Bloodstorm (Heart of a Vampire) by Amber Kallyn Page B

string. He scattered a handful of red grains of sand over the form of the bear--his totem animal.
    The tattoo covering his left side flared with heat as brother bear responded to his call.
    Lighting four colored candles representing the earthly directions, he knelt in the circle and listened.
    The spirits of the forest were dimmer in town, yet he could still hear their calls. From the top of his desk, he lifted the dagger Niki had accidentally left in his truck. He laid the knife on the bear, then shuffle-stepped around the center Ndeé four times. Shane chanted to brother bear in his native language as he danced.
    The spirits whispered of stalking danger. Not just to his physical being. There was a threat to his very soul, to the harmony of his connection to the earth.
    The knife took on a bluish glow as the spirits responded to his request. Shane fell to his knees, giving thanks to all who had shared their magic. Grabbing the dagger, he released the circle, moved his desk back, then bolted from the station.
    The dagger continued to glow, showing him the way to Niki.
    He reached Sal’s Diner, but passed it. She’d been there earlier. Her trail wound through town as if she’d chased--or been chased by--something.
     
    ***
     
    Niki moved faster through the night. Soon, she could hear the boy’s running steps. He was so young, he didn’t even have control of his power.
    Too slow, too loud, to escape.
    She rounded a corner into an alley. Sounds of the boy’s flight disappeared. Cautiously, keeping to the shadows, she headed into the tight space.
    She could smell him, the tinge of blood mixing with fear. And a hint of Thomas’ stench.
    “ Come out. I’m not going to hurt you.”
    He didn’t respond.
    Near a row of trash cans, she turned. In a blink, she reached in between two barrels and gripped his shirt, jerking him from his hiding place.
    The boy stared up at her with wide, fear-filled eyes.
    “ I told you I’m not going to hurt you.”
    “ Y-you’re a vampire. Vamps always lie.”
    She cocked her head. “Really? Do you always lie?”
    He shook his head, violently straining against her hold. “No.”
    “ Then not all vampires lie.”
    The boy’s struggles slowed. “If you don’t want to hurt me, why were you chasing me? You’re going to take me back to him , aren’t you?”
    “ I chased because you ran. Back to who?”
    His struggles became frantic. The boy’s shirt ripped and he tried to flee once more. Niki was faster. She grabbed his arm and hauled him back, pushing him against the brick wall.
    “ I-I don’t want to go back. You can’t make me.” His voice filled with bravado and he raised his fists ready to fight.
    “ Don’t make me kick your ass.” She leaned closer. “Who are you running from?”
    The boy shot out a fist which she easily dodged. “Try it again and I’ll knock you to the ground, boy.”
    He did.
    She hooked her foot behind his ankle and shoved him to the pavement. “Will you calm down? If I wanted to hurt you, I’d have done it already.”
    Shaking, he rolled to his side and curled into a ball. “Just kill me. I’m not going back.”
    She could guess who the boy was afraid of, even without smelling Thomas. She hadn’t met many who could instill this type of terror. Which meant this boy knew where Thomas was hiding.
    Something in her softened at his trembling form. She wasn’t about to torture the kid, so she’d have to convince him to share willingly. She reached down to tap his shoulder. He struck out, his fist glancing a painless blow against her cheek.
    “ For Christ’s sake,” she huffed, picking him up and tossing him over her shoulder. He resisted for a long moment before finally going slack.
    Niki hauled him out of the alley and into the street. “If you don’t tell me who you’re running from, I can’t help.”
    The boy’s only response was a shudder.
    “ Fine.” She continued carrying him down the street, ignoring the strange glances from the few