Susan Harris's Blog

so as I shared this on my facebook page, I said I would publish it here too so you can see what I write. so this is set a few months before Another Way to Bleed and I hope ppl enjoy it!


Drip, drip, drip......

The stale smell of blood and sweat suffocated the already dense air. She blinked open her eyes, her vision adjusting to the darkened room. Her muscles ached and her throat burned as she tried to swallow. The young girl shivered, although she was unsure whether it was from the cold or the feeling that he was watching her as she lay strapped to the bed, naked and vulnerable.
Escape was beyond all hope, she had tried several times without success. He had mocked her then, laughing at her pathetic attempts to free herself. As the tears welled up in her eyes, she told herself, No I will not cry, I will not let him see me weak. Taking a deep breath, she waited knowing it would not be long before the vampire returned.
Her thoughts began to drift and she wondered if life had been better when the world remained blissfully unawares of the supernatural. Now every city was governed by vampires, and all the creatures roamed the earth free, even thoughtout the southern Ireland county of Cork. People seemed to love the new regime and the vampires had plenty of willing ' donor's'. Any laws broken had severe penalties and she prayed someone would find her soon, before she died . Just like all the others.
Stepping out of the shadows, the vampire carried yet another unconscious girl over his shoulders. So he has a type, she thought. All of the others had looked similar, but she always heard him mutter that the eyes were never the right ones. Strangely relief flooded through her, she knew now he had his next victim, she would die. She prayed it would be quick as over the past few days he had enjoyed biting and drinking from every inch of her now scared body.
The monster tossed the girl onto a decayed couch as if she were garbage and slithered towards her.
“ How are you today, my lovely Valerie?” he purred at her, running his hand over her bare thigh.
She kept her lips pressed together as bile crept up her throat. His blood red eyes observed her as she met his gaze defiantly.
He chuckled, deep and sadistic.“ No need for dramatics now my sweet. I can smell your fear oozing from your pores. Be careful or you'll get me all excited now. I may decide to use my lovely chains again before I grant you death.”
Valerie shuddered and he clapped his hands together. He brought his lips to meet hers, forcing his tongue inside. She lay perfectly still as she felt his fangs pierce her already throbbing lip. His hands cupped her breast roughly as he sucked deeply. Breaking away, he stared at her, his face half crazied with thirst.
She could smell death in the air as he pushed her head to the side. Wasting no time he sank his fangs into her neck. The all too familar dizzy sensation swam in her head and through her flickering eyes, she saw the vampires next victim, awake but frozen in fear. As her heart fluttered, the peace of dying running in her veins, the screams fading around her, she sighed her last breath and gave into the darkness.
********************************
She gazed out the window as torrents of rain drenched the city's streets. Cassie leaned her face against the chill of the window pane and closed her eyes, hoping that the melodic tones of Jared Leto's voice would soothe her racing heart. As the song hurricane blared in her headphones the lyrics “ would you kill to save a life?” haunted her, knowing that was her job most nights. Although she had many kills under her belt as the keeper's hired gun, it never seemed to get easier. If it did, she mused, then I would have lost the last part of my humanity and become what I hunt. She breathed in deeply, pausing for a moment before exhaling.
Even with her eyes closed, she sensed him standing there, knowing his scent anywhere, a mixture of lavender and death. Cassie unwillingly removed her headphones before opening her eyes and meeting her bosses gaze. His green eyes bore into her soul, his handsome face grim. He was beautiful, Luka's midnight coloured hair only intensified his green eyes. His well defined muscles sat snug under a plain black t-shirt and dark denim jeans. A slight smirk emerged on the vampires face and Cassie, knowing her thoughts had betrayed her, straightened herself up, curious as to what the keeper of the city wanted of her tonight.
“ Cassandra, always a pleasure.” he sang, his liquid voice sending shivers down her spine.
“I wish I could say the same Luka,”she retorted, “ what can I do for you?”.
He paused for a second before coming to sit beside her on the bed. She knew he would hear her heart racing, as it did everytime he was near, and urged herself not to think of how close he was to her.
His voice was sombre as he stared at the wall. “ I need you to partake in a hunt for me. An old adversary has returned, but with a few new gifts up his sleeve. I cannot sense him and it appears he may have developed a glamour. I need your unique powers to find him.”
The keeper of the city paused and she took it as her lead to answer him. “ I aim to please boss, but I need a few more details like.” her usual sarcastic tone appearing.
“ Bodies,” he simply said. “ Lots of bodies. All taken from my club. Vanished, with no evidence but blood on the dancefloor. Its the same as before.......... he tortures them in every possible way before draining them dry. I take it as a personal attack that he kidnaps them from my club.”
In all the years she had known Luka she had never seen the vampire look so sad. She resisted the urge to hug him, wishing she could comfort him somehow. He stayed silent for what seemed like an age before Cassie choose to respond.
“ What makes you think I can catch him if you can't Luka?” she asked quietly.
“ Because you are my assassin , Cassandra,” he stated as she flinched at the nickname she had been given by the city's underworld. “ Your mixture of heritage and powers allow you to do what others like myself cannot. That makes you deadly.”
She was pissed at him. “ I may be your hired gun Luka but what makes you think I'll keep hunting filthy bloodsuckers all.....”.
She didn't get the chance to finsh her sentence as Luka slammed her against the wall of her apartment. He was inches from her face and she could feel the tension go up a notch. Adrenaline pulsed through her veins as he pressed his body against hers, blocking her escape. The hunter in her forced Cassie to stare into his eyes, reluctant to show any weakness.
“ Do not push me Cassandra, I have not fed yet tonight and it would not do you well to test my restraint,” he whispered in her ear as he ran his finger down the scar on her cheek. His mouth moved to her exposed throat and she sighed, feeling his fangs on her skin.
Cassie, even though she knew he would read her thoughts, couldn't help but wonder if she could resist him now if he wanted to taste her. As he ran his hand over her hip, she wished he would just take her, fear turning to desire. As she wondered if her own freakish blood would appeal to him, Luka enhaled deeply before taking a step back, a cocky grin plastered on his face.
Her face flushed, Cassie stared the vampire down trying to gain control of the situation. Its not like they hadn't danced this dance may times before. “ Fine” she said, her voice hoarse.”what do you want from me?”
Luka paused, walking towards her bedroom door before leaning against the door frame. “Come to box of delights tonight and see if you can sense him. There is no doubt in my mind that he will be there too, trying to rub my nose in it. I will let my staff know that the assassin will be making an appearance so as not to cause too much commotion. His scent is unique, most vampires prefer to appeal to human but Vicktor wants to disgust. You will know it is him .”
“ Sure, no bother but I will be coming armed Luka, no way in hell am I walking into the underworld's top club defensless.”
Luka nodded and Cassie guessed he knew she would not agree to go without her own 'back-up'.
“ I'll swing by 'bout eleven, make a sweep of the place.” she paused, cheeks burning as she asked, “ Will I see you there tonight?”
In an instant he had crossed the room, and they were face to face again. This time when he whispered in her ear, her knees threatening to buckle. “ Would you like that my assassin ?......... Of course I will be there tonight, I love to watch you hunt. And I would not leave you unprotected in my club ... what kind of a host would that make me?........ When this is all over Cassandra, you and me have unfinished business.”
He pressed his lips to hers, a kiss that burned with the intensity of a thousand fires. Her body trembled as he deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth. She screamed for more in her mind, but as fast as the kiss had began , Luka was gone.
Cassie closed her eyes, trying to catch her breath. Her heart pounded in her chest as a velvet voice whispered like the wind in her head Soon, Cassandra, soon. Cassie smiled in anticipation unawares of the horrors that would shortly reveal themselves.

***********************************

As she made her way towards the club, Cassie couldn't help but think of how Cork City had changed since the end of days, many years ago. Millions died, cities eviscerated and now all of hell's creatures roamed the earth freely. Magic and monsters were now public knowledge, they even offered courses in the local college, the one that had not been set alight by a dragon. Cassie had always tried to hide who she was, but with her jet black hair and onyx eyes, courtesy of her unknown demonic father, she was hard to miss. Her small athletic frame also seemed to attract most of the scum of the earth, both of the human and supernatural kind.
Walking down past the remains of Patrick Street, she felt eyes watching her. Dressed in loose fitting jeans and a black t-shirt, she looked like any normal girl. She had topped her outfit off with a pair of vans sneakers she had 'borrowed' before the Tk maxx was sucked into a hellhole.
But she knew it was not her outfit that drew attention to her. Along with her pale skin and black hair and eyes, it was her assortment of weapons that truly alerted people that the assasin was hunting. Around her waist, a 9 millimetre hung from her belt along with an arrangemnt of bullets, silver and wooden alike. Her standard switch blade was concealed in her ankle strap but her Dadoo sword, that hung from her katansa shoulder carry was an sight to be seen.
As she reached the club, Cassie skipped the queue that had formed outside the box of delights. The massive lycan acting as club security, studied her up and down with a slight smirk on his face as he inclined his head for her to enter. Hushed murmurs echoed through the crowd, Cassie silencing them with one menacing look. Brushing her hair from her face, she smiled sweetly at the lycan, before strolling through the door he held open for her.
The floor vibrated under her feet as she stood on the balcony, her heightened vision scanning the dancefloor below. Cassie closed her eyes and enhaled deeply. Her senses flooded with the aromas of the creatures around her . Lemon and honey, copper and ash, orange and eucalyptus a variety of different smells all appealing in their own way.
Turning towards the massive staircase, cautiously taking in her surroundings, well aware of the activities that occured in the Box of Delights. Donors were widely available, raw meats for the weres' and private chambers for a bit more sick and twisted fun. Cassie shuddered remembering how she once had ended up in one of those rooms just after her mother had died.
Reaching the end of the stairs, Pendulum's propane nightmares pounded from the speakers. Itching to hit the dancefloor she brushed past a couple of females, undeniably enjoying themselves. It wasn't until one of the girls threw her head back in pleasure, did she see the blood dripping from her neck. The vamp chick locked eyes with Cassie, continuing to drink. Cassie couldn't tear her eyes away, yearning to have blood drank from her veins.... her head screaming at her that she was being compelled. It was only when the scent of lavender wrapped around her that she was able to shake it off.
Cassie's gaze now met with Lukas' and she nodded her head in show of thanks. Jealously suprisingly bubbled in her as she watched the army of beautiful immortals that surrounded luka, drapped over his legs, straddling his lap and whispering in his ear. Luka burst out laughing smuggly and Cassie blushed, her thought betraying her again.
Shrugging her shoulder, she made her way to the dancefloor, in the hopes of teasing Luka and of sensing her prey. She positioned herself between a gorgeous shifter and a faery. She danced in the middle of them, the faery resting his hands on her waist as the shifter moved in closer behind her. She felt Luka's eyes burning through her as he watched from his private balconey.
“ MINE!”. The word echoed in her head and from the look of fear in both the shifters and faery's eyes and how quickly they vanished she knew all three had heard the same command. Raising an eyebrow she could almost see the anger that radiated from Luka's skin, before turning and disappearing from view.
Cassie headed for the bar in desperate need of a drink. She smiled at the goblin behind the bar. His glamour was presenting itself as a Gerrard Butler look-a-like but Cassie was able to see both of his selfs. Cheers dad.....she thought dryly. The goblin winked at her before passing her a shot and shaking his head when she offered cash. Guess there were sum perks of the job.
It was then she caught the scent, a smell so awful it sent bile creeping up her throat. She shouted for Luka in her head, before taking off after the trail. Pushing past the crowds of dancers, she followed the smell past the back rooms and when she reached the back entrance she was overcome with the need to vomit, as the mixture of rotting flesh, blood and sex flared in her nostrails. Cassie flung open the door and staggered backwards as a fist met with her face.
Jumping back to her feet, she poised herself for a fight, reaching for her 9 millimetre but she couldn't move. Her eyes widened in panic as the vampire stepped out of the shadows. His eyes were red with bloodlust and he licked his lips as he ran a finger over her scar. She tried to open her mouth but nothing happened.
The vampire smirked and Cassie felt drowsy. She wanted to sleep. Vicktor was weaving his head like a cobra, bewitching its prey. He put his finger to his lips and whsipered “ shhhh”.
Cassie, in one last attempt at survival, willed Luka to her side, before succumbing to the darkness.

*********************************

Drip, drip, drip
Blinking her eyes open, it took a few minutes for Cassie's vision to focus. She groaned as pain ripped through her. Trying to raise her hand to wipe the hair from her face, she realised she was strapped to a table and she was naked. Fabulous she thought as turned her head. Fresh bile rose in her mouth. In the darkened room mangled bodies were discarded like trash. Even for Cassie the way the bodies were ripped apart was gruesome....... the stuff of nightmares.
Empty, fearful eyes scorched her soul, their pitiful expressions drawing a tear from her. Headless body parts were cast aside in piles, amputated arms, legs and torsos, all covered in bite marks, all naked and all drained of blood. Anger and disgust flowed in her veins. She tried to tap into her mother's wiccan roots, which she had suppressed ever since her mother was killed in a hunt. The scar on her cheek was a parting gift from the monster who had taken over her mothers body, moments before a fifteen year old Cassie had chopped off her head. The magic she had not used in four years vibrated in her blood.
The smell of rotting flesh washed over Cassie as her capture materialised from the shadows. His gaze lingered over her naked body, causing her to shiver involunteraly. He sneered at her gleefully, her obvious discomfort meeting with his appreciation. The room came alight and Cassie eyes roamed over the blood stained walls. Various torture weapons, knives and chains hung from one of the bloodied walls.
“ Isn't all this kinky crap just a little bit too cliche langer,” her voice croaking sarcasticlly with dryness. “ At least be original.”
A deep chuckle bellowed from his chest and he ran his hand roughly over her thigh. “ Ahh Cassandra, I've waited a long time for you, my dear. So beautiful, so strong, so haunted ...... just like your mother.”
Cassie snapped her head towards him, her eyes fierce. “ What the fuck do you know about my mother?”. She knew he was baiting her but the words had left her mouth before her brain had a chance to think.
Cassandra? a welcomed silky voice echoed in her thoughts, don't die on me yet, my assassin , we have unfinished business. Relief poured over her as she taunted back. Come get me bloodsucker, i'd hate to bleed out before we get to dance.
Victor straddled her on the table, licking the dried blood from her face before whispering softly in her ear. “ My Cassandra, who do you think it was that turned her? It was meant to be you, my sweet, but poor mama witch got in the way. She would have turned you too, if you hadn't of killed her first.”
“ You bastard!” Cassie screamed struggling under the weight of him. “ Why me? Why her? ....... I'm gonna slit your freaking throat!”.
He grinned down at her, his face now so close she could smell blood on his breath. “ Your special, Cassandra, your powers are unbridled, like nothing any one has every seen before. The ability to share both wiccan and demonic powers all in one. If you were turned, my god what a predator you would make. You kill now for Luka without question..... imagine if your were immortal. My very own personal killing machine.”
He looked away, distracted by his own visions and Cassie took her only chance. With all her wiccan power she commanded the restraints to open. Vicktor eyes widened in surprise as Cassie brought her knees to her chest and pushed with all her strength. Victor crashed back into the wall and sprang back up to meet Cassie, who now stood in full attack mode.
They faced each other in the crumbled ruins of the basement and Cassie felt her skin prickle as her suppressed powers now rushed through her blood. Vicktor studied her cautiously before charging towards her, like a bull to a matador. Cassie raised her arms, levitiatng out of his grasp. Awesome new power she thought. Lowering herself back to her bare feet, she waved her hand dismissivly, sending victor flying and this time, he struggled to rise.
Magic bubbled in the air, as the doors of the basement burst open. Luka and a legion of vampires filed into the room and she was suprised to see that the deprevity laid out in front of them, had shocked them. Cassie held her ground, Vicktor's torn body still in her sight.
“ It's over now, Cassandra, stand down........ I will finish it.” his voice was reasuring but Cassie's own lust for vengance had not yet been sated.
“ NO! He is mine.” Cassie turned towards Vicktor. “ for my mother,” she smiled sweetly and just uttered a single word. “ burn”.
The monster's body engulfed in flames, sending the vampire into a paniced frenzy. Screams of pure agony ripped from his burning torso and the smell of burnt flesh overpowered the already rancid scent present in the basement.
As the other vampires watched on in amazement, Cassie's captor fell to the ground before her. She felt the energy slip from her grasp and summoned the last of her strength and whispered “Ash” causing Victors flaming body to dissipate into ash.
Her legs shaking, Cassie caught sight of herself in some broken glass. The room had become silent and now she understood why. Her naked body was covered in blood, both dried and fresh alike. Her wrists and legs were red from the chains that had held her down and a stream of black and blue brusies tarnished her skin. Her hair had become a fiery red and her eyes the colour of blood. Her vision swam and her knees buckled. Her head hit the ground and the last thing she saw was Luka's face before the darkness took her.

***************************************

Her muscles ached, as Cassie blinked her eyes open, hoping that it had not all been a dream and was going to open her eyes to the horrors once again. Running her hands over the extravagent, silk sheets Cassie slowly sat up. The keeper of the city looked on worried as he leaned against the bed frame. He moved fluidly and came to sit beside her on the bed. It was a very deja vu moment. Cassie was grateful that someone had dressed her, and washed the blood from her face.
“ You had me worried assassin. ” he smirked. “ I was considering hiring a new one.”
“ Can't get rid of me that easily.” Cassie coughed before gulping down a glass of water that seemed to appear next to her.
She edged to the edge of the bed, standing on not so steady legs, trying to avoid the look of pity that showed on Lukas perfectly chisled face. Glancing in the mirror, she was happy to see that her eyes had returned to normal, if you could call them that. But her hair now had red streaks. She gingerly reached to touch it, the nightmares of the past twenty- four hours now becoming reality.
A comforting hand squeezed her shoulder and Cassie tried to push haunting memories aside to deal with another day. She waited for Luka to speak but silence filled the minutes. All Cassie wanted was to return to her safe haven, her apartemnt, shower and hopefully sleep away the disturbing revelations of her past. Although she was positive that when she closed her eyes all that would fill her vison would be the empty, fearful eyes of the murdered women.
Luka pulled her towards him and pressed his lips to her forehead. She knew he had read her thoughts and she was greatful that he respected she had to put to rest the demons in her mind, pardon the pun, before they could move forward. She stepped away from him, smiling as she lay a hand against his chest, before walking out of his bedroom door.
He studied her as she went, so alive with power yet shroud in such darkness. Since the heavens had opened and hell had unleashed its presence amongst the mortals, she had seen and done alot of inhuman things. Most of it was his doing. He sighed as he sensed her leave the building, knowing that while this chapter had ended he expected to see much more from his assassin. This was only the beginning.

I can finally announce that my debut novel, Another way to Bleed will be released early next year!!!!! more details to come!!!!!