Lycan Blood (Alex Vane: Demon Stalker #1)

It's my Party...

Unlike the last time I’d been getting ready for a party, there was no Jacey to help me. My lie about not going meant that I had to work my own magic. Of course, it didn’t really matter how I looked but I had to blend into the party atmosphere at the very least. Which unfortunately meant I needed a dress.

“Alex, aren’t you ready yet?” Scott called through the door, no longer trying to hide his impatience.

“Almost.” I called back, smoothing down the fabric of my green silk dress. It had been a while since I’d seen it last. It had been my mother’s.

“Well hurry up! It’s already getting dark and the moon must have been out for a while now.” Even though I knew he was right, I still ignored him. To be honest, I was surprised by how emotional I felt. I thought I’d gotten over my parents deaths a while ago. So much had happened since they died that it almost felt like a story that belonged in someone else's past. But seeing the dress, seeing myself wearing it…I looked like her. It had caught me completely off guard and now was not a time for me to be feeling like this.

“Okay, I’m coming now!” Taking one last look at myself, I picked up my backpack and slung it over my shoulder. That was not part of the outfit. Scott and I had selected a few choice weapons and hidden them by Sarah’s house earlier but it hadn’t felt like enough. I’d gone home to collect more (and pick up the dress of course) and I was planning to dump them among the trees where I hoped to confront the werewolf. The only exception was my dagger. There was no way I was going anywhere without that tonight.

I opened the door to find Scott leaning against the hallway wall, looking extremely irritated. Thankfully his expression changed when he saw me.

“Hey,” he stood up properly, glancing me up and down. I looked away and fought the urge to fidget. Did he have to look at me so intensely? I wasn’t scrutinising him that way, “You look good. That dress really suits you.”

“Thanks,” I blushed, certain he was only being polite, “You look good too.” I only said it at first to be polite back but actually he did look good. Gone were the stained sweatpants and baggy hoodie, replaced instead with smart black trousers and a crisp checked shirt. His hair was neat for once and I could detect something which smelt suspiciously like aftershave.

He continued to stare at me for a moment or two before coughing awkwardly.

“Right then, ready to go?”

“As I’ll ever be,” I glanced round Scott’s apartment, wondering if I would ever step foot in it again. It was strange really-I was almost becoming fond of the place, “Of course, you do realise that aftershave is only going to make it easier for the werewolf to find you?”

“What, you don’t like it?” He grinned, some of his intensity slipping away. That made me feel better. I didn’t like it when he was serious.

“It’s okay I suppose. You know, for attracting a violent death anyway.”

“Well you’re wearing perfume! It’s the same thing.” He grabbed his jacket and opened the front door, gesturing for me to go first. It was my turn to smile then.

“Actually I’m not,” I strolled past him, “But thanks for saying I smell nice.”

His embarrassed silence was probably the highlight of my evening.

The closer we got to Sarah’s, the sicker I felt. I dumped my bag where we’d left the other one earlier, hidden in some bushes in the woodland behind Sarah’s garden. I’d also brought a hoodie to leave there. Instead of high heels I wore my old combat boots and despite the unusual warmth of the night, I also wore thick black tights. This might be a party but that didn’t mean I had to take stupid risks. A single scratch or bite which drew blood and I was a goner.