by Debra Dunbar
11
At dawn, Jaq knocked on the door of Kelly’s trailer. The vampire staggered through the narrow room to let her in, scowling at the light that streamed through the doorway. She’d returned to her bed after downing the small packet of human blood, collapsing in blissful sleep. It had thrown off her rhythm, but even with her long slumber, she still wasn’t ready to face the day. The werewolf wore a tan heavy–canvas jumper, her hair, in the usual pony tail, swung from side to side as she bounded cheerfully through the doorway.
“Here,” she handed a plastic grocery store bag to the vampire. “You’re looking much better this morning. Did you sleep well? I thought you all were nocturnal, but you were abed all night long.”
Kelly glared at her, irritated the werewolves were keeping such a close eye on her. Taking the bag, Kelly peered into it to see more meat, and what appeared to be a soup container full of blood. Ugh. If she never tasted cow blood again it would be too soon. Still, it was better than nothing, and she didn’t want to appear ungrateful, especially since she now needed more from this woman than her offerings of food.
“We’re nocturnal, but we can adjust our schedules if we need to.” Well, most of them could. The ancient ones became increasingly locked into sleep patterns and couldn’t bear the faintest of sunlight, but she doubted Jaq would ever meet one of them. Kelly looked up at Jaq, forcing a smile to her face. “Would you like to come in for coffee? And some of the donuts Melody left?”
Jaq tilted her head, her eyes searching the other woman’s. “Sure.”
Kelly ushered the woman in, starting a pot of coffee and setting a donut on a chipped plate. Jaq took a tentative bite, and eyed the vampire suspiciously. It was no use. Kelly was a terrible actress and needed to just get to the point.
“Can you tell me about the other vampires you’ve seen around here? The ones you’ve killed? What they looked like, where they came from? What they were doing?”
Jaq sat the donut on the plate and slid it onto the table. “Why?”
The vampire took a deep breath, wondering how much to tell her. “Remember when I said that this is a buffer zone between two vampire families? Well, my ticket out of here hinges upon my providing information to my family about the enemy scouts.”
Jaq took another bite from the donut and relaxed back in her chair. “They beat you within an inch of your life. They took your fangs and dumped you here for dead, and now you’re telling me they’ll forgive everything and bring you back for information they could easily gather themselves?”
Kelly squashed the fear that rose within her at Jaq’s words. Yeah, information easily gathered if vampires weren’t so cagey and there wasn’t a pack of pissed–off werewolves wedged right between them.
“They’ll let me back. I just need to see how many rival scouts have been coming across the border and to get as much information as I can. This is typical stuff for a disgraced vampire to do in order to redeem themself.”
“What’s going on? Seriously. We’ve held West Virginia since before it was a state. There have always been the usual trespassers, but never this level of intrigue.”
“There’s nothing going on.” Kelly lied. She had a pretty good suspicion there was something going on. The whole family had been buzzing with gossip the last five years. “I know you guys keep track of this sort of thing. Help me out here and I’ll be out of your hair by the end of the week.”
Jaq let out a noise that sounded suspiciously like a growl. “Is your family planning on making a bid for our territory? Did they plant you here to spy on us as well as the other vampires, beating you up as part of your cover so we’d feel sorry for you and not kill you outright?”
Idiots. Werewolves had no brains, just fur and fangs. Why would anyone want West By–God Virginia? There was nothing here. “No! I swear to you I’ve been punished and exiled. We’ve always had an uneasy peace with the Kincaids, and my family wants as much intel as they can get. Look, this may be my only chance to get back to my family, and you said yourself that I need to get out of here.”
The woman before her suddenly looked fierce, gray eyes nearly silver as they bore through Kelly. “No, this is different. Tensions have been increasing between the two vampire clans, and we’re sandwiched right in the middle. There’s been an increase in scouts from both sides crossing the borders, and vampire shell corporations have been trying hostile takeovers on some of our companies. Don’t give me this crap about ‘business as usual’.”
Kelly caught her breath. What was it with this crazy werewolf? The vampire was no weakling, but Jaq gave her pause.
“Look, it’s an internal thing. Not werewolf business. We’ve got one Born too many, up north — a Prince who has come of age. I’m not privy to his plans, but I’m assuming the Master is thinking a raid on Kincaid lands is safer than a power–hungry son in his own territory.”
“Yeah, not our business at all. We’re smack in between you two — how can you think that’s not our business? Do you expect them to do this raid across the DC metro borders, where security is high? No, they’ll tear through our state and sneak into each other’s lands in the rural areas. And why are vampires trying to take over the major corporations here?”
“I’ve got no idea,” Kelly insisted. “I can’t imagine the vampires being interested in any businesses here. Outside of the racetrack, they’re not our usual businesses. I’m sure you’re mistaken.”
Jaq snarled. “We’re not mistaken. These companies will be vampire owned by the end of next month, and there’s nothing we can do to stop them. We don’t have the kind of money to defend against multiple hostile takeovers, and it’s not technically against the contract the vampires have with us. Once they control all the money, they’ll starve us out. Is that what you have planned?”
Kelly crossed her arms defiantly in front of her. “We don’t want your state, or your stupid businesses, and I’m sure the Kincaids’ don’t either. Look, I’ll pass along any information I get from my vampire family that concerns your territories if you share information on the scouts you’ve caught to date, and any future info.”
Jaq’s eyes narrowed. “Why do I have a feeling the knowledge you have to share is slim to none? They beat you and tossed you out here to die. You’re expendable. I can’t imagine that they’d divulge anything worthwhile to a disgraced vampire whose life has no value.”
The werewolf’s words were like a punch in her gut. Expendable. Was this really a way for her to earn the trust of her family again, or a chance for them to drain whatever usefulness they could from her before she died? The whole idea was too depressing to dwell on. Equally cutting was the idea that she had no information that would be worth anything to the werewolves. It was true.
She could happily tell the pack about the ins and outs of running a casino resort, or how to navigate vampire politics, but she really hadn’t been privy to anything beyond her own specialized role in the family. All she knew was gossip, but gossip was more than what these werewolves had right now.
“The northern family is facing civil war if they can’t find a territory for their Prince. The Kincaids down south have always had a target on their back. The only thing that’s saved them from an attack in the last century is that their territory isn’t all that profitable. That’s starting to turn around, and given the situation up north, even a less–profitable territory is tempting, especially one that’s run by a Made.”
Jaq leaned forward, donut forgotten. “You’re losing me here. Why would it matter whether your Alpha is Born or Made?”
The coffeemaker beeped, and Kelly poured two cups, handing one to Jaq. “It matters. Back before the humans walked upright, there were vampires. They were the original, the pure of our species. Thousands of years later, when they began to turn humans, the Made ones were slaves. We’re not slaves any longer, but preference is still given to those who are Born vampires, especially those who have come from the pure line. Blood and family ties command great loyalty, but lineage trum
ps it all.”
“Seriously? You all would ditch a good Alpha and follow a complete stranger, who may be a terrible leader, because of the circumstances of his birth.”
“Yep.” Kelly sipped her coffee, choosing her next words carefully. “It’s more complicated than you think. We don’t fall under any scrutiny from the angels, because we’re considered a separate species. If the original line dies out, and we become just a group of turned humans, that might change. And we really don’t want a bunch of angels all up in our business.”
The werewolf shivered, her hands tightening on her coffee mug. “On that, we’re in total agreement.”
“I’m sure you see why the Kincaid lands are so tempting. Kyle Fournier, our Prince, is a Born from the original, non–human line. Up north he has a sizable following of those who think a younger, more dynamic vampire would better our financial interests. Overthrowing the current Master would be near impossible — he’s ancient, and although he may be out of touch with modern businesses and the culture that surrounds us, he’s powerful. The Prince would need the whole family behind him to take his father down. It’s easier to snatch Kincaid’s territory, and then let any world–domination plans wait until he gains power and resources. Probably a few hundred years.”
Jaq cradled her coffee and leaned back in the chair, considering Kelly’s words. “When? When can we expect a war on our doorstep? Given the amount of vampires we’ve seen, I’m assuming soon.”
Kelly shrugged. “Could be a few years, could be a few centuries. The good news is, vampires don’t do anything in haste. All this intensive spying could go on for fifty years while they formulate a very detailed plan.”
The werewolf raised her eyebrows and took a sip of coffee. “Then we have a deal as long as you continue to provide us with information, even if you’re brought back into your family. I’ll guarantee your safety from the werewolves as long as you don’t prey on any humans or attack us, and I’ll assist you and supply you with the information we have on the southern clan, but you need to tell us everything you know about this war as soon as you find out.”
“Deal.” Not that she’d have much to report if she wound up shelling shrimp in the kitchen back in Atlantic City. Still, it wouldn’t be much of a hardship to send an occasional stealth message with some gossip to appease the werewolves. She owed this woman at least that much.
“If we get blindsided, “Jaq warned with narrowed eyes. “If our borders get swarmed and you didn’t give us a heads–up, the angels will be the least of your worries.”
Kelly bristled. “I swear I’ll send you everything I know, but I’m not exactly high up in our family, especially since my disgrace. It won’t be my fault if they move on the Kincaid lands and I’m not aware of it.”
“Don’t care. You all are supposed to be sneaky and smart. Maybe this will give you incentive to actually dig for information instead of sitting on your butt and letting us fend for ourselves.”
Sneaky had always been one of Kelly’s great skills. She resented that she’d need to work for the werewolves for an indefinite period of time, but if that’s what she needed to do to get back into her family, then she’d do it.
“I said ‘deal’. Now it’s your turn — tell me what you know about the scouts and spies coming into West Virginia.”
“Okay, okay, keep your britches on.” Jaq took a long drink of coffee. “Used to be scouts would come through either the northern or southern borders, moving quickly. Sometimes we’d catch them, but plenty of times they’d be gone and out of range. From what we could tell, it was about fifty–fifty from your clan and the southern folks. Last six months, the vampire presence has increased ten–fold. Southern vampires tend to cross from Winchester and Leesburg. They primarily come through here and up near Martinsburg then exit out anywhere along the Maryland border, although quite a few exit near Hagerstown where interstate human traffic covers their tracks. Rarely are they in vehicles. They tend to travel on foot, which makes me think they’re not just passing through, but are checking along the way.”
That made sense. Traveling on foot was often just as quick as using a vehicle, given vampire speed and the ability to cut a straight line. Foot travel also afforded a vampire the chance to check key areas, sneak in and out to talk to informants, and smell for any enemy that might be in the border lands.
“How long are they out before they come back through — the one’s you don’t kill, I mean.”
“A few days, not much. I really don’t understand why they don’t cross at other points. It’s always the same three or four spots, and it’s becoming rather easy to catch vampire scouts.”
“The DC area crossings are heavily guarded,” Kelly explained. “Besides the ferry or the few bridges, the Potomac River is an issue. Vampires don’t swim, so large bodies of water make for a great barrier on territories.”
The other woman tilted her head, intrigued. “Don’t swim? Seriously? Can’t you just walk along the bottom then? I mean, you don’t need to breathe, do you?”
Stupid stereotypes. “Do you see me breathing?” Kelly snapped, instantly regretting her tone. “Sorry. The younger vampires all still need to breathe. We can walk in daylight. We still need solid food. The Ancients are a different story, but they’re not likely to be on the front lines of any battles.”
Actually it was kind of amusing to imagine the Master wading through the depths of the Potomac River. Would his illusion appear sodden when he came out the other side? Or would it disappear altogether, leaving a grayish monster crawling from the water’s edge?
“That’s good to know,” Jaq mused. “Not all the scouts we’ve caught are low–level spies though. Two traveling together managed to kill one of our wolves, even with the element of surprise on our side. We got their scent and captured one alive next time he came through.”
“What did you learn?” This could be the very info her family needed. Kelly sat on the edge of the sofa, leaning toward Jaq.
“The information I told you about the business take–overs — two large medical centers, a power company, and the racetrack and casino near here in Charles Town. Other vampires were doing the due diligence from the business end; these guys were checking out suitable areas for setting up a long–term vampire population. Stuff like availability of humans to feed from and law enforcement that wouldn’t notice any suspicious deaths.”
Kelly frowned. West Virginia wasn’t viable for vampire occupation — no huge urban areas with enough crime and gang activity to cover up human deaths, and the businesses weren’t the type of industry vampires specialized in. Biomedical and pharmaceutical, maybe. Hospitals and power companies? No way. At least they weren’t stupid enough to look into coal or retail, which were West Virginia’s biggest employers. They’d proven to be hopeless at running those kinds of businesses profitably.
“Why would Kincaid possibly be interested in West Virginia? No offense, but he’s got enough poor states with struggling businesses. Why spread himself thin by adding one more, especially when he’d have to fight his way through a bunch of werewolves to take and hold the territory?”
A smile flitted across Jaq’s face. “They weren’t Kincaid scouts; they were yours. It’s your family that’s plotting a raid on us. With your southern enemies, it’s just business as usual.”
Kelly felt a surge of anger. This wasn’t anything she could barter for her return. “I don’t care about my family, I need to know what Kincaid is planning.”
Jaq stood, towering over the smaller woman. “You should care. Your family killed one of ours, is threatening to take our lands. Trust me, if there is a war on our doorstep, the pack would be more sympathetic at this point with your enemies to the south than your own family.”
“Let me get this straight — vampires passing through your territory get ambushed and killed. Two manage to take down one of your own. One as compared to the dozens or so you werewolves have killed, and you’re ready to jump in bed with the Kincaids? I’m sure their s
couts fought back too; we just got lucky, or maybe we’re better fighters. Either way, I can’t see how you’re taking the highroad here. Trespassing surely doesn’t warrant a death sentence.”
“This is our territory,” Jaq rasped out, curling her lip slightly. “Ours. We won’t have you all feeding on our neighbors, buying up our businesses, drawing attention to us and putting us at risk. We’ve fought to keep you out this long, and we’ll continue to fight as long as we live. You signed an agreement with us. You know the risks each time you step foot over the border.”
Kelly opened her mouth to argue then realized she would have done the same. A trespasser in their territory was as good as dead. “So why let me live? I’m of the same family that killed one of your own. It would have been easy enough to kill me when they dumped me here.”
Jaq’s expression was unreadable as she stared at Kelly. “Because I’m an idiot. You looked so helpless, and the vampires who left you were horrible, throwing you around and kicking you like you were a play toy. There were too many for me to kill, so I let them go. But I just couldn’t kill you.”
“Instead you fed me.” Kelly mused. Fed her. Like she was a wounded bird and not a dangerous predator encroaching on another’s territory.
The tall woman glared. “Yeah. I helped you. You were dying, and like I said, I’m an idiot.”
And with that, the vampire made a decision. “I need to do anything I can to get back. I can’t stay here — vampires don’t live solitary lives, and your pack wouldn’t tolerate me here on a permanent basis. I appreciate what you’ve done for me. I’m sure most of your pack would rather I was dead. I’ll not only let you know what’s going on as far as any raids on the Kincaid lands, I’ll dig up what’s going on with my family and their interest in your businesses.”