Free The Rise of the New Bloods, From Dark Beginnings by K A HAMBLY Page A

all.’
      I watched him plate up the food as I tried to think of an excuse I could palm him off on. I was certain he had inkling that I was different.
      ‘Are you a veggie Jyrki?’ April asked, looking up at me with a smile.
      ‘Um, no,’ I smirked, ‘just not used to foreign food.’
      ‘Foreign!’ Blaze spluttered, ‘don’t you have chicken and noodles in Finland for fuck sake? Come on, try a bit, I’m not going to fucking charge ya.’
      ‘Ok, ok give it here then,’ I said leaning against the kitchen worktop.
    The plate of noodles and chicken, which was promptly shoved in my face, didn ’t look too appetising, I must admit, but reluctantly, to ‘appear human,’ tonight I took the plate and forced a mouthful down. It was not that I could not eat the food. I just was not used to the texture. I took another mouthful as they both watched me curiously.
      ‘Yay, see that wasn’t so difficult now, was it?’ April clapped.
      ‘Now I class you as an honorary American bro. Here’s a beer, get that down ya neck too.’
      ‘Give him a chance to chew the food first Blaze,’ April laughed
    I spluttered, almost choking on a chicken bone.
      ‘Oh jeez man, you are one of a kind.’ 
      ‘I probably am.’ I said feeling quite embarrassed to be eating in front of April.
      ‘Hey April, have you heard this guy sing yet?’
      ‘No obviously not. I haven’t been here for a week have I? I’ve been busy revising for exams and sorting out stuff from work. We’re still no closer to finding out who killed Dr. Matthews though.’
      ‘Really? I thought they had a lead?’
      ‘No. Nothing solid yet. Anyway enough about work ok.’
      ‘You should take a week off sis.’
      ‘No, I need to revise for my doctorate.’
      ‘You need a life outside work as well, y’know. That’s all I’m saying.’
      ‘Jyrki, I swear sometimes he thinks he’s my father,’ April said, taking another mouthful of food.
      ‘I think he’s right, you do need to take a break. Are you coming to our show next week?’
      ‘Yeah, I wouldn’t miss that for anything.’
      ‘Oh I forgot to say, Jonesy asked us to meet him down the pub later. April, are you coming?’
      ‘Yeah I suppose so, just to shut you up.’
      ‘Jyrki?’
    I could not very well say no, especially since April would be there.
      ‘Sure, but I need a change of clothes first.’
      ‘Well, I’ll have to meet you both there. I must take those library books back first before I get another $20 fine,’ April said.

 
    CHAPTER TWELVE
     
    Things were happening in my life quickly since arriving in New York. Almost like a succession of events that were playing out towards a grand finale. Not wanting to dwell on such things right now, I sat on the bed and pressed the CD player to come on. The rock music was drowning out my thoughts, which were becoming very erratic lately. I was drinking twice the amount of blood than I was used to, just so that I did not accidentally attack Blaze in the nights. I had wondered what Blaze must have thought about me though, as I did not actually need any sleep. A few times now, he had caught me sitting on the sofa in a hypnotic trance-like state. It is something us vampires do for time-out. Sometimes I wished I could have had more time out from all that was going on with Stride and the prophecy. Lately, it has been all I thought of.                 
      Blaze popped his head around the door.     
      ‘Here's a t shirt you can have,’ he said throwing it on the bed. ‘It’s one of ours, we wear them to promote the band. Do you think you're up to singing tonight? Thought we could do a small show there just for practice? I'll introduce you to the guys then?’
      ‘Err, yeah sure,’ I grinned. I was looking forward to tonight as I knew April would be there. I took another glimpse of myself in the mirror and ruffled up my dark damp hair. I did look slightly paler than the