HUNTERS OF DARKNESS

The police chief’s office was what one would expect a workaholic’s office to look like. It had once been pretty well decorated, but that had gone by the wayside years ago. This day, the shades were drawn and the office was lit by the overhead light and the light on the desk. The weather outside was overcast and drizzly and not a day that made anyone’s mood especially light hearted. The desk was cluttered with papers, pens, ornaments, a lamp… Nothing out of the ordinary. The office chair was old and creaked when the chief moved in it. Two other wooden chairs sat in front of it and were clearly not meant for long term comfort.

Wearing black suspenders and a white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, the police chief was an African American man who had thinning hair that was cut very close to his head. His jaws were clean shaven but he wore a mustache and thick rimmed glasses helped him see up close as he studied a paper that was in front of him on his desk. The door had his name on the obscure glass that made up half of it. A rapping on that glass drew his attention and his eyes turned toward it.

Wendy entered and had the look of someone who was in good spirits. Though still looking pale, she did have on plenty of make-up to make her color appear a little more normal. Wearing blue jeans, running shoes and a low cut black tee shirt, she strode in with a large, pink purse hanging from her shoulder, her hair in a long pony tail, sunglasses over her eyes and a smile on her lips. As she closed the door, she greeted, “Hey, Chief! What’s the good word?”

He pulled his glasses off and his chair creaked as he leaned back. “The good word seems to be that one of my best vice cops is feeling better.”

She half turned and propped one hip up on his desk. “Aw, thanks. I didn’t know you cared so much!”

The Chief laced his fingers in front of him as he stared back at her with hard, steely eyes. “Shaw, do you get that we’ve had almost a dozen hookers on your beat killed in the last couple of months?”

“I assumed that’s why we were out there,” she confirmed. “I personally think we’ve been having an incredible impact and I also think we got the guy killing them off the street.”

“You know where he went?” the Chief asked.

Wendy shrugged. “I’m thinking underground somewhere.”

“Yeah,” the Chief grumbled. “He chased you down an alley with no way out, you disappeared until the next day and so did Carlos, except he hasn’t shown back up again. Oh, and it just happens that Cindy was found dead down that same alley.”

Looking away, Wendy softly said, “Yeah.”

“And I never got your report on all that,” he went on.

She snapped her fingers and barked, “Yeah! I knew I was forgetting to do something!”

“How about an oral report,” he suggested.

“Heh,” she chuckled. “You said oral.”

“Just tell me what happened, Shaw.”

“What happened,” she mumbled, her eyes darting about. “Um…”

“Go on,” Ryan prodded from the door.

Wendy pushed off of the desk and wheeled around, seeing him standing by the door in the corner of the room. He was still wearing that white tee shirt and his blue jeans, and he had his arms folded and his eyes locked on her. She felt cornered. Somehow he knew what she had become. Somehow he just knew. As he approached the desk with slow, stalking steps, she set her hands on her hips and greeted, “Well hello there, Handsome. I was afraid you wouldn’t make it to my hanging.”

He stopped a few feet away and looked to the Police Chief. “I think we have a situation. There’s more going on than she’d like anyone to know.”

“I agree,” the Chief confirmed. “Shaw, you going to tell us what happened in the alley?”

She turned fully toward him and folded her arms, her eyes on his desk as she softly admitted, “I don’t remember.”

“What’s the last thing you do remember?” he pressed.

Her eyes darted about and she lied, “Waking up at my apartment.”

Nodding, the Chief said, “So you don’t remember running down the alley, you don’t remember what happened to Officer Robinson, you don’t know what happened to Carlos and you don’t have any idea how you got home.”

Wendy raised her brow and confessed, “That pretty well sums it up.”

The Chief sighed and looked down at his hands. “Okay. How are you feeling today?”

“Good,” she replied, finally looking at him. “Whatever I had finally ran its course.”

He met her gaze and asked, “How was the party you went to last night?”

Ryan approached and stopped at her side, also looking at her, but with the hard eyes she had seen the night before.

She looked up at him and smiled, offering, “Well thank you for narking on me, Captain Butthead. Thanks a lot!”

The chief’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You weren’t really sick, were you, Shaw?”

Her voice was a little whiny as she replied, “I was too. I wasn’t feeling good at all.”

“Not quite yourself, huh?” Ryan added.

“Get bent,” she grumbled under her breath.

Drawing a deep breath, the Chief informed, “You aren’t leaving me a whole lot of choice, Shaw. I need you to turn in your badge and weapon.”

Her eyes flared and she looked fully to him, barking, “What? You’ve got to be kidding me! Just because I took a couple of nights off?”

“No,” he countered. “You’re suspended pending drug tests. You come back clean and I’ll reinstate you immediately.”

Her mouth hung open as she stared back at him with wide eyes, and slowly she shook her head. “Six years I’ve had a spotless record, I’ve gotten two commendations and now you think I’m on drugs?”

“I’ve seen it happen to the best cops,” he informed. “If you’re positive then I’ll do what I can to help you get clean and save your career.”

Defiantly folding her arms again, she shouted, “What if I refuse the test?”

“Then you’ll be fired,” he answered straightly.

She looked away from him, trying to let it all sink in, then she shook her head again and mumbled, “Un-freakin’-believable.”

“I’ve already called the lab,” the Chief said. “They’re expecting you this morning for blood work. You don’t show and you’re off the force.”

Meeting his gaze again, it was clear that she was angry—very angry. Slamming her purse down on the desk, she pulled it open and began to rummage away inside. “You know, if you’re believing this guy then you’re in for a shock. Last night he was accusing me of being a vampire, now it’s drugs.” She found her badge and slammed it down beside her purse, then she began to rummage around again. “What’s next, Ryan? What will it be tomorrow? Alien girl from Mars?” Finding her sidearm, she tossed it onto the center of the desk and yanked her purse up, pulling the strap brutally over her shoulder as she spun around to storm out of the office.

“Just get the tests done,” the Chief called after her.

Arriving at the elevator, she slammed her finger into the down button then turned and slammed her back into the wall, staring ahead of her with her brow low and her arms crossed. Lost in thoughts and anger, she did not notice Ryan approaching her and was not aware of him until he was leaning back-first against the wall next to her. When she did take notice she gave him but a glance before turning her angry gaze across the hall again.

Long seconds passed silently between them.

Ryan pushed his hands halfway into his pockets and said, “I really am trying to help you.”

“Yeah,” she drawled. “Hey Wendy, I’m going to help you by getting you fired, and then later I’ll help you by seeing to it you have a criminal record. Yeah, thanks for all your help, douche bag.”

He looked down, to the ancient tiles on the floor. “I had my reasons for doing that.”

“Explain to me why I shouldn’t kick your ass all over this building.”

“You just don’t understand. What’s going to happen when that hunger overwhelms you?”

She growled through clenched teeth, “I have it under control.”

Nodding, he pointed out, “That’s the first time you’ve admitted it.”

“Admitted what?” she grumbled.

He looked to her. “That you’re a vampire.”

Her eyes widened slightly, but that was the only reaction she would give him. When the elevator door opened, she pushed off of the wall and turned toward it, away from him.

Ryan seized her arm and stopped her. “Wendy, we need to talk. It may not be—”

She jerked her arm from his grip and looked over her shoulder at him. “Get this straight butthead. I don’t want any more help from you, got it? You’ve done enough.”

As she entered the elevator car, he followed her to the door and assured, “Wendy, I really can help you through this. It may not be too late.”

She half turned and slapped her buttock. “Kiss it right here, stud.”

Just staring back at her, he kept his eyes fixed on that spot even after the doors closed, and slowly he raised his hand and gently placed it on the closed doors before him.

The apartment was blacked out again and the only light on in the house was coming out of the kitchen.

Wendy sat on that same corner of the couch and stared at the front door, holding a wine glass full of blood in her hand. Absently, she took a sip. Fate seemed to be pushing her toward Sebastian and his mansion. When she could not pay the rent this month, it was good to know she at least had a place to go.

Brooding like this was not something she made a habit of. Many years ago it was a daily thing, but at some point she promised herself she would not waste time with it anymore. Now, there just seemed like nothing else to do.

Taking another sip of the blood, she grimaced as she made herself swallow it. This would be a necessary evil in her life now, a long eternity, but at least she was not hurting anyone.

The phone rang and she looked to it with reluctant eyes, not really wanting to talk to anyone, but three rings later she finally answered. “Hello. Yeah. No, I’m not going to work tonight.” She turned her eyes to the ceiling. “I really don’t want to talk about this right now, especially since I can tell you’ve been drinking.” Clenching her jaw, she grumbled, “Fine. I’m an ungrateful brat who didn’t deserve the nice life you offered. Is that what you wanted to hear? Well I’m sorry I interfered with your life so much! The next time my parents are killed and I have nowhere else to go then I’ll just… Look! I didn’t ask for any of that and… Yeah, and you’re still with him. Right, no thanks to me.” She stood up and shouted, “I didn’t make him do any of that to me! No, I am not lying and I wasn’t then! Oh, yeah? Well you’re still married to a rapist and child molester! How’s that for truth in advertising?” Tears filled her eyes and she set her glass down. “I know you didn’t, but I didn’t ask to become an orphan and I didn’t ask to be raped over and over by that sleazebag you’re married to while you did nothing!” Heaving heavy breaths she finally shouted, “Oh, go to Hell!”

Pushing “end,” she threw the phone across the room and smashed it against the wall in the kitchen, then she covered her eyes and fell back onto the couch. Old, horrible memories were invading her mind again, memories that she wanted to just go away. Every day since she was a teenager they were with her and every day was a struggle to push them away. The day and the past were too much and she balled herself up and lay down on her side, and she cried.

Sometime later she opened her tear swollen eyes and stared across the room for a moment before her gaze fell upon the book on her coffee table. Bound in black with gold lettering that simply read Holy Bible, it had been something she always kept with her. Always. Slowly reaching out to it, she took it from the table and held it before her, and then carefully opened it.

There, written on the first page, was the last message her mother had left for her: To Wendy, I know you hate going to church, but I hope someday this will be a comfort for you and perhaps you will find the guidance of the Lord in your own time. I shall pray for you every day and watch over you always. She opened it to about the middle and removed the photograph there, looking on the lovely red haired woman in the white spring dress and the red haired teenage girl in the same kind of dress beside her. A tall man in a black suit was standing behind them with his arms around them both, and the girl and the woman had their arms around each other. They were all smiling. This was the last picture taken of them as a family. The next day, as her parents were driving home from a night out that she had insisted they take, the drunk driver in the oncoming lane swerved into their path—and killed them both. Wendy had been alone ever since.

Tears streamed from her eyes anew and she closed the bible with the picture once again within. In a meek voice, she asked, “Why? Why is this happening to me? What did I do that was so horrible? I… I’ve done my best, I really have. I know I was a stupid girl, but I’ve grown up now.” She closed her eyes and hugged the bible to her. “Please, I need you. Please help me. If you only have one miracle for me in my whole life, I need it now. Oh, God I’m begging you. I can’t go on like this, I can’t! Please help me.”

“Miracles aren’t given lightly,” Ryan pointed out.

Wendy’s eyes flashed open and she pushed herself up, looking across the room to the front door.

He was standing there right in front of the door, still in that white tee shirt and blue jeans. His expression was a solemn one and his eyes were pools of pity and understanding.

Slowly setting the bible back on the table, Wendy reached for her glass and leaned back on the couch, looking away from him the whole time as she pulled her feet under her. “How did you get in here?”

“You left the door unlocked,” was his answer.

She nodded. “Yeah. I’ll have to be more careful about that, won’t I?”

He strode toward her. “Yup. Don’t want some big old hairy guy with ill intent coming in to get you.”

As he sat down beside her, she looked down to her glass and nodded again, then asked, “So what ill intent are you bringing to blindside me with this time?”

“I’m really just trying to help you,” he assured softly.

“You’re doing a bang-up job of it so far,” she spat. “Let’s see how we’re doing: You got me fired, I’m probably going to lose my apartment in the next couple of months thanks to you, my car will be next…”

“And you were made a vampire,” he finished for her.

“Insult to injury,” she grumbled.

“Is that blood you’re drinking?” he asked.

Wendy looked down to her glass and drew a deep breath, finally answering just over a whisper, “Yeah.” She cut her eyes to him in a glance and asked, “Want some?”

“No,” he replied, “thanks. Do you mind me asking where you got it?”

“Yes I do.” When she finally looked to him he was giving her those suspicious eyes that burned into her. “I didn’t kill anyone to get it, okay?” She turned her eyes back to her glass and continued, “The guy I got it from would prefer to remain anonymous and I’m not going to nark on him. He doesn’t even know about me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. He thinks I need it for a police investigation and he’s not asking any questions about it. That’s just the way it has to be for now.”

“I see,” he said softly. “So, you haven’t fed off of a living victim yet?”

“No,” she whispered.

“Then there’s still time,” he informed.

She looked fully to him and snapped, “Why are you even involved in this? Most people don’t believe in vampires and… Ryan, what’s up with you?”

He stared into her eyes for long seconds, then simply answered, “It’s complicated.”

“Welcome to my life!” she barked. “Look, I didn’t ask for this to happen to me but I’m stuck with it, okay? You keep saying you can help me, but I don’t see how. I died when I became a vampire and there’s no getting better from that.”

“Do you trust me?” he asked.

She just stared back at him, then finally looked back to her glass and softly replied, “Sure I do. We’ve worked together for three years.”

He gently took her chin as he had before and turned her face toward him, and her eyes met his reluctantly. “Then trust me now,” he ordered. “You aren’t done, pretty lady, not by a long shot.”

A smile was pulled from her lips and she put the glass down on the table beside her, then slid her other hand along his thick arm to his shoulder. “Pretty lady, huh?”

Ryan smiled back and nodded. “Yeah, but you already knew that, didn’t you?”

“It’s still nice to hear,” she informed, leaning toward him. Her eyes drifted from his eyes to his mouth, then back. As she slowly moved closer to him, he released her chin and grasped her shoulder, and her breath caught when he pulled her just a little closer. “Do you intend to take advantage of me?”

“Seems like a good time,” he replied, sliding his other hand around her neck.

“What if I go nuts and try to eat you?” she asked in a voice just over a whisper.

“You don’t eat people,” he corrected. “You drink blood.”

“Oh, yeah,” she whispered. “You aren’t afraid I might lose it and try?”

“No,” he whispered back.

He slowly pulled her the rest of the way to him and she closed her eyes and allowed herself to succumb to his strength and the passion she had for him, and when their lips met he kissed her with a soft and gentle touch, yet she could feel the power of his mouth. Breathing was not something she required anymore, just something she did more out of habit than anything, but in the moment she found herself gasping to catch that elusive breath. When he slowly pulled back, her lips remained parted and ready to be taken again. Such a gentle, pure kiss she had never experienced and every part of her responded.

Finally opening her eyes, she found his and smiled ever so slightly, whispering, “That was nice.”

“Thought you might like it,” he said.

“You’re pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you, Mister?”

Ryan nodded. “Yeah, pretty sure.”

“Do you know how long I’ve wanted you to do that?” she asked.

“Probably as long as I’ve wanted to,” he replied.

“Why didn’t you ever notice me before?” She heaved a breath. “It’s not like I wasn’t trying to get your attention for the last couple of years.”

“You got it, Wendy. I just couldn’t… It’s complicated.”

“Yeah,” she laughed. “Just try on my life lately and I’ll show you complicated.”

“I should just shut you up now,” he growled.

Before she could snap a reply back at him he took her mouth again, this time with much more power, much more passion, and she whimpered as he took her in his powerful grip and crushed her to him. Once again she breathed in deep gasps. This time she slid her arms around him and pulled him as close as she could, as close as she dared. Everything woman within her was now mated to vampire passions and she wanted him more than she had ever wanted before. New instincts began to speak to her and she twisted her body to bring her chest fully against his.

His mouth left hers and his kisses found her left cheek, then under her ear, then her neck. She whimpered as this drove her senses crazy and she lowered her mouth to the left side of his neck. Passion burned, but hunger now began to overwhelm it. She could smell the blood under his skin, hear and feel his heartbeat, and the warmth of his body brought a surge of animalistic passion and hunger to life within her. Opening her mouth fully, her fangs had descended for only the second time and were very sharp. The light green of her eyes had succumbed to a pale gray and her pupils were tiny dots within. Her fingers curled inward, gripping his neck and his back with a predator’s grasp and she pulled him toward her with a newfound, hungry strength.

Only a second of clarity stood between her and her first meal of warm, fresh blood and she found herself pushing him away, crying, “No!” When she finally looked to his eyes, he looked a little bewildered, almost disappointed. “You need to go,” she whispered, turning her eyes down. “I need you to go.”

“Wendy,” he said softly, combing his fingers gently through her hair, “I trust you. You need to trust me.”

She drew a breath, pushing away from him as she stared at his big chest, and she shook her head. “No. You need to go before I totally lose it and...”

“It will be all right,” he assured.

“It won’t!” she snapped. “I almost… Oh, God, what am I doing?” She went to stand and he pulled her back down by the arm. “Ryan, please! I can’t do this! You need to go before—”

The door burst open and they both sprang from the couch, a gasp shrieking into Wendy as Sebastian strode in with two big vampire men behind him. Vanessa entered behind them, and another vampire man, then a female.

Ryan reacted almost instantly, reaching behind him and retrieving the black, semi-automatic pistol he carried. He raised the weapon quickly and fired with a perfect aim, and three rounds slammed into Sebastian’s chest, making the vampire stumble backward a few steps. Before Ryan could take aim at the next, one of the large vampire men, one who was much larger than he was, moved too swiftly for the eye to catch, only a blur across the room. He took Ryan’s gun from him with a blurry sweep of his hand, then his fist torpedoed into Ryan’s gut, doubling him over. His other fist came up and Ryan was knocked unconscious onto the couch.

Wendy screamed like some wild beast, baring her fangs as she charged the big vampire and tackled him as hard as she could. Before she could continue her attack she was seized from behind by the arms and pulled to her feet, then turned to face Sebastian, who now only stood a foot away from her. Her struggles ceased as she met his gaze.

He smiled down at her, then he struck her hard across the face with the back of his hand. When she regained her composure and looked back up at him, he shook his head and informed, “It’s been decided that I was simply too soft on you before. I’m afraid it is time for you to come with me and start your new life properly—or lose it if you are found unworthy.” He looked to Ryan and leaned his head. “Oh, you like him, don’t you? You want him.”

Frantically shaking her head, Wendy denied, “No! He’s just a guy I know. He comes sometimes, you know, for a booty call and I…” She stopped as Sebastian raised his hand to her face.

“Enough, my pet, enough. You don’t have to lie to save him.” His eyes slid to her. “It won’t do you any good, anyway. Oh, I have a splendid idea. Since we all know you haven’t fed on fresh blood yet, perhaps he would be a wonderful first meal for you.”

Her eyes wide with fear, Wendy shook her head again. “No! He’s… He’s not my type. I like O positive and I think he’s A.”

Sebastian looked to the big vampire man and ordered, “Bring him.” His gaze found Wendy again and he smiled. “Your first victim never survives. You’ll drain him to an empty husk, and even after he’s dead you’ll try to get more. That’s why we’ll have someone nearby to stop you.”

Wendy pulled and twisted to get out of the vampire’s grip, only to quickly give up and plead, “Sebastian, please! Don’t do this!”

“Oh, that’s it, Wendy. Beg me. Beg me like you mean it. By tomorrow night you’ll be begging me to give him to you so you can kill him and take his blood!” Sebastian motioned with his head toward the door and the others headed that way. The largest of them had the unconscious Ryan thrown over his shoulder and left after one of the women, then Wendy was forced toward the door, and stopped there. Sebastian set his hands on his hips and looked around him, and with hard words he ordered, “Burn it.”

“No!” Wendy screamed. As they took her out of the apartment, she implored, “Don’t do this, please! Sebastian please!” From out in the hall somewhere she shouted, “At least get my vodka out of there!”

Wendy had no way to know how long she was locked in the little room within Sebastian’s mansion but with each passing hour, each passing moment she felt herself becoming more and more anxious. This was a very small room with a bed, a chair, a tiny lavatory, and a boarded up window. Nothing about it was really comfortable. About ten by ten feet, there was not even much room to pace. The night and day had passed, and she was sure she was halfway through the next night. While she had not been exposed to sunlight since being turned, she had listened to the horrible stories told by the others during the trip, how others had been burned, how they screamed in agony.

And how that fate awaited her.

Though she liked her solitude, Wendy craved company, and more than that she craved blood. The hunger was burning at her. It was more than just the hunger she had experienced as a human. It hurt all over. Pacing from the door to the wall across the room, she had her arms crossed over her belly. Once in a while she would double over as the pain tried to overwhelm her. She finally learned that it would hit in surges and she only had to endure it and let it pass. She breathed labored breaths and her pale skin was beaded with sweat. Dark circles had formed under her eyes and she looked decades older. The green of her eyes was gone and all that remained were small, black-red pupils surrounded by pale gray within white.

Her pacing ceased as she turned and leaned back against the wall across from the door, turning her eyes up. Clenching her teeth, she hissed, “I can’t take this anymore. Oh, God, please make it stop. Please!” Squeezing her eyes shut, she slowly slid down the wall and sank all the way to the floor, pulling her legs to her and wrapping her arms around them and laying her head on her knees. She was trembling, racked by pain and so hungry she was feeling nauseous.

The door handle finally clicked as it was unlocked and she slowly raised her head to see the door slowly opened.

Wearing a tight fitting, black dress with a low neckline, Vanessa peered in around the door, finding Wendy on the floor across the room quickly. Quietly closing the door behind her, she strode to the fledgling vampire and crouched down in front of her.

Wendy could only stare back at her, her body racked by tremors.

“You were kind to me,” Vanessa said softly, “and you didn’t have to be. I saw a rival in you and you offered me your hand in friendship. Will you let me return the kindness you showed me?” When Wendy nodded, she went on, “They’ll bring your friend in soon for you to feed on. You’ll probably kill him, but it will be a quick and painless death with you doing it.”

Tears filled Wendy’s eyes and she slowly shook her head.

“You have to!” Vanessa hissed. “Wendy, if you don’t they will kill him anyway, but slowly and painfully, and they’ll make you watch. You have the power to kill him mercifully. Give him that at least.” She drew a breath and gently stroked the newborn vampire’s hair. “Sebastian will explain everything when he gets here. It will be up to you to end your suffering and prevent his.”

“Why do I have to feed off of him?” Wendy asked in a shaky voice. “Why him?”

“It’s how things are done,” Vanessa explained. “We must have fresh blood and we must have it every night or so, and you must feed off of him to save you both. Please, Wendy. I know how hard this is. I’ve been in your place. Sooner or later the hunger will overwhelm you and you will act purely on instinct, and you won’t care about the suffering of your victim.” She stood and turned to leave. “It’s up to you now. Please don’t tell them I visited you.”

Even after the door closed and was locked, Wendy’s gaze remained fixed on it. Though she was racked by such agony as she had never imagined and facing an impossible decision, she found some comfort in what seemed like an unlikely friendship in this place. Closing her eyes again, she awaited the painful inevitability, and relief from the torture of the hunger within her.

It seemed like an hour or more before the door lock clicked again and she raised her head to see Ryan pushed into the room by the big vampire he had fought before. Sebastian strode in behind them, but her eyes were locked on the only mortal in the room, and the hunger spoke to her even louder. She felt her fangs descend, longer and sharper than before and slowly she stood. Finding herself unable to take her eyes from Ryan, she was barely aware that the beast and hunger within her were growing stronger and overwhelming the woman she had been.

With a smug smile, Sebastian strode in front of Ryan and across the room to Wendy, and he took her chin gently in his hand. “Poor dear,” he drawled. “So hungry, so much pain, and yet you cling to that weakling humanity of yours. Do you know what you do with a horse that is too spirited?” His gentle grasp suddenly became a painful grip around her throat and he forced her eyes to his, growling through bared teeth and fangs, “You break her! I am tired of toying with you, little girl, so here is your choice: You can let him live and endure this agony until morning if you like, but believe me we will kill him slowly and painfully while you watch, and then you will spend your last moments burning to death in the sun, and we will all watch you from the safety of the windows. If you think you are in pain now, believe me it can get much, much worse if you don’t cooperate.”

“Why?” she whimpered. “Why him? Why do I have to do this?”

“Very simple, my pet, very simple. Once you have fed on a living victim, you will truly be one of us, and more importantly you will belong to me, your body and what is left of your soul.” His eyes narrowed. “You will kill your friend here because I wish it, and after that your spirit will belong to me. It is your fault he is here. I told you to break off ties with everyone you know and you disobeyed me. Now, he will pay the price for your defiance.”

She drew heavy breaths and her gaze found Ryan again. The look in his eyes was nothing short of trust for her and defiance of the vampires who held him.

“You have a few hours to decide,” Sebastian informed, combing his hand through her hair. “I’ll leave you two to catch up, and perhaps say your goodbyes. If I find him dead and drained then I will welcome you into my family. If he still lives, you both will die horribly.” He turned and motioned with his head toward the door.

The big vampire man shoved Ryan into the room and smiled at Wendy as he turned to leave.

Ryan turned and called, “Hey, Tiny.” When the big vampire turned toward him he pointed to him and growled, “The next time I see you, I’m tearing your God damn head off.”

Huffing a laugh, the big vampire turned and left, locking the door behind him.

Turning to Wendy, he slowly approached and took her shoulders, asking in a gentle voice, “You okay, Shaw?”

She brutally shoved him away and he stumbled to the middle of the room as she shouted, “Stay away from me!” Meeting his bewildered eyes, she crossed her arms over her chest and wept, crying, “You know what I am and you know what I’m supposed to do to you! Just stay away! For God’s sake stay away from me!”

He folded his arms and shook his head. “And here I thought we had something started.”

“Ryan, don’t you get it? You’re here for me to kill you and… Ryan I’m so hungry!”

“Be completely honest with me. Have you fed on a living victim? Any living victim?” When she looked down and shook her head he approached her again with slow steps. “Wendy, listen to me. They intend to kill me no matter what. I don’t want them killing you, too. Just do what you have to. Get their confidence and their trust and find a way out of here.”

“Ryan…” she sobbed.

He took her shoulders again and dared to approach her close enough to kiss her forehead. “Do you trust me, Red?” When she reluctantly nodded, he continued, “Then trust me now. It will be okay, I promise. Just do what you need to and don’t worry about me. Trust me, I’ll be just fine.” His fingers found her chin and he gently lifted her mouth to his.

This was a kiss just like that first one, a gentle touch, one that was pure and sweet. With her eyes closed, she allowed him to kiss her and she returned his affection with both passion and regret. When he nuzzled into her neck and kissed her gently below the ear, she allowed him again, and once again found her mouth glancing over his neck, right below his left ear. She was succumbing to the vampire she was, and this time she knew there was no stopping it. With tears streaming from her eyes, she wept anew, unable to fight off the hunger anymore. “I’m sorry, Ryan,” she breathed. “I’m so sorry.”

“Go for it, Baby,” he ordered in a whisper. “Do what you need to.”

Instinct took over and she opened her mouth as wide as she could. Her fangs sank into the artery below his ear perfectly and his sweet, warm blood poured into her mouth. Now, the taste of his blood was all that mattered. She grasped the back of his neck, then his hair as her other arm wrapped around him and pulled him as close to him as she could and with all her strength. He groaned in pain and while his pain stung her heart, the beast that controlled her would not allow her to care. She drank from him ravenously and felt his blood all the way down her throat, into her belly, and it began to course through her. She felt her heart begin to beat again, warmth within that grew to a burning fire and even as the pain of her hunger subsided she found herself ripped by a new pain, the worst she had ever felt.

Pushing him away, she fell back against the wall as she watched him fall. She doubled over from the pain, crying out as the horrible burn radiated out from her belly to every part of her, and in a moment she found herself dropping to the floor. Screams exploded from her and her whole body convulsed. In a moment it was over and she opened her eyes, drawing a breath very deeply and as if for the first time. She pushed herself up off of the floor and blinked her eyes, looking around her and seeing her surroundings differently somehow. Everything was sharper than she remembered, sharper and deeper than they had been even when she was first turned. New strength surged into her and the horrible burn had become a natural warmth all over her. Enhanced awareness aside, she drew a loud gasp as she saw Ryan lying on the floor where he had fallen. Scrambling to him, she cried, “Ryan!” as she scooped him up by the shoulders and into her arms, holding his still, limp form to her. “Oh my God! What have I done? Ryan!” She buried her face between his neck and shoulder and wept anew as the full realization of what had happened sank in. Even as she had done so at his urging she could not justify his death at her hands. Holding him as tightly as she could, she cried harder, but just for a moment.

She pulled back, looking down to his face. He looked like he was in a peaceful sleep. Combing her fingers through his hair, she whispered, “I’m sorry,” then lifted his limp form a little higher and touched her lips to his. “I’ll get them for this, Ryan,” she assured. “I promise, if it’s the last thing I do I’ll get them. I’ll get all of them. I’ll make them all pay, I swear!”

His eyes opened and trained on her and a slight smile touched his lips. “They’d better watch out, then.”

“Ryan!” she breathed.

He raised a hand and stroked her cheek. “I told you to trust me, Red.”

Breathing in deep gasps, she shook her head, staring into his eyes with complete disbelief. “I… I thought…”

“You didn’t,” he said. “Now there’s something…” He looked to the door as the latch clicked.

It opened and the big vampire strode in, smiling as he saw them on the floor, and the blood that had run down the side of Wendy’s mouth. Shaking his head, he observed, “You didn’t kill him. Sebastian will be pleased to know that.”

Ryan sat up and pushed Wendy back, his gaze locked on the big vampire as he went to stand.

Wendy retreated, wide eyes locked on the man who she had just thought she had killed.

When he was standing, Ryan cracked his knuckles, locking a predator’s gaze on the big vampire as he reminded, “Remember that ass kicking you’ve got coming, night walker?”

Slowly shaking his head, the big vampire closed the door behind him and stepped slowly into the room, rubbing his own knuckles as he informed in what sounded like a Russian accent, “Oh, I’m going to enjoy you, mortal.” He was still smiling as he continued, “I’ll leave enough of you for Master Sebastian, but I’m going to enjoy you.”

Ryan assumed his battle stance and beckoned the big vampire on, snarling, “Come and get it, night walker.”

Wendy retreated to the bed and watched with wide eyes as the two big men squared off, knowing that Ryan really stood no chance against the big vampire. Though she feared for him, she did not know what she could say or do to help.

Just within arm’s reach, the big vampire huffed a laugh and raised his chin, pointing at it as he offered, “I give you the first punch, mortal. Go on, you take first shot. I give you a free one.”

Ryan raised his brow. “You sure you want to do that, night walker?”

The vampire pointed to his chin again and urged, “Go ahead, mortal. One free punch and then I have my fun with you.”

Looking down at Wendy, Ryan shrugged, then he looked back to the vampire, set himself and stepped into the blow, hitting the big vampire with all he had.

Across the room, the vampire hit the wall next to the door hard enough to shatter the plaster and he crumpled to the floor, stunned and limp. Sitting with his legs sprawled and his back against the wall, the big vampire blinked and shook his head, then looked up at Ryan with a perplexed look in his eyes.

Ryan gently blew on his knuckles.

The vampire stumbled to his feet but did not advance right away. He looked confused, and perhaps just a little afraid.

Raising his chin, Ryan pointed at it and said, “Your turn, night walker. One freebie.”

With a snarl on his lips and his fangs showing, the vampire charged and swung his fist with a mighty yell, and when he hit Ryan in the face, Ryan’s head snapped around and he took a step back

Slowly Ryan looked back to his larger opponent.

Stunned anew, the vampire retreated a step, then he struck again, this time knocking this mortal’s head the other way, and the results were the same.

Ryan’s eyes were more those of a hunting predator as he stared down his larger foe, and he growled, “I said one, jerk-off!” When the vampire lunged again, Ryan struck so quickly that his arm was barely a blur and his target’s head snapped back with brutal force and he collapsed to his back with a mighty thump. Ryan approached a couple of steps and loudly asked, “Are we learning yet?”

Wendy slowly got to her feet, her wide eyes locked on Ryan as he stared down at the stunned vampire who slowly stirred and tried to get himself standing again. She had felt that vampire’s strength and knew that even as another vampire she was woefully outmatched by him. Meanwhile, her colleague was toying with him and had not only downed him twice but he had taken two crushing blows and barely flinched! Fearfully, she backed up against the wall as she watched the big vampire stagger to his feet and back away from his slightly smaller opponent.

His brow low over his eyes, Ryan stalked toward his enemy, and this time his posture spoke volumes. He was moving in for the kill!

The vampire bared his fangs and hissed, then he lunged at his foe. Ryan’s fist was a blur again and struck the vampire like a sledgehammer, snapping his head back with such force that his neck cracked. Grabbing onto the vampire’s shirt, Ryan turned and threw him against the wall beside the window and almost through it. As the vampire crumpled to the ground again, plaster from the wall rained down on him and the bricks of the outside wall buckled slightly.

Glancing at Wendy, Ryan turned and strode to the door, carefully opening it to peer outside, which he did in both directions. Just as carefully and quietly, he closed it, then he turned on the vampire and strode to the center of the room where he stopped. His posture changed again, his eyes locked on his enemy in a deadly stare. When the vampire staggered to his feet and turned fearful eyes on him, Ryan lowered his head, his lips sliding away from his teeth. His shoulders broadened, his neck thickened. A cracking sound could be heard from his body as his upper back swelled and he hunched over it slightly, stopping as his chest and arms also swelled. His fingers curled in and his fingernails reformed into two inch, black claws. His legs swelled and seemed to become slightly longer as he bent them at the knees, raising his heels from the floor as he did. His bulk seemed to double! Those eyes of his that she loved to stare into also changed, becoming a very pale blue, almost glowing around pupils that got very big.

Watching this transformation was horrifying. He barely looked human anymore with his brow now thicker and a certain ridge to his skull that started at the top of his forehead and went all the way back. His cheekbones were more pronounce and his jaws were much bigger. Then she saw the teeth and winced. As his lips slid further away from them, she could see they were all pointed, and his canines—both upper and lower—had become huge, long and pointed. These were not fangs like hers, not fangs that were meant to puncture for blood. No, his teeth were meant to rend flesh and crush bone and she knew fear of him for the first time since meeting him. Swallowing hard, she pressed herself back against the wall as hard as she could.

The big vampire had also watched the transformation and his wide eyes were filled with horror. Now, this smaller opponent was bigger than he was and he backed against the broken wall, struggling to take stock of what had just happened. One thing was clear: He was now feeling the fear he had hoped to instill into his enemy.

Ryan growled a growl that sounded as if it should have come from a huge predator, a giant wolf or a tiger and he breathed in deep, throaty breaths. Pointing at the vampire with a clawed finger, he said with a deeper, growling voice, “Got your room reserved in Hell, night walker. It’s time for me to rip your head off like I promised.” As he strode forward the vampire screamed and shrank away.

Wendy fell back against the bed and found herself sitting on it as she watched the battle with wide eyes. Ryan, or rather the beast he had become, threw the vampire across the room and pursued him. A clawed hand raked downward, tearing the vampire’s chest open and exposing his ribcage. Screams from the big vampire lanced into her ears and her mind as the beast that had been her friend ripped with claws and mauled the big vampire. She turned her eyes away for a second to collect herself, then she looked back as she heard an odd crunching, and she drew a gasp as she watched the vampire’s head strike the floor and roll to the middle of the room. The rest of his body fell, and Ryan stood over it, breathing in those throaty breaths that ended in deep growls. When he threw his head back and howled in victory, she cringed.

Ryan seemed to calm himself, then he looked to the small bathroom and strode that way. Black-red blood stained his face and shirt and he entered the bathroom and seemed to be reaching for something. Wendy could hear water running and a few animalistic grunts. When her eyes found the vampire’s body, a gasp shrieked into her and she covered her mouth and slid from the bed to the floor where she drew her legs to her and wrapped her arm around them. The vampire had been torn open and horribly mauled. His ribs had been opened to reveal long-dead organs within. Black-red blood still oozed from what was left and his limbs were sprawled and lifeless.

Looking human again, Ryan emerged from the small bathroom, still wiping his face with a blood stained towel. Looking down on his victim, he leaned his head, then reached to the vampire’s open body, into his chest, and wrenched his heart out.

Her eyes locked wide and fearfully on her colleague as he approached her, Wendy cringed and tried to shrink away. This was a man who killed vampires, and she feared she was next.

Turning to sit down beside her, Ryan was careful to hold the vampire’s heart on the other side of him where she could not see it. He crossed his legs at the ankles and loosed a heavy breath, just staring across the room with her for a moment before he looked to her and asked, “You okay, Red?”

She timidly nodded and in very slight motions, keeping her gaze fixed across the room.

“I’m sorry you had to see that,” he offered. “I’m also thinking you’ve got lots of questions.”

Nodding, she admitted, “Yeah, a few.” Finally looking to him, she went on, “Ryan, he was, like, the strongest guy I ever saw and you took him apart and didn’t even break a sweat! And what was that thing you turned into? What the hell, man?”

He just stared back at her for a long moment, then he finally replied, “I’m not what you think. There was a reason I never pursued anything with you.”

“And that thing you turn into must be the reason, huh?”

“For starters,” he confirmed.

“So what are you, some kind of super vampire or something?”

He laughed under his breath and shook his head. “No, Sweetheart, not a super vampire. My kind are called predapires. We hunt vampires. That’s what sustains us.”

Wendy nodded, turning her eyes down. “Yeah, I gathered that.” Drawing a deep breath, she nervously asked, “So, I guess I’m next on the menu, huh?”

“No,” he answered softly. When her eyes snapped to his, he explained, “You drank my blood before you fed on a living victim. That restored your life and purged the evil from within your body.”

“That’s why it hurt so bad,” she grumbled. “You know, you could warn a girl.”

“Didn’t want to spoil the surprise.”

She smiled. “Well, ya sure tasted good!”

He also smiled. “Glad you enjoyed it.”

“So what happens to me now?” she asked with tense words.

“That’s up to you,” was his reply. “Your life has been restored, so after a good night’s sleep you can return to what you’ve always known and things will be as they were.”

She raised her brow. “Or?”

He held the vampire heart to her and said, “Or, you can consume the heart of a freshly killed vampire and become one of us.”

“Ew!” she spat, her eyes locked on the heart. “Icky! That’s sick!” Daring to lean in and take a sniff, she raised her brow and admitted, “Smells kind of good, though.” She took it from him and looked it over, then rolled her lips back and gingerly took a bite. Her teeth had changed and easily cut through the tough flesh of the heart. Grimacing as she chewed, she mumbled, “Oh, this is disgusting, but it kind of tastes like chicken.”

“Everything does, I think,” he said, looking across the room. “I guess that’s your answer?”

With another mouthful of vampire heart, she informed, “I haven’t eaten anything solid for four days, man. Of course that’s my answer!”

He smiled. “There’s my girl.”

Taking a bigger bite of the heart, she asked, “So, how long have you been doing this?”

Ryan loosed a sigh and replied, “That’s a long story, Red. I was first turned to this side in thirteen hundred… something. It was a long time ago.”

She drew back and barked, “Damn you’re old!”

He smiled and turned his eyes to her. “Never been with an older man?”

“Not seven hundred years older, no!” She smiled back and finished the last morsel of the heart, then cuddled into him, smiling a little more as she said, “I guess I’m one of you now, huh?”

“I guess so,” he confirmed.

“So what’s our next move?” she asked.

“Well, you’re one of us now, but your transformation will not be complete until you’ve slept and the sun comes up again. That means you’re still vulnerable to them until sunup tomorrow.”

Wendy nodded. “So I guess we should get out of here.”

“That would be a good first move,” he agreed. “We do need to remember that we are not invulnerable. They have ways to kill us, too.”

“Great,” she snarled. Her eyes darted to the door latch as it clicked and she murmured, “Uh, oh. Problem coming.”

Also looking to the door, Ryan stood and pulled her up with him. “You’ll find that your strength is more than a match for theirs now, but remember that they can still kill you so don’t take any unnecessary chances.”

As the door opened, she confirmed, “Gotcha, Handsome.”

Sebastian strode in with Vanessa and another vampire man behind him, and he froze only a few steps in as he saw Wendy standing behind Ryan, and Ryan staring at him with a predator’s gaze.

Wendy waved her hand and offered him a friendly smile, greeting, “Hi, ya, Sebastian. I’m feeling much better now. Thanks for checking on me.”

He still looked confused as he strode toward them with hesitant steps, his brow low over eyes that slid from Ryan to Wendy and back. He stopped as his foot bumped something on the floor and he looked down to see the big vampire’s head still lying there, and slowly his gaze moved back to Wendy.

“Yeah,” she started. “I’ll bet you’re wondering where that came from.”

Glancing about, Sebastian’s eyes widened as he saw the body of the big vampire still lying broken in the corner of the room. Clenching his teeth, he looked back to them and retreated a step, ordering, “Finish him and bring her here.”

Vanessa and the other vampire strode forward, and once again Ryan’s fist was a blur, slamming into the vampire’s face with such force as to snap his head back and send him stumbling backward across the room where he hit the wall and crumpled to the floor. Vanessa hesitated, then backed away, glancing back at her master as she retreated. The other vampire rubbed his broken cheek as he sluggishly got back to his feet, looking up at his master and meeting his eyes.

Sebastian looked back to Ryan and raised his chin. His eyes were wide and Wendy could sense that he was afraid. Backing away himself, toward the door, he ordered, “Kill them both!” then he turned and fled.

“Damn it!” Ryan growled as he pursued. As the vampire charged him, he seized his throat, transforming in only a second as he threw his enemy toward the wall by the door and through it. Before he left the room he turned and paused, looking back to Wendy and pointing to Vanessa as he ordered in a predator’s deep growl, “Kill that one and stay put. I’ll be right back.”

They watched him hit the downed vampire in the chest as he passed, collapsing his ribcage and ramming him through the wall across the hall. Looking to each other, they only stared for long seconds.

Wendy raised her brow, folding her arms as she pointed out, “Looks like things have changed again.”

Backing up into the wall behind her, Vanessa looked truly afraid of Wendy for the first time.

Slow to approach, Wendy raised a hand to the slight vampire’s neck, feeling for her as the girl winced and cringed. This was not a girl who was built to fight. Not at all. Grasping the back of the vampire’s neck, she raised her brow and assured, “It’s cool, okay?”

“What is he?” Vanessa whimpered.

“It’s kind of a long story,” Wendy replied.

Glancing at the door, Vanessa seemed near tears as she breathed, “He’s going to kill me, isn’t he? I don’t want to die!”

“You mean again?” Wendy joked. “Look, girlfriend. I’ve got your back, okay?”

The vampire nodded. “Sebastian wants me to kill you now and I have to obey him, but I can’t.”

With a little smile, Wendy nodded and offered, “Yeah, I kind of like you, too.”

Vanessa glanced at the door again, looking more afraid as the sounds of a fight down the hall reached them. “I have to obey him. I have to. I just…”

“No, Nessa, you don’t. I can get you away from him.”

“He’ll find me,” the vampire informed in a slight voice.

“Not if Ryan finds him first,” Wendy countered. “Look, I’ll take care of you, okay? I’ve dealt with people in abusive relationships before.”

“Do you really think this is the same?” Vanessa shook her head, staring back at Wendy as she breathed, “He made me. He controls me. I have to… You just don’t understand.”

“He made me too, remember?” Wendy patted her shoulder and went on, “Let me introduce you to my old friend Free Will. You have a choice. Don’t let him tell you otherwise.”

Turning her eyes down, Vanessa repeated, “You just don’t understand.”

Taking her chin, Wendy raised the vampire’s eyes to hers and assured, “If we take him out he won’t have any control over you.”

“And then what?” Vanessa whimpered. “I’ll have nowhere to go, and the Roeskellovs won’t let me just go about my way.”

Her mouth tightening to a thin slit, Wendy whispered to her, “We’ll think of something.” She slipped her arms around the slight vampire and hugged her tightly. “I promise, we’ll think of something.”

Vanessa hugged her back, and wept.

For a moment they were unaware of Ryan standing in the doorway until he cleared his throat. They both slowly turned their heads and looked to him and he asked, “Wendy, what are you doing? Why haven’t you… You’re hugging a vampire.”

She smiled a flirty smile and countered, “Does it turn you on?”

Raising his eyes, he vented a deep breath through his nose and growled, “No, just take care of her and let’s go.”

She met the vampire’s horrified eyes and pulled away from her, folding her arms as she said, “I don’t think so.”

“We don’t have time for this,” he grumbled through predapires teeth as he stormed forward.

Wendy slammed her palm into his chest and stopped him. “I said no.”

“Wendy, she’s a vampire.”

“I know that, and she’s going to help us get out of here.” She looked over her shoulder to the slight vampire and prodded, “Right?”

Vanessa nodded and looked from Wendy to Ryan.

“We don’t have time for this,” he growled through bared, pointed teeth.

“I get it,” she assured, “but we’re not hurting her.” Turning to Vanessa, she asked, “What’s the quickest way out of here?”

Vanessa glanced about, considering quickly before she replied, “The basement.”

“Where they can trap us,” Ryan snarled.

Shaking her head, Vanessa looked up at him and corrected, “There is a tunnel that will take us to the garage. It’s an alternate escape rout in case we are discovered. There are five cars and a van we can take to get out of here, all with the windows blacked out.”

Wendy turned and looked up at Ryan, raising her brow as she asked, “You coming or are you going to cover our escape?”

He set his hands on his hips and looked away from them, that snarl still on his mouth as he grumbled, “I don’t like this, trusting a night walker.”

With a little shrug, Wendy suggested, “Well, if she tries to double cross us we can always eat her.”

Vanessa took a few hesitant steps toward the big predapire, daring to reach out and touch his arm as she said in a slight voice, “I just want to get out of here. I want away from him. Please!”

His eyes slid down to her and he considered, then his hand lanced toward her and he seized her by the throat and wrapped almost all the way around her thin neck, and he showed his teeth as she shrieked and grasped his arm with both hands. “If you in any way try anything—”

“We get it!” Wendy barked as she took his arm and pulled him away from the vampire girl. “Let’s go!” She peered out the door, left, then right, then slipped back in and pressed her back to the broken wall near the door. “Okay, guys. We have all kinds of company coming.” She looked to Ryan and added, “Machine gun carrying company. Can those hurt us?”

He strode forward and peered out the door to the right. “If they do enough damage, yes, and we can hurt them the same way.”

“Then we need some heat,” she guessed. Looking across the room to the ravaged remains of the big vampire, she hurried over to him and gingerly looked through his pockets, producing an automatic pistol. Pulling back the slide, she looked for shells, then she tossed it to Ryan and informed, “It’ll have to do for now.”

“Four of them out there,” he said in a low voice, looking the pistol over. “They’re ready for us.”

Glancing around the room, Wendy strode to the bed, took the sheet from it and tore off a long strip, then she turned to Vanessa and ordered, “Turn around.”

Hesitantly, the slight vampire girl complied, looking over her shoulder at Wendy as she asked, “What are you doing?”

Wendy took the vampire’s arms and pulled them behind her, then she wound the strip of bed sheet around her wrists and explained, “I’m hopefully getting us out of here.”

“Um…” Vanessa stammered, “I’m, uh… I’m not real comfortable with this.”

Tying off Vanessa’s wrists with a final jerk, Wendy snapped back, “I’m sure you’ll be much less comfortable if this doesn’t work and they burn you alive, or dead, or whatever you are.” She turned the vampire girl and took a firm grip on her arm, ordering, “Come on, and pray this works.” Reaching for the door trim, she tore a piece off, breaking it to a sharp point which she held to Vanessa’s chest, right under her ribs.

Vanessa was pushed out first with Wendy right behind her, holding the makeshift stake to her heart as her other arm was wrapped around the vampire’s throat, holding her firmly in place. Leading with the gun, Ryan slipped out next, keeping his aim on the four black clad vampires only twenty feet down the hallway. Three were large men and the third was an attractive black haired woman who wore form fitting leather with the top cut low between her breasts. It was the woman whose lips slid away from her teeth as she trained her light machine gun on them, the same kind of machine gun the others carried and had trained on the predapires and their hostage.

“Back off!” Wendy barked. “I will ram this stick right through her if you don’t drop your weapons and back away right now!”

The look on Vanessa’s face was pure horror and pleading eyes were on the vampire woman down the hall.

The black haired vampire woman’s eyes narrowed and she hissed back, “You kill her then we take you both out. Then where are you?”

“You mean where are you?” Wendy countered. “Sebastian’s favorite little girl gets killed and I’m sure he’s going to be a little pissed off about it, don’t you?” She could see that this put hesitation into the vampires. “Throw your hardware over here and back the hell off now!” She pushed the stake hard against Vanessa’s chest and the vampire girl cried out in pain as it penetrated her skin.

Looking to the men behind her, the woman nodded, then threw her machine gun down the hall toward her targets, prompting the men behind to do the same.

Ryan crouched down to pick two of them up, keeping his eyes on the vampires as he did. One he handed to Wendy, who dropped her makeshift stake and took it. Two had straps and he quickly slipped the straps for one over his shoulder and head, shoved the pistol into his belt before taking the last machine gun. Standing, he kept the weapons trained on the vampires.

The black haired vampire woman shook her head and informed, “You’ll never get out of here alive, you know that.”

Wendy smiled back. “We’ll sure have fun trying!”

Ryan aimed with one of his weapons and fired a long burst, sending a barrage toward the vampire’s heads, and many of the rounds connected, dropping three of them quickly as the fourth turned and fled.

“What did you do that for!” Wendy barked. “Now everyone knows what’s going on!”

“They already know!” he growled back. “We need to get out of here before they recover. Which way, night walker?”

“Down the hall behind us,” Vanessa replied, then she looked over her shoulder at Wendy and spat, “That hurt!”

“Oh, wah!” Wendy snapped back. “Come on!”

True to her word, they found the stairs and the tunnel in the basement that would lead them to the garage, and the steel door at the other end. The tunnel was lit by single bulb lights that were hung along a single wire that ran along the middle of the arched ceiling. Carved right out of the rock under the castle, it was clearly done as an afterthought and was barely wide enough to accommodate one person at a time.

Reaching the rusting steel door on the other end with Ryan in the lead, they stopped and Ryan turned to them, insisting, “I can guarantee they’re expecting this.”

“Only if they know that you know about the tunnel,” Vanessa countered. “Even if they’re in there they won’t know you’ll be emerging through here. There’s a box beside you that has the keys to the cars out there. The black Mercedes is the fastest, I think.”

Looking where directed, Ryan found the box, tugged on the little door and found it locked, so he grasped the little door at its edges and tore it off, and he carefully took the appropriate key. Looking back to the women, he raised his brow and asked, “You girls ready.”

Wendy smiled and raised her weapon before her. “Hell yeah, Handsome. Let’s get some.”

Vanessa looked back at her and asked, “Can you untie me now?”

“Not yet, girlfriend,” Wendy replied. “We need to keep up appearances until we’re clear. Besides, I kind of like the thought of you—”

“Stop right there,” Vanessa barked.

Meeting Wendy’s eyes, Ryan asked, “You ready?”

She nodded back to him.

They burst into the narrow garage, training weapons in three directions as they did. Four cars were lined up at four automatic doors while a large panel van was at the end. All were black with blacked out windows. Parked beside it was a limousine, and right in the middle of the lineup was the Mercedes they were looking for. The walkway behind the cars was only about ten feet from bumper to wall. Along that wall was what appeared to be a workbench with many toolboxes and tools strewn about. Right in the middle of the wall was a door that looked like it was about four feet wide. Painted steel, it looked solid and opened inward.

With a low brow, Ryan scanned the garage, his guns following his gaze as he did. Motioning forward with his head, he stalked toward the car they wanted, which was right in front of the door.

They got to the car without incident and finally Wendy whispered, “Open the trunk.” Ryan did so with the push of a key and she reached down and swept Vanessa from the floor, and in one motion tossed her into the roomy trunk of the Mercedes.

Vanessa barked a scream as she was tossed in, and managed to cry, “Hey!” before the trunk lid was closed.

Snatching the key from his hand, Wendy informed, “I’m driving,” as she hurried by him to the driver’s side.

“What makes you think that?” he protested as he followed her.

“Because,” was her answer as she opened the door.

“Do you even know where we’re going?” he asked.

“Yep,” she assured. Reaching to the visor, she pushed the button to open the door, then spun around as the door into the mansion burst open, drawing a gasp as she saw Sebastian’s vampire minions, all armed, enter the garage.

The black haired vampire woman they had encountered before pointed and shouted, “There they are!”

Ryan raised his weapons and opened fire on them.

Wendy jumped into the car and was quick to start it, but before she could even put it into gear Ryan entered and pushed her to the other side, rolling her over the center console almost easily. She was not settled into her seat before tires squealed and they were speeding out of the garage.

Outside, the sun was just coming up and Ryan drove as fast as he could toward the gates of the estate, ramming the car through them without even slowing down.

She looked to him and pointed to the visor. “You know, you can push the button marked gate and I’ll bet it would have opened.”

He glanced at her and smiled. “What’s the point of having a car this big if you can’t crash through things?”

Wendy also smiled. “I do like your style, stud.” Looking over her shoulder, she turned fully and squeezed herself between the seats as she climbed halfway into the back.

As he drove up onto the main road, he looked over, right to her shapely legs coming from under that pink bathrobe, and the perfect roundness of her backside. “What are you doing?” he finally asked.

“Going to check on Nessa,” was her reply as she fumbled for the lever to drop the back seat.

Ryan smiled and patted her backside. “Take your time, Red.”

“Perv,” she laughed. Finally finding the lever, she managed to pull down the back of the seat and peered into the dark trunk. “You okay back there, girlfriend?”

Vanessa did not look happy as she glared back, assuring, “I am going to get you for this!”

“Yeah,” Wendy replied as she pushed the seat back into place. “Love you, too.” She struggled back into her seat and turned her eyes to the big predapire beside her, raising her brow as she asked, “So where are we going?”

“Your place,” was his answer.

“They burned my place, remember?”

“I remember, but they’re also going to be looking for this car, and that might be the first place they look.”

She nodded. “So naturally we’re going there.”

“My truck’s still there and they don’t know what I drive.”

“Well I have seen what you drive and I say let’s just trade for this if they’re looking for it or not.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my truck.”

“Oh, I so don’t agree.”

He shook his head. “You’re a chick so I don’t expect you to get it. Bottom line is four wheel drive and puncture proof tires have advantages over comfort.”

“You just keep thinking that,” she snarled.

A half hour later they were entering her apartment and Wendy glanced about at the undisturbed surroundings around her. “He ordered them to burn my place.”

“Probably to get into your head,” Ryan informed, also looking around. “Set fire to the place and they might just call attention to themselves.”

She slowly turned her eyes up to him. “I’ll bet they’re watching us right now.”

He set his jaw and scanned the apartment one more time, then ordered, “Pack a bag. We’re out of here in two minutes.”

Wendy nodded and went to task.

Back in the dimly lit parking garage, Wendy had changed into a white tee shirt, blue jeans and running shoes. Over her shoulder she carried a large pink and white duffel bag. Her hair was restrained behind her in a long pony tail and she walked with quick steps beside him.

“I said two minutes,” he reminded.

“I heard you,” she grumbled. “We need to stop by the black car.” She veered off to the right.

Following, he growled, “What for?”

“Nessa,” she said.

“If we leave her in the car they’ll find her and—”

“The idea is for him not to find her,” Wendy barked.

Arriving at the Mercedes, Wendy took the key from him and pushed the button to open the trunk, watching as the lid opened. The first thing she saw was a slight vampire girl who was glaring back at her. “Okay, girlfriend. We’re clear.”

Ryan reached into the trunk and pulled her out, and when she was standing he turned to continue on to his truck, and Wendy took the vampire’s arm and followed.

Vanessa hissed through clenched teeth, “Would you mind untying me now?”

“Can you be a good girl?” Wendy teased. When Vanessa’s eyes cut to her she smiled and slipped her arm around the vampire’s narrow shoulders. “I’m going to have all kinds of fun with you.”

In a moment they were standing behind Ryan’s old pickup. This was a truck that had most definitely seen better days. The green paint was faded and the body was rusty in areas. The windows had dark tint, the white roof was also scratched and rusty and it had only three wheels that were the same. The fourth was newer and looked like it had been salvaged off of another truck. It had four doors, one of which was a different color than the other three and had also clearly been salvaged off of another truck. The boxy front end betrayed its vintage. The back bumper was custom made of heavy steel pipe with heavy steel brackets holding everything together. It had been painted black at one time but was now oxidized and rusty.

Wendy’s eyes cut to Ryan and she snarled, “We’re really giving up the Mercedes for this. Seriously?”

He fished in his pocket for his keys, finally finding them. “Love the truck, woman. It’ll get you to where you want to go and get you there safely.” He looked to Vanessa. “It’s daylight out there, so if you don’t want to burn up you’ll lay down in the seat and cover up with that moving blanket.”

She nodded and watched him walk to the front of the truck and unlock the door. Tight lipped, she asked in a low voice, “He doesn’t like me, does he?”

Wendy patted her shoulder and assured, “Of course he does. He’s just kind of a butthead. Come on, girlfriend, let’s get going.”

In short order they were settled into the cab, Vanessa covered up in the back and they were cruising at a moderate speed down the freeway. The truck rode rough, it was loud, the air conditioner did not work and it smelled funny, and a certain red head was not enjoying the ride.

“We gave up the Mercedes for this,” she grumbled.

“Stop your bitching,” he growled as he shifted gears. “This thing’s got a few special modifications that may just come in handy and it’ll still be around when that Mercedes is dead in a wrecking yard somewhere.”

“Which is where this thing looks like it came from,” she snarled.

Ryan shook his head. “Only some of it.”

Ryan’s house was about what Wendy expected. The garage was cluttered along the walls with the wares a man would have; there was a homemade work bench on one side that was littered with tools and what appeared to be half finished projects and boxes stacked up along the opposite wall. The front wall, where the door to the house was, was mostly clear except for fishing rods that hung on it, an old bicycle, and a few other tools that were hung almost randomly on nails. His big truck barely fit inside and as he was backing in she was sure he was going to hit the wall behind them. His attention was out the side window and he abruptly stopped seemingly inches from the wall. Reaching up, he pushed the control for the garage door and she watched as it slowly descended, sure once again that the heavy front bumper was not all the way in, but it cleared.

When she opened her door, he gasped her shoulder and ordered, “This way. It’s a little too tight to squeeze by.”

She raised her brow. “You saying I need to lose a couple of pounds?”

Ryan smiled. “I don’t know where I’d take it off of you, sweetheart.” Looking into the back seat he barked, “We’re here, night walker.”

As he slid out, Vanessa slowly sat up and pulled the moving blanket from her, scanning her surroundings carefully as if she did not want to move until it was safe.

Wendy slid out of the truck and bade, “Come on, girlfriend.” As she followed Ryan into the house, she paused and looked back to the vampire girl who was still in the back seat of the old truck. “Hey. You coming?”

Vanessa finally looked to her and shook her head. “I’ll be fine here.”

Turning, Wendy strode slowly to the truck and opened the back door. “You sure, Sweetie?”

The vampire girl nodded. The look in her eyes was the fear one would see in the eyes of a frightened little girl.

Wendy combed her fingers through the vampire’s hair and assured, “It’s okay. Get some sleep if you want, and if you want to come in we’ll be right inside, okay?”

Vanessa nodded and whispered, “Thank you.”

Inside the house, Wendy stopped in the middle of the living room and set her hands on her hips, looking around her. Ryan’s furnishings consisted of an old, tattered couch that looked like it might have been picked up on the side of the road, a painting on the wall above it of dogs playing poker, an aged, overused recliner, a coffee table that must have looked great in the ’70’s, and a giant wooden fork that hung on the wall near the garage door. To her right was the entryway to the kitchen, and that is where the activity was coming from. She strode in, finding a horrible yellow and chrome dining table with four different chairs surrounding it. Oak cabinets appeared to be sound, though one was missing a door, but they could use some refinishing. The floor was kind of horrible. Yellow designed linoleum was in epic disrepair and much of it was scratched. She noticed that the stained white sheetrock walls, the textured ceiling with rust colored stains here and there and the whole surrounding was so dated that it was hard to believe that this place had been inhabited at all for the last forty years.

Raising her brow as he rummaged around in the avocado green refrigerator, she folded her arms and complimented, “I hope you don’t take this wrong, but your house is crap.”

He glanced back at her and just resumed what he was doing. “How could I possibly take that wrong? Where’s the night walker?”

“Stayed in the truck,” Wendy answered. “You know, you could be a little nicer to her.”

“Yeah,” he mumbled.

She pulled one of the chairs out and sat down, still glancing about at the aged house, out the small window that had a wonderful view of the run down house next door. “So what’s the plan now?”

“Going to have a little lunch,” he replied, “then we need to go see the others.”

“What others?”

He piled a few containers on the counter near an old blender. “Other predapires. We need to alert them about the nest we found and coordinate a plan to take it out.”

Wendy nodded. “Sounds like you’re at war or something.”

“We are, Red. We are.”

“Great,” she snarled. “One more thing to add to my to-do list.”

“You know,” he started, “at some point one of us is going to have to kill that night walker out there.”

“Her name is Vanessa,” Wendy snapped.

“Whatever she’s called, she’s a threat and one of us is going to have to take her out.”

“I sure don’t see it that way, Handsome.”

The blender roared to life and she sat silently while it worked.

When he sat down beside her, he put a cheap looking plastic drinking glass down in front of her and offered, “Enjoy.” He also had one and took a sip from it, his gaze locked on her.

She picked it up and took a hesitant sniff, watched him take a couple of gulps from his glass, then raised hers to her mouth. After a small drink, she looked to him and asked, “So what is this? Some kind of strawberry shake?”

He nodded as she drank more. “Has strawberries in it.”

“What else?” she asked before drinking more.

“Oh, strawberries, protein powder, a couple of eggs…” He watched her take another good drink and raised his own glass to his mouth, saying under his breath, “A few vampire parts.”

Wendy coughed and slammed her glass down, raising a hand to her mouth as she barked, “Oh, sick! Come on, man! A vampire shake? Do you keep one in the fridge or something?”

“No,” he replied, “Only a few select parts.”

Looking down to her glass, she mumbled, “This just got a whole lot weirder.”

“You’re going to have to keep your strength up and build on the predapire you’re becoming,” he informed. “That means consuming some vampire every day for a while, even when the hunting’s not good.”

“Yeah, but a vampire shake?”

He smiled. “Today, it’s strawberry vampire shake.”

She huffed a deep breath, her brow low and her eyes locked on him as she raised the glass to her mouth again. After another good drink, she insisted, “We are not eating Vanessa.”

“The others might not agree,” he countered.

“I don’t care. She’s helped us this far and I promised her that I wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”

“You need to understand, Red—”

"You need to understand,” she shouted. “I’m not going to let anything happen to her, got it?”

He turned his eyes down to his glass and just stared at it for a moment, and finally said, “Maybe her heart’s in the right place. Problem is if this Sebastian has such a hold on her then he can see what she does and he’ll know everything she knows. Like it or not she’s a threat.”

“As long as he has that hold on her,” Wendy mumbled.

Ryan nodded. “And the only way to break it is to kill him.”

“Dibs,” she barked. When he looked to her she insisted, “I’m taking him out myself.”

He raised his brow and took another drink of his shake. “No problem, Babe. Just don’t get yourself painted in a corner.”

“I’ll be good, Mister Man.”

“Why do you want to protect that night walker, anyway?”

Wendy took a long drink, then locked her eyes on him in an impatient glare as she gently set her glass down. “Like it or not, there’s a person in there and I don’t think she was turned by her own choice.”

“Really. All I see is a night walker that is most likely responsible for the deaths of countless people over the years.”

“Actually,” she corrected, “they prefer not to kill these days.”

He just stared at her with disbelieving eyes.

“Seriously,” she insisted. “I even talked to one of the head vampires in charge and she said—”

“Wait!” he interrupted, raising his head. “A master vampire? One over Sebastian?”

Wendy nodded. “Apparently they have their hierarchies too.”

“Did you catch a name?”

“Roeskellov. I didn’t hear a first name, unless her name’s Lady. That would be weird.”

Ryan’s eyes widened and he just stared back at her.

Wendy raised her brow. “Um, do you know her or something?”

He set his jaw. “The Roeskellovs are the oldest vampire clan in the world and are thought to be the most powerful. You saw one of them?” When she nodded again he asked, “Where? Do you remember where she was?”

Shaking her head, Wendy admitted, “The windows on the limo were blacked out and I couldn’t see exactly where we were going. I was taken to some place that looked really fancy, like a country club. It was out of town on some kind of country estate, I’m betting on a county road. The address was 6900 so we should be able to track it down pretty easily.”

“Would you recognize it if you saw it?” he cut in.

“Probably,” she replied. “If you have internet access in this rat hole you call a man cave I can find it in a few minutes, but she’s supposed to fly out sometime tonight.”

“Fly to where?”

“Back to Romania, I think.” She rested her elbow on the table and her chin in her palm, flashing him a flirty smile as she informed, “If I’m going to have to answer all of these questions then I’m going to want something in return.”

His brow tensed. “Like what, Red?”

“Well,” she drawled in a flirty tone, “I’m thinking about something that involves you naked.”

He half smiled. “You’re asking a high price, Miss Shaw.”

Wendy’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, I have some really good information, Officer Scott. Really good. And it doesn’t come cheap, either.”

He loosed a breath and offered, “Okay, so what if I give you anything you want?”

“Naked,” she added with a broad smile.

“Both of us?” he asked.

Slowly, she nodded.

He leaned back in his chair and folded his thick arms. “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll handcuff you and get the information I want that way.”

She raised a brow and prodded, “Go on.”

“Maybe after we’ve found some vampires,” he insisted. “Get that off our plate and then…”

Wendy cut her eyes aside. “I don’t know, Officer. I’m awfully stressed out and I think I have to get some tension seriously relieved before I can talk anymore.”

“And what if your little friend in there wakes up?”

“She sleeps during the day, and if she gets up we’ll put a movie in for her and give her a snack.”

“I don’t have a TV.”

“You’re just full of excuses, aren’t you?”

“Finish your shake,” he ordered.

With a little smile, she picked up her glass, and ran her tongue seductively along the rim before she took a drink.

When she finished, he stood and took that last step toward her, staring down at her with those deep, predatory eyes. Wendy reached to him, and pressed her hand against his rock hard belly, and slowly she slid it down and finally her fingers found the zipper to his jeans. He seemed to be allowing this so she grasped it with her finger and thumb and slowly pulled it down. Her breath caught as his hand found hers and slid up the skin of her arm and slid into the sleeve of her shirt, following her shoulder around to her chest, and he hesitated.

She smiled. “Sorry. Didn’t have time to put on a bra.”

“Outstanding,” he mumbled. Seizing her arms, he pulled her effortlessly from her chair and held her before him. His grip on her loosened and slowly he slid his hands around her shoulders, around her back, and without warning he crushed her to him.

Wendy closed her eyes as their mouths met and he took her lips as gently as he had before, but this time that yielded quickly to the lustful, animalistic passion she was hoping for. With her upper arms pinned to her sides, she slowly reached up and slid her arms under his shirt and as far around his back as she could. She felt his hands glide down her back and drew a quick breath as they slid under her shirt and began to work their way up, dragging her shirt with them, and when he reached her shoulder blades…

The phone rang.

They opened their eyes and pulled away from each other.

It rang again.

“Un-freaking believable,” she snarled.

He kissed her quickly and ordered, “Just hold that thought.” Turning to the counter, he picked up the wireless phone and answered, “Yeah.” His eyes darted to Wendy. “Yeah, got her out. Uh, huh. Seems like a pretty good sized nest. We also finally have a lead on Roeskellov.”

Wendy’s breath caught.

Nodding, he assured, “Okay, we’ll be there in an hour or so and I’ll give you a full briefing then.” He hung up and then leaned back against the counter. “Okay, Red. We have someplace to be.”

She folded her arms and barked, “We also have something to do!”

“It’ll have to wait,” he informed. “The other’s have been called together.”

Raising her brow, she said, “So I finally get to meet the gang. Lovely.”

Ryan motioned with his head to the garage door. “So what do we do with your little blonde friend?”

Wendy shrugged. “May as well bring her with us.”

“Like I said before, she’s a security risk. We don’t want the other night walkers knowing where we meet.”

“Um, if you can take them apart so easily…”

“Again, like I said, they have ways to kill us, too, and we don’t need to get caught with them hitting us in force, especially with the Roeskellovs bringing it, too. There aren’t that many of us.”

She turned her eyes down and nodded. “Okay, so we just make her comfortable until we get back. How many bedrooms in this place?”

“Two.”

“Good.”

Vanessa was blindfolded as Ryan carried her into his house and into a blacked out bedroom at the back. There was a small, single bed with simple white sheets and a green wool blanket and a fluffy white pillow. Black plastic had been taped over the window and other than a boxy little nightstand there was nothing else in the room.

He laid her down on the bed and backed away, folding his arms as he stared down at her.

Reaching to her face, Vanessa touched the blindfold and timidly asked, “Do I take this off now?”

Wendy strode past Ryan and sat down on the bed beside her, taking the blindfold off of the vampire girl and tossing it over to the other side of the bed. “I think the world is safe now. Do you need anything before we go? Glass of water? Cookie? Story?”

Vanessa smiled and shook her head as she folded her hands on her belly.

“Oh!” Wendy declared. “I know!” Springing to her feet, she darted from the room.

Ryan and Vanessa watched her go, then looked to each other.

Tight lipped, the vampire asked, “You don’t like me, do you?”

He simply shook his head.

She turned her eyes away and nodded. “Yeah. I guess I wouldn’t like me, either. I’m not sure that I even do.”

“Don’t try to play on my sympathies, night walker,” he warned.

Vanessa turned her face away from him. “It wasn’t my fault. I didn’t want him to do this to me.”

“You are what you are,” Ryan insisted.

“I guess so,” she said softly.

Wendy entered holding a white teddy bear, and she paused beside Ryan to punch him hard in the arm. “I heard that and I thought we agreed you weren’t going to behave like a butthead!”

“It’s okay,” Vanessa assured, staring at the wall on the other side of the bed.

Glaring up at him, Wendy hugged the bear to her for a long second before turning to her vampire friend, and she sat down on the bed again. Offering her the bear, she ordered, “We need you to just stay here and sleep, okay? We’re going to take care of some things and we’ll be back. Just don’t leave this room until you hear us.”

Vanessa finally looked to her, then to the bear, and a little smile found her lips as she gently took it. “I’ve never had one of these.”

“And now you do,” Wendy assured.

Looking to her, Vanessa fearfully asked, “What is to become of me?”

“One step at a time,” Wendy ordered. “You just get some rest and stay here until we get back.”

“I will,” the vampire assured.

Leaning in close to her, Wendy whispered, “I’m going to bust my ass to help you, okay? I’ve got your back, girlfriend.”

Closing her eyes, Vanessa nodded.

Wendy stood and turned toward Ryan, pushing him toward the door as she growled, “We’re going to talk.”

Ryan’s old pickup negotiated traffic across town without fear and he drove with only his left hand as his right slowly massaged his head.

With her brow low over her eyes, Wendy grumbled on, “You can’t just even try to be nice to her. You have to be a complete A-hole every time you’re around her.”

“Wendy,” he started with a sigh, “I learned a long time ago not to get too attached to them. You need to accept that our place is to kill them and—”

“You make her sound like she’s some kind of rabid dog!”

“There’s not much difference when you think about it.”

“I am so knocking the crap out of you as soon as we stop.”

“Careful, woman. I might just be into that.”

“Perv,” she snarled.

“Why do you want me to be so nice to her, anyway?” he asked directly. “One of us is going to have to kill her sooner or later and we both know it isn’t going to be you.”

“Ryan, it wasn’t her fault that happened to her, any more than it was mine.”

“That isn’t my problem, Red.”

“Can you at least try to be civil?”

“You never answered my question.”

She heaved a breath and looked out the window.

“So when did it happen?” he questioned.

“When did what happen?” she snarled back.

Ryan glanced at her. “You were just a kid, weren’t you?” He saw that she started to turn her head toward him and abruptly stopped. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” she hissed through clenched teeth.

“Yeah, okay.”

“Ryan, just shut the hell up, okay?”

“Struck a nerve,” he observed.

“I mean it!”

“I know you do, sweetheart.”

“Okay, pull over. I’m getting out.”

He just glanced at her.

“Pull over!” she shouted.

“And then what?” he asked.

“I don’t know, just pull over.”

He suddenly turned the truck very hard, directing it off of the main road and then he turned again. Wendy hung on fearfully, her wide eyes darting about at their new direction. With another hard turn the truck squeezed into a narrow alley, one that seemed too small for it to be in. There was traffic crossing on the other end but he stopped halfway there.

Wendy unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the door handle, but did not get the door open. Ryan grabbed her and pulled her over to him with unnatural strength. Before she realized, she was twisted around, her shoulders and head lying in his lap, her wide eyes locked on his. With the firm grip he had on her hair, she was not going to just get up.

“That’s why you want to save this night walker,” he accused. “That’s why you work vice. That’s why you volunteer with runaway girls. You just won’t bother to tell anybody.”

“Let go of me,” she ordered in a low voice. She tried to stop the tears from welling up in her eyes, but could not.

He showed her his teeth, his predapire’s teeth. “You don’t have to go through this alone anymore, don’t you get it? You’re one of us now. You’re part of a unique and powerful family that will always look out for you.”

“Family doesn’t work that way,” she hissed.

“Broken families don’t,” he corrected. “Look, I brought you back from the darkness and now I’m responsible for you.”

She turned her eyes away from him. “No you aren’t.”

“That’s how it works,” he insisted.

“Let go of me,” she ordered again, this time through clenched teeth.

He nodded. “And then you’ll bottle it all back up, but now you have all of eternity to feel it burn you from the inside. You’ll never get away from it until you confront it.”

“I confronted it already,” she cried, looking back to him. “It didn’t go away! It never will!”

Ryan gently stroked her cheek. “You confronted it alone and you weren’t ready to. You don’t have to face it alone anymore.”

Her eyes slowly found his again, and this time a tear rolled from one. “Yeah. I don’t have to be alone anymore because you’re always going to be there. You know how many times I’ve heard that?”

“From mortals?” he guessed. “Look, Red, I’ve wanted to get close to you for a long time, now that I finally can do you really think I’m going to just let you go?”

She stared back at him, unable to speak for a moment, but finally she managed a little smile. “Those are some really pretty words coming out of that pretty mouth, stud.”

Ever so gently, his fingers glided over her lips and he whispered, “Talk to me.”

Wendy reached up and touched his lips back. “Not now, okay? I will, I promise, just not now.”

His hand cupped her cheek. “I’m holding you to that, Red.”

“Will you let me up now?” she asked, then she raised an eyebrow. “Or at least let me turn over.”

Ryan smiled. “Maybe later.” He pushed her up out of his lap and slid his arm around her shoulders when she was seated beside him, and he pulled her close to him.

She closed her eyes and laid her head on his shoulder, snuggling into him.

“I know that’s why you want to help the vampire,” he said, “and you’ve got to understand—”

“Shouldn’t we get going?” she interrupted.

He loosed a breath and finally conceded, “Sure.”

Ben’s Diner was not an establishment that would stand out. In fact, it was quite dated and normal. The dingy outside had not changed for decades and it was frequented mostly by locals from the neighborhood who knew it well. Round, chrome stools were lined up at the bar that was in front of the kitchen and a line of permanently mounted booths stood at the wall at the front. All of the cushions, the benches and the stools, were red and most of them had been repaired at some time or another. The tiles on the floor were clean, but stained by many spills and scuffs over the years. Lighting was offered by what looked like fixtures that were probably installed when the diner was built. A few patrons were already there, people who one might expect to find in this setting, people who would not normally get a second glance.

Ryan and Wendy sat down at the bar and he folded his hands on it as he looked to the kitchen.

Wendy looked around at her settings, finally nodding. “Yeah. Sebastian took me to a fancy party at some kind of country club you’d expect to see movie stars going to. He lives in a mansion and rides around in an expensive limo. You, on the other hand, bring me to a greasy spoon and take me to your shabby little house and drive me around in your P.O.S. pickup truck.” She turned her eyes to him. “We need to work on your style, sweetie.”

He smiled at her. “Okay, we’ll get right on that. I’m going to the head. Be right back.”

She watched him stand and stride around the bar to the back, then looked forward again, to the condiments that were neatly lined up in front of her.

A rather muscular fellow wearing an apron and a paper hat strode out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a white towel as he strode up to her and asked, “What can I get for you, Miss?” His hair was thinning beneath that paper cap and his thick forearms were rather hairy and tattooed. Dressed in a sleeveless tee shirt and khaki trousers, he also fit nicely in this setting. He had a hard but pleasant face and was clean shaven.

Wendy did not study him long before she replied, “I could use some coffee, thank you.”

He nodded and turned to the counter behind him.

With most of the diner deserted, Wendy did not pay any notice when the bell to the door rang, signaling that someone had come in or gone out, and lost in thoughts she did not notice the huge man who sat down beside her until he rested his elbows on the bar. Turning her head slightly, she slid her eyes to him, her brow rising as she got a look at him.

This was a fellow who was very dark, someone who seemed to epitomize the African American appearance. He was very well dressed in a white polo shirt and light blue trousers that gave him the appearance of someone who was an important yet casual businessman. His facial features were very strong. He was thick lipped and had a very heavy lower jaw and brow, and a clean shaven head. A diamond stud was worn in his left ear but he had no other jewelry on. His arms and chest were massive! This was a man who worked out and kept himself heavily muscled, even more so than Ryan did. This was a very big man, very powerful looking and very imposing, and for a moment she felt a familiar intimidation creep up from her gut. It was, however pushed aside by her new life. She was now stronger than a vampire and if he tried anything he would surely find that out. When he looked her way and noticed her staring at him, she raised her chin to him, and he responded in kind.

The man behind the bar returned with her coffee in a little white cup on a little white saucer, and he set it down in front of her, looking to the big black man right away as he asked, “Same old thing, Leon?”

The big man nodded and confirmed in a very deep, very throaty voice, “Yeah.”

Turning back to the counter, the white clad man behind the counter shook his head and grumbled, “You can’t just try something different for once.” To which the black man just raised his brow. He returned with a cup of hot tea with the bag still in it and a small plate with a pastry on it.

The black man reached for the spoon as he offered, “Thanks, Merrill.”

Wendy dumped a huge amount of sugar and cream into her cup and stirred for just a second before raising the cup gently to her lips.

Leaning his elbows on the counter, Merrill asked, “So how’s it hanging today?”

With a shrug, Leon replied, “Same as every day, halfway down my leg.”

Caught in mid-sip, Wendy coughed and quickly set her cup down, reaching for a napkin to put to her mouth.

Both men looked to her.

Barely getting herself under control, she held the napkin over her mouth as she laughed, “Halfway down your leg! Oh my God!”

Merrill motioned to the black man with his head and assured, “I’ll bet he’d show you for five bucks.”

Wendy squealed behind her napkin, her eyes streaming tears. Finally collecting herself somewhat, she blotted her eyes and strained to say, “I left my purse in the car.”

Leon shook his head and grumbled, “Well I ain’t showin’ nothing on credit.”

With another fit of giggles, Wendy shook her head and asked, “What will you do for ten?”

Ryan finally sat back down beside her, his eyes on her for long seconds before he looked to Merrill.

Noticing him there, she elbowed him and asked, “Do you have five bucks?”

This time all three laughed.

Ryan shook his head. “You guys need to grow up for God’s sake.”

Laughing hysterically, Wendy leaned into him and strained to say, “Halfway down his leg.”

Merrill set a cup of coffee down in front of Ryan, who picked it up and waited patiently for the other three people there to compose themselves. Once this had been accomplished, he asked, “So who else is coming?”

Leon leaned over the bar and looked to him, replying, “This is it, man.”

Wendy’s breath caught and she looked to Leon, then to Merrill, who was staring at her. She finally turned her attention to Ryan and asked, “These are the others?”

He raised his brow and nodded.

Merrill motioned behind the bar with his head and advised, “Let’s get to the back.”

About ten feet by ten feet, the back was a small room that was used for storage. It had a few folded chairs, one light hanging from the ceiling, boxes stacked along three walls and some shelves built in on two walls about two feet from the ceiling. Merrill opened a couple of chairs and offered one to Wendy, who gingerly sat down and crossed her legs. She was very nervous but did not want to show it and acted as cool and collected as she always did. Leon entered last, still holding the last of his pastry as he chewed what he had bitten off, and he closed the door behind him, just standing in front of it with his eyes on Wendy. Ryan leaned on the stack of boxes behind Wendy and Merrill set up a chair right across from her and eyed her without expression.

Wendy glanced around. They were all very quiet for a moment and this fed her anxiety. It was almost like being in front of Lady Roeskellov again. Folding her hands around her knee, she finally asked, “So, is there an initiation to get into this club?”

Merrill raised his brow. “I’d say you’ve already passed, Sweetheart. Ryan says you were right in the middle of a whole nest of night walkers, says you met with one of the Roeskellovs.”

She nodded. “That’s right. They meet in country clubs and we meet in the back room of a diner.”

Leon explained, “We’re have to keep a low profile. We don’t want them knowing how to find us.”

Wendy glanced back at Ryan. “Wait a minute. Don’t we, like, kill and eat vampires?”

“Yeah,” Merrill confirmed, “but if they come after us in force then we have a problem. There’s a lot more of them than us and they have networks everywhere. They’re trying to stay out of sight of mortals and we’re trying to stay out of sight of everyone.”

“Except,” Ryan added, “they’ve seen me now, and by now they at least suspect that you’ve been turned to our side.”

“Great!” she declared. “So now we have one huge honking problem!”

“You could say that,” Leon said. “Now we just have to figure out how to make it their problem.”

“Let me complicate things more,” Ryan offered. “We have a night walker at my house right now, a live one.”

Merrill and Leon exchanged concerned looks.

Ryan went on, “Red here is convinced that she wants to help us out.”

“What do you think?” Leon asked, looking to Ryan.

With a shrug, Ryan replied, “She seems like she’s on the level. Wants away from this Sebastian character and she talks like she wants to join our side to that end.”

Merrill raised his head. “Sebastian? Word in the underworld is he’s running one of the breakaway clans. He’s supposed to be planning something big in the next couple of weeks.”

“Breakaway clans,” Wendy said absently. “He’s already in hot water with the Roeskellovs for turning a few of us without our consent, Vanessa included.”

Ryan added, “She’s the night walker who is hopefully asleep at my place right now.”

Wendy glared at him and hissed, “Would you quit calling her that?” Looking back to Merrill, she continued, “I wouldn’t put it past him to try something against them.”

Leon asked, “How many in his clan?”

She shrugged. “Don’t know. Less one with Nessa with us. Less two more with the ones Ryan killed last night. He has four cars and a rather big van, and he lives in a really big mansion. He also talked about his people being everywhere.”

“So no telling how big his network is,” Ryan grumbled.

Raising his brow, Leon observed, “Cut off the head and the snake dies.”

Merrill glanced back at him. “Getting to the head is going to be the tricky part. They have to know we’re coming for him by now.”

Wendy looked down to her hands. “Lady Roeskellov talked about renegade clans and she seemed to be pretty peeved about it, but she told me she wouldn’t burden me with it.”

His eyes locked on her, Leon observed, “Vampires going to war with each other could be just what we need.”

“Unless the wrong side wins,” Wendy pointed out.

Ryan glanced at Leon. “There’s a right side?”

She half turned and looked up at him. “The Roeskellovs are at the top of a governing body for all vampires. They enforce and carefully follow rules. Sebastian doesn’t really seem to care about that beyond what he has to do to get by. He’s really polite to her and follows her law to the letter, but when she’s not around I think he’d rather be in charge himself.”

Merrill asked, “So why do we want the Roeskellovs to win this thing?”

“Like I said,” she explained, “they enforce and follow the rules that the vampires are supposed to be governed by. She told me that they prefer not to kill. They actually have a number of volunteers who are on the payroll to be fed upon when they’re needed, and the vampires take really good care of them.”

“Mortals, you mean?” Ryan questioned.

Wendy nodded. “Apparently there are gobs of people taking care of this clan and probably more taking care of the others.”

Merrill asked, “Sebastian’s?”

“I didn’t see any,” she confirmed, then she half turned again and looked up at Ryan. “Carlos was one of his mortal loyals and we all know what happened with those prostitutes.”

He nodded. “The ones who turned up dead.”

“And when we got to close,” she confirmed, “I was supposed to be next. He decided to turn me instead.”

Leon smiled. “I would have, too.”

She offered a flirty smile back, responding in a southern belle accent, “Why Mister Leon. I do think you have inappropriate thoughts about me.”

“Inappropriate thoughts aside,” Ryan grumbled, “we need to decide how we’re going to respond to this.”

Wendy folded her hands on her knee again and said, “Easy. We pick a side.” She looked around at them. “By the way, am I the only chick predapire?”