Twice Bitten

by Rayna Vause

  MELISSA MORAN slammed the door of her lab. The metal door hitting the frame made a satisfying boom that echoed off the concrete walls. She marched to one of the long black resin-topped lab tables and pounded her fist into it. “No. No, no, no. This is not possible. Millions of dollars wasted on his pointless experiments, and just when it looks like it’s over, he finds a viable replacement. Un-fucking-believable.” She pounded the table one last time, then braced, taking measured breaths, trying to regain her composure.

  When her body stopped shaking, she smoothed her hands over her hair, then her shirt before she adjusted her skirt. She crossed to her computer and switched it on. While it booted she took one of the blood samples she’d taken from Lydecker’s lab over to a microscope, prepared a slide, and then slid it on the stage. She peered through the eyepiece. Sure enough, the cells had the same appearance as Jared’s.

  “This is unacceptable. I will not let this continue. We will not continue to throw good money after bad attempting to cure these disgusting creatures. Make them human again? Let them pollute the human race with their tainted blood? I don’t think so. No telling what freakish mutations will occur if these ‘formerly’ infected people are allowed to mix and reproduce with normal humans.”

  She started various test runs on the other samples she’d procured. The machines in her lab hummed as they worked. Satisfied with her progress, Melissa turned from her table and faced the cage at the far end of the room. She stopped at a small white refrigerator and pulled out a full bag of blood before crossing the room toward the lone figure that lay curled on a cot inside the cage with his back to her.

  Stepping up to the cage, she slid open a metal door and shoved the bag through so that it hit the floor with a plop.

  “Dinnertime, Aiden,” she said, sliding the door back in place. “Eat up. You’ve got to keep your strength up.”

  The figure didn’t move, didn’t respond.

  “Aiden, don’t be such a baby. You remember what happened last time you went on a hunger strike, don’t you?”

  “Go to hell,” Aiden growled as he shifted on the cot and pushed himself to a sitting position.

  Melissa suppressed the urge to shudder. Disgusting creature.

  “Why don’t you just kill me?” Aiden swayed a little, then leaned forward and snatched the bag off the floor.

  “Because I’ve got plans for you.”

  “You say that every time I ask.”

  “And yet you persist in asking.” She crossed back over to her instruments and continued to study, to take notes. She did enjoy her little chats with Aiden. He’d been here almost a month, and so far he was shaping up to be the perfect specimen for her little pet project.

  “So what’s the plan for today? Torture? More tests?”

  “Today, I’ve got other things on my plate, so you get a little break, which I think you need. That last test seemed to be a little tough on you.”

  Aiden snorted and lay back on his cot. “No, not at all. Your intestines twisting themselves into knots is a walk in the park.”

  Melissa glanced up. Aiden held the blood bag, eyeing it with both need and wariness.

  “It’s safe to drink. I didn’t do anything to it.” She moved to her computer and started inputting data.

  “And we both know how reliable your word is.”

  Melissa sighed. “I don’t have time for your attitude. Drink it. Don’t think I don’t care. At some point you’ll have no choice.”

  “Screw you.” He spat out the words.

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “Not in this life or any other. I wouldn’t lower myself to allow your kind to lick my boots.”

  “I can’t imagine anyone, man or woman, wanting to lick any part of you.” The vampire sneered at her.

  Rage exploded through her, sending heat through every cell of her body. “You know nothing about me.” She ground out the words. “Vile creatures like you took everything from me. You shouldn’t be allowed to walk amongst decent human beings. You’re a blight on this planet, and you should be exterminated.”

  “Boyfriend leave because you’re a fanatical bitch?”

  “Two of your kind attacked my husband. Forced him to drink. You turned a wonderful man into an abomination. I had no choice but to kill him. To put him out of his misery. You and your ilk forced me to kill the love of my life.” Pressure built behind Melissa’s eyes as she railed at the vampire. Tears threatened to fall, but she refused them. She’d never let this beast see her cry. Never let them see the hole they’d made in her. She took a moment to collect herself. When she looked at him again, her shields were back in place. When she spoke she used calm, measured words.

  “Your kind took something important from me. Now you’re going to help me take everything from your species.” She shook back her long hair. “Don’t let your dinner get cold.” She turned away and headed for the door. “I’m going to leave my project cooking for a while, but I’ll be back soon. You may want to tidy up in there. You’re going to have company soon.”

  ROGAN PUSHED through the revolving door of the Sinclair Public Library. At ten o’clock on a Monday morning, the only people in the building were the staff and a collection of senior citizens who appeared to be there for the retirement money management class advertised on one of the bulletin boards. He did a quick scan of the room, spotted the information desk, and zeroed in on a pretty blonde scanning and stacking books. Ramping up the power on his smile, he strode forward and leaned on the desk.

  “Excuse me, ma’am. I’m hoping you can help me.”

  She returned his smile. Her eyes gave him a slow sweep. “What can I do for you, sir?”

  “I’m sure you heard about the incident that happened here on Friday night?”

  Her eyes went wide, and her hand fluttered to her throat. “I did! It’s so scary. I can’t believe that a vampire attack happened right in our parking lot. I know everyone who works here tries to be super conscious of the time, but sometimes it gets away from you. I think this will be a reminder to all of us here to be even more vigilant.”

  Rogan nodded. “That’s a good plan, ma’am. Also, be sure no one leaves alone.”

  “Definitely, definitely.” She picked up a pile of books off the counter, placed them on a cart, and then returned to Rogan.

  “As I said, I’m looking into what happened. We’re trying to figure out who the other person in the altercation might be. We want to check on the victim of the attack, make sure he or she is okay, and get them any medical attention that they might need. We also need to get a statement for the record.”

  She furrowed her brows and nodded. “Of course, that makes perfect sense.”

  “I’m wondering. Have all of the library’s employees reported to work this morning?”

  She bit her lip. “I think so. At least everyone full-time or part-time mornings.”

  Damn. Rogan shoved his hand through his hair. He’d been banking on the victim being a library employee. Tracking this person down would be next to impossible now. But then, that might be a good thing. No victim meant he wouldn’t be a party to forced abduction.

  “Oh, wait!” She laid her hand on his arm. “I don’t recall seeing Danny Reynolds at all this morning. I can check with my supervisor to see if he called in, or maybe he’s here and I’ve just missed him.” She beamed at him like a little girl presenting a picture to her dad.

  Rogan returned the smiled. “That would be greatly appreciated.”

  Her cheeks flushed pink. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.” She hurried off, her long blonde ponytail swinging behind her.

  A few minutes later she returned, the bright smile she wore gone. Instead she worried her lip with her teeth. “I just spoke to the branch manager, and she told me that Danny hasn’t reported in today. That’s not like him at all. If there is one person you can count on to be on time, it’s him.”

  “Perhaps I can go check on him. Would you be able to give me his address?”

  She furrowed
her brow. “Oh, I-I don’t know about that. I understand you’re investigating, but I just wouldn’t feel right handing out his personal information without his permission or a warrant or something official like that.”

  Rogan resisted the urge to clench his jaw. He plastered a pleasant smile on his face and laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I tell you what. I’ll leave you my card. If Mr. Reynolds calls in or comes in, please pass it along to him and ask him to contact me. Or if you get the okay from him to pass on his info, please give me a call.” He pulled a business card from one of the pockets on his cargo pants and handed it over.

  A look of relief spread over her face. “Absolutely.” She glanced down at the card, then back at him. “Michael.”

  “Just call me Rogan, and thank you again.” He turned and headed for the door. His cell started playing Heart’s “Barracuda” as he stepped out into the crisp morning air. Melissa. He needed to have his body checked for implants. No one had timing as good as hers. He tugged his phone out of his pocket and swiped across the screen to answer.

  “What have you got for me?”

  He hesitated for a moment as he contemplated lying. No, it would be better to find Daniel. He could control the situation better if he knew the locations of all players. Plus, he couldn’t afford to get caught in a lie. Not now. “We’re looking for a Daniel Reynolds. He’s an employee of the library. He didn’t show up or call in this morning.”

  “So, where is he?”

  “I don’t know.”

  An annoyed rumble sounded through the phone. Rogan furrowed his brow. The ice queen clung to her cold emotionless mask like a shield. So to see it slip more than once over the last day or so meant something.

  “What do you mean you don’t know?”

  “I managed to charm the name out of one of the library employees, but she balked at giving me an address.”

  “Well, at least you got a name. Give me a few minutes and I’ll see what I can dig up. Just sit tight.” She disconnected the call.

  Rogan rolled his eyes. “Good morning to you too.” He headed for his car and the warmth of its heater. The car had just warmed up when his phone rang again.

  “I’ve got a Daniel R. Reynolds at one twenty-four Park Avenue, Apartment B. I’m sending you a photo of him. Find him.”

  “And when I do?”

  “Don’t play dumb, Rogan. It’s not a good look for you. You know what you need to do.”

  Again, Rogan frowned. “Fine. I’m on my way now.” He hung up, put the car in gear, and pulled away from the curb. A queasy sensation rolled around in his gut. He didn’t like this, not at all. Protecting people from a legitimate threat, fine, but he didn’t sign on to be anyone’s henchman. But he would go check on Reynolds because if Jared had hurt or infected him, it was his job to find out. For now, that’s what he’d do: his actual job.

  He drove the short distance to the apartment complex. He parked and then approached the front door of the building.

  He counted himself lucky when he stepped into a small foyer only to find the inner door already propped open.

  He climbed the stairs to the second level and stopped in front of Daniel Reynolds’s door. He knocked twice and then waited. No response. He tested the knob and his luck held, because the door swung open.

  “Hello?” He slipped into the apartment and found himself in a wide area that made up the living and dining rooms. He stood listening to silence. Again, he called out and again, silence. Not at work, not at home. Where the hell had this guy gone? People don’t just disappear. He wandered into the bedroom. The covers lay rumpled on the bed, but otherwise Reynolds kept his space neat and organized. He checked the closet. Clothes hung in an ordered row. Nothing screamed, “I packed up and left town in a hurry.” He moved to the desk, searched through the drawers, flipped open the laptop, and powered it up.

  While he waited for it to boot, he rummaged through the bathroom and hit pay dirt when he noticed bloody bandages in the trash can and dirty, bloodied clothes in a hamper. He bagged them. If nothing else it would give Melissa and Lydecker something to keep them busy until he could track this guy down. Next, he did a quick check through a guest room, the kitchen where the below-sink cabinet stood open with the contents stacked on the floor, and a small laundry room. Nada. No papers or receipts lay out that could potentially give him clues to where Reynolds might have gone.

  He headed back into the bedroom and sat at the small desk that held the laptop and a collection of framed photos. Most looked like family photos, but one had a different feel to it. It featured Daniel Reynolds and another man who stood with their arms around each other, smiling into the camera. He picked up that picture and removed the frame, hoping it had been dated and labeled. Lucky for Rogan, Reynolds’s organizational tendencies extended to his photos as well. “Kier and me.” Okay, who’s Kier? Add him to the list of Reynolds’s friends and family that Rogan needed to look into, but this one looked special. Just something about the way they were smiling together led Rogan to think they were more than friends. Using the camera on his phone, he snapped a picture. Then he called Melissa.

  The moment the call connected, he began speaking. “Melissa, he’s not here.”

  “Dammit.” She hissed out the words.

  “I’ve got a few leads I can follow to try and locate him. In the meantime, I think we need to have someone sit on the apartment. Reynolds has to come home eventually.”

  “All of these resources at our fingertips and we can’t find one man. What is he, invisible? Do what you need to do.”

  “I’ve got samples from his apartment. I’ll wait here until the surveillance is in place, and then I’ll drop these off to you.” Rogan exited the apartment, passing two maintenance men as he descended the stairs.

  “Move your ass, Rogan. I don’t have all day.” Just before she disconnected the call, he heard her mutter, “Going to have to handle this myself.”

  Rogan just shook his head. Daniel Reynolds better hope Rogan found him first. Something told him that nothing good could come of Melissa getting her hands on him.

  Chapter 5

  KIERAN WOKE just before sunset, as usual. He didn’t need to see the afternoon sun fade to the blues and purples of twilight; his internal clock kept perfect time. Instead of rising and getting his day started, he lay in bed, his mind working. Just when he’d come to terms, sort of, with Danny’s departure from his life, he reappeared. Not because he missed Kier and wanted him back, but because he was scared and had nowhere else to turn. Good old Kier, he’ll help, he’ll make it all better. He covered his face with his hands and blew out a breath. God, his life, one complication after another. Let’s face it—all the anger in the world didn’t stop him from having hot sweaty dreams about Danny. I am so screwed.

  He threw back the covers and climbed out of bed. Slipping out of his bedroom without making a sound, he crossed the hall to Danny’s room and eased the door open. Danny slept on. Dark circles took up residence under his eyes. His skin a sickly pale, he lay sprawled on the bed. He’d kicked away the covers, and the oversized T-shirt Kier had given him bunched around his midsection, revealing a strip of smooth, flat stomach. Kier tamped down the urge to cross to him and touch. To slide his fingers over soft warm skin. Stop, dammit. Kier clenched his fists, then backed out of the room, easing the door closed. He whirled and stalked to the bathroom. He yanked open the door of the large glass shower enclosure, wrenched on the water, and stepped into the crisscrossing sprays of multiple showerheads. He needed the water hot to clear his head.

  “Get it together, McCade. Just buck the hell up and do what you need to do. You’ve mentored fledglings before. This is no different,” he grumbled as he ducked his head under the water. “Don’t fool yourself into thinking he came back for you. He doesn’t want anything to do with you or your kind. He just wants to be cured so he can go about his life.” He scrubbed a handful of shampoo into his hair. A smart man would foist Danny off on Sharon. She’d have a
field day studying him. But he couldn’t do that to Danny or Sharon. Danny needed him. A heavy weight settled in his chest as he envisioned all the time he’d have to spend alone with Danny. He couldn’t pat him on the head and send him on his merry way. Danny couldn’t go about life as he knew it, not until they got to the bottom of whatever was going on inside him. In the meantime, he needed someone to help him, monitor his health, and walk him through the rough patches, which were no doubt on their way.

  “You can do this, Kieran McCade.” He jerked on the faucet knobs, cutting off the water. He climbed out of the shower and went to get dressed for the night. Then he headed for the kitchen, where he found Danny sitting at the counter, head resting on his arms.

  “Hey. You okay? You look like hell.”

  Danny grunted in response. It seemed to take all of his strength for Danny to raise his head and focus tired eyes on Kier.

  “I’m hungry, tired, and grouchy. Just shoot me now.” Danny moaned.

  “The first two can be solved by feeding you and putting you back to bed for a while. The last creates more mess than it’s worth. Newly turned vampires are a lot like newborns. They eat and sleep a lot.”

  Fear flashed through Danny’s eyes, then disappeared. “I’m not a vampire.”

  “No, but you’re not exactly human anymore either.”

  Danny hunched in on himself, and the growl of his stomach disrupted the silence.

  “The ‘just turned’ hunger can be fierce.”

  “But I’m not—”

  “You tell yourself whatever you need to get through.”

  Danny buried his head in his arms again and uttered a muffled “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?” Kier poured a cup of coffee, then went to the fridge and added a splash of blood.

  “I’m being a big baby about this.”