The Blood Ledger Novels & Stories

“It’s the audit. The wager’s final clause. Every payment, every sacrifice, it’s been recorded. We’re the collateral.” The ledger-sky tore open. A book descended, massive, bound in human skin, pages flapping like wings. The cover was the true Heartstone: not opal, not flesh, but contract, inked in Vasquez and Kane blood. It opened to a page: CLAUSE Ω: IF THE DEBT IS PAID IN TRUTH, THE LEDGER CLAIMS THE STORYTELLER. The reflection-me stepped forward, throat slit but smiling, knife in hand. “You told the story, Elena. You lived it. Now you become it.”

I only understood my sister's hatred after she killed me. Lydia Vale did not hate me because I had taken anything from her. When we were sixteen, the Blood Ledger appeared before us on the night of the red moon. Lydia stared at the crimson light first. The man smiled. "The Glamour Gift," he said. "Beauty that can bend a room before you speak. Desire, attention, invitations, worship." Then he looked at the silver light.

I screamed, feeling on the verge of losing my mind. Blood was dripping from my fingers, but I didn't even feel the pain as I gripped the blade. Mom didn't even glance at my injury. She nodded firmly. "Yes!"

Blood. Dread settled over me like a heavy shroud. The once serene garden now bore the threatening mark of violence. I knelt down, scrutinizing the crimson stain on the ground. Fear coiled in my stomach, and the silence of the garden seemed to echo with the ominous weight of the unknown. Zoey's disappearance had already been a challenging situation, but the presence of blood escalated the situation to a new level of urgency. Every worst-case scenario raced through my mind. I couldn't lose her. Not after all she had been through.

He cuts me clean with a soft smile, “No worries, Miss Credi, take whatever you want. Suddenly, his eyes roved over my body, stopping at my heels and his lips curled into a mischievous smile. “I find it strange you’d pick heels for the occasion.” I stopped myself in time from blurting, ‘I had no idea bloodvessel.com was to recruit me into selling my blood.’ It seemed to me that he thought I willingly signed the contract to be a vessel and instead got purchased by a cruel vampire. I didn’t want to correct his notion of me yet because I would have to reveal too much about myself and I didn’t want him to know yet. The feeling of being let down and left heartbroken by Alexis was still too raw.

Besides, I think they're too impatient to do things calmly. "What do you know about this wine called 'Blood of the Wise'?" Judging Orion's expression, there's no doubt, he's willing to tell him everything he wants to know. Ah. The scent of victory.

Every vampire they passed bowed slightly, deferred to his presence like he was more than a noble or a general. Like he was royalty. She found the ledger she needed in a locked cabinet: Bloodlines of the Ancients. It was thick and heavy, bound in worn leather and sealed with iron clasps. She picked the lock with a flick of her dagger and flipped through the pages until she found it:

And then, just before we left, a messenger approached. Not someone from our circle. A neutral party. A broker with no allegiance. He handed me a folded note, eyes careful, watching for a reaction. "They say power isn’t earned, Xena. It’s stolen.” The words on the paper weren’t signed. No emblem, no seal. Just a declaration. A warning. I handed the note to Leonardo without looking away from the messenger. “Then they should remember that thieves rarely keep what they steal.” Leonardo unfolded the note, scanning the words before chuckling softly. “It’s starting.” And in that moment, I knew—this wasn’t just a test. It was an invitation to war.

Marked with a blood-red X. "What’s this?" "The red ledger. Your father's final project. His backup plan. If you're going to take your empire back, you're going to need it." Her hand trembled. "What’s in it?" "Truths that will burn everyone. Even the man you think you love." She turned slowly. RAyNe was staring at her. Giovanni slipped away. And then the power cut. Screams. Glass shattered. A gunshot rang out. Nirvana ducked.

And yet, somehow, I was given the hardest task of all. Picking up the tray, which was heavier than all the rest since it was full of pitcher of heavy blood, I made for the door. The Pack clinic always kept a well-stocked blood bank, both in case a wolf needed a transfusion and for whenever important Vampires come calling. Since Werewolves heal so quickly, it doesn't take much to restock it with donations. I helped Rosie a few times doing blood drives during the long years of the war.