Red Blood (Series of Blood Book 2) by Emma Hamm (rm book recommendations .txt) 📗

a year, if that. But when it did, the human had a chance to create something new. Magic would fill the empty void to create an original magical soul instead of an old soul. The Five wanted this to happen just in case there was a chance for new creations to appear.

So far, nothing had happened. The humans that were “human” did not have any other abilities. But the Five remained hopeful that there was a chance for their dimension to continue to flourish in this new one.

Lyra, Jasper, and the others on their team were the bodyguards for these Red Bloods. Any time someone threatened them, the Five would send in a battalion to fight on their side. Not that four people were really all that threatening, in Lyra’s opinion, but they were capable of doing more damage than an army.

She twirled the serrated blade in her hand and backed towards the others. Right now, the Red Bloods that were in the room were likely dead. They had fought as quickly as they could, but the creatures Malachi’s supporters had conjured were far more advanced than a Red Blood could handle.

Her back hit the strong arms of the men behind her. Jasper and Burke were back to back as they continued to swing their swords. Guns weren’t effective against creatures like this.

They looked like balloons. Red blobs that floated above the floor and bounced upon the air currents. But they could launch red liquid that burned against the skin. If the sticky substance stayed on a person too long, it would burn a hole like acid.

Now, they had lost the Red Bloods they were supposed to protect, and they had to clean up the mess. Today was turning out to be a little more awful minute by minute.

“What exactly are these creatures?” Lyra asked as she reached into her pocket for more darts. They weren’t the kind of weapons she was used to using, but they had been handed to her. She was more accurate than the others.

“Not a creature!” The answering shout came from Wren, the newest member of their team. She stuck close to Burke’s side as she was still in training. Also because the man was madly in love with her. “A creation!”

Wren was a unique creature herself. She housed the souls of thousands inside of her. Each soul had a unique voice and a unique personality. They had been worried she would break under the pressure of so many minds. Somehow, she hadn’t broken.

Well she had. At least a little. Burke had managed to bring her back with a little tender lovin’. That was Lyra’s story, and she was sticking to it. They weren’t very appreciative of her side of the story, but that was why it was her side. Not theirs.

Lyra reached her hand behind her for the darts that Jasper pressed against her palm. The two of them fought together as though they were an extension of each other. They knew exactly what move the other was making and exactly how far they were from each other. Some people thought it was uncanny.

In truth, it was practice.

“Creation huh?” she called out as she flung a dart towards one of the creatures. She hit a bullseye, and it popped. Red goo splattered all over the floor around them. “So what exactly are they made of?”

“Dead man’s blood.” It wasn’t exactly Wren’s voice that responded to her. So E had come out to play then. The thousands of souls had one voice that had all the knowledge of the collective.

Lyra would be jealous if she didn’t love herself so much. “Animated blood? That’s all these sacks are?”

Another dart hit its target. She cursed long and loud as her arm started to burn against her flesh.

“Burning!” Lyra yelled and ducked into the protective circle the others quickly formed around her. She yanked her jacket off and started mopping the blood off of herself. Her forearm was already bright red as skin started to peel.

She was really starting to get tired of this job. It had been fun in the beginning. Back when she was used to a different life, and this had offered a sense of adventure. Now it was just constant fighting. Constant disappointment.

A sizzling sound made her freeze. Her gaze found its way between the legs of her partners and locked onto the vacant stare of a Red Blood. The woman had died with her hand stretching out towards them. Lyra could have helped her if she had been a little bit faster. If she had tried a little bit harder.

The “ifs” were starting to pile up in her life. If she was smarter. If she was more skilled. If she had more time. They bore down upon her shoulders as a constant reminder that she wasn’t good enough.

Dead man’s blood had splattered all over the body, and no one was there to wipe it off of the woman. Her brown hair had turned red as pools of blood spread around her. Curls of steam rose delicately into the air as the acidic blood started to break down her body. Her cheek split open as Lyra watched. A burning sensation bloomed in Lyra’s chest. Anger had turned her blood to raging chaos.

“Hey minx, you’re missing all the fun!” Jasper shouted at her.

Fun? This wasn’t fun. This was hell.

But she had to put on a brave face because she wasn’t the morbid one. She was the ridiculous one, the sassy one, all the ones that the others weren’t. It was Lyra’s job to make them laugh at her foolish behavior. So she shook herself and stood back up.

“We all know you couldn’t do it without me. Get off my back and let me save the day, would you?” She sniffed as she took her place once more.

There were relatively few of the blood balls left. Six hovered near the back of the room as though they were hesitant to attack. They should be.

“I’m done with