Hunger Within (A Sable Hart Vampire Slayer Novel Book 1)

by Megan Hawke

  "What? What do you mean we?"

  She smiled roguishly. "I brought muscle for the heavy lifting. I’m just a girl, after all. They don't know you’re a vampire. So go hide. I'll come back for you after they leave."

  "They didn't come with you?"

  "They followed me. Once they’re gone, we'll wrap you up tight in latex and I'll lead you into the back of the truck."

  "No. I need my car. I'll wait until sundown, then come over."

  Her eyes narrowed. "What are you planning?"

  I smiled as roguishly as I could. "I know where Yuri and Clive are hiding. I'm going in and kill them at sundown."

  "No! They'll kill you!"

  "It ends tonight, Desiree – one way or another." I shrugged. "I will not live with them breathing down my back, endangering everyone I know and love. I'm going in, but not alone. I have other friends willing to go in with me."

  "Vampire slayers?"

  "Yes."

  Her hands went to her throat. She was horrified.

  "They will kill Yuri and Clive, and then kill you afterwards. Those damn people hate vampires with a passion. They have no mercy in their hearts. You can't trust them Sable; you can't."

  "I was one of them before I was Changed, Desiree. I think I know my friends." I glanced at the door. I could hear four men coming up to the door. "You're muscle is coming. I'll hide. Let me know when they're gone. Don't forget to empty out the fridge and pantry. All the food is fresh."

  With that I hurried down into the basement before she could protest my plans any further. If I died, Desiree would be very wealthy. She'd have all the money in the trunks.

  I decided to spend the rest of the afternoon stretching, meditating, and praying. I very well might die that night. I would pray for forgiveness just in case there was any chance for my immortal soul. What's the worst that could happen? I go to Hell?

  Chapter 21

  Once the sun was down I locked up the house and called Sergeant Longhouse as I headed for my rendezvous with Dane and friends. For once he sounded wide awake when he answered. Bet he was happy I hadn't called at three in the morning.

  "Hiya, Sergeant Longhouse," I said brightly. "How was your day?"

  "Just getting started. They moved me to the swing shift, so I'll be around when all the vampire action goes down."

  "Lucky dog."

  "Are you calling to report more dead vampires?"

  He sounded hopeful. Eager even.

  "No. They were alive when I killed them."

  "Oh."

  That said it all. Suddenly the cop didn’t want to be my friend.

  "Exactly. Yuri sent six of his enforcers over to stake me; five men and one woman. I left a letter next to them listing their crimes I know about, and who they are for identification."

  "Appreciate that. So nice of you."

  "Ah, sarcasm. How quaint. You know, I don't like killing mortals, but they were trying to kill me. Better them than me."

  "Yeah." That didn't sound like he necessarily agreed. Of course, before becoming a vampire I wouldn't have thought vampires had a right to self-defense either. "What's the address?"

  I gave him my now former address. Told him to be prepared when he goes down in the basement. I also advised him that all the clothes he would find there were what I stole from Yuri and his family. Maybe professional crime scene investigators would find something useful within them. I doubted it.

  "I'm heading out to either kill or be killed now." That got his attention.

  "What do you mean? Where? Who? Yuri?"

  "Yep. I know where Yuri and Clive are spending their days. I’m going to hit them during breakfast."

  I didn't think it prudent to mention that I would have help. If nothing else, Dane would become a suspect. Dane was probably as safe as anyone with his old friend, but Longhouse was a cop first and foremost. If things went badly, if mortals died, he might not have any choice in the matter but to arrest Dane.

  "Where? I'll send a S.W.A.T. team."

  "I don't think so. If I survive, I'll call you afterwards to go in for cleanup. Otherwise, I don't want police involvement. That would mean the death of innocent cops."

  My call waiting beeped. I glanced at the display. Boney's cell number was displayed.

  "It's our job to protect the citizens of Dallas." He sounded angry. Imagine that, me piss someone off. Will wonders never cease?

  "And it's my job to kill vampires. Later."

  I hung up and answered Boney's call.

  "Hello, Boney."

  "Sable, are you crazy!"

  "Oh, you spoke with Desiree."

  "Of course. She's terrified and bawling her eyes out." I didn't recall her ever crying. She was a tough cookie. Was she playing Boney? "I don't blame her. I'm terrified for you."

  "Glad someone cares. I really do, but you know I have to do this. Yuri Changed me against my will. He damned my soul. Killing him a thousand times cannot make up for that. I will not suffer his existence any longer. He has got to go, and if Clive is helping him, he will go to Hell with Yuri."

  "You stupid bitch! You can't defeat them alone," he shouted. "Are you mad? Do you want to die?"

  I liked Boney, so I would overlook the “stupid bitch” comment. This time. He was a pimp after all. Bitch probably wasn’t a bad name in his world, but we’d have to talk later.

  "No, I don’t want to die, but I have to do this. Besides, I'll have some of my vampire staking friends tagging along this time."

  "Great, one baby vampire and a handful of mortals against nine vampires, ranging in age from one hundred plus to over six hundred. Sounds fair."

  "Well, that's one very negative way of looking at it." I grinned. "I prefer to see a rag-tag group of valiant vampire slayers charging into battle against formidable numbers, and beating the odds to come out victorious. Could happen."

  “You’ve been watching too many movies.”

  “Maybe.”

  "Where are you?"

  "I'm driving to the battle site. Want to join us?"

  "No. Where is Yuri? What address?"

  I told him where they were the best I could. I don't know why he cared. I knew he wouldn't betray me. Well, I was pretty sure. He was a vampire, after all.

  "Jesus woman, do you know how many vampires live in that area? You're marching into the lion's den."

  "Wouldn't that be wolf's den?" I said. "Or the bat cave?"

  "Don't change the subject."

  "Wish me luck, Boney."

  He was silent. I heard a low groan of misery. My phone started beeping with another call coming in. I didn't recognize the number. Then he spoke very quietly.

  "I'll miss you, Sable. Good luck. Call me if you get out alive."

  I smiled. "I will. Thanks. By the way, take care of Desiree. If I don't come out of this alive, make sure she gets all my money."

  "I will."

  "Bye." I answered the next call. "Hello?"

  "How lovely. You’re still alive.”

  It was Clive, and despite his words, he didn’t sound happy. I expected the call to be Dane or Gabe, wondering on my ETA. Even Yuri wouldn't have surprised me. Getting a call from Clive was unexpected.

  "Yep. Can't say the same for those bumbling fools Yuri sent over to stake me."

  "They are all dead?"

  "Of course. Hearts cut out, mashed to mush, and flushed down the toilet." It was a lie. I didn't want any of his family hurrying over to Change any of them into vampires. I cursed myself for a fool, since I should've done what I‘d claimed to have done. I was more rattled by their attack than I thought. "You know me. I'm very thorough when it comes to killing vampires and wannabe vamps."

  "Black-hearted bitch," he said. Why did I love listening to an English accent so much? "Yuri and I are in league to bring you down, Sable. By midnight every vampire in the city will be gunning for you."

  "Bring it on, sissy boy! You know where I live. Stop sending mortals to do your dirty work and come take me out your own damned
self. Craven coward sissy boy."

  Clive growled and the connection was cut after some strange static. I envisioned the ancient vampire crushing the phone in his hand in his rage. I may have pushed Clive's button; you know, the button they tell you to never, ever push? Yeah, I was pleased with myself.

  "Oh lovely. I think our chances at reconciliation are rather dim now," I said, trying to mimic an English accent.

  I spotted Dane's SUV next to Gabe's pickup. I couldn't believe they were both still driving those shot up vehicles. As I got closer, I spotted them speaking with Wendy and Anson, but I didn't see either of their vehicles. It looked like the gang was all there.

  Dane and Gabe were standing side-by-side. Their different auras struck me. Both possessed huge auras, but so different from each other and both so different from a normal person's. Wendy and Jason had normal sized and looking auras, perfect white halos. No taint.

  They all turned as I stopped next to them. The first thing Wendy and Anson did was put on wraparound mirrored glasses. I frowned. I wouldn’t mesmerize them, but I understood their fear.

  While deep desire spiked in both Dane and Gabe, I smelled fear flow from Wendy and Anson. Dane and Gabe amazed me by brutally suppressing their feelings, and rather quickly at that.

  "Hello. Thanks for coming." I climbed out of the Mustang. They all looked me up and down. Wendy frowned in disapproval. Dane looked surprised, while both Anson and Gabe looked excited. I expected that from Gabe, but not Anson. "You know there could be nine or more vampires in there? Including six hundred year old Clive, and five hundred year old Yuri. This is the time to bow out gracefully. No shame in it, either."

  Dane, Wendy, and Anson wore jeans and t-shirts. Gabe was odd man out, only wearing black sweat pants. No shoes or anything else. That meant he planned to go in as a wolfman, so he’d be much stronger and faster.

  "You know we can't," Wendy said. "They are too dangerous to leave alive. We barely got out alive that last time we all went in together, and they were at least asleep then."

  "I know," I said. It was a grim thought.

  "But we all know how well you did all by yourself when you attacked Clive," Anson said. He looked quite impressed. "Imagine what we can all do together."

  "My thought exactly." I was not as confident as I sounded now that we were on site. It was one thing to risk my life, but I’d never forgive myself if any of them were hurt or killed. I turned to Gabe, "I'm hoping you will tip the balance in our favor. What did you bring?"

  For once he managed to rip his eyes off my chest and look me in the eyes. He even smiled at me. It was a rather evil smile.

  "Nice touch," He pointed at my chest. "I like."

  I touched the black heart and smiled. "You would. Now, about the goodies you brought?"

  "Ah, business. I brought AK47 assault rifles with drum magazines for everyone, with nothing but the finest in blessed silver bullets. Catholic blessings, not that watered down Protestant crap." Gabe was the lone Catholic of our group. I was the only one to grin at his joke. "I only have one drum each, plus a silver grenade each."

  "Only one grenade each?" Dane said.

  That surprised me, too. I returned eight grenades to him after the assault on Clive's mansion. Was he saving them? Or had he been busy, too?

  "I only have six left," Gabe said. He looked pissed. "They aren't cheap, y'all. You know how much just the silver for one grenade costs? Do you?"

  "Never mind, Gabe. Good job." I patted him on the shoulder, then turned him towards the back of his pickup. Urging him forward, we headed that way as a group. "Anything else?"

  He shrugged. "Just the basics. I brought a bunch of swords with blessed silver-cased blades. Two crossbows. And a bundle of javelins for each of us."

  He opened the back door on the passenger side, and pulled back a blanket to reveal what he brought. I looked in at all the hardware. It was an impressive sight.

  "It'll be difficult to carry all that," Wendy said. "Especially carrying a crossbow and an assault rifle."

  "I'll carry both," I said. "And a katana, if you have one."

  "Why? Because you're a big, bad vampire?" Wendy said.

  Her hostility took me aback. I always got along with Wendy. Didn’t anyone understand that I was still the same person? Undeath didn’t change who I was deep down. Well, it did, but not where vampire slaying and friends were concerned.

  "No. Because those undead bastards scared the shit out of me."

  That took her aback. Wendy quickly recovered, her fists clenched. She stepped in front of me, pulled the crossbow from my hands, and handed it to Anson. Then she pulled out the other crossbow. After handing Anson an AK47 and a quiver of javelins, she collected her own and stepped aside.

  “Anson and I are only here because Dane asked us.” She looked me up and down with hostile eyes, then slung the AK47 over the quiver. Wendy didn't quite point the crossbow at me. “I haven’t decided if you are a threat or not. So me and Anson will take the crossbows.”

  “I’ll never be a threat to any of my friends.”

  Anson perked up at that. “You still consider us your friends?”

  “Of course. Why not?” I prayed they felt the same way. “You will always be my friends.”

  They all considered that a long moment.

  “Why should we believe you?” Wendy said.

  I got the vibe she wanted to believe me. I knew how deep her hatred of vampires flowed. Anson shared her opinions in that area, too; but their loyalty to family and friends ran just as deep.

  I shrugged. “Have you ever known me to lie?”

  Wendy shrugged. “So? Vampires don’t lie, either. They’re still evil.”

  True. Vampires could lie, but rarely did. They were not afraid of the truth. But Wendy had legitimate concerns. Truth was I had changed. Profoundly in some areas.

  “Nothing’s changed about my feelings of loyalty and friendship for you guys,” I said, looking her in the eyes so she could see my sincerity. Unfortunately, my friends were impossible to read due to the mirrored glasses. Their auras didn’t change. I doubted I had reassured them in the least. Only time would prove my case. “Besides, I’ve learned that some vampires can be trusted. They’re not all bad.” I got four dubious looks. “Hey, it surprised me, too.”

  I pulled out one of the bundles of javelins, each bundle in its own quiver-like sheath that strapped to our backs. They had blessed silver spearheads, with crosses etched into both sides. Just looking at them hurt my eyes. Gabe had been busy.

  “Nice touch, Gabe."

  "Thanks, Sabe." Gabe grinned wolfishly. "I try."

  I slung the quiver of javelins across my back, then did the same with a katana. The sword had an elaborate black hilt carved in the likeness of a dragon. When I pulled the blade it burned my eyes to look at it; not only was it cased in silver and blessed by a priest, but numerous tiny crosses were etched into both sides of the blade.

  "Ah, sweet," I said, admiring the blade.

  "Thanks." Then he frowned. "Try to not lose it. You people lose everything. Swords cost more than silver, and real swords are a lot harder to get, too. These are my last ones."

  I patted his left arm. "Sure thing. I'll reimburse you for anything lost."

  I had to touch the blade to guide it into the sheath on my back. The blessed silver burned my fingers. Wendy’s eyes went wide at the sight, while the others looked grim.

  “Ouch. I bet that hurts.” Gabe grinned at me. “Nice to see it works.”

  “I agree.” My fingers were already healed. “Let’s go burn some vamps.”

  It was a cloudy night. Not a problem for me, but it was for the others. Word was we'd get rain tomorrow. Maybe thunderstorms. We were in a pretty bad drought, so people were excited.

  Yuri’s house was a big old place, with a front porch and a balcony out front. It was painted a pale yellow with white trim. Most of the lights were on. That was never a good sign.

  I put on my wrap-around shades. Mirrore
d. My friends stared at me in surprise.

  "Yuri can entrance me," I said, shrugging. "I don't want to be captured any more than you."

  Gabe took their attention away from me when he started morphing into a wolfman. I was as fascinated as the others as his bulk increased; he grew taller and hairier. His jaw and nose slid outward as his ears stretched and migrated upward. The more wolfish he got, the angrier he looked. I had heard it was painful morphing for werewolves, but I sensed no pain through our link. Oddly enough, I felt embarrassment coming from him.

  “Wow, you’re a big one,” I said, tilting my head up to look him in the eyes. He was taller and heavier as a wolfman. “Impressive.”

  Once Gabe was ready, I led the way down the sidewalk. The whole time I felt like someone was taking aim with a crossbow or javelin, preparing to impale my heart on raw wood. I could not shake the sensation no matter how hard I tried.

  “Can you tell if they’re all in there?” Dane said.

  “No. I can sense mortals pretty well; sometimes I can even distinguish people I know, but I have problems detecting vampires,” I said, knowing it didn’t make any sense. Did they really want to know how intensely I could “feel” their blood and heartbeats? “But any vampire in there can sense you guys, at least as well as I can sense the humans in there.”

  “Really?” Anson said. “They know we’re out here?”

  “Yep, but not necessarily that you plan to attack them.”

  I felt all of their hearts begin to pound. They were panicking. My mistake. I should've known better than tell them that. No stopping it now. My heart was pounding, too. Yuri and company would feel my comrades' roused blood and know something was up.

  “No time like the present. Come on! Let’s go get ’em!” I cried, and took off running for the front door.

  I hit the door hard, kicking it in with all my strength. The door was mostly opaque glass. It shattered loudly. I think it’s safe to say I got their attention.