Disclaimer: I do not own Blood Ties or any of its characters. They are Tanya Huff's creations.
Thanks to my beta, Lena!
Chapter 1
Vicki walked through the condominium doors. Greg, the doorman, was staring at something on the television.
"Evening, Greg."
Greg's dark brown eyes left the television screen. "How are you tonight, Miss Nelson?"
"Fine. Is Henry in?"
He nodded. "Yes."
After giving the answer to her question, he quickly returned to whatever he was watching, clearly finding it more interesting than chitchat.
The PI headed to the elevator and pressed the up arrow button. The elevator dinged as it opened. She stepped inside. Minutes later, the elevator arrived on Henry's floor and she walked down the hallway to Henry's apartment. She rapped on the door.
Silence.
Her eyebrows furrowed in puzzlement. "Henry should be up by now. It's not like someone rescheduled sunsets lately."
She reached inside her black leather jacket and inserted the spare key which, after a great deal of nagging, she had convinced Henry to give her. The door opened to a darkened living room.
I guess Henry must really be catching up on his beauty sleep.
She flicked on the lights. The blinds were closed. That's odd. The doors to his bedroom were still shut. She flung them open. Henry was lying in bed with his sword jutting out of him. His usually pale skin seemed even whiter. His chest was covered in blood.
"Oh my God, Henry!"
She grasped the hilt of the sword and slowly pulled it from his chest. Henry's body jostled as the sword came free but he didn't make a sound. The PI sat next to him and placed her wrist against his thin lips.
No response.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures."
Vicki quickly removed her jacket and slid a pocket knife from her blue jeans. She ran the blade over her wrist and placed it to his lips. Her blood flowed into his mouth. Tears welled up in her eyes. She tried to stop them from falling but was unsuccessful as they streamed down her face.
"Come on, Henry. I can't lose you. Not like this."