt him. Make him suffer. Make him plead for mercy. Daimh?n would never know, probably wouldn't care either. I stood over him, contemplating, dagger in hand. Then, as a cold breath chilled my neck, I realised I couldn't do it. I could never be like him, even if I wanted to.

  I'd been having nightmares since I left his house. I woke up screaming most nights. Alone and scared. He had marked me in his own way. Daimh?n's first job for me was the final death of Maximus, but I would have done it anyway. Or I'd never have a good night's sleep again.

  Trembling, I raised the dagger then stabbed him in the heart, knowing a feeling of satisfaction that couldn't be topped. His eyes shot open and looked straight at me. He tried to rise up against me, but it was too late. His blood went on fire inside his body, bloody vein by bloody vein. He gasped with pain, unable to make a sound beyond a choking noise as his throat burned with the rest of him.

  He stretched out his arm before collapsing backward, his body slowly turning to ash. A permanent death. A true death. It was over, all over. And I was the last sight he saw. It was over so quickly, it barely seemed real.

  I couldn't stop shaking as I left the building. I wanted to set the whole place on fire, burn the lot of them, but Daimh?n had warned me not to harm another vampire. I was Maximus's punishment for trying to mutiny against Daimh?n. The others would heed his death as a warning.

  By the time I got to the end of the road, I was sweating profusely and had to sit down. I kept expecting him to be there when I turned around; it was like my mind was taking its damn time realising he was really gone.

  I jumped with fright as my mobile rang. It was my grandmother.

  "Is it done?"

  "Yeah, he's gone. Burned in his bed."

  "Poor soul," was the dry reply. "And you? Is it better?"

  "I feel... numb. But glad too. Glad it was me. I'll feel better as soon as it sinks in." I hoped.

  "I wish I'd been there. To see it."

  "Well, it's done now. Back to normal." Until the next job. But I couldn't think about that. Not yet.

  "Why don't you come over? I'll make you tea."

  I thought about it. After killing something in cold blood, I needed a bit of normality, a bit of humanity. "Tea sounds good actually," I said. "I'll be there."

  I hung up and left to have tea with my grandmother as any human might do, but my smile was grim. I had no idea what the next day would bring-but at least I was alive.