Bloodliner Read Online Free PDF Page B

where?" said Jonah.
    "Trace your roots," said Stanza. "Family history. It's our only chance."
    "To do what?" said Mavis. "Do vampires have a weakness for family trees?"
    Stanza grimaced again. "Long story."
    Mavis frowned and rubbed her temples. The weirdness was giving her a headache.
    "Look, I'm going to get some aspirin from my office." Mavis turned, fully intending to do exactly what she said.
    And maybe dial 911 on the way.
    But she didn't get far.
    Stanza's shout stopped her before she'd taken a single step. "Don't move!"
    "But I'm just..." Mavis didn't finish her sentence.
    As she turned, she saw Stanza swing a machine gun over her shoulder on a strap. Until that moment, Mavis had thought the strap belonged to a backpack or bag.
    "You're coming with us!" said Stanza.
    Oh God! I knew I should have used the candlestick!
    "Now get down!" Stanza aimed the gun in Mavis' direction. When Mavis hesitated, Stanza shouted again. "Do it now or you're dead!"
    Mavis dropped and threw her arms over her head.
    She closed her eyes as the machine gun chattered, opening fire in the middle of the church.
    Â 

    *****
    Â 
    Chapter 7

    As Mavis hunkered down beside the altar, she heard the stained glass skylight shattering overhead...then, machine gun ammo pinging off metal and marble and stuttering into wood. She could almost picture the damage as it happened, the bullets denting the crosses and candlesticks, chipping the altar, splintering the pulpit.
    Then, she heard something she could not quite identify. As if the bullets had hit something softer.
    And wetter.
    The next thing she heard was not so hard to identify: a man's voice.
    Screaming in pain.
    Before Mavis could look up to see who it was, she heard a loud splattering noise. Something wet and cold splashed down over her, almost knocking her down.
    Mavis wiped the wet substance from her eyes and opened them.
    This time, she was the one screaming.
    Her hands were covered with what looked like blood. There was blood on the floor all around her, and all over her body.
    Blood dripped from her hair and elbows, ran down her sides and legs. It poured over her face, refilling her eyes...flowing into her mouth.
    As soon as it passed between her lips, she spat it out furiously.
    Oh my God!
    Mavis grabbed hold of the altar and scrambled to her feet. She pulled the red cloth cover from the altar and used it to wipe as much of the blood from her face as she could.
    She screamed again and kept on wiping.
    "What was that ?" she shouted. " What was that? "
    "Vampire," said Stanza. "On the stained glass skylight."
    "You're insane!" said Mavis.
    "More on the way," said Stanza. "Take cover."
    No sooner had Stanza said the words than a dark-haired man dropped headfirst through the open skylight. As Mavis watched, he plunged straight down and landed on his hands on the altar.
    When his wide, wild eyes met hers, she froze in place.
    Why can't I run? What's going on here?
    Stanza's machine gun chattered as the man leaped off the altar. In the space of a heartbeat, he did a smooth backflip that landed him neatly behind Mavis.
    Then, his arm curled around her throat.
    The machine gun stopped firing.
    "Drop the gun and open the door, beautiful." The man hissed loudly and poked a sharp-taloned finger at Stanza. "Let in the rest of the rescue team."
    "That what you're calling it now?" Stanza's voice was cool and even.
    "Rescuing these precious children." The man laughed and kissed Mavis on the cheek. "We got here in the nick of time, didn't we, sweetheart?"
    Just then, someone pounded on the door outside. Stanza didn't flinch, but Jonah looked nervous.
    "You can go your merry way, Bloodliner," the man said to Stanza. "We're only interested in your two clients here. I promise. Cross my heart and hope to...wait, I'm already dead, aren't I?"
    "Lazy moron." Grinning, Stanza let the gun fall free at her hip and swung up an arm, pointing it right at him. "Left your sunglasses in the coffin, didn't you?"
    Mavis