Blame The Goth Girl Vol. 2: All Give Thanks And Praise To The Cure: Blame The Goth Girl, #2

By Bettina Busiello

Onyx and Rome's revelations leave Elliot swimming in his thoughts, even while trying to keep his head in the game to help them save Lisbeth. A distraught Onyx fears her journey to self discovery might have put Lisbeth in harms way to begin with. Nothing is what it seems when Lisbeth comes face to face with her abductor. Worse yet, a quiet danger lurks around the corner just as Onyx's true destiny begins to unfold in her ever-evolving world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bettina Busiello
• Release date: Jul 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311701060

Book preview

Chapter 1

––––––––

A few hours earlier...

––––––––

Another failed attempt. I’d had such high hopes for this one— that she’d finally give me what I needed. For a moment, I almost felt bad— watching her body writhe in agony. How fragile humans are these days. It’s hard to imagine after so many years, they are weaker than they once were.

With the rest of my family awake now, I’d have to act fast.

You’ve done so well, I said as she gave her last breath. I won’t have to throw you in the trash like all the others.

As I uttered the words, her body gave out completely.

––––––––

Lisbeth

––––––––

You’re a killer, I said.

The man said nothing as he moved closer, crawling toward me on all fours, and finally hovering mere inches from my face.

I pushed myself away, hitting the headboard behind me.

Do not be afraid, he said. His voice was light, soft, and formal... almost as if English were not his first language.

You’re the guy killing all those girls. I began screaming.

He quickly put his hand over my mouth. Stop, please. You do not understand. It was not me.

My body shook under his grip.

I can explain everything. I am going to remove my hand... please, do not scream. I promise I will not hurt you.

Maybe it was the look of desperation in his eyes, maybe it was because he was so damn good looking, but I nodded and obliged his request.

He removed his hand and continued to study me with his pale greenish-hazel eyes. I could see almost a cat-like reflection as they moved.

Ugh, so hot. Damnit, Lisbeth, snap out of it. If it wasn’t you... then, then who?

"My brother. One of them... I am still not sure. All I know is that I needed to get to you before he did."

I don’t understand. What are you? Those girls were slashed to bits.

"What are you? he asked, tilting his head. You cannot possibly be just human... though I cannot quite figure out what else you are." He trailed his fingers up my thigh.

Hey! Watch it. I jerked away. I’m human and I have no idea what any of this is about. I looked around to try and catch any clue about where I might be.

If you are, it is only part. He smiled in awe. You are a very tiny person. His fingers went from my thigh to my hair as he ran them through.

You still didn’t answer my question, I said, trying to smack his hands away.

He sighed and sat back on his feet. In your language I am called an incubus. It was as if he were waiting for me to react in some way. My brothers and I have been looking for mates. Our kind have grown smaller in number, and we are looking to remedy that. As soon as I saw you, I knew. He leaned in to kiss me.

Whoa, pal. I turned my head. I’m twenty-two and not looking to procreate anytime soon. Let alone with anything not exactly human.

He ran his hand over my stomach. That is a pity because you are ready now.

I smacked his hand away. Ew.

His smile was unwavering as he grabbed me by the shoulders and lifted me to meet him in a kneeling position.

Please, my voice came out like a whimper, don’t hurt me.

No, no. Do not be frightened. He kissed me on the cheek. I would never take you against your will. I am not my brothers.

It was strange, as if with every passing moment, I wanted him. I felt a dizziness take over as I looked up into his eyes. Did you— did you drug me? I asked.

It is what happens when I am this close to someone. You will find you want me, but you told me ‘no’ with a clear head and I will obey that.

It’s not that I wouldn’t consider it... you’re just looking for... kids. I don’t do the kids thing. Plus I don’t know you that well.

For you, I would wait. He rested his lips against mine for a moment. If it was a kiss, it was an odd one.

Plus, I said, muffling through his kiss, you don’t know me that well either.

I know more than you think, he said, finally pulling back. He ran the back of his hand over my cheek. You are kind, loving, loyal... you like bunnies?

I snickered. How do you know that?

I have my ways.

Whatever desperation had been in his eyes, was now replaced by kindness and longing. I reached up, running my fingers through his thick dark hair before tracing the tips over his brow. Never trust a man with better eyebrows than you, Onyx always told me. I could feel his cheekbones through the solid structure that was his face. And finally, I ran them over his lips; those soft, warm and welcoming lips.

There was too much desire building within me to resist kissing this man. A man who I’d only known for just under an hour. I wrapped my arms around him, provoking a passionate kiss, only to break it after feeling something on his back.

What are you wearing? I asked as I tried to peer over his shoulder.

Promise you will not be frightened?

Uh... maybe? I backed away some.

In the next instant, black, leathery wings popped out, causing me to jump back against the headboard again. Holy shit! Are those wings? I hesitantly reached forward to touch one. Oh my God, that’s so cool.

He glanced over his shoulder then looked back to me, arching that wickedly perfect brow of his. Do they not scare you?

No way... I totally want a pair.

If I could give these to you, I would. I am sick of being defined by what I am. His mood soured.

Why?

His wings collapsed. They brushed along the fur and sheets on the bed as he moved closer. My existence is a lonely one.

That’s pretty emo.

What is ‘emo’?

You know... emotional? ‘Woe is me’... taking the razor down the road...?

He narrowed his eyes in an apparent confusion.

Never mind. I finally meet someone hot, and he’s battling depression. You’re two for two this year, Lisbeth, I said to myself, aloud.

His head tilted again. It was like he was studying a monkey at the zoo.

You okay? I asked.

I hear your words but I do not understand them.

I needed to keep the conversation moving. If anything, to at least find out where I was so I could try to let Onyx know I was... mostly... okay.

So aside from my apparently not being human, why me?

I have to admit, I was impressed with your performance at a place called Echoes.

So that’s where I knew him from. Everything that happened before now was starting to come back. He’d approached me in the back booth area and asked me to dance. However, his mention of Echoes was a bit fuzzy, I’d only been there a few times.

Didn’t we meet in a general area though?

It was in one of the rooms with the glass. You seemed to enjoy yourself and have no trouble with....

With what? What the hell was I doing? Which night was he referring to?

I should tell you... there are many reasons I am alone. One of which is me being able to find a woman who can survive the night with me.

Is that why all of those women are dead? This was starting to sound less sexy and more insane.

Few can survive. If they do, less are able to bear our children, let alone survive the process in its entirety. When I saw you that night at Echoes— He smiled; it was almost devilish. —I knew. He took my hand and brought it to his lips, then rubbed his cheek along the back of it.

It sounds like you have a handle on your situation. If your brother is having trouble, why not stop him?

It is not as easy as you think. He was not always this aggressive... only recently. He is much older and stronger, and I doubt my other brothers would do anything about it either. I cannot stop him alone. I have followed you for some time... after my brother took notice. I feared he might harm you. When I took you tonight, it was to keep you safe.

Thanks, I guess. You know... I might be able to help you, I said with a cheerful grin.

He chuckled, the tone of it resonated. You? But you are so tiny.

Hey. I playfully slapped his hand. And not me. My friend... and her friends. She has this thing, well... I’m sure she’d help.

He narrowed his eyes. What do you mean?

She has this ability, she can smell things or something... like vampires and werewolves.

Shomeret?

What?

Your friend... she must be a Shomeret.

Um, I guess? I don’t know.

He straightened himself and looked right at me. Shomeret have zero tolerance for my kind. I do not know that she would allow me to live.

If I explained the situation to her, I’m sure she would. Besides, if you really want to be with me, you’ll do this.

So you are saying you will have me?

Sure. But no kids— not now. Actually, I’ll have to think on that whole situation.

Then we cannot now. He brought his hand over my stomach again.

Stop that, it’s freaking me out. Anyway, I have this thing... this device— I won’t get pregnant.

Is this something new? I am afraid I have not socialized much. I have kept to myself for over two hundred years.

"Yikes. How old are you, exactly?"

Old. Incubi sleep for decades, sometimes even centuries at a time. The last time I was awake was about sixty years ago. I could not find a mate then, either. Human women who can survive are hard to find... and supernatural creatures are rare in my world. Only if I detect them visually can I know for sure. With you, I knew almost instantly. He lifted me up in the air.

I couldn’t help but giggle. Put me down, silly.

You must be fae... at least partly. He set me back down and closed his eyes. It is getting harder to resist you. I should leave.

Wait, I said, grabbing his hand. I need to call my friend. She’s probably freaking out by now.

I would rather you did not... at least not yet.

His response put me at a loss for words. Onyx needed to know what happened and... wait. What’s your name? It’s so odd for me even to be having this conversation with you, and—

Ezra.

It seemed as if Ezra was worried at the prospect of Onyx’s involvement. Perhaps after a night of rest, I could attempt to ask him again... or just leave altogether.

Chapter 2

––––––––

Elliot

––––––––

My cellphone buzzed.

This is Detective Stevens.

There’s another body... about 300 yards from the club. It was Roger.

How did you get the call before I did?

I’ve been up all night going over the details of the first two cases.

Fine. I’ll be right there.

This wasn’t good. I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach over the potential victims; one in particular— Lisbeth. If it was Lisbeth, how could I tell Onyx?

I made it to the