Sunlit Blood

By D. M. Barton

Six months have passed since Bethany found out she is a leecher. That the blackouts in her life were because of this fact. Now she’s settled into her new life. Having moved to a new city. Her friends became her new family. Coming to peace with who she is as a person and what she can do with her powers.

     &

• Language: English
• Publisher: Words Matter Publishing
• Release date: Jul 10, 2019
• ISBN: 9781949809336

D. M. Barton

I work in a warehouse which allows my mind to wander about plot holes, puzzles pieces and those little epiphanies I get. Most of my spare time is spent with my other half and my son. The rare time to myself is spent working on my books or playing video games. Unfortunately, the latter often wins.I live in a lovely little village that is so quiet that it's idyllic for when I sit outside and chill with my laptop. I see my family often and they are always supportive of my dream to be a full-time writer. I've finished my first series and now onto the next. I want to keep going, never stop. Idea after idea and just keep throwing out brilliant reads.Recently got some amazing feedback from a fan and it's so addictive. So, I will use that to keep moving forward. To keep perfecting my craft and to make it a career.

Book preview

Dedication

I dedicated my last novel to my parents because of everything they have done for me. This book is dedicated to my girlfriend, Sarah. She is always willing to listen to random ideas. And she is constantly giving me support and helping me keep my nose in my laptop.

Always in loving memory of my sister, Catherine Barton.

Acknowledgments

After Moonlit Blood, it would have been easy to step back. To feel that accomplishment was enough. However, the ongoing support I receive from the people around me had me pushing forward. So to my family, girlfriend and all that took the time to read Moonlit Blood and those that gave me feedback. Thank you all to pushing me forward to keep dreaming bigger.

My girlfriend is still on at me to get some writing done when I’ve got some spare time. I thank her for always understanding my rants I go on when I have to get something out of my head. To make sense of it.

I want to thank my grandad because I recently remembered that he was the first person to ever give me any writing advice when I was very little. And I still remember and use it to this very day.

I thank everyone at Words Matter Publishing again because the ongoing support is amazing. All the things they’ve done for me. All the things they’re looking into and bringing out to help their authors.

And I would love to thank anyone who picks up my books and decides to have a read. That’s why I write these books. To share these stories with the reader.

Chapter 1

Design5

The park had been taken into night with the disappearance of the sun and the rising of the moon. The full moon had been just over a week ago now, but it was still bright up on the blanket of black. Stars twinkled around it, surrounding it in sparkles of light.

Each time I saw the moon, it reminded me of my werewolf boyfriend. Even though we were having a little disagreement at the moment, it still brought me fond memories of times we spent together.

I looked down from the sky and let my eyes scan around at the people walking through the park at this time of night. Couples taking long walks after a meal out. Single walkers taking their journeys home from work. Then there were the shifty looking ones who you couldn’t tell if they were homeless or were about to hold you at gunpoint and steal your money.

Then I spotted my friends. Cassie was standing by the hot dog cart flirting with the young vendor which wasn’t at all surprising. Logan was on a bench along the long path through the middle of the grand area. A newspaper was open on his lap. However, I knew he wasn’t reading any of it. The three of us were here for a reason, and it wasn’t to spend a night out in the cold.

It was to stop a group of werewolves who were mugging and beating on people in the parks around Thornton City. Usually, Logan wouldn’t want us getting involved in something like this even if we had moved to the city a few months ago to start over. Only, Logan’s ghostly friend Melvin had informed us that the government looked into it. Instead of stopping them they just let them be, to continue in their evil ways.

In the past whenever this had happened, there was a hidden reason, and Logan was curious to find out what it was. We had successfully pulled ourselves from the grid, and with Melvin keeping an eye on their search for us, we were able to stay a few steps ahead.

Logan saw this stake-out as a safe risk to take especially if it gave us leverage over the people searching for us. Keeping my eyes running around the faces that moved past me I wrapped my black denim jacket around me tighter and crossed my arms over my chest. It did little to protect me from the chilly breeze that ran across the vast open space.

Catching Cassie in my sight again I noticed her clothing was less for winter than mine. Then I remembered she didn’t need the heat like my body did. So I used my own natural ability of leeching and focused on her ashy scent. Breathing in slowly, suckling at that essence until I felt it heat up my body like I was wrapped in a heating blanket.

That’s where I stopped. I didn’t need her strength or her speed. So I left the change small and felt my body temp balancing neutral. Letting my arms rest to my side. Chuckling as Cassie kept flirting.

Honing my hearing, I listened to their conversation. Having her sweet voice coming to my ears like she was standing right next to me. Smiling as she flirted with the cute guy in the red and white striped apron. Have you ever picked up a girl in the park before?

His soft chuckle sounded nice as I half listened to his response and half watched the park for our werewolves. I haven’t. Tend not to get the nicest of people walking through here at this time of night. Until now.

Oh, you flirt. I’m not usually this forward... The rest of her line was cut short as I burst out laughing at her blatant lie. I looked over to them to see if the guy was laughing as well but saw her glaring my way across the grass.

I smiled and sent over a wave as I said, Forward? I think this is the most laid back I’ve seen you around a cute guy.

A little smile cracked through her glare as she stared. She didn’t reply, but as she turned back to carry on her conversation, I noticed her middle finger sticking up behind her back at me. It made me laugh as she made an excuse and left her number with the vendor before walking off.

As she turned the necklace she wore, it shone under the moonlight. Some of the red liquid inside swam around the glass vial. Thanks to my blood inside it, the government was able to fashion the jewellery to stop a vampire from burning under sunlight.

I stole it from a vampire when he attacked me. Gifting it to Cassie seemed like the most logical thing to do. She hadn’t taken it off since that day. I remember the massive smile she had when she felt the sun at its hottest around noon.

Although the necklace was nice around her neck, it always reminded me of why the government was after me. To extract more of my blood and use it for all kinds of things. The thought of becoming a lab rat was horrible. I pushed that thought to the back of my mind where it lived as my friend came over.

Cassie pulled that smile as she walked over the grass and came to rest her shoulder against the tree I was standing by. I don’t understand why you were laughing.

Oh come on. Do you pull those kind of lines out all the time?

Only when the guy is cute and innocent looking. They tend to believe anything a woman says.

Well, I don’t think he took his eyes off of you as you walked away, so it seemed to work.

They always call.

Well, I can’t wait to meet him. I hear wedding bells in the future. Catching her moving in the corner of my eye I quickly breathed in her scent. Her fist connected with my arm but I just shrugged it off thanks to the vampiric body I now had.

The only wedding bells I hear are yours and Drew’s.

Not too sure about that.

She looked over at me with a look of concern. You two still fighting?

Yep.

Over something as silly as a strip club?

I turned to her and quickly shot back, It’s not silly. He could pick any kind of business to open up in the city. God knows his dead father left him enough of them to take over. Drew had been the only person to receive anything out of Griffin Gaynes’ will. Which my boyfriend found odd since he was ready to kill us at the order of the government.

You know he didn’t want anything to do with his dad. Hence why he sold all those businesses.

I know. I blew out a breath feeling a little annoyed that my best friend was on the werewolf’s side. I think I would prefer him to own a crooked business rather than a strip club.

You don’t mean that. Drew is a great guy, and he adores you. He wouldn’t do anything to mess with you because then I would have to shove silver up his arse.

My laugh was so unexpected I almost choked on it. Now that would be payback. I know he loves me and wouldn’t hurt me. I trust him. I just don’t trust the kind of skanks who do that kind of job.

I think you’ve been watching too much television. They aren’t all like that. Just pop down there one night. See for yourself. You might enjoy it. They have guys stripping there as well.

Now I know why you’re always down there.

I go there to support a friend and his business. Nothing to do with the half-naked hunks dancing on stage.

I’m sure. I smiled at her because she could always make me feel better about anything in my life. Just her smile alone had me feeling happier. Like it was infectious.

Just then Logan’s voice cut through our light conversation with some important news. They’ve just entered the park through the east entrance. We both looked over to the iron gates where a group of four guys came walking through. I gave the air a quick sniff and verified they were all werewolves.

Logan’s voice caught our vampire hearing again. Bethany, rank them in power. Weakest to strongest.

Give me a second. My breath brought in the four minty scents. Analysing each one I got different hints of strength and speed but also other hints that I had been noticing lately. I didn’t know what they meant yet, but that would come with the training Logan was offering.

Second from left, far right, one next to him and the strongest is the far left werewolf.

Perfect. How much essence do you need to take in to acquire their speed?

Speed is medium.

What else is medium?

Strength. The only time you need to take in the full essence is if you want all their abilities.

What about their weaknesses?

A being’s weaknesses come to you as soon as you take in any amount of essence.

Good. You’ve learnt a lot since we moved here. You up for a fight?

I remember my training if that’s what you’re asking. He knew I would always try and avoid a fight. Logan also knew that I have been able to win a fight or two against him.

Okay then. Let’s get this thing started. We follow them back to their hideout, and that’s where we attack.

What happens if there are more of them there? Cassie had a good point, and it had my stomach knotting up a little at the thought.

Then we re-con the headquarters. Attack when some of them leave. Really we only need the leader of the pack.

We best get moving then. They’re moving quickly.

Logan folded up his newspaper and dropped it into the bin as he stood. Cassie and I moved from the tree and headed down the path that cut the park in two, right down the middle.

Keeping my eyes on the four men, they took a left and followed the smaller path towards the north side of the park. As soon as they left through the gates, they suddenly split up and bolted.

They spotted us, Logan ordered us to split up. Shouting our names as the three of us burst out of the north gates, Pointing off in our designated directions.

He went left following two of the werewolves, the two weakest. Cassie was ordered to head straight, and I took the right following the second strongest werewolf.

Before leaving her company, I sucked on Cassie’s essence to bring the rest of her abilities into my body. Feeling her speed kick in and I shot off, bringing the darkness around my body to disappear from sight. Flicking my eyesight to night vision as the werewolf changed direction suddenly and shot off down an alleyway.

My ears picked up his footsteps around a few corners as I followed. Until suddenly they stopped. I froze there waiting, searching for any sign of him. When I couldn’t spot any movement, I shut my eyes and used my ears again. Tuning out the traffic and the bustle of city dwellers. Cornering off everything but the alleyway ahead of me.

Moving deeper in my sense of hearing until I caught the steady breathing of my target. He wasn’t out of breath just like me which was slightly annoying. If his stamina had been less than my own, it would give me an edge in a fight.

I pin-pointed his position behind a large dumpster against the left wall and slowly walked forwards. Keeping my feet from making any kind of sound even to his werewolf hearing. Moving closer my foot tapped into a small puddle of water sending the echo of the ripples hitting across the walls.

A sudden thud came, and the metal bin came skidding across the concrete towards me. My first thought was to dodge it out of fear, but then my training kicked in, and I listened to Logan’s lessons. As the rubbish box came within reach, I rammed my heel into the side.

I knew I was stronger than this beast and even though it ached my leg to do it, I sent the bin back towards my enemy with a new dent in the side. Luckily he hadn’t anticipated it, and it thumped into him, crashing him back into some wooden boxes.

I shot forwards and jumped onto his chest, pinning him down to the floor and punching him square in the nose. It broke under the immense pressure shooting blood out of his nostrils. He slumped back onto the floor and didn’t move.

The punch hadn’t knocked him out, but the pain seemed to have put him into a daze. I got up to my feet and towered over him with a threat. Stay down, or you’ll get another.

He groaned back in response which I took as a yes. Taking a deep breath, I let it calm my body down as the vampire inside of me wanted to lick up that blood trickling from his nose. Cassie might be old enough to withstand the sight of blood, but I hadn’t had that much training in this area, so it was still tough on my urges.

I was tempted to release the vampire essence until I felt another presence in the alleyway. Looking one way and then the other I didn’t spot anyone, but the feeling of being watched was still pressing against my skin like a creepy touch.

So I used my leecher ability and sucked the air in around me. With it came that familiar scent of a vampire who had been popping into my life more and more recently. Not due to a friendship. It was the complete opposite especially since he had killed my friend Jewel. Kellen, I know you’re there. Like always.

How the hell do you do that? My ears picked up a little chuckle.

Would it be too mean to say that you smell bad?

Spell after spell, and you keep catching my essence. You’re one of a kind.

What do you want? Here just to pester me?

I wanted to try this new spell out, and it appears it doesn’t work as well as the witch made out. Think I might have to kill her for lying.

Because that’s your answer for everything.

If it works, don’t change it.

He slipped out of the shadows that he had pulled around him, and I scowled at him. Why don’t you do everyone a favour and just go sunbathing for the day?

You’d miss me too much.

Not able to think but feel the anger I felt for him I bent over, picked up a piece of wood and launched it at his chest as hard and as fast as I could. Annoyingly enough he caught it just in time, but I noticed his t-shirt moving at the point of my weapon. I’m getting closer.

Kellen’s lips curled into a grin. We both know how powerful you are. If you really wanted to kill me, then all you have to do is suck on my essence and combine it with the one inside you already and throw again. He tossed the wood back to me like we were playing a game.

I caught it in my palm and tightened my grip. Following his own idea, I pulled on his essence and let it mix in with Cassie’s. My body pumped up with power, but then I felt something strange in my core.

A small ping of pain before it shot out like a flare and burned my insides. I breathed out letting every sniff of essence escape including Cassie’s. My hand went to my chest. I could feel the heat of that burning through the material of my top. What the hell was that?

Luckily the witch wasn’t completely lying. You might be able to sense when I am near, but you will never use my essence against me again.

You did that on purpose?

I used your hate for me against you. You can detect, but you can’t use me. I’m still devious enough to stay ahead of this fight. Don’t ever forget that.

Just get out of here.

Fine with me. My mission was to prove my point. Yours is to never forget that I just walked away. Then he blurred off into existence. I was tempted to shout after him about how much I hated him, but it wouldn’t be any good. Even with his heightened hearing, with his speed, he would be out of earshot before the first word.

So instead I turned back to the werewolf on the floor only he was no longer there. I blew out a frustrated breath and found myself hating Kellen even more now. Turning back in the direction of the park my breath caught in my throat as I came face to face with that werewolf. His nose had fixed itself and in his hand held the sharp piece of wood I had dropped.

I may not be a vampire anymore, but that weapon would still kill me, no problem. He attacked, and all my training went out the window through fear of dying. I knew all I had to do was suck on his minty essence and move out of the way. It may still hit me, but with a werewolf’s healing factor it wouldn’t be fatal.

Only I just couldn’t do it. My body was tense with horror, and I was stuck to the spot. Frozen in my thoughts. The tip of the wood pierced through the air coming towards my chest until I heard it sink into flesh and muscle.

But it wasn’t my flesh. There was no pain. An arm was stretched across me, and I looked up to see Kellen looking down at me like a guardian angel. There was no hint of pain in that look. It was more like the wood burning; his blood was just an annoyance to be ignored. It was hard to tell if he was putting on this brave face or if he was so old that wood had no effect on his blood.

Within a blink of my eyes, he turned, ripped the wood from his arm and rammed it into the werewolf’s neck. And he didn’t stop there. Teeth came sliding out of his gums and he sunk them through skin and into flesh. Sucking on his blood and drinking it down like he had been on a deserted island for months and his blood was water.

When he finally ripped his canines free, I saw the massive wound and the mess he had made. Standing there shocked at what had happened in just a second, Kellen lifted up the body and dumped it down into the dumpster.

I swallowed past the lump in my throat and cleared it with a cough. Why did you do that? Why did you save me?

The hateful man turned to suck on his arm. He spat out blood and tiny shards of wood from his mouth. That’s a simple answer. You’re mine to kill, and I won’t have anyone robbing me of that pleasure.

That small ball of gratitude was smashed to pieces. Next time just let me die. I’d love to deny you the pleasure.

With his canines still extended out past his lip, it made his grin even more menacing. The blood on his chin made him look disgusting. Until next time, Bethany.

Fu... I was going to swear at him, but he was gone before my lips finished that first syllable. My eyes looked off into the distance where he had vanished, wondering if I would ever get rid of this vampire shadow I had acquired.

It had been six months since he had killed Jewel and as far as I knew he hadn’t attempted to fulfil his list of future victims. Logan was second, and I would like to think he would tell me if Kellen had made an attempt on his life. Then again, if he had, Logan would have lost. He didn’t have the same level of leeching that I had.

Anger burned inside me at the knowledge that if Kellen wanted to, he could kill us without a problem. So what was he waiting for? Kellen was a man of his word as far as I could tell. If he said that it would happen, then it would. The question was when and how and they were questions we would never get the answers to until it was too late.

Pulling my new phone out I dialled Logan’s number to find out where he was. He picked up on the second ring sounding a little out of breath. Hey, you okay?

Yeah. The werewolf is dead though. I’ll explain later why.

As long as you’re fine. Me and Cassie are at a warehouse on the industrial estate. I’ll send you the address. Use the map app and come join us.

Be there as soon as I can. As I hung up the phone, a message came through with the address. I followed the directions the computer voice gave me. The first half of the journey took ten minutes, but then I came across a vampire whose essence helped me do the rest in no time.

Coming to the little red mark, I looked up at a warehouse that looked abandoned. The perfect place for a pack of beasts to hide in. Only one of the windows hadn’t been shattered or cracked and where the big shutter door used to be was just a large hole.

I could hear Logan’s voice carrying out with the wind as I entered. The large area was filled with concrete pillars that held up the roof. The state of which was filled with holes and looked like a strong breeze would bring it crashing down.

Walking over to my two friends I noticed one of the werewolves from the park chained to a chair. I didn’t think he was bound by silver, but the chains looked thick enough to stop him from escaping.

Logan was interrogating him, so I just stood by Cassie and didn’t interrupt. Half paying attention to the werewolf’s responses and half on alert for any of his friends.

Lying on the floor were the last two from the park. Judging by Logan’s line of enquiry he was asking about their connection with the government. The beast in the chair wasn’t having any of it. Never answering a question with anything but insults and growls of attitude.

So I let my mind drift off with my leecher ability. It was a training activity Logan would have me do. Suck in a load of different scents around me and sort through them as quickly as possible.

So I reached out my radar and brought in all of them. Putting them all into a messy ball, I pulled on the ends like undoing a knot. Sorting Cassie’s first since she was the most familiar. Then the werewolf within this building and then moving further afield. Sorting out the strands of scents with how far away they were from me, creating a web of blips in my head.

I had been getting quicker at this over the months, and now I could do it without even thinking about it. It came so naturally to me sometimes through our training Logan had seemed a little annoyed at me. Especially when we found out that my radar reached further than his. His male pride had been hurt, but luckily he got over it quickly.

I came to the last strand but found something strange. It felt the weakest so I would have put it the furthest away, but when I concentrated on it, the blip was coming from within the building. Pulling it to the forefront of my thoughts I analysed it.

The smell wasn’t like anything I had gotten before. It wasn’t so much a smell but a feeling of drifting through clouds. Locking down its location, I told Cassie what I was up to and walked away towards the offices at the back of the building.

Moving through a doorway and down the hall, I came to a door which held the essence behind it. Only it didn’t match the rest of the building. It was made out of metal and almost brand new with a few scratches from use. It had a built-in number pad which I didn’t have the code to.

What I did have was an ability that gave me options. I let my mind move out to where the other three were. Sucking in Cassie’s ashy scent, I pulled her strength into my body. My arms tensed with their new power and I threw punch after punch. Balled up fists pounded against the metal, denting each time around that number pad.

Until I slammed my fist through it and the lock snapped within the wall, and the door swung open with a crash. Revealed to me was a small room with