The Phoenix Pack: Feral Sins Part 39

By the time Jared called me forward to stand before the human the blood was dripping down his legs. A year ago I would have been as mesmerised as some of the others had been. I might even have stepped toward the human for a quick taste just like two of the other blokes had. Needless to say they were now on their way home. But with Victor as your Sire, life was gory. You got used to it or you went insane.

Jared didn't look pleased by how I stood still; not trembling, not swallowing hard, not squeezing my eyes closed, not trying to hold my breath like some of the other blokes had. A mischievous smirk surfaced on his face as he used his forefinger to collect a little from one of the ribbons of blood trailing down the human. Jared then tried teasing my nostrils; wafting his finger right under my nose. The teasing didn't work, which didn't please him. He brought the finger toward my lips, hoping to tempt me to at least try to lick it off. But I didn't. Even though my body was curious and thirsty, I gave no reaction to Jared's teasing. Instead, I held his gorgeous hazel eyes with a defiant stare. At last he dropped his hand, sighing loudly.

"The next part of the tryout is going to test you physically," he announced to us as I returned to the line. He signalled with his hand for us to all follow behind him. He led us outside and over to a small forest which was made up of trees that were varying shades of green and looked beautifully exotic. Scents of wildlife immediately hit me. I wondered if the vampires here ever hunted the animals. I'd never tried them myself.

"Hey...you really think you can pa.s.s this?" asked a bloke who was now walking alongside me. He said it as though he believed I was mentally challenged. Apparently this Pagori found my presence here just as ridiculous as what Jared did which was a shame really because he was actually a good looking bloke and I didn't want to think of him as a w.a.n.ker. His mousey hair had been shaven to stubble, and the style suited him really well, giving him quite an intense look. His blue eyes were s.h.i.+ning in amus.e.m.e.nt as they appraised my slender figure that didn't even have a muscle to pull. His smile was cheeky but warm.

"Don't tell me you feel threatened by a woman."

"Hey I believe in equality and all that, but there's no way you'll pa.s.s this."

"Enough talking," snapped Jared at us, stopping still where the trees began. A group of vampires all male, typical! had been there waiting. By their posture and respectful bow of the head to Jared, I guessed that they were members of the legion.

Jared informed us, "Your aim in this task is to reach the end of the forest in the fastest time that you can. Three things you need to know: one, you can't step on the floor. You can use the trees, logs, rocks...but not even once can you step foot on the ground. Number two: you are not permitted to use your own unique gifts, this is all about your strength and speed and agility. Yes, before you ask, I do have people watching. The third thing you need to know is that you will have someone chasing you the entire time. If they catch you, task over."

Anxious with antic.i.p.ation, I watched as each vampire took their turn at the task. Each had a ten second head start before a member of the legion was on their tail. Most seemed to be completing the task within forty seconds, providing they weren't first caught. Of course, from outside the forest I couldn't see a thing. It wasn't until they returned through the forest that Jared would be told of the applicant's success, or lack thereof.

Standing there waiting for my own turn was agonising. I couldn't even plan a strategy as I had no view of what the forest was like inside. Worse still, the members of the legion that were stood here were all Pagoris. There was no way to outrun a Pagori unless you were one yourself. Sure Sventes were stronger and faster than the fittest human, but it didn't compare to Pagori strength and speed. There was one thing, however, that could go in my favour. What Pagoris lacked in was agility. Svente vampires, however, had the dexterity and sprightliness of a jungle cat and if these legion members weren't used to working alongside Sventes then they might not be prepared for it. So if I tapped into that and also made good use of my head start there was a chance I didn't like how slim that chance was of succeeding.

Was it any wonder that I was left till last to do the task? Or that Jared paired me up with the stockiest legion member of the lot to chase after me?

Jared gave me the fakest, most patronising 'good luck' that I'd ever heard, so I gave him the fakest, most patronising 'thank you' that he had ever heard.

It felt like forever before Jared finally said 'Go!'

I sprung forward with as much force as I could, grabbing hold of the nearest branch for only a fleeting moment before then swinging to the next one ahead of me. Never letting myself forget that soon I would be pursued, I zoomed through the forest with such grace and litheness like a feather in the wind.

Plenty of logs and boulders scattered the ground, but for now I was relying only on tree branches. Bouncing from branches to boulders and back again would be nice and creative, but would slow my speed. That was the last thing I needed. Before long I could hear my pursuer...and there was no sign yet of the end of the forest.

I put more force behind my swings but the Pagori bloke behind me was fast and I knew that I couldn't stay out of his reach for much longer.

"I is a comin'," the bloke called out in an accent that wasn't authentic. Clearly he considered himself playful and that this was a game that he was going to win.

Ah c.r.a.p! He may just win it. Up ahead there was a wide river. Plenty of rocks stuck out of it. I could easy dash across them but that would slow me down. I almost felt dispirited until I saw what was beyond the river: the end of the forest. As I noticed the fallen tree in front of the river, an idea entered my head.

"Don't hurt yourself now," the Pagori bloke was shouting in a patronising voice. a.r.s.ewipe.

As I reached the river I landed nimbly on the fallen tree and pushed hard on my legs as I leapt into the air...almost there...almost there. Down. Ha. I'd cleared the river.

"f.u.c.k me!" exclaimed the Pagori in surprise.

I'd rather not. Swinging from branches again, I could hear the Pagori stomping across the rocks. Apparently he couldn't match my leap.

One more swing. Yes! I celebrated in my head as my feet met the ground outside of the forest. Three seconds later the blonde Pagori was beside me. He shook his head at me, his smile was filled with surprise. His eyes were glowing with respect.

"What's your name?" he asked. The Australian had dropped his playful accent now.

"Sam."

"Well, Sam, I think I've just fell in love." His state of disbelief now had him giggling. "Come on."

We ran back through the forest at vampire speed, finding Jared waiting at the mouth of it. He seemed amused. Until the Pagori spoke.

"She's like a nymph or something!" He shook his head. "I can't believe she did it."

The look on Jared's face was priceless. "Green, are you saying she outran you?"

He nodded. "You should have seen her leap over the river, she completely cleared it!" He patted me on the back and then waltzed over to his comrades, telling them about the chase.

Whereas Green was dazed yet excited, Jared was dazed but irritated. The other blokes weren't laughing anymore, but they were still looking at me oddly and whispering. Then I got extremely cheesed off when I heard one of them suggesting to another bloke that I must have given Green a b.l.o.w. .j.o.b to get him to say I'd outran him. I stomped hard on his foot and shot him a scowl. He didn't seem confident enough to scowl back. Were they all a.r.s.ewipes?

The bloke with the shaven head who'd earlier a.s.sured me that I would not pa.s.s this tryout glared at me. "You sure you're not a disguised Pagori vampire on crack?"

"Oh shut it, slap-head."

He just chuckled.

"For the final stage, we'll return inside." Jared's walk was filled with that much frustration that he was almost marching.

I knew as I entered the building and joined the line in front of Jared that my smugness must be apparent on my face because he was glowering madly at me. I snorted.

"The final stage," he drawled. "Combat. This is where you get to use your gifts. In the legion we train to avoid up-close and personal combat as this only tires a vampire and leads to more injuries. Instead we like to rely mostly on our gifts, aiding us to attack from afar. For this stage the effectiveness of your gift will be just as important as your control of it. There are now only seven of you left. From what I have seen so far, I'm confident that the three s.p.a.ces I have left to fill for the squad will be filled today. Which means four of you will be going home."

Jared first matched up one of the two remaining Kejas with a Pagori for combat. "Your aim is to outmatch your opponent, not to kill or cause any harm that can't be fixed by our self-healing."

Contrary to mythology, vampires can be killed in lots of ways. A stab to the heart would do the trick purely because we need it beating just as much as we did as a human. We can also be bled out if our injuries are too extensive which leads to death. Being starved of blood for more than four weeks was another way to go. In addition, a lot of vampires have deadly gifts and these will just as effectively kill us as they would a human.

Both the Keja and the Pagori were good. They stayed clear of each other, as instructed. Their powers were impressive. Although the Keja was a conjurer and was materialising weapons, the Pagori could secrete smoke from his hands, making the room hazy and preventing the Keja from finding his target. As such, the Pagori seized a weapon on a bad throw and used it against the conjurer. Combat done and dusted.

Jared then paired up the other Keja with another of the Pagoris. The Keja was exhaling tiny thorns which I guessed were poisonous to some degree however seen as his opponent had the power to deflect or negate anything thrown at him with just the wave of his hand, the thorns simply hit the floor each time. As such, I never got to see what effect exactly the thorns could have. Jared eventually stopped the duel seen as they were both as good as the other.

The last two Pagoris were next one being the annoying but cute slap-head. He winked at me before confidently heading to the Northern point of the building. And G.o.d his gift was extraordinary, which meant that the whole thing was over in seconds. He had the power to cause temporary sensory paralysis, which meant his opponent was rendered blind, deaf and mute. As such, he was shooting his superhuman breath blindly literally.

I was next. And I lacked an opponent.

Jared sighed and glared at me with narrowed eyes. I half expected him to say 'I'm afraid there's no one to duel with you, you'll have to run along home'. But instead he started removing his jacket.

"I guess I'll have to be your duelling partner," he sighed.

ALSO BY SUZANNE WRIGHT:.

FROM RAGS.

PROLOGUE.

Jaxxon, age fourteen "B-but...but...but -"

"Oh stop snivelling, Jaxxon," snapped Leah as she zipped up her tatty old duffel bag. "You should be happy for me; I'm finally getting out of here. I'm going to have my own place."

Jaxxon Carter, who was curled up on her bed, watched as her older sister stretched her long, lean body, looking much like a contented cat. "But -"

"Oi, what did I just say? Stop with the snivelling!"

Jaxxon took a deep breath and wiped her tear-stained cheeks with her sleeve. But she could feel more tears brewing. "Will you come see me sometimes?"

Leah snorted. "How can you even ask that? You know I'll be busy going for auditions and stuff." A self-satisfied smile surfaced on her face. "Hey, just think, you might see me on T.V soon, singing and doing concerts."

As usual, Leah's squinty hazel eyes so very different from Jaxxon's own huge, brown ones shone with confidence. That was one thing that Leah had in abundance, though sometimes Jaxxon thought it bordered on vanity.

"Won't that make all the Foster Plonkers sorry for pa.s.sing us off from house to house."

"But you'll stay in touch, yeah?" Jaxxon could hear the uncertainty in her own voice and didn't like this feeling she suddenly had that she was losing her sister for good. Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad if Leah would just tell her the address of her flat, but she was refusing to tell her and had even asked their Social Worker and the Glennons not to reveal it. Leah could be strange like that sometimes. If she thought you desperately wanted something from her, she would refuse to give it to you purely for that reason.

Leah shrugged. "What are you panicking for? In two years you'll be out of here yourself."

That was true enough. But two years would feel like a long time to someone who was all alone. Once Leah, all she had left in the world, was gone that was exactly what Jaxxon would be. Alone.

For the past six years Jaxxon had watched the only people she came to care about disappear from her life. First went Mum. Suicide by heroin overdose. Jaxxon the one who had found her mother's lifeless body on the sofa had been eight, Leah ten. There was no dad or other family to care whether they lived or died, so into the social system they went.

It wasn't until eighteen months ago, after pit-stopping in a series of foster homes all over London, that they had come to live with the Glennon family. They weren't all that bad. Compared to some of the other foster parents, these people were eligible for sainthood. Although they were in a word slobs and not all that interested in what their foster children did, they didn't hit, they didn't grope, and they didn't decide to suddenly starve you for a short while for their own entertainment like the last lot had. Where the Glennons were concerned, as long as you didn't raid Gloria Glennon's stash of chocolate or help yourself to one of Eric Glennon's beloved beers, they'd practise the princ.i.p.al of 'live and let live'.

Still, Jaxxon knew that Leah would have, as she always did wherever they were, played up and set out to annoy them if it hadn't been for the other foster kids. The gorgeous Connor McKenzie and the geeky Roland Thompson had made the situation bearable. Both Jaxxon and Leah had had a little thing for Connor. In fact, Jaxxon had become infatuated with him and his c.o.c.ky grin as only a teenage girl could. Not just because of how gorgeous he was, but because Jaxxon soon found that underneath his temper and broodiness was intelligence and even kindness. He had always looked out for Jaxxon, always protected her, always chased off any boy within a one mile radius of her. Everyone had feared him probably because he somehow had the look of a predator but Jaxxon had never felt threatened by him. In fact, strangely enough, this menacing person had been the only one to ever make her feel safe, even when he was zooming her around town at top speed in a car he had 'borrowed' for the night which he had done regularly but had never been prosecuted as he had never been caught.

Then six months ago, shortly after Connor had turned sixteen, he had moved into a flat of his own just like Leah was doing now. Jaxxon vividly remembered when he had kissed her the night before he left something which had shocked the h.e.l.l out of her. He had promised that he would visit sometimes and even take her to see his flat when it was fixed up, but so far he hadn't been in touch. Then three months after he had left, Roland's mother had finally sorted her situation out and taken her son back to live with her. And now Jaxxon's very own sister was leaving too. Sure, she'd have the newest foster addition, Rhona, but the girl was far from friendly and kept everyone at a distance.

"If you do get famous and stuff how will I get in touch with you when I get out?"

Leah shrugged carelessly. "Maybe I'll phone here on your sixteenth birthday. Maybe I'll even come get you in a limo. Can you imagine the look on everyone's faces if I turned up here in a limo!" Another squeal.

Her sixteenth birthday. It seemed so far away right now. Without thinking about it, Jaxxon reached under her mattress and pulled out the photograph that Gloria had let her have. Jaxxon was stood smiling in front of the wonky Christmas tree with Roland on her right side looking absolutely bored and with Connor on her left side wearing that c.o.c.ky grin she loved so much with his arm flung over her shoulder. Leah was in the background combing her long blonde hair, glaring hard at them. She almost looked angry. This was all Jaxxon had left of them all.

"Oh when are you going to stop pining for him?" groaned Leah. "He isn't coming back. Why would he? What's he got to come back for?"

A pang struck Jaxxon in her chest at the impact of Leah's words and that condescending glare she had that could decrease a person's own self-worth by 90% just like that.

"Don't worry," continued Leah, "I'll tell him you said 'hi'."

It took a few seconds for those last words to register. "What do you mean?"

She gave Jaxxon a sympathetic smile but didn't even try to conceal the insincerity of it. "Oh come on, Jaxxon, you didn't honestly think that he had any real interest in you, did you? Oh my G.o.d, you did. How cute. Or stupid, whichever."

Jaxxon felt as though she'd been slapped.

"He told me he only thought of you as a little sister, that it was me he loved. We did it lots of times, you know. He made me promise to come find him when I got out." She sighed wistfully. "Soon me and him will be living in L.A., our faces all over the magazines, I'll be recording alb.u.m after alb.u.m...Maybe we'll even get married. Leah McKenzie...I like the sound of it. It's a lot better than Leah Carter anyway."

In that one instant, Jaxxon almost hated her. Her and him. The tears gathering in her eyes were ones of anger and despair now, no longer of the fear of being alone. Why would he have kissed her that night before leaving and then told her he had always cared about her if it was Leah he loved? Leah who he had been sleeping with all this time? "He kissed me," she blurted out.

"Well of course he did. He felt sorry for you you were getting all teary-eyed. I was the one who told him to kiss you. He hadn't wanted to, but I thought it might stop you from snivelling. Something you're doing again now."

Jaxxon squeezed her eyes shut against the pictures her mind was tormenting her with of Leah and Connor together kissing, touching, sleeping together. And then them laughing at poor little infatuated Jaxxon.

"Well that's me all packed." She squealed again with excitement. After casting one last look and at the plain, musty smelling, mostly bare room, Leah threw her bag over her shoulder. "Gotta go."

Jaxxon tried to get up from the bed. Maybe to hug her sister. Maybe to slap her. Or maybe to follow her downstairs and wave at the front door. But it was as though her body was depleted. As though her body was downright sick of her mind ignoring Leah's hurtful behaviour so had decided to intervene before she ran after Leah like a little lost puppy. She did feel lost, though. Jaxxon was a person who always looked on the bright side but right now there didn't seem to be one, and Jaxxon didn't know how to function without it.

So she sat there immobile as Leah's singing gradually faded until she could hear her no more. In that moment Jaxxon felt something change within herself; it was the same sensation she'd gotten when her mother died, and then again when Connor left. Like a piece of herself went with them, leaving gaping holes that Jaxxon suspected might be permanent.

But wasn't that her own fault for getting too close to people? Wasn't it her own fault that she was in such pain right now? It was stupid to have ever thought that Connor would want her and not Leah. Her sister was undeniably beautiful with her straight, sleek caramel-blonde hair and piercing hazel eyes and tall, thin, lithe body. She would have the angelic look down to a tee if it wasn't for the fact that her smile always had a glint of deviousness to it.

The two sisters were practically polar opposites in appearance. Jaxxon sported a head of brown, untameable ringlets and a curvy body that she despised because of the attention it gained her. She was, to her utter annoyance, an early bloomer. Her generous-sized b.r.e.a.s.t.s and heart-shaped b.u.t.t were constantly groped, even by total strangers. It hadn't been so bad when Connor was around; boys had tended to leave her alone for fear of what he would do. Things had changed drastically since he left. And now that she was without her older sister things could only worsen.

Footsteps outside her bedroom door stole her attention from her thoughts. Then the door swung lazily open as her relatively new foster sister, Rhona, strode into the room, chewing gum, and plonked herself on the bed beside Jaxxon. The smell of smoke clung to her dark skin and clothes. Jaxxon wasn't expecting any comfort from this anti-social girl who seemed to hate everyone. She didn't get it.

"So, Big t.i.ts, how long do you think it'll be before Queen b.i.t.c.h realises she lives in a fantasy land? Singer, my a.r.s.e."

Jaxxon said nothing. Just continued to stare at the photograph in her hand, wondering whether to kiss it or tear it up.

"You know she won't come back, don't you? She won't. They never do," grumbled Rhona. She wasn't feeling sorry for herself; just simply stating what she believed was a fact.

"She's my sister."

"She's also a self-absorbed, spiteful, selfish b.i.t.c.h who -"

"But -"

"But nothing, Jaxxon," she said firmly. "Just because she's blood doesn't mean anything. I'll bet that girl has never done a single thing for you in her life. She looks out for number one, and number one only. Just like the rest of them. So wise up, Big t.i.ts. And do it now. You're on your own." Just before leaving the room, she turned back to Jaxxon. "Wanna know what the trick is to getting through this s.h.i.+t? Never let anyone in."

Alone again, Jaxxon stared down at the photograph as she deeply considered Rhona's departing words that had been both advising and chastising. One thing that had kept Jaxxon from losing herself so far and avoiding the bitterness that consumed Leah was to roll with the punches. Just accept that suffering was part of life. The whole 'woe is me' thing wasn't for her. After all, what was so special about her that meant she could flit through life without pain while others were swamped by it? So, she reasoned, her being alone while Leah and Connor began a life together was all just something else that she'd have to accept too, even though it cut deeper than anything else ever had.

Finally, with a deep cleansing breath, Jaxxon tore the photograph to pieces and slung them out of the partially open bedroom window. She wouldn't let this be an ending. She would try to instead make it a new start. She'd do as Rhona said wise up and face that she was alone, but she wouldn't cut herself off like Rhona had.

Little did Jaxxon know, but as from the following day her new start would be tainted. Tainted by violence, struggle, and even more pain. With all that would come her decision to never let anyone in again.

CHAPTER ONE.

Eight years later It was amazing how alcohol had the power to make people think that they were attractive, mused Jaxxon. Or, in this case, some sort of gift to women. Thank G.o.d there was the bar to separate her from this bald, heavy-set bloke who was so drunk that both his eyes were fighting for the one corner. For the past half hour while he swayed and slurred he had been flirting shamelessly with her. His 'come hither' smile revealed a set of Nicorette stained teeth oh wait, it wasn't actually a full set. And 'flirting' wasn't quite accurate. Not unless you considered dirty talk, s.e.xual innuendos and being given flashes of body parts to be flirtatious behaviour. More like sick-minded c.r.a.p.