Read Online Blood by K. J. Wignall - Free Book Online Page A

don’t know what it is yet.”
    Teasing, she said, “You mean, meeting you?”
    â€œPerhaps,” he said, smiling, enjoying the fact that she would never imagine what he’d really meant by it.
    â€œWe’ll see.” She finished her tea and pointed at his. “Are you going to drink this?” He shook his head and she swapped the two glasses so that his was sitting in front of her. “Anyway, now that you know everything about me—what’s your story? How are you an orphan? How long have you been here? Where are you staying? All the important stuff.”
    Before he could respond, Eloise put her finger to her lips, though she’d hardly needed to warn him someone was coming. The irritation in his arm had quite suddenly become more intense again, close to the pain he’d briefly felt on his first reading of Jex’s book.
    He expected to see Rachel reappear, but a young man had come into the room. He was tall and slim and tanned, with short hair that was golden and curly on the top of his head. From the look of him and the way he was dressed, Will imagined this was Chris. And if the wound on Will’s arm was telling him anything, it was that Chris was more significant than Rachel in relation to Will’s destiny or perhaps more dangerous.
    He went to the couple in the corner first and asked them how their food had been—their response was a little too enthusiastic—then he turned and said, “Hello, Ella, nice to see you. And this is your friend Will. I’m Chris.”
    He looked younger than Rachel in some undefined way, and his eyes were dark brown and full of life. He held out his hand and Will shook it, only for Chris to say, “You’re cold, Will. Still, cold hands, warm heart, isn’t that what they say?”
    â€œI believe so,” said Will, and Chris seemed to find the response vaguely amusing. Even so, like Rachel, his gaze lingered on Will for a little longer than was comfortable and the old wound burned in Will’s flesh. Who were these people and what were they to him, friends or enemies?
    Chris finally turned to Eloise and said, “I suppose you heard about Jex, you know, the guy who sold the Big Issue .”
    As Eloise made some polite response, the couple in the corner got up and left. Will heard the woman saying something about “Year 7s” and the man responding with a comment about a staff meeting. Neither of them even glanced his way, so he guessed it wasn’t anything about his general appearance that was drawing the attention of Rachel and Chris. They had both definitely seen something in him, and in turn, Will sensed they were dangerous people to be around, whether they meant him harm or not.
    â€œI don’t think they’re suspecting foul play or anything. Apparently he was dead before the fire took hold, but he lit the place with candles, so he could have knocked one over in his death throes, that kind of thing.”
    â€œHow awful,” said Eloise. “Is that what you think happened, suicide?”
    Chris shrugged. “Who knows? This is a strange city. There’s a darkness about it—that’s what we like about it—but the flip side of that is bad things happen, weird things.”
    Eloise nodded and Will couldn’t quite decide whether she was genuinely in agreement or not. As if to clear up his doubts, she said, “Darkness maybe, but not evil. And you know, he was kind, but I think that Jex guy had some serious problems.”
    â€œTrue,” said Chris. “All the same, I want you two to be careful out there. And listen, any time you want a place to get out of the cold, you’re always welcome here. You don’t even have to order anything, and we’re not gonna bug you with questions. I just want you to know you’ve got a refuge if you need it.”
    Eloise looked touched and said, “That’s so kind, thank you so much.”
    Chris