Sharkbait

I thanked the crew and Captain before stepping off the boat and on to the pier. It was only a few steps before Adrienne had me in her arms, hugging me tightly. “You look like you had fun,” she said as she let me go again.

“It was more than I dreamed it could be,” I said. “No offense, but why are you and the muscle here?”

“Things happened while you were at sea.” One of the guys grabbed my bags and put them in the back of the big Ford SUV before climbing in the passenger seat. The other two headed for a second car in the lot, whose driver hadn’t gotten out. I caught a glimpse of a submachine gun under one of their jackets; they weren’t kidding around. You needed serious credentials to pack that kind of heat in THIS state. “I’ll tell you on the way to the airport.”

I climbed in the back seat with her, enjoying the air conditioning after the long day. As soon as the doors closed, I was looking at my Aunt, but she was already on the phone. “Olivia? It’s Adrienne. I’ve got Vicki with me, and we’re leaving Woods Hole now. We’ll see you in an hour and a half.”

An hour and a half? We couldn’t even get to the airport by then. Why would Mom be here in Boston? “Can I talk to her?”

Adrienne hung up instead. “There’s time for talk later, Vicki. Right now? I need you to listen.” She had that look she got when the shit was hitting the fan, so I just waited. “Two days ago, we were informed that a contract is out there on you. Someone on the dark web is offering a two-hundred-thousand-dollar bounty on your head.”

I could feel my wolf forcing herself forward; nails began to lengthen and dig into the seat, and teeth started to push down in my mouth. I focused and forced her back; losing control here would accomplish nothing. “Who?”

“We don’t know for sure. We’re on our way to meet the one who sent the warning. He wants to tell us in person, and insisted you be there.”

That seemed odd. “Can you trust him? Is that why you’ve brought the security?”

“We have mutual respect and seek to maintain the peace between our species, but never make the mistake of trusting one of them. The warriors are with us because even though one man turned down the job, another may have taken it. Leo and Alpha Steven have already agreed on this much; you will have an armed detail with you at all times. The leader of this detail will be at least Beta rank.”

I slumped down in the seat; this would be obvious to everyone, and I’d lose any freedoms I had enjoyed. “What about Amy? And the twins?”

“We haven’t heard of any threat to them.”

That was good. And bad. It meant Amy would be able to stay in San Diego while Kai was stationed there, with the twins to help. Coronado was exposed; the apartment was on a public street, with a canal behind it and no security outside its walls. It didn’t have patrolled borders, surveillance systems, and hundreds of wolves around. “Am I being ordered back to Pack lands? Is that why you are here?”

“We’re evaluating our options, Vicki. In the end, the Alphas do what is best for you and the Pack. You know that.”

Shit. I did know that. “I have obligations, modeling appearances! I owe Mercedes an answer on the additional events that she wants Amy and me to participate in.” I let my head fall back. “This is happening at the worst possible time.”

“Life sucks at times,” she said without a hint of sympathy.

Fine. Adrienne had never pulled punches in my training; as a future Alpha, she expected a lot from me. Alphas had to make hard decisions, sometimes unpopular ones, for the common good. “Who are we going to see?”

“Alexander Corvinus. He is the Master Vampire of the New England region.”

VAMPIRE? Oh, SHIT. Vampires and werewolves do NOT mix, and it’s not because one is sparkly and the other drools. Packs share an uneasy truce with them and other supernatural beings, staying to borders established over a century ago after the last war. Vampires controlled the big cities, Werewolves the countryside, and Merpeople the fishing villages and coastlines. “A vampire is looking to kill me?”

“No, but he is the one who has the information we need. Vampires never do anything out of friendship or charity, though. He will want something in exchange. I’m pretty sure that’s why he wants you there instead of dealing with me again.”

What could a Master Vampire want with me? “Why?”

“Only one way to find out. Now, while we drive, tell me what you know about Vampires.”

“Vampires are a cursed race that conquered death, never aging and capable of immortality. The curse makes them dependent on human blood to survive. They must feed every few days to maintain peak condition; if they stop, they become weaker, and a powerful bloodthirst comes upon them. The feral vampire attacks are the source of the human legends about them.” Adrienne nodded to continue. “To feed, vampires entrance unwilling victims by looking into their eyes. The victims become compliant throughout the neck bite while the vampire feeds off the artery. Vampire saliva heals the wound almost instantly, leaving no evidence behind. The human does not remember anything about the attack; they wake up an hour later, down a pint of blood, and feeling hung-over. Older vampires can enter a human’s mind to read and remove memories.”

Adrienne seemed pleased by my recall. “As werewolves, we are unaffected by their attempts at hypnosis. However, the blood of another supernatural is like rocket fuel for them. It makes them stronger, sharpens their senses, and focuses their powers for a few days. Before the Transylvania Accords, vampires held werewolves captive to collect their blood, and werewolves killed vampires on sight. The Accords have held, thanks to defined borders and open communications between the ruling Councils.”

“You’ve talked to them?”

“Of course, in my time on the Council. We have to resolve conflicts, get permission to enter territories, and even request their services to clean up accidental werewolf sightings. I’ve dealt with Alexander several times in person. Now, what can you tell me about Vampire society and structure?”

“They are ruled by a North American Council, made up of Master Vampires based in the largest cities.”

“Which cities?”

I had to think about it. “Boston, New York, Washington, Atlanta, Miami, Port-Au-Prince, New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Montreal, Minneapolis, Denver, Phoenix, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Mexico City. Twenty-one Master Vampires with New Orleans as their home base. Each Master Vampire rules a region and can place a Coven in the larger cities within their territory. A Coven can have no more than five vampires, of which only one can be less than ten years turned.” Oh shit. “Wait; San Diego is with the Los Angeles territory.”

“Yes. Coronado is technically not big enough to be within a Coven, but the Master Vampire in Los Angeles gave your Alpha her permission for your group to move there. That kind of communication is key to preventing misunderstandings. Without permission, werewolves can visit major cities for innocent reasons, but cannot live there. Now, what happens to vampires with time?”

“They get stronger, but there is a limit.”

She nodded. “Unlike werewolves, vampires do not have Mantles or wolves of Alpha or Beta strength that makes leadership predictable. Master Vampires want strong vampires to defend their territory, but too strong a challenger gets you killed. They can live forever, but most vampires live shorter lives than we do.”

“It doesn’t sound like a fun existence,” I said.

“They have money and power, high sexual appetites, and they don’t sleep,” Adrienne said. “Add in the chance at immortality, and you can see why Familiars want in.”

“I guess.”

We’d made it back to the Interstate and were heading north towards Boston. “Now for the important stuff. Why are vampires dangerous to us?”

“Teeth that can rip and tear, claws that grow to the length of their hands and are razor-sharp. The tips can inject a venom that causes paralysis in seconds, and you suffocate within minutes.” Even a newly turned vampire is lethal.

“And how do you kill them?”

“Coordinate your attacks like you would a moose or elk. You have to separate the head from the body, blow them up, or burn them to keep their flesh from regenerating. Stakes in the heart, sunlight, crosses, silver, garlic, all are useless against them.” All warriors had to learn the tactics passed down from previous generations, even though none of them had ever fought one.

“How widespread is the hunting of humans,” she quizzed.

“Random attacks are discouraged, as surveillance cameras and cellphones have made it more dangerous. Vampires will meet victims and bring them to apartments or buildings where they can feed out of sight. Like werewolves, vampire law has harsh penalties for endangering their kind. Master vampires rely on their stables of familiars, humans who are loyal to them alone. Familiars provide services including blood and sex, hoping to prove themselves worthy of a turn. Turning a human into a vampire requires Council permission. Newly turned vampires are unstable, and they require careful supervision and a reliable food source to prevent problems. An unauthorized turn gets the whole coven wiped out.”

For the rest of the ride, Adrienne told me everything she knew about Alexander Corvinus and his coven. We pulled into a downtown hotel parking garage, taking the elevator up to a room where Olivia was waiting. She pulled me into her arms as I broke down crying. Today had been a whiplash, from the highest of highs to the depths of fear.

I was sick and tired of this shit.

Mom pushed me towards the bathroom, handing me a dress and clean lingerie. I took a long, hot shower, something I missed over the past two weeks. The silver dress was a Bodyglove design, and the stretchy ocean-themed fabric clung to my curves with the skirt ending at mid-thigh. I paired it with silver pumps before going back into the room.

“We need to leave now, Vicki,” Adrienne said.

“Go,” Mom said before she kissed me. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

I squeezed her again, then walked after Adrienne into the hallway as the security guys covered us in front and back. A quick drive to an office building, and a ride on a private elevator, and we arrived at the offices of Sterling Investments. The receptionist was a beautiful woman in her twenties, with the scent of death and blood.

My first contact with a vampire had my wolf pushing forward to meet the threat. I shoved her back; no one would risk a war over this. Leo would burn the covens to the ground if they hurt us.

“Adrienne! Please come in, and thank you for coming, Miss Vicki. We have much to talk about,” a handsome man in an expensive suit said from his office.

“Thank you, Alexander.” Luna Adrienne signaled for the guards to remain in place and urged me forward with her hand. We walked into the corner office, where two others sat waiting for us.