Tenth Grade Bleeds Read Online Free PDF Page A

within them. Vlad bit down on the inside of his cheek to keep the tears at bay. “ Tell me why you can’t stay. Because it’s not making much sense to me that you should take off to Siberia when you’ve got it so good here.”
    Otis sighed. “Vladimir . . .”
    â€œIs it the Elysia thing? Needing to be among your own kind? Because you have that with me, Otis. I’m a vampire too. And I really feel better when you’re around.”
    â€œYou are completely right on all counts.”
    But something dark flickered in his eyes, crushing Vlad’s hopes before they could even bloom. Vlad opened his mouth and closed it again, not daring to ask what that flicker meant.
    Otis wet his lips, his expression troubled, sorrowful, but certain. “Even so, I cannot stay. Please, Vladimir, I need you to trust me on this. My staying here may endanger you and Nelly.”
    A panicky feeling had wormed its way into Vlad’s chest. He couldn’t explain it, but the idea of Otis leaving him again—especially after all that he’d been through with Joss staking him last year and D’Ablo hinting that he wasn’t finished with Vlad—made his stomach twist and turn. Frustrated, Vlad threw his hands in the air. “Can’t someone else look for that ritual?”
    Otis raised his voice suddenly. “Who? There is no one but me! And Vikas, of course. But his time is stretched.”
    Vlad knew he was pushing his uncle, but it was all he had left to cling to. In but a few hours, Otis would be gone again. Vlad wasn’t sure just how much more of this he could take. “Isn’t there a glyph or something we can place to protect all of us, or to keep the council from finding you?”
    Otis shook his head, his tone calm once again. “It’s not as simple as that. I can hide from one, maybe two vampires utilizing glyphs, but hiding from all of Elysia is a fool’s errand.”
    Vlad’s jaw tensed. He fell silent, and stood very still for a moment before speaking. “My dad managed well enough.”
    Otis closed his eyes in defeat. “Well, we can’t all be as crafty as your father, can we?”
    Vlad winced. “I just wish—”
    â€œI know. Believe me, I know.” Otis turned away from him and gazed out the window near the front door, his shoulders slumped. In Vlad’s mind, he heard Otis say, “More than anything, I wish I could stay, too.”
    Vlad’s face dropped. He had expected defeat when he’d entered this battle, but the taste of it was still bitter. “Do you need help packing?”
    â€œWhy don’t we save that for after dinner?” Otis smiled weakly over his shoulder at Vlad. “I want to try my hand at cooking. I believe Nelly would like that. I have no taste for human food anymore, but in my previous life, I was quite the chef.”
    Vlad shook his head. “I’ll just nuke some O positive, if you don’t mind.”
    â€œActually I’d prefer it if you’d dine with us.” Otis turned to face him with a curious grin. “I’m making blood sausage.”
    A half hour later, the kitchen was an enormous mess. Otis had several pans and a variety of bowls out on the counter, only a few of them in use. The smell of blood filled Vlad’s nostrils, dizzying him with hunger pangs. It took every ounce of his willpower to keep from lifting the big bowl of blood from the counter and slurping down every last drop.
    Vlad picked up the wooden spoon and stirred the spiced crimson before turning to his uncle. “Y’know, I might as well have a bag or two of blood. As good as this might smell, animal blood doesn’t do much for me in the way of vitamins and minerals.”
    â€œNot surprising. Most vampires find animal blood less than enjoyable to the palate and not helpful in the least when it comes to nutrients. But you needn’t worry. I’m making our blood