Lost in Legend: an urban fantasy novel by J.M. Palmer

Author:J.M. Palmer [Palmer, J.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: RhetAskew Publishing
Published: 2021-08-11T22:00:00+00:00

***

THE RIDE OUT TO THE site was long and cramped, but overall educational. I sat in the middle of the front seat, between Cass and Rick. While Rick’s presence made me uncomfortable, it was tolerable today. I wasn’t thinking about killing him as much. Maybe it was the sensation of being full, or maybe I was getting used to him—and I was pretty sure his wound had opened up again. The smell of his blood invaded the tight cabin, and it didn’t bother me. I was glad to once again have control.

Cassius was driving and filling me in on his vampire knowledge. “And when vampires feed, there is no glamour or romance to it. Not like the movies portray. Not sexy or intelligent like the vamps in whatever movies kids are watching these days.

“Vampires are as sexy as sharks—and just the same, they can smell blood from miles away. If you cut yourself on a hunt, they’ll be on you within minutes. And when they bite you it’s not this neat little puncture on your neck—they are ripping chunks from your skin, spitting them out and going in for more. See, they like it when the blood sprays and pools.” Cass held bitterness and disgust in his tone.

“I’ve seen it happen to enough of my guys. One moment is all it takes. You get the wrong footing, your partner falls on his ass, you don’t see the other fist swinging, you get cut— anything can happen, really. One bite and you’re through. You get ten seconds to amputate, but even if you manage that, you still have to deal with blood loss. If the bite is on the neck or torso, you’re fucked.”

“We’ve had one guy in the past ten years survive a bite. That’s it. Can’t hunt anymore. The son-of-a bitch walked past a bed, and a vamp got him by the leg, bit his ankle. You know what he did? He fucking grabbed his knife is what he did. Sawed straight through his own knee. Tephi made it look like any other Tuesday. Talk about fucking balls of steel. God, and the swarm after that. The vamps were on our room like fleas on a dog. I’ve never shit my pants before but let me tell you I was this close.” He raised his hand and demonstrated on his fingers. “Six vamps trying to push through a door. I’ll tell you what, though, it made staking those bastards much easier.” He smiled. “Tephi. No one is more badass than that guy. I still hear from him, too. He sends us some leads occasionally, but not much beyond that.”

Cassius turned onto a bumpy dirt road, “We’re on the edge of Joshua Tree National Forest. There are quite a few abandoned homes out this far. It’s prime real estate for vamps. Anything overlooked. You don’t often find nests in the city. Suburbs are not as rare, but out in the country is where we do most of our hunting. The more rural, the bigger the nest.

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