Black Hollow: Blood Shadows

By Robbie Cox

The past has returned. So have the nightmares.
Miles Lysander struggled for decades to put the past behind him and recapture the serenity he experienced before the Korean Conflict. With the help of Deana Abbington, he is almost there. However, a stranger has appeared in Black Hollow, bringing back memories of a time Miles would prefer to forget.
Seeing her grandfather on her doorstep excited Deana Abbington, and she couldn’t wait to show him around town. However, a run-in with her grandfather’s past, brings the visit to a quick boil, and Deana is put between one of the people in her Struggling Paranormals Anonymous group and the man she strove to be like her entire life.
Can the present survive the collision with the past? One-Click Blood Shadows now as worlds collide and nightmares walk the streets during the day.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sandy Shores Publishing
• Release date: Jul 4, 2021

Robbie Cox

Robbie started writing as a way to escape - escape his teachers, escape his fears, even to escape his insecurities and doubts. However, his stories of seduction and adventure, not only allowed him to hide in the lives of his characters, but also captivated those who wanted to escape with him. Now, he enjoys a full-time career as a storyteller and novelist and invites readers to run away with him- to escape, getting lost in the seduction of adventure.When he is not writing, Robbie can be found on his back porch enjoying a cigar, a scotch, and a good story. He derives pleasure from his large family and his crazy group of friends who provide the inspiration for his blog The Mess that Is Me.He is the author of the Urban Fantasy series, The Warrior of the Way, along with the paranormal series, The Witches of Savannah. His Contemporary Romance series includes The Rutherford Series, The Harper Twins, and the Fangirls series.

Book preview

Blood Shadows

By

Robbie Cox

Blood Shadows

First Edition

Copyright © 2020 by Robbie Cox

All rights reserved

Cover art & graphics by Brannon Jones

Editing by CTS Editing & Weis Editing/Proofreading Services

Formatting by CJC Formatting

www.robbiecox.com

This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are strictly products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be reproduced in any form, except in assisting in a review. This book may not be resold. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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SandyShoresLogo- Black

To my mom, your memory lives on with every word I write

Chapter One

Fangs Blood Shadows

WHAT THE HELL? Basgi squeaked as he practically hopped in his chair. That hurts!

For crying out loud, would you please sit still? Miles Lysander cocked an eyebrow, pressing his lips together as he held on to the brownie’s scrawny arm, the needle making a slight bulge under the crotchety creature’s leathery brown skin. It only hurts because you refuse to stop moving. Of course, the fact that the brownie was more a stick than a living being probably didn’t help matters. The needle was almost thicker than his arm.

A chuckle came from the other side of the room as Lothaire Aramastus sat there watching the other vampire drawing green blood from Basgi’s arm. Lost your touch, Miles? The little bugger giving you some issues? Perhaps, instead of a needle, you should just sink your fangs into the miserable creature and take your ten percent that way.

Miles sighed as he glanced over at the slender vampire, his friend’s green eyes peeking out of his shaggy blond bangs. Lothaire never took anything seriously, but then again, the vampire never did anything serious in his life when he was a human. Why Miles thought the vamp would change now was beyond him. "I have not lost my touch," he growled as he slid the needle out of Basgi’s arm, placing a small square piece of gauze on the pinprick of a hole in the brownie’s flesh.

Lothaire laughed harder. Well, make sure our customer there doesn’t lose his arm. Can’t have people afraid of coming to the blood bank now, can we? He shrugged. We kind of need their ten percent to keep our bloodlust down without having to, uh, find other means. Lothaire stared at the brownie’s neck, grinning.

Basgi’s eyes widened a little as he squirmed in his seat. Are you finished here? I think I need to, uh, go get some chocolate. I just remembered.

Miles nodded toward the door as he labeled the pouch of blood. Go on.

Basgi leaped out of the chair, scampering toward the door that led out to the front lobby. As he reached it, the wooden door swung open, and Raelinn Myers, the third vampire who worked at the Black Hollow Blood Bank and the only female, entered the lab area, a cardboard carrier of coffees from Hell’s Brew in her hands. Basgi shoved his way past her, rushing to the front door.

Raelinn glanced down as the little brownie scampered past her, the tiny creature not even bothering to say hello, goodbye, or get the hell out of my way, which didn’t surprise Miles. The brownie was a pugnacious snit at the best of times; Lothaire’s suggestion of biting into the little guy probably sent him into a tizzy.

Another satisfied customer? Raelinn asked with a giggle as she shut the door behind her. She walked over to the counter and set the coffees down. You do know we need them to keep coming in, right? Seraphine will have a fit if we go all necky-bitey on people. She pulled one of the coffees out of the carrier, turned, and leaned back on the counter. What did you do to him, anyway?

Miles left his seat, walking over to the specimen basket and slipping the pouch of brownie blood into one of the tiny squares. I poked him with a needle. He wasn’t sure why paranormals needed a blood bank. Many didn’t even really have blood...or died. It wasn’t like they would need a transfusion at some point, or so he figured. Still, it kept the vampires fed without them having to feed on the citizens of Black Hollow, so Miles would take it. It was worth the useless work to have a place of peace to live.

Lothaire started laughing as Raelinn arched her eyebrows, a grin creasing her face. Is that what you did? She dropped her gaze down to Miles’s crotch. And needle? You really should have more confidence in yourself than that. I mean, it’s been a while since you and I enjoyed the sheets together, but I don’t remember your manhood as a needle.

Lothaire laughed harder, grinning over at Miles.

Miles took a deep breath, rolling his eyes. Trust me, self-esteem is not one of my issues. He moved over to the counter with the coffees, not needing to remind Raelinn what he knew she remembered quite well. The short-cropped blonde shared his bed more times than he could count over the centuries, and every time, the petite vampire had warmed his cold body well into the night. He slipped his coffee from the carrier as he turned to face her, her dark green eyes twinkling at him. He just shook his head as he popped the lid off his coffee.

Yeah, our boy here has plenty of other issues, Lothaire said, holding his hand out for someone to hand him his own coffee. When neither of the others moved, he pouted, wiggling his fingers at the cups.

Miles shook his head, but reached for the third coffee, passing it over to the lazy vampire.

Lothaire grinned. Thank you, my friend.

Miles ignored him as he glanced over at Raelinn. Do we have other appointments today?

We do, but then again, so do you, the female vampire said. Aren’t you supposed to be stretched out on some couch soon, telling all your woes to that dark-haired therapist?

Miles bristled but said nothing. He knew Raelinn didn’t approve of his interest in Deana Abbington, one of the therapists in Black Hollow, seeing as how it caused him to share her bed less. Nor did she agree with the support group Deana organized, thinking the whole expressing your feelings as a sign of weakness. He didn’t care, though. Somehow, talking to Deana made the nightmares disappear, allowing him to sleep, not that vampires really needed to sleep, but it was nice to lay his head down once in a while, close his eyes, and not see the fighting from decades ago. I do not lie on her couch and you know it. I attend her support group at Thirst, and that’s not until tomorrow morning, but thanks for keeping track. He sipped his coffee as he sat back down in his seat.

Leave him alone, Raelinn, Lothaire scolded. Talking about the dark corners of our existence is always beneficial.

But you do want to be stretched out on her couch, don’t you? Raelinn taunted, ignoring Lothaire. I’ve seen how you look at her. If not her couch, then perhaps her…

Enough, Miles said, rolling his eyes. You need help. Perhaps you should set up an appointment with Deana.

Raelinn giggled as she lifted her cup to her lips.

So, who’s next to get…? Lothaire started to ask when they heard the front door open followed by a shrieking, Yoo hoo, anyone here? Don’t you have someone to man your front desk? Where is everyone? This is a lousy way to treat your clients.

Miles rolled his eyes as he sunk further down in his seat. Maren Applewood, he groaned. Glad I already had to deal with Basgi. Someone else is up.

Lothaire and Raelinn laughed as they watched the other vampire slink lower into his chair, eyes closed. I’ll take care of her, Raelinn said. She’s like a Band Aid. You have to prick her quick and get it over with, or she’ll bitch your ears off.

Miles’s eyes popped wide as he stared over at Raelinn. "Please, do not ever, ever, tell me to prick Maren Applewood, quick or otherwise. He shuddered as he slid back up in his chair. That just makes me nauseous."

Setting her coffee on a counter, Raelinn stood, crossing the room. You don’t think Maren’s sweet? But she has such a pleasant demeanor. She turned back to face the others, rolling her eyes before shoving her way out to the front of the blood bank. Hello, Miss Applewood. How are you doing today?

You would never find me leaving my desk at the academy unattended, Maren snapped. What kind of message does that send to the people who enter, looking for assistance?

Miles glanced over at Lothaire. I think I’m going to take a walk, he said, shoving himself out of his chair.

Aren’t you forgetting something? Lothaire asked, one brow cocked.

Miles paused, glanced down at his coffee cup and then back over at Lothaire, his brows furrowed. What are you talking about?

Lothaire said nothing, just pointed to his neck at the topaz stone dangling from a gold chain, one eyebrow raised.

Oh, yeah. Miles reached into his pocket, pulling out a duplicate of the necklace Lothaire indicated. No point bursting into flames. He set his coffee cup down and slipped the necklace over his neck. Alizon Bishop magicked the stones to allow the vampires to walk around during the day without exploding into a ball of fire. Nothing ruins a good hump day like being turned into a pile of ash.

Picking up his cup, Miles said a quick, Thanks, and then walked out of the small lab. He noticed Raelinn standing behind the desk as Maren Applewood updated her paperwork. With a quick nod, he ducked outside before the cantankerous older woman could start in about anything, and Maren always had something to start in about.

Standing in the bright afternoon sun, Miles took a deep breath, glancing around at the surrounding businesses. Saroj waved hello before stepping inside the Head and Tails Clinic, his ever-present smile on his face as he shut the door behind him. The yeti was the most cheerful of the Black Hollow residents, a sharp contrast to the people Miles already had to deal with that morning.

He took another sip of his coffee as he glanced down at Josephine’s dentist office and the Parchment Paradise, Black Hollow’s bookstore, both quiet at the moment. Glancing the other way, he looked at Tinker’s Gas Station, bustling with activity. He stared a moment longer, noticing a man standing on the corner, staring in his direction. Or at least, he thought it was a man. The person was wrapped head-to-toe in a long duster with a floppy hat covering his head and a scarf circling his neck. He wore long, thick pants from what Miles could tell and thick black work boots. The man even had his hands stuffed inside his pockets. Miles stared a moment longer, warring within whether or not he needed to approach the stranger. There was only one reason someone would cover themselves so thoroughly on such a warm September day.

There was another vampire in Black Hollow.

Chapter Two

Fangs Blood Shadows

DEANA ABBINGTON GLANCED up as her office door opened, a man with close-cropped gray hair peeking inside. Well, you do work, the older man said, chuckling, his smile the best