Blood Cruel (Gods of Blood and Shadow Book 1) by Simon Cantan

house, and the streetlights were blocked by the trees. The figure pushed the key into the lock, opened the door, and light fell on his face for the first time.
    Katie had to stop herself from saying his name. She watched Jaden take his key from the lock, go inside, and shut the door after him.

Chapter 9
     
    Pureborn
     
    J aden struggled to the kitchen with the heavy bags. By the time he got them to the counter his hands felt like they were burning. He kept meaning to bring his backpack with him, but forgot every time. After putting the groceries away, he made his way to the living room.
    The coffin was where he’d left it; resting on a solid oak trestle table he’d bought in a charity shop and had delivered. It had been a nightmare to get through the door. With a shot of irritation, he saw a pile of earth on the floor near the coffin. His father had been up in the daytime again. He always stayed up far too early, then couldn’t wake up on time.
    Jaden grabbed a dustpan and brush from near the door and moved to the coffin, sweeping the dirt away and putting it in a nearby bucket. He replaced the dustpan and brush, and knocked on the wooden lid of the coffin. “Dad, time to wake up.”
    The lid eased open and his father, Rans Beck, sat up at the waist. He had his hands resting across his chest and his fangs extended, the same way he always slept. His long brown hair had dirt clinging to it, and his brown shirt was stained. He turned his head to look at Jaden. “What time is it?”
    “Almost ten,” Jaden said. “You were meant to be up hours ago.”
    “Damn it.” Rans climbed out of the coffin, spilling more dirt onto the floor in the process. “Why didn’t you wake me earlier? You know there’ll only be drunks around soon.”
    Rans screwed his face up in disgust. Jaden knew his father couldn’t abide blood with alcohol in it. It was part of the reason Jaden never woke him early if he could help it. There was less chance of children being out so late, and if people were out drinking, at least they’d had a good time before they were killed.
    “I need to make something to eat,” Jaden said. “After that, I’m heading to bed.”
    Rans stretched. “You should come with me. It’s not too long until your birthday; I can show you a few things.”
    Jaden shook his head, turning to walk to the kitchen. He didn’t like the reminder. When he turned eighteen, he’d need to hunt like his father, go out and kill innocent people to keep his own existence going.
    He opened the bag of potatoes and peeled them, his thoughts running over and over. He’d known from early childhood he was going to be a vampire. His father had never tried to hide it. As a pureborn, Jaden wouldn’t be turned; he’d change into a vampire when he became an adult. Then the thirst would start. Food wouldn’t sustain him anymore. Instead, he’d need fresh blood.
    From the way his father described it, Jaden knew it was impossible to resist. The thirst could only be delayed. Eventually, it got so bad he would fall on the next person he saw.
    A few more weeks until his birthday, then no more school. No more normal life, no more sports. Most of all, no more Katie. He winced as he thought about her. When she’d kissed his face on Friday, it had felt electric. He’d been longing for it for so long, he’d almost kissed her back right then and ruined her life. Falling in love with a vampire was great in the movies, where the vampire could resist his urges. If Katie fell in love with him, she’d end up a meal. She’d be the small antelope the lion takes care of while it’s not hungry. Right up until dinnertime rolls around and the antelope finds out why the lion was being so nice.
    His finger stung, and he realised he’d cut it while he wasn’t paying attention. He put his finger in his mouth, feeling the coppery taste run over his tongue. Could he really eat blood? It didn’t seem like it would be enough to sustain him.
    He took his finger