by Parker Blue
Luckily, he took to the crossbow like a natural. Unfortunately they weren’t a great option since they were only good if he was able to catch the vamps at a distance, plus the weapons were just a tad conspicuous to carry on the street. So, for close-in fighting, Dan carried silver and small vials of holy water besides the stakes.
He started wearing heavy silver around his neck, wrists, and waist. Though he wore most of his metal under a turtleneck, he took some teasing about his new look from the other scuzzies. But Dan was smart—he didn’t see it as jewelry, just weaponry that would help keep him alive.
On the fourth afternoon of our training at the station gym, I pretended to be a vampire and rushed Dan, catching him in a clinch. The last time I’d done that, he’d been unable to reach any of the weapons inside his jacket and had “died.”
But this time he was ready. He flipped a stake out of the special harness he’d rigged in one sleeve and a vial out of the other. He popped the cork off the vial with his thumb in a swift motion and dumped it in my face. When I blinked in surprise, he brought the stake down to within millimeters from my heart.
Grinning, Dan said, “Your face is eaten up by holy water and there’s a stake in your heart. You’re dead, Madame Vampire.”
GOTCHA!
Excellent. Even Fang sounded like he was coming to approve of Dan. But lingering with the guy on top of me after the “kill” was a bad idea. Our energy fields merged seamlessly and I had a mental vision of Lola popping her cork, oozing out of her bottle to let me know she was a whole lot interested in the very nice male body plastered against mine. Unfortunately, that part was in the physical realm.
And, from the odd expression on Dan’s face, he was feeling it, too.
I DON’T THINK THAT’S SUCH A GOOD IDEA . . . .
Me either. I was so not ready for this. Guys, dating, making out . . . the thought of it made me feel all mixed up inside. I wasn’t sure I even wanted to deal with these human feelings, let alone with what Lola wanted. Especially with Dan. Yeah, he was a total hottie, but he was way more experienced than me, not to mention the fact that he was my partner.
I scooted out from under him immediately, wiping the water from my face. “Good job,” I babbled. “I think you’re ready to take on a few vampires now.” Mentally, I shoved Lola back in the bottle. It took some doing, but I managed it. Dan gave me a knowing look, but I averted my gaze and rolled to my feet. “How’s your mental block coming?”
I hadn’t been able to help him with that, since I didn’t really need or use one, so some of the other SCU operatives had worked with him, giving him some tips and tricks they’d learned the hard way. I had, however, cautiously revealed that I was able to feel it if a vampire tried to enthrall me. Dan just seemed to take it as part of my general weirdness.
“The block is good,” Dan said. “It takes a conscious effort to maintain it, but I think it’s working. I won’t know for sure until a vamp actually tries to use it on me.” He rose to his feet. “I’m ready for the rally tonight. How about you?”
Relieved that he hadn’t mentioned what had just passed between us, I said, “Sure. Let’s do it.”
Lola stirred again, eager to get on with it. But was the lust in anticipation of the rally . . . or in reaction to what had just happened with Dan? I wasn’t sure, so I’d just have to make sure the rally took care of those pesky needs of my inner demon so she’d keep her greedy hands off my partner.
CHAPTER SIX
By the time we reached the large meeting hall near downtown, the rally had already started, so Dan parked near the back exit. Fang sniffed the air and the hair on his neck ruffled as he let out a low growl.
VAMPIRE.
“What’s he doing?” Dan asked.
“He smells vampire.”
Dan glanced at him in surprise. “I didn’t know he could do that.”
WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW COULD FILL AN ENCYCLOPEDIA.
Give him a break, Fang—he’s only human. “He’s been training, too.”
“Good to know. Can you tell how close they are?”
I listened. “Nothing nearby. Must be the vamps inside.”
Dan glanced at Fang. “But this time, you should leave him here. I know the organizers promised complete safety on their flyer, but a small dog in an excited crowd—not good.”
I frowned. “You’re probably right. But you can never be too careful. Tell you what, Fang. You stay here, and run for help if we need it, okay?”
Dan rolled his eyes. “Geez, I know your dog is smart, but who do you think he is—Lassie?”
I hadn’t realized I’d said that out loud. “He’s better than Lassie—he can take down a vampire.”
DAMN STRAIGHT.
Just not dozens of them. Of course, he was willing to try, but I wasn’t willing to lose him in the attempt. And he was smart enough to know he couldn’t handle it.
I’LL STAY HERE, BE YOUR BACK-UP.
Good—do that.
Shrugging, Dan led the way into the hall where the rally was in full swing.
The hall had once seen better days as a dinner theater, but now the wooden floor was scuffed and badly in need of polishing. In the harsh lighting, I could see the blood-red velvet curtains framing the stage were worn and shiny in spots. The crowd didn’t seem to care, though. Most of those attending were near my age, and the dress of the day seemed to be the Goth or Emo look, with others wearing skeleton or vampire costumes in honor of the occasion.
But the real scary ones were those who wore no costume or make-up at all—the vampires in the crowd. They gave the gathering an edge of danger, the feeling that one wrong word was the only spark it needed to explode.
“This place is a train wreck waiting to happen,” Dan muttered.
“Yeah.” But with all the security and the public nature of the rally, I hoped it would be all right.
“Any idea how many vamps are here?”
I shook my head. “Can’t tell for sure. I can only sense them if they’re using their powers. Some of them are, to cloud people’s minds about their true appearance. Probably most of them. Not more than twenty or so, I’d say.”
“Not as bad as I thought. Can you point one out to me?”
“That one. He’s projecting a Goth image. But he’s more like a geek caught in the Fifties.”
I felt Dan relax beside me. “Good—I see him as he really is—my block must be working.”
We watched for a few minutes as a man on a raised stage at the back of the hall spoke to the audience. The vamp, who introduced himself simply as Alejandro, had golden brown skin, long dark brown hair, patrician good looks, and a dramatic black cape that he flourished when he gestured. His seductive voice and charismatic manner were kinda hokey and theatrical, but the crowd ate it up. Though his English was excellent, he had the slight accent and phrasing of a person whose native language was Spanish.
“Yes, vampires are real. But there is no reason to fear, my friends. We in the New Blood Movement wish only to live in harmony with humans. There is no need for fear or strife.”
Oh yeah? Tell that to the people they’d sucked dry.
He continued. “We have established blood banks throughout the city where it is easy for humans to make deposits and for vampires to withdraw it as needed.” He paused, raising his finger dramatically. “But why should you donate, you ask? It is simple. We will happily reimburse you for this fluid that is so vital to our existence. And it is your choice whether you are reimbursed in cash . . . or in pleasure.”
He went on to explain that there was no need for the messy process of sinking fangs into necks and other regions of the body. Unless the human wanted to, of course, then they would arrange discreet rooms to donate blood.
And the suckers—or rather, potential suckees—seemed to be buying it. At least some of them were. Some seemed to think it was a big joke, others scoffed, but the vast majority seemed to be so mesmerized by Alejandro that they didn’t even question the fact that he claimed vam
pires were real.
Dan leaned down. “Can you tell if he’s coercing them, using his mind to control their thoughts?”
“It would be impossible to control this many people at once. But I do feel him sending out waves of goodwill, urging trust, cooperation, and acceptance.”
He grimaced. “And the susceptible are soaking it up. Let’s get closer.”
We pushed our way down to the front and a surge in the crowd shoved me up against a vamp standing near the stage. He gave me a lewd look, baring his fangs. Between them and his dreadlocks, he was kind of disgusting.
“Sorry,” I said, backing away. Didn’t want to start anything. And here, it was too easy for guys to get too close, for our fields to overlap. I edged closer to a knot of girls.
The vamp leered at me. “Don’t I know you, sweet thing?”
“Don’t think so,” I said and turned to face the stage.
Alejandro continued to address the audience, calling upon the unaffiliated vampires in the crowd to join the Movement, to live in harmony with humans and enjoy the perks of having a steady source of sustenance. As for humans, he spouted the benefits and joys of donating blood, hinting at carnal delights for those humans who personally offered up their necks to feed the Movement.
“But enough words,” Alejandro finally said. “Let us provide a little demonstration. If my lieutenants would please come to the stage?” He gestured toward the wings.
“Austin . . . ” A tall, lean cowboy—complete with the requisite hat, boots, and jeans—joined him, tipping his hat to the crowd. He grinned and the women went nuts. It worked for Marlboro cigarettes, why not the Movement?
“Luis . . . ” A handsome Latino joined the cowboy. Wearing a well-trimmed goatee with his long hair clubbed back in a ponytail at the base of his neck, Luis bowed, looking like some sort of historical Spanish aristocrat. He elicited oohs and ahs from the women in the crowd.
“Rosa . . . ” A sexy Latina with long flowing hair and a Marilyn Monroe body gave the crowd a come-hither look. The men cheered.
Going by these specimens, you’d think all vampires were totally hot. Talk about false advertising . . . .
Alejandro continued, “And, last but not least . . . Lily!”
As the men in the crowd yelled their appreciation, Dan stiffened beside me. The tall, thin blonde, wearing a slinky hot pink cocktail dress and a short, edgy hairstyle, joined the others on the stage, and Dan muttered something I didn’t catch.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing,” Dan said in a clipped tone.
Yeah, right. But I didn’t call him on it, because I wanted to hear the rest of what Alejandro had to say.
“Giving blood can be painless, even pleasurable,” the vamp said with a knowing smile. “Who would like to try it with one of my lovely assistants?”
On cue, the assistants all smiled, baring fangs.
A feeling like desire surged out of him over the audience. The sudden surge in lust, thrill, and anticipation throughout the hall made Lola perk up and pay attention. Uh-oh. A hot-cold sensation washed through me, leaving me tingling and hyperaware of Dan and all the vamps in the place.
I had a mental flash of Lola’s bottle rocking and the cork threatening to pop off. I couldn’t let her loose now when things were so unstable. Would she go berserker with so many targets around? I stomped her down, quick, but could still feel her awareness simmering just underneath my skin.
Dan looked at me oddly. “You okay?”
“Fine,” I muttered. Just peachy.
The vamp I’d bumped into earlier shot me a snarky look, apparently annoyed that we were interrupting the show. He did a double-take and said accusingly, “Wait. I do know you. You’re the Slayer.”
What? How did he know that?
Behind me, someone said, “The Slayer? Are you sure?”
Bewildered, I turned toward the second voice, and the male vamp’s eyes narrowed. “It is her. Hey,” he yelled up to the stage, his voice carrying clearly in the expectant silence of the hall, “I thought you guaranteed safe passage for everyone attending tonight.”
As Alejandro waited for volunteers to make their way on to the stage, he smiled at the heckler. “Yes, I did.”
“Then what is the Slayer doing here? She slaughters vampires for fun.”
Appalled, I could do nothing but gape. I’d better defuse this quick, or they’d go all Vin Diesel on my ass.
Angry mutterings arose from the vamps in the crowd, and the hair on my arms rose, prickling with the awareness of rising danger.
“I’m not here for that,” I protested to Alejandro. I smoothed the hair on my arms, trying to calm them, calm Lola.
“You see,” Alejandro said with an engaging smile. “She isn’t here to hurt anyone.”
“Yeah, right,” someone yelled.
“She’s killed a lot of us,” came another shouted accusation.
How many innocents have you killed? I wanted to ask, but this was so not the time for it.
The tension rose even more palpably in the room, making my skin crawl and testing my control of Lola. The vampires milled around, muttering to each other, glaring at the stage and me. They were obviously working themselves up to something. If someone didn’t do something real quick, people might get hurt.
Alejandro must have noticed it, too, for I could feel him sending out calming waves to the humans in the audience, urging them to leave, quietly, safely. They streamed out, hurrying, but not dangerously so. All but Dan, whose block was solid.
The vampire security guards appeared on stage, leveling crossbows at the vamps in the crowd. Time to leave. Unfortunately, our way was blocked by the vamps who were closing in behind us, muttering. They were still kept at bay by the threat of the crossbows, but were beginning to gain confidence the more they surrounded us.
I couldn’t take them all on—demon or no demon. There must be at least twenty-five or thirty. The only safe way out was through the back of the hall.
Dan muttered in my ear, “Go out through the stage.”
My thoughts exactly. I vaulted up onto the stage, followed closely by Dan. Alejandro’s lieutenants moved to shield him, but I held my hands up to show I was innocent of any intention to harm him. They let me pass and I backed slowly toward the rear of the stage.
I’d never seen so many vamps in one place. Pulling out a stake would be a bad idea. They’d probably take it as an invitation to rush me.
But, Dan wasn’t backing up with me. In fact, the cop was headed toward Alejandro and his lieutenants. “Dan,” I called.
He ignored me as he made a beeline for the tall blonde. What was wrong with him?
The mutterings grew louder as the vamps clustered around the stage and the last of the humans hurried out the exits. Soon, the vamps were shouting toward the stage and each other.
“You brought her here on purpose—to identify us.”
“Naw, he’s using her as a threat to force us to join his pathetic Movement.”
“Yeah, they’re working together.”
“No, no,” Alejandro said. “The only way you’ll get hurt is if you initiate violence.” But his charisma didn’t seem to work as well on the vamps as it did on the humans.
If only I could grab Dan and get him out of here. But he was whispering urgently to the blonde who was trying to shake him off.
Alejandro made an imperious gesture and the undead security guards lined up at the edge of the stage, menacing the angry vampires below. Vampires fighting vampires? Heck, they’d do my job for me.
But Alejandro had made a point of ensuring all the humans were safe. I hated to admit it, but his heart seemed to be in the right place . . . even if it wasn’t beating. Could it be he was really trying to improve relations between vamps and humans like he claimed? Maybe this group wasn’t responsible for the increased attacks.
The vampires below were working themselves into a frenzy. I sighed. My appearance had started this, though they seemed to be b
laming Alejandro. Maybe if I removed myself—and him—the incipient riot would fizzle out. Besides, he was our best bet for learning what was going on with this group.
I made sure his personal guard saw my hands were miles away from any weapon as I moved closer to Alejandro and muttered, “Shouldn’t we get out of here. Like now?” Before Lola broke free and I did something everyone would regret.
He frowned. “My car won’t be here for another hour.”
“We can’t wait that long. Come on, we’ll get you out of here.”
Austin grinned at him and said, “Go. We can take care of these varmints without you.” The others nodded agreement and formed a line behind the guards, still shielding Alejandro.
I pulled Alejandro toward the rear of the stage, yelling, “Dan, come on!”
Dan hesitated, then grabbed the arm of the tall blonde and said something to her that I couldn’t hear.
“Tell her to come, too,” I urged Alejandro. Anything to get Dan out of there.
The vamp leader gestured, and the woman followed.
Finally. With relief, I hurried Dan and the two vampires out the back, and heard a roar of anger as the vamps realized their quarry was leaving. Sounds of fighting soon followed. How long could Alejandro’s people hold them off?
We raced toward the truck and Fang heard us coming. He bristled with his teeth bared. “It’s all right,” I called to him. “Friends.”
I jerked open the door and dove into the cramped back seat beside him. “Don’t touch the metal,” I warned the vamps. “Silver.” They piled a little more cautiously into the front and, wasting no time, Dan started the truck and peeled out of there just as the vamps came boiling out of the hall.
“Go,” Alejandro shouted, his head hanging out the passenger side window to check on our pursuers.