Free Follow the Bloodshed (The Executioner Trilogy Book 3) by Kindra Sowder Page A

a regular occurrence. If anything, it hadn’t happened before now. Then I smelled it. There was a faint smell of ozone in the air and I wasn’t sure if anyone else could sense it or not. It tasted bitter and metallic in the back of my throat, making me to want to spit. I held back the urge.
    Gordon stopped as soon as he noticed them. I dropped his hand and moved past Beth to make my way down the stairs. I felt a cold and sweaty hand grip my arm and turned to see Beth there, holding onto me like she knew something would happen to me if I made it out of that door. Her concern and fear was appreciated. I also felt with absolute certainty we were safe inside of the barrier no matter what was on the other side trying to break it down, but you never knew sometimes. My blood was singing as I looked at her, like the force outside was calling to me and drawing me out. I needed to go out there, and I couldn’t let Beth hold me back. No matter how scared I was.
    I jerked my arm away from her and said, “We have to see what’s out there. It could possibly bring the barrier down.”
    She just began to shake her head. What I had said to her wasn’t a lie. The whole shield could come crashing down around us if we let this onslaught continue. I let the hand rail guide me down and realized I was shaking slightly from the fear. I took a deep and steadying breath and continued on. My heart was threatening to come out through my mouth and I swallowed, choking it down as best as I could. I had to face this. I could feel eyes on my back and turned slightly; enough to see Beth’s eyes intent on my back and Gordon a few steps behind me. He wasn’t about to let me go out there by myself. Chase was a still figure, mouth slightly open and watching the door like nothing else existed. There was only one thing left to do. Open the door and that’s exactly what I did. It was now standing wide open and in the light I could see a figure standing beyond the barrier.
    I turned my focus back to the open door and closed the distance; placing my hand on the door jamb as I made my way past. The same energy was vibrating through the floor and I could feel it through the cool wood, which sent it humming through my system. Gordon’s hand slid down my arm and into mine, our sweat mingling and our breathing heavy. I could still feel Beth and Chase at the top of the stairs.  If it weren’t for the barrier I would’ve been able to feel whatever it was on the other side. The light of the shimmering energy was bright as it rose from the point of impact all the way out and up. Because of the light I couldn’t see the figure that was causing the barrier to react this way. I could only see the silhouette of the figure standing in the yard. That had to be Sam. There was no one else. There was no way to know who was on the other side unless I could get it to stop. My bare feet touched the wood of the porch and I made my way quickly down the steps, Gordon by my side. We were a force to be reckoned with, I felt, and nothing could stop us.
    At least this was my thought as we neared the position of the figure that was causing the commotion, passing Sam as she stood, watching the barrier shimmer with each blow like she had been hypnotized by it. The light was beginning to die down and I saw a shock of bright blonde hair, a pale face, and a thin body sheathed with a delicate white dress. Then she spoke.
    “Executioner? What a nice little surprise!” The words came out in a high trill, like a cat watching a mouse struggle under its paw. And that was the same exact look I saw in Lilith’s eyes as she watched the fear take over.

Chapter 13:
    Darkness Falling
    “One of my children told me you were back. I had to come see this for myself,” she said in a sing-song voice. She was still the same mother vampire I had met before. Still with the eyes screaming of evil intent, and the ADHD like personality. I was wondering how long she’d be able to hold her attention on