by Megan Hawke
Dane's guns started firing. He emptied both magazines. I shot the two vamps attacking me. Both froze, eyes wide in surprise.
"Never been shot with blessed silver, heh?" I said. "Here, have another."
I shot them both between the eyes. Oh, that hurt. I know.
I leapt to my feet and started shooting every vampire I could see. The blessed silver bullets wouldn't kill them, but it would keep them from using any vampiric powers like morphing into bats or wolves. When the magazines were empty, I shoved the Glocks back into the pocket holsters.
Dane was on the floor, trying to keep a Latina vamp away from his throat. He was losing the battle. I cried out and charged them, my wings sprouting out through the vents in the back of my jacket. The appearance of those huge black batwings caused a number of people to cry out. I saw two vamps stop and gawk as well.
"Get off him!" I cried, and stabbed the eight inch spike at the elbow of my wings into the Latina vamp's back, and right into her heart.
"Aaaggghhh!" she cried, her back arching as she tried to reach back.
I threw her out the door with my wings, then whirled around as another vampire charged me. I blocked his right cross with my left forearm, then straight finger punched him in the throat. Before he recovered from the shock, I gouged out an eye and kneed him in the crotch. He groaned and dropped to his knees. Yeah, even vamps can't handle a blow to the balls.
Grabbing his short, spiked blonde hair, I yanked his head back and drove my fingers into his throat with all my preternatural strength. My fingers penetrated to his spine. I wrapped my fingers around his spine, and yanked it out. His whole head came off with it. Decapitated. Dead for good.
"She killed Levi!" another vamp said.
"Is she a demon?" a redheaded female said.
"No, I'm the Angel of Death." I sneered at them, and then thrust one of my wing spikes into her forehead. "Die!"
Dane rushed up. He had his strange, curved Gurkha knife. It was designed for beheading, and that is what he did. Red lost her head. His backstroke took off the head of another vampire.
That was all the invading vamps could take. They charged through doors and windows, and vanished into the night. Dane and I stood there a moment, eyes locked and simmering. Oh, how we loved a good fight.
"I really need to get me one of those," I said.
"I love my kukri," he said, grinning
"They left," a waitress said. She was a wolf, covered in blood but looking unhurt. She had switchblades in both bloody fists. Her eyes were still wild.
I looked Dane over. There were no obvious wounds. Other than being soaked in blood, I was fine. My jeans would have to be tossed, but the leather goods could be cleaned.
"Are you all right?" I said.
"Just bruises," he said.
I heard a growl, and found a trio of wolfmen looking around for someone to fight. The biggest one had a reddish tint to his fur, so I assumed it was Jeric. All three wolfmen were covered in blood. They came up to me and Dane, and growled threateningly.
"Interesting," I said, looking around. "The only dead vamps are the three Dane and I killed."
"You brought them here," another wolf said. Jeric and the other two wolfmen nodded.
He was in human form. Had to be, they can't speak in wolf or wolfman form. The mouth and larynx weren't designed for human speech. Wolfmen were half wolf, half man. Their head looked exactly like a wolf's head. Only much bigger.
"You're crazy. They attacked us, too," I said.
"A trick," he said. "You distracted us, while your vamp family ambushed us."
"And you believe that? You believe we killed three members of my family just to make my ruse look good?" I said.
"Yes."
"You are an idiot," I said. "Come, Dane. We're out of here." I glared at Jeric a second. "You have the pictures. You got a close up look at the whole group, live and in person, tonight. If you recognize anyone, or have any other info I can use, call me. My phone number is on one of the pictures."
Jeric growled and took a step towards me. I reached into my jacket and pulled out the Baby Glock. It shot a .357 round. Silver. Good enough to kill a werewolf.
"I don't know you. I don't even like you," I said through clenched teeth. My eyes narrowed as I aimed at his heart. "I'd just assume kill you as spit on you. Don't push me."
"Nice and slow, Sable," Dane said. "Let's just ease out of here without shooting anyone else."
"I’m game, if the dog boys here are," I said. That got a growl out of a lot more of them than just the three wolfmen. Wolves really hated being compared with dogs. I smiled into Jeric's beastly face with wicked delight. Yeah, I like to tweak their big wet noses. "We'll leave, nice and quiet, if you let us. If y'all balk, well, we'll put a major hurt on you boys."
"We're not afraid –" their spokesman started. So I shot him. "Yeow! Bitch!"
He dropped to his side, clutching the wounded leg, and cussing a blue-streak. The shifter managed to take it pretty well, all considered, but he was out of the fight.
"Next time I won't shoot you in the leg," I said. "Next time, it's the head. And dead."
"You're going to live to regret this," the waitress said, closing her switchblades.
"I know. You know how hard it is to get the stench of wet dog out of leather?" I said.
"Sable. Don't rub salt in the wound," Dane said. "Let's just go."
"Buh-bye," I said, and backed out of the front door.
Dane led the way, opening a path through the men and wolves in the parking lot. Everyone followed us, step for step. Dane got into the Jeep and started it up while I stood by the passenger door, holding my pistol on them. The wolves attacked as soon as he put it into gear.
"Drive!" I cried, putting one foot into the jeep and hanging onto the windshield with my free hand. With my left hand I started shooting. Not to kill. Really. I aimed for their legs. "Eat silver, dogs!"
Dane drove right over the sidewalk and curb. Horns blared and wheels squealed as we tore off down the street, wolfmen racing after us. They chased us a block before they gave up.
"Sable, what is it with you and werewolves?" Dane said.
"Hey, is it my fault they don't like me?" I said. I settled into the seat, put away my pistol and buckled my seatbelt. "Which is weird, since dogs love me."
"Hmmm," he said so eloquently. "I thought we were trying to keep the werewolves calm, not antagonize them."
"They were antagonized when we got there. Not my fault," I said.
"Maybe, but you didn't help the situation any. Did you really have to make dog jokes?"
Oops. Guess I didn't have to. "Um. I was trying to lighten the mood."
Dane laughed. "You altered their mood, all right."
"Head to your house," I said. He lived in Mesquite. "We'll take a long shower together, and then we can spend the day doing naughty things to each other."
"Now you're talking." He leered at me. "Best plan you've had in ages."
Chapter 4
Sunset was 7:40 that night. Longhouse called at 7:42 PM.
"I didn't wake you, did I?" Was he trying to be funny?
"No. I always get up early to watch the sunset." I sat up in the dark closet. The master bedroom's closet of Dane's house served me all day. He kept a mattress on the floor for when I slept over. I paused to stretch and groan. "How can I help you?"
"Are you alone?"
"No, there are five thralls in this little coffin with me," I said.
Dane got up around noon. I could feel him out in the kitchen.
"Oh, sorry. That groan just sounded like…never mind."
"Ha! Are you starting to fantasize about me?"
"What? Don't be crazy," he said, almost stammering. I smiled, shaking my head. Even minions were afraid of their vampire lovers. Maybe fear was a greater aphrodisiac than I thought. Sergeant Longhouse knew enough about vampires to know better than be seduced by one. Vampires, the ultimate forbidden pleasure. "I'm calling to update you."
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That got my attention.
"You have positive IDs on the dead vamps?"
"Yes. The redhead's name is Chanah Weinlaub. She was eighteen and a known thrall. The vamp that lost his head was Levi Barton. He was twenty-one, and a sophomore at UT Arlington. He was also a known thrall." I heard shuffling of papers, then he took a sip of something. "Last up, Zane Drake. Also a thrall, and nineteen. Word was that Zane and Chanah were dating, too."
"How long have they been missing?"
"They weren't," he said. "We have no missing persons for the past three weeks, and no college age missing persons for the last three months."
"There were thirteen vamps last night, all college age," I said. "And no one missed them?"
"Well, there are ten now," he said. "Since we identified those three, we were able to do checks on all known friends and acquaintances, and came up with the other ten names."
"That's great. How much of this can you e-mail over to me?"
"Already sent," he said. "The big chiefs are rattled. They want this problem fixed, and fixed fast."
"Poor Morris." He so hated giving me anything. Detective Morris thought information exchange between the police and anyone else, living or otherwise, should be one way – to the police. Most cops felt that way. Even Longhouse sometimes balked at giving me information. "I should send him a case of Tums."
"You really shouldn't yank his chain. Tony's a good cop."
I stood up and pulled the dangling chain to turn on the light. I kept clothes at Dane's place. The jeans from the previous night sat in the trash. I did manage to clean the leather jacket, bustier, and boots before bedding down.
"I know. It's hard," I said, eyeing my scant collection of clothes. "He pushes my buttons, too, you know. But I'll try to be nicer."
"I’ve heard that before."
"Yeah, I know. By the way, you did send pictures of the remaining vampires, right?"
"Yep. Names. Last known addresses. Photos," he said.
"How about lists of friends and family?"
"None of the families would appreciate a visit from a vampire right now. The thirteen were a tight little clique, so we found no other friends. But there is a list of their favorite hangouts."
"You're the best, I don't care what Dane says about you."
I chose a red tank top, with 'Give Blood Generously' in bold white letters and a set of fangs below it. I paired it with a pair of black leather low-riders and stiletto ankle boots. Taking my selection, I left the closet and tossed the clothes on the still made bed.
"Anything else? I need to go. Undead people to see, and a few to kill. You know, the usual."
"Hate to spoil your good mood, but…," he said. "Word has leaked out to the packs, and the press. The packs are angry, and demanding we do something now, or they will. It's getting a lot uglier out there."
"Damn." Wolves were always hot-blooded. It was amazing they'd contained their rage this long. The vampires were watching. Silent. Patient. Determined they would not be taken down. What did Sabrina say about two powder kegs waiting for a spark? "I'm moving as fast as I can. I'll talk to the vampires."
"You do that. We have every member of the department pack out talking to the werewolves, trying to calm them. Another attack or two, and we'll lose control of the situation."
That would be bad. Dallas had a lot more werewolves and vampires than the general population thought, or even really wanted to know. Neither side would be too careful around normal mortals. I'm hoping the werewolves' total lack of success at Jeric's last night would convince them to keep their cool. But knowing people in general, and wolves in particular, they'll find ways to explain away their apparent lack of success.
A pack could kill a vampire. It was getting their hands on a vamp that was difficult. For every vampire the wolves killed, they would lose three or four. The vampires could win a war of attrition, but not by much.
"That's a start. I don't know what else you could do."
"We've brought in a witch as a consultant, too. Momma Zuza is an expert on both vampires and werewolves," Longhouse said. That surprised me. The police hated bringing in any paranormal person, whether witch, vamp, or wolf. "She's probably one of Dallas's most powerful witches. She's advising us, and looking into any spells that might contain the situation if it explodes."
Did I hear that right? They brought in a witch as a consultant?
"I don't know, Longhouse. Throwing witches at vampires and werewolves is like throwing gas on a fire," I said. "Witches don't like wolves or vamps any more than we like them. Hell, none of us like or trust either of the other two groups."
"We've used her before. She's good," he said.
I didn't like it, but it wasn't my call.
"If you say so. Well, I have to go. Keep me apprised."
"You do the same. I mean it this time."
"Always," I said, and hung up.
I felt the press of time on my shoulders. I glanced up at the silent heavens and shook my head. "Life sucks, then they reanimate you for more of the same."
Though I'd showered before bed, Dane and I did messy things together. I didn't feel like showering again, so I morphed into a bat for one second, then back into a woman. That left me perfectly clean. No makeup. No hair products. Not even soap residue. Cleaner than a shower.
After dressing, I put on my face and pulled my hair back in a ponytail. I found Dane cooking oatmeal. A cup of blood sat in the microwave. The timer was set. Dane looked over his shoulder at me and pushed START.
"What? No oatmeal for me? I love oatmeal."
"No sugar."
My face twisted and my throat tightened. I threw up my hands and took a step back.
"Ack! No thanks then. How can you live without sugar?"
Dane shook his head, smiling, as he fetched my now hot blood breakfast. I sucked the first glass down fast, then got myself a second. Some vampires barely needed two pints a night. I could function well on three, but felt much better with at least six pints a night. Each glass held a pint. Desiree, the world's greatest thrall, thought that said a lot about me as a vampire, and my power.
"I'm surprised you don't put sugar in your blood," he said.
"Hey!" I lifted a brow. "That's an idea."
Dane grinned and shook his head.
"Who called?" Dane said. "Desiree? She is such a jealous lover."
"Desiree jealous? Ha! She has no problem sharing," I said and sucked down another big gulp. Blood was just better if you gulped it. Wolfed it down. Something primal good about it. "It was Longhouse. He's e-mailed me all the info he has on the other ten vampires."
He looked up sharply, eyes wide.
"The police have identified them? About time."
"They were all members of the same thrall clique. I need to swing by the house to check my computer, then go pay a visit to Council," I said. I felt Dane's tension spike. His heart rate ramped up. "I'm sure Council is eager to calm the waters, and they are better than anyone at gathering the information we need."
"Will they help us?"
That was the million dollar question. Council was not shy about demanding my help. Would they help me? Of course, the leaders of the various vampire communities had a stake in keeping the peace. If they believed I could do it, then I get their support. If they don't think I am the one to resolve this issue, I might have a hard time getting out of there alive.
"They better."
After breakfast, Dane changed into jeans, red t-shirt, and biker boots. That pretty much described his everyday attire. The color of the t-shirt changed from day to day, but not much else. The man had no sense of style.
"Have you called Gabe yet?" he asked as we climbed into his Jeep.
"No."
"Why not? He might've learned something."
"He's having sex right now," I said.
I had mental links with Dane, Gabe, and Desiree. I had a link with Heidi, too, but that was different, much more powerful. I could turn off the connection to
the mortals a lot easier than I could with Heidi. When any of my family was having sex I tried to block it. Their arousal excited me. If I got excited, then I started pumping vamp pheromones into the air and everyone around me got aroused. It could quickly reach a level that no one, myself included, could keep from having wild, wicked sex.
I know. On the surface it sounds great, but fact was it was a terrible pain in the ass.
"Who is he doing it with?"
I shrugged. "I'm not that good. I just feel his emotions, and some of his base physical sensations."
"So, say if me and Heidi go to bed together…?"
"I really feel it," I said. "I can feel what each of you do to each other, and what each of you feel. Really, if I dwell on it I can achieve orgasm. It can be that good."
Dane gawked at me. "I didn't know."
"Don't worry, I always shut you out when you're having sex. Unless you're having sex with me," I added, and then gave him a wicked little wink. "Our link is the reason sex is so much better between us since I've been Changed."
As the crow flies, my house wasn't that far from Dane's. Driving there was a bit more convoluted. When we arrived, Gabe's Hummer was blocking the driveway, with Sabrina's Mustang behind it. Dane parked on the street, without saying a word.
"Shit." That was all I could think to say.
"Maybe Desiree's home, and …," Dane said.
I couldn't feel Sabrina. Didn't have a link to her. Linking was very intimate, and I thought too intimate to share with my little sister. The thought was icky. But Gabe and Sabrina were in my house. There were two sets of rapid heartbeats inside the house, and Gabe had just had sex with someone.
"She's twenty-one," I said, more to remind myself. I suspected it wasn't the first time those two had hooked up. My sister hadn't been chaste since junior high. And Gabe was a dog. "She's made dumber decisions."
He looked uncomfortable. Yeah, I knew he'd slept with Sabrina. Things got pretty wild around there sometimes. Passions ran hot and high way too often and people hooked up. Having slept with all of them, except Sabrina, I wasn't one to throw shame.