Vampire in Chaos by Dale Mayer Read Free Book Online

worry anymore.”
    “Do you get your uncle’s place now that he’s dead? Maybe you could live there alone?” Clarissa asked, her voice low, intimate.
    Damn. He swallowed and said, “I hadn’t thought of that. I have no idea who inherits his place.”
    It’s not that he wanted to live there, but if it was his, he’d sell it and buy something else. Except this was his uncle he was talking about. He snorted. “But I doubt my uncle left it to me. Most likely to his sister.”
    “Except you said she’d been murdered too,” said someone in the back of the group. Jared couldn’t remember his name. “So maybe you are going to inherit both places.”
    “Now that would be cool.”
    Several others popped up with their opinion about that issue and what he should do. He held up a hand to still the flow. “Remember that trouble magnet part?” he said, raising his eyebrows. “More likely they are going to try and pin both murders on me, and I’ll spend the rest of my life behind bars for something I didn’t do.”
    Silence descended.
    Jared understood. After all, what could anyone say to that?

Chapter 4

    T essa stared at the retreating figure.
    In her mind, Cody murmured. We don’t have much choice. We need to follow him .
    I know, but I don’t like it.
    She stepped in behind Cody as he cautiously followed in the stranger’s tracks.
    Who do you think he is? Tessa whispered.
    No idea. I’ve never seen him before.
    He looks…old.
    Ha, don’t they all?
    Yes, but he looks old old, like he has existed for a long time in this desolate space. No fresh air or maybe not even enough sustenance. A meager life. One of lack.
    He shot her a sideways look. You can see that from his energy?
    She shook her head and answered him in a low voice, “No. Physically, he’s gaunt, crippled almost.”
    “He’s moving damn fast for a cripple.”
    “Hmm. That’s not quite what I mean. If he were human I’d say anemic, as if he hadn’t been out in the sun for centuries. But as he’s a vamp, that should be a good thing.”
    Cody stopped suddenly.
    Tessa bumped into him gently. She reached out to grab his arm, her gaze locked on the energy swirling ahead of her. He’s being attacked .
    What? Really? Cody launched himself forward.
    Tessa followed. She had no idea who was fighting who. Careful. The attacker could be David or Dad.
    Cody never slowed down. Closer, Tessa could see the energy firing in all directions. She didn’t recognize the new energy. But it was stronger, more powerful than that of the frail old vamp. He was going down…
    Or not.
    She grinned. Cody had entered the fray, and damn if the attacker wasn’t beating back a hasty retreat. Only Cody wasn’t having any of it. He went after the retreating male as Tessa ran up to the injured vamp, who had collapsed on the floor.
    “Easy,” she murmured, trying to stop him from jumping to his feet so fast.
    “No time,” he choked. “I’ll heal, just slowly. Come. You must come now.”
    He struggled to his feet, pushing away her hands. “We have no time.”
    “No time for what,” she cried out softly. “Who are you?”
    “One of her protectors.”
    Her? Tessa cast a quick searching glance around. Who were they running from? Who were they running to? Off to the left, she watched a spark of light glow then blow up. She called out, “Cody? Is that you?”
    “Yeah, the asshole pulled out some kind of weapon. I had to take him out.” He walked toward her, holding some kind of small handheld weapon. Bigger than the spikes they’d been using, but smaller than a flashlight. It didn’t look lethal. “This is the weapon he was holding.”
    It looked odd.
    “What is that thing?”
    “I don’t know. It’s weird.” Almost in front of her, he held it out so she could see the button. “It’s like a UV light and silver combined. Maybe it shoots silver droplets with the initial force of light?” He studied the weapon grimly. “Let’s keep moving. We don’t know how