Vampire heart

5: The

idn't

dly through the alleys, to forget what he saw. But he couldn't-not when Mal

omeone who didn't need to chase. He stepped further into the

said, eyes locked on Ayo. "But he

was ice. "Leave

hing last time. Reme

ossed Malakai's face

voice. "Who th

re and glittering. "I'm the man who broke y

d. "You're the one

eed. You should thank me, in fact. Th

etween them in a heartbeat. A fist connected with Rami's face

, then smiled through bloo

instant, t

s of street kids. This was something else. Faster. Older. Bodies flickered between bl

unsure whether to run or try

l. "You don't get to come back,"

ing down his chin. "You al

rned

his knee into Malakai's ri

der the impact. Ayo finally moved, grabbing a rus

swinging at Rami, "

ked against R

dn't

ling wider. "There's

again, eyes glowing red. "Touch him," Malakai said, voice l

ed. "Peace, Malakai. I didn't

reat. You just came

got a mouth on you. Eli

not

your chest-and that soul is the

yone keep saying that? What

he heart of a god, soaked in sacred blood, and hidden beneath earth and silence.

for you?" M

id simply. "Power. An

get none

The soul remembers when it's threatened. And when i

aving only a rush of wind and

nce

, catching himsel

o him. "Are

though his lip was split an

arm. "What the

brot

er menti

of ghosts unl

adrenaline ebbing

said, his voice heavy. "Before h

shaking. "Okay. I need a

beside him.

. Just...

e. It's not just a myth-it's a vessel, tied to Elijah's soul. To your soul. Whe

hy

come back fully. Maybe you'll remember what we were. What we los

oked a

ole life, I thought I was just some guy. Now I've g

a guy," Malakai said ge

gh. "Yeah, well. I

. You're stil

n at his hands

now a place we can lay low. And w

e gets to

darkened. "Th

quieter backroads, avoiding light and sound, until they r

but clean, with heavy curtai

a thin mattress, ex

by the windo

he'll come bac

es

under the blanket. "Because

. "You hit him

upgrade to

aintly, then tur

pered, "If I remember everyt

i didn

n't k