Blood & Juniper

I slowly open my eyes after the disturbing squishing subsides. No Train, no June, no Miles.

I glance about, locating Juniper tossing a deformed carcass out the tunnel opening. She hums with dissatisfaction.

I inch over to her, purposely keeping my eyes off the mutilated corpse. I can only assume that's what is left of Miles.

"Did he just… Did that… Is he?" I struggle to form a sentence.

"In pieces? Yes. The locomotive beheaded and dismembered him," she states coolly. I can't help but look, it's only a torso with legs and half an arm. I turn away nauseated.

I decide to keep my eyes on June but notice half of her is splattered in blood. I don't think I was splashed with sticky water. Ugh, if I had food in my stomach I'd surely taste bile.

June continues unaffected, "Shame, I can't taste his secrets now. Howbeit, improbable he had much to offer."

My gaze lifts in an elevator motion, starting at June's b.a.r.e feet. There are minor nicks scattered over her calves. I notice the crescent where miles sunk his teeth in. It's shallow, it should look worse than that, there's dry blood streaking her calf to prove it was a nasty bite.

I take in her dress, slashed and stained to signify severe wounds but they all seem minute, healing before my eyes. Even that gash on her cheek is nearly closed up.

I see blood globbing around mouth and instinctively look at her hands covered in viscus gunk. A hunk of meat is balled in one fist. She went for his heart, figures. I shouldn't be surprised by her at this point but I am. She's a vulture.

"What the hell, June!" I glance quickly at Miles's remains then back at her. A rush of emotions swamp me.

She slings away the grimy chunk from her hand and guesses at my exclamation, "I had to ensure he did not survive."

I shake my head mindlessly. I can't believe it, any of it, "What is happening?"

She sighs, "I fear I have made more enemies than friends, petite. Old enemies. It is regrettable that you've been involved."

I keep myself inquisitive to distract from the shock, "Did you know Miles? I think he's been tailing me for a while now. How did you know we were being followed?"

"We were not acquainted but I suspect he was sent by someone to find me and you happened to be a promising link. He was pursuing us and fairly inconspicuously."

My brows furrow, still unsettled, "Was he reading my mind?"

"Presumably, but his skills were lacking. If he had not attempted to spy on my thoughts he may have continued unnoticed. The Specter's bloodline would have been a better fit for him," she becomes exceedingly more thoughtful, "Pity, I'm most curious to taste a commanding Seer."

I purse my lips, "You're not supposed to be 'tasting' other vampires, are you?"

She turns to me with a dastardly expression, "That depends."

"On…"

She chortles like some kind of scoundrel, "It's a common thing for immortals to share their blood. It allows for a powerful bond, even a human can experience the influence in our blood."

She's dodging the question, "But you're not doing that. You're not sharing blood."

She basically materializes in front of me, her movements are incomprehensibly smooth. A finger is extended, pointing at my c.h.e.s.t where my heart would be. Her sapphire eyes stab like knives, concentrated on mine, "The heart is potent and I have a strong… Appentency for it. I thirst for more than mortal blood."

I refrain from shivering, but don't know how to respond. A half genuine sarcasm reflexively slips out of my mouth, "Do you ever think you might have some serious issues?"

She laughs loud and free at my tactless tongue. I'm relieved my bad habit of speaking before I think doesn't anger her.

She keeps chuckling to herself as she walks past me. It wasn't that funny, wasn't really funny to begin with. June worries me.

She heads deeper into the tunnel and I catch up with her.

I shake off the chill with another question, "I didn't know you could fly. Was that a trick or am I able to do that, too?"

"No, only those from the Assassin's bloodline have that ability."

"Then how were you-"

"Little dove, you are so inquisitive," she interrupts with a smirk over her shoulder, "You are not apt at following instructions."

I'm confused for a moment and then remember I'm not supposed to ask her anything until we are back home, oops.

"Cut me some slack. A just witnessed my mind reading stalker get run over by a train and you… Being you. And I'm not completely sure how to feel about it," I'm actually surprised I'm not completely freaking out right now. How can Juniper be so unfazed by seemingly everything?

"I suppose there's no longer any harm in it, now that he has been taken care of. It seems someone has sent their underlings and they took aim on the few I have an affinity for," she sighs with pensiveness, thinking aloud, "Two in a single night cannot be coincidence."

"June, what did you do to provoke this?" I demand very sternly. I know I'm not supposed to ask but I feel like I have a right to know.

She shakes her head, deep in contemplation, "The less you are implicated the better. Knowledge can be a dangerous thing."

"But it looks like I'm already involved," the promise 'She'll find you both!' dances in my mind like a foreboding alarm.

"Alas, becoming more entangled will not aid," her emotions subside to a simmer, "I must find a way to deviate their attention, among other things."

I stare at her, realizing, with the help of our blood connection, that she didn't plan or anticipate most of what transpired tonight. She doesn't know what to do. It unnerves me. What am *I* going to do?

She notices my anxiety and a wave of calm descends. She looks composed and unbothered. I think she's just trying to distract me but now I'm starting to wonder. Her emotions say not to concern myself.

Her mood changes as if flipping a switch. Her filthy, stained cheeks rise with enthusiasm and her eyes narrow, "Come, petite. Did you forget about my little secret?"

Her back hand swings open a weathered, riveted maintenance door discrete among the bricks. She disappears into the dark opening, the tattered dress whirling and s.u.c.k.i.n.g into rectangular void. I hesitate before going after.