Blood Sacrifice (The Blood Sisters Book 3) Read Free Page B

Maybe
their lives were too dangerous for him. They were headed to Sin Town and Amanda
didn’t know what they’d find there. It could be anything, its reputation
preceded it. Demons and hexes, henchmen and humans so distraught they were cut
off from the world. A place like that needed healing—a cleansing.
    The
elephant in the room, of course, was what was happening to Amanda. Something
deep inside of her wasn’t right and it was clawing its way to the surface.
    Jessica
opened one eye and peered at Amanda. “It’s only temporary.” Her words were
slurred as she rolled over under the thin blanket. “Tomorrow when they realize
that credit card is stolen; all three of us will be in a heap of trouble.”
    “We’ll
be out of here before that happens.” Amanda stood from the bed. “I’m going to
go out and get a soda, okay? It’ll just take a second.”
    But
Jessica didn’t answer. There was only a light snore and Amanda took a moment to
lightly stroke her sister’s hair back. Jessica would worry about her tomorrow,
that was a given. For now, big sister needed her sleep and to take care of
herself. Even before becoming a prisoner in the underworld, Jessica had been
tired.
    Not
that she would ever admit it.
    But
Amanda’s bones were jumping, she needed to stretch her legs and she’d seen a
soda machine by the front office when they checked in. She crept outside where
a light rain drizzled down. Amanda kept under the canopy to keep dry and
skulked the outer rim toward the flashing
VACANCY sign. Sliding her coin purse open, Amanda took out five quarters and
dispensed them into the soda machine one at a time.
    The
cola button lit up. She bent over to retrieve the can of soda after it clinked to the bottom. She pulled back the tab
with a snap and enjoyed the refreshing bubbles trickling down her throat. When
someone behind her coughed, Amanda spun and nearly spat out her soda.
    It
was the front clerk guy—unshaven and in a flannel shirt that stretched across
his beer belly. Amanda choked down her soda. “Hello. Thirsty.” Nervous laughter flittered out as the carbonated bubbles
tickled her nose. Amanda spun the can in her hand to show him.
    “Sure,”
he twirled a toothpick in his mouth and Amanda’s heart panged as she thought of
Duncan. “You can afford that soda, but not the rooms. Your credit card came
back declined. So either you give me another form of payment, or you guys clear
out tonight.”
    Tonight?
Jessica needed sleep. They couldn’t clear out. They just couldn’t. “I…we’ll get
you the money, okay? I promise. I never break a promise.”
    He
shook his head with a snort and the heavy aroma of beer drifted off him. “Can’t
take a promise to the bank, sweetheart. You’re out. Fifteen minutes or I call
the cops.”
    “Please!”
Amanda chased after him as he headed back to the office. “My sister really
can’t go another night without sleep. Have a heart! I’ll send you the money.
Even a little extra if you just—.”
    “That
is my being generous, princess. You’re lucky the cops haven’t thrown you out on
your asses yet.” He pushed the office door open and Amanda followed him inside.
    Sweetheart.
Princess. Who did this guy think he was?
    Amanda
grabbed his arm and tore the toothpick from his mouth. His eyes widened as she
tossed it to the ground. “You’re going to let us stay the night. We’ll clear
out first thing in the morning. I promise you.”
    “Who
the hell do you think you are?” He gripped the front of her shirt and yanked
her forward.
    Amanda
yelped and thought to retort the queen of
hell, but she really didn’t want to be the queen. She didn’t say anything, but
her vision spun. Her own breath echoed in her ears as a vision of a little boy
appeared in her mind. He was cowering in the corner and crying. A big man in a
white beater shirt wielded a wide wooden plank against the boy’s hide.
    Despair
and grief washed over Amanda and she let the man’s arm go. Everyone