A Shade of Vampire 11: A Chase of Prey Read Online Free PDF Page B

yet another set of doors behind a counter piled with food. We vanished through it and arrived in a kitchen. I was pleased by how certain Micah now seemed to be in detecting their scent. I hoped that this meant that we weren’t far behind them. He headed straight toward an open door at the back of the kitchen. We emerged on a balcony. A wide river ran a few meters away.
    Ah, water. This was the one element of nature that completely impaired werewolves’ sense of smell. We climbed over the balcony and dropped down onto the shore.
    “Well,” I said, “if they entered the water, unless they drowned in there, they must have crawled out again.” I looked up and down along the bank. “We may as well go right first.”
    We started moving and it wasn’t long before Micah confirmed my guess. He picked up their scent again about two miles down. It led us up to a busy highway. From there we took a right, and then Micah indicated that we cross the road. He walked along the gravelly pavement for a little longer and then stopped suddenly.
    “What?”
    Micah scratched his jaw, frowning. “The scent is strong here,” he said. “Stronger than any other location we’ve passed through so far.”
    “What do you think this means?” I asked.
    “I think they stopped here for a while, possibly even a few hours. Perhaps for a rest.”
    “Or more likely to get picked up by a vehicle,” I said, eyeing the cars whizzing by. “The vampire would have had trouble traveling with the girl during the day due to the sun… Where does the scent go from here?”
    Micah walked ten feet and stopped, right at the edge of the road. “This is where it’s last strongest.” He continued walking along the edge of the road. “But I can still sense it. They went in that direction.” He pointed left.
    There was no doubt in my mind that they’d gotten into a vehicle. This would make it harder for Micah to track them down. But it wouldn’t be impossible, as long as they kept a window open.
    I looked up at a nearby signpost.
    “So they’re headed north.”

Chapter 6: Rose
    T he vehicle slowed to a stop as we approached a gas station. Luis parked by a pump and got out of the car to fill the tank. The late afternoon sun touched my face as I looked up at the sky. It wouldn’t be long until we parted ways and continued on foot. I smiled to think that we’d pass these men on the road in no time. Then I groaned, realizing we’d have to find some other vehicle to hitchhike again tomorrow.
    Luis finished filling up the tank and headed toward the pay station. Julio stepped out of the car, his boots ringing on the pavement as he made his way toward the van’s back door. He opened it.
    “We have some time. You probably want to stretch your legs.”
    I looked at Caleb and he nodded. We both climbed out and walked around. I stretched out my arms and rolled my neck from side to side. I’d lost track of how many hours we’d been sitting.
    We stood beneath the station’s covering. Caleb didn’t need to pull the hood over his head. He just stood there, his black suit tied around his shoulders.
    Julio looked at me. “Would you like to use the bathroom?”
    “Yes,” I said, relieved that he’d asked.
    “Come, I’ll show you where it is.”
    Caleb stepped forward. “Tell me where it is and I’ll take her.”
    Julio smiled and nodded courteously. “Of course,” he said. “Follow me.”
    Caleb’s grip around my arm didn’t loosen as we walked toward the entrance of the shop. Its shelves were stacked with newspapers, snacks, bottles of water and cigarettes. Julio led us to a door at the back of the shop. He pushed it open to reveal a narrow staircase winding upward.
    I looked from Julio back to the man behind the counter. “Are you sure it’s okay if we go up there?”
    “Sure… Pedro, it’s okay, right?”
    The shopkeeper glanced up briefly and nodded toward the door.
    I climbed the steps with Caleb, Julio walking up behind us. We reached a dim