Fading Darkness (Bloodmarked #1) Read Online Free PDF

been Holly. I would do
whatever it took to keep her alive, but any target on my back would extend to
anyone close to me. Holly has been the exception to my solitary lifestyle. It
was selfish of me to bring her into my world, but something about her reminded
me of myself, and so far, she has shown an incredible strength and natural
ability to thrive in irrational and terrifying situations that would send most
people running scared. She’s a survivor. Plus, she was stubborn as hell and
wouldn’t stop bothering me until I told her the truth about everything after I
saved her life. That was three years ago.
    I opened the phone to listen to the message
and I heard, “Hey biotch.” I hated that word and she knew it. Holly liked to think
of herself as a sort of trendsetter with the ability to bring back trends and
old, overused phrases that should have just stayed dead. The message continued
with, “You know, it’s been like a week and a half since I last talked to you. I
could be vampire food and you wouldn’t have even known it. Seriously Luce, meet
me tomorrow for lunch at the usual spot. We need to do some catching up.”
    I knew I should have let her be a long time
ago to give her a chance at a normal life away from me, but she always guilted
me back in by reminding me she was safer with me watching out for her. It was
one of those damned if you do, damned if you don’t situations, but I was damned
no matter what I did. I just didn’t want to be responsible for damning her too.
    †
    I was walking down the street when I caught
myself thinking about the mystery guy, or evil bloodsucker from last night,
wondering if he would be making any recurring appearances in my fights to come.
It would be nice to know why he was helping me, or better yet, what his
ulterior motive was and what he wanted from me in return. But it wasn’t like I
was holding my breath or anything until I would see him again. That is, if I
even saw him again, which I hoped I wouldn’t because he got on my last nerve.
    I was getting worked up just thinking about
him, but not in a good way, more of an annoying, unwanted kind of way. I think
I actually started huffing and puffing out loud because I was getting several
strange looks from the Friday night bar crowd that was slowly beginning to fill
the sidewalks. In bigger weekend crowds, sometimes it was better to take higher
ground in order to spot any trouble.
    I climbed a nearby fire escape to the top of
an old brick building converted into lofts. Most of the buildings in this area
were roughly similar in height, which made jumping them a lot easier if I had
to. Up here, I could take advantage of my super hearing to listen for screams
because I could cover more area without the interruption of tall buildings that
blocked sounds. It was much more peaceful up here too, which was nice because I
was never really a big fan of large crowds. My thoughts were just about to
lapse back to mystery guy when I sensed a vampire close by.
    At the same time I sensed it, I heard, “Damn
girl. That tight ass in those tight pants should be criminal. I almost forgot
how sexy you were, or maybe you just got even sexier over the past few years.”
    Great, like I really needed any more stress
in my life right now. I guess when it rains it pours, and with my luck, it
usually meant a downpour with monsoon winds. Without turning and keeping my
eyes glued to the lights on the streets below, I responded, “It has only been
about a year Shane, not nearly long enough. And I take it since you came to me,
you need something?”
    “Just wanted to see you, darlin’,” he said.
    “Somehow, I don’t believe that’s all you
want. You don’t do anything that doesn’t benefit you,” I added. Shane Monroe
was the only other vampire I have encountered and didn’t kill. I know, I
know, the exceptions to my rule are racking up quickly .
    A few years back I ran into him, and he
bargained with me for his life. Normally, I would not