Free Sweet Scent of Blood by Suzanne McLeod Page A

Coughing at the faint scent of blood that caught the back of my throat, I looked , but there was no magic, not even the flashing pink spell I’d expected to see at the constable’s wrist.
    The heat was making sweat prickle down my spine ... of course, the fact that it was going to be just me and a murderous vampire, alone together, might be another reason why I was less than cool and collected. The Waiver form had specified total privacy for a blood visit and not even the lawyers were given that. I was gambling that Mr October wasn’t just angling for a quick bite, but wanted to tell me his secrets, in secret.
    ‘The heat’s keeping the sucker docile.’ Constable Curly-hair gave her truncheon a swing. ‘Can’t have him getting all agitated now, can we?’
    Roberto October, aka Bobby, huddled on a plastic mattress against the back wall, long legs drawn up, arms clutched tight across his chest. His eyes were scrunched shut, his face half-hidden by his lank hair. The black leather had been replaced with a white paper coverall that covered him from neck to ankle, leaving his feet bare. He looked more lost boy than dangerous seductive vampire.
    ‘C’mon, Sucker,’ Constable Curly-hair crooned, ‘wake up. Dinner’s here.’
    What was her problem?
    Bobby didn’t move, didn’t even open his eyes.
    ‘Life and soul of the party, Handsome is,’ she smirked. ‘Maybe he’ll be more fun when you’re alone together.’
    She was really starting to piss me off. ‘Oh, I’m sure he will be,’ I said sweetly.
    ‘Right.’ She waved at the cell. ‘There’s a silver lining beneath the white: walls, floor, door and ceiling. So don’t bother trying any of your funny magic stuff.’
    Mentally, I raised my eyebrows. They were painting the cells in liquid silver now? The new DI must be really busting the budget on that one. Even the HOPE clinic didn’t have that particular magical mod con. Still, it explained why I couldn’t see any magic: the silver was blocking it. And that was why the air felt like sludge in my lungs. I’ve always reacted badly to silver, more so in the last three years.
    Constable Janet held up an electronic keypad and slapped her truncheon against the steel door. ‘Just bang when you’re finished and I’ll come and let you out.’ She didn’t need to add if I feel like it ; it was made plain by her tone of voice. ‘I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone then.’ She pressed a button on the keypad and the door slid open.
    My gut clenched. Crossing my arms, I walked towards the silent vampire. Was this really such a good idea? He might look helpless, but that didn’t mean he was.
    ‘Constable?’ I called over my shoulder.
    She stopped and turned back to me, scowling. ‘What?’
    I smiled, like I knew a secret she didn’t. ‘You won’t forget to turn off the CCTV, will you?’
    ‘No,’ she snapped, then muttered, not so sotto voce, ‘sucker slut!’ as the door hissed closed between us.
    I snorted. The insult was apt, even if she didn’t know why ... but I wasn’t planning on opening a vein or anything else for this particular sucker if I could help it.
    ‘He said you’d come.’ Bobby’s voice was rusty, as if he hadn’t used it for a long time.
    My pulse sped up. I swung back to face him, working to slow my heartbeat. ‘Who said I’d come?’
    Bobby sat up, arms hugging his knees. ‘My Master.’ He lifted his face to me. ‘He said you’d be able to help.’
    Shock sparked through me as I recognised him. I’d been right with my ‘lost boy’ thought: I’d met Bobby, four years ago, and he’d been sitting in the exact same position, saying the exact same words to me.
    ‘They’ve got her in there.’ He lifted his arm slowly and pointed behind him at the blank wall.
    The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
    ‘She’s in the basement.’ His shoulders hunched over again.
    I stared in disbelief. He was either auditioning for an Equity Card ...
    ‘The Master said to wait