Bite Me

by Parker Blue

  Yeah, like that would ever happen.

  Forget it. I’d just dwindle into an old maid with nothing but hellhounds to keep me company in my senior years.

  VAL, I LOVE YA, BUT ENOUGH WITH THE PITY PARTY, ALREADY.

  I wiped a tear away and hugged the snarky little mutt, knowing he was just trying to help. Thank heavens I had Micah now. The only person who could possibly understand me, care about me, was one who was exactly like me. I’d just have to be content with having Micah and Fang as my only family.

  My cell rang then, and I stared at it, wondering if I should answer it. I didn’t really want to talk to anyone right now.

  Then again, it could be Micah.

  I answered the phone, surprised to hear Ramirez’s voice on the other end.

  His conversation was short, but not very sweet. “Get your butt down to my office in half an hour.”

  “Why?”

  “I’ll tell you when you get here.”

  “But . . . I’m not even dressed yet.” And I really didn’t want to talk to anyone in my current mood.

  “Forty-five minutes then.” His tone was uncompromising.

  “But—”

  “If you want to keep this job, be here within forty-five minutes.” Without waiting for a response, he hung up.

  I stared at the phone in disbelief. Dan sure hadn’t wasted any time. At least, I assumed that’s what had Ramirez so ticked off. Well, there was only one way to find out. I crawled out of bed and headed for the shower. I’d lost enough important things in my life lately, I didn’t want to lose my only source of income, too.

  I made it to the West Substation with three minutes to spare. The desk sergeant gave Fang a dubious glance, but must have gotten approval from Ramirez, for he sent us both on back.

  I swung open the door to the lieutenant’s office and stopped dead. Dan was there, sitting across from Ramirez.

  Ah, hell. I was so not ready for this. I figured it would just be Ramirez and me. I didn’t realize he’d force us to be in the same room together.

  Fang growled at Dan as if he were a vampire. I suddenly felt a lot better. Now who was the monster? And, taking my cue from Fang, I decided to not let my pain show. I wouldn’t give Dan the satisfaction.

  “What is she doing here?” Dan asked.

  Ramirez said, “Have a seat, Val. I promise Dan won’t bite.”

  Fang snorted. YEAH, BUT I’M NOT MAKING ANY PROMISES.

  Dan made some sort of strangled sound again, but kept his mouth shut. Giving him a wary glance, I sat in the only other chair available . . . next to him.

  This time, I was so disappointed in him, so angry at his narrow-minded attitude, that the succubus wasn’t even tempted. Lola and I both deserved better.

  But as Fang settled protectively between us and Dan tried to scoot farther away, some impulse made me whisper, “Lola says hi.”

  Dan shot to his feet. “Can I go now?” he asked Ramirez.

  YOU GO, GIRL, Fang said, laughing silently.

  The lieutenant scowled. “No. Sit down.” He glared at both of us as Dan took his seat once more. “Now, what’s this about you not wanting to work together any more?”

  I shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “Ask him. It was his idea.”

  I could practically feel Dan grow rigid in the chair next to me. “We don’t work well together,” Dan bit out.

  “You have up until now,” Ramirez said calmly. “What’s different?”

  “We’re not . . . compatible,” Dan explained.

  Ramirez scowled. “What the hell do you think this is? The Bachelor? I’m not asking you two to live together, just work together.”

  Dan’s chin came up and he matched the lieutenant scowl for scowl. “Well, I can’t do that anymore. I want another partner.”

  I was in full agreement. I didn’t want to work with someone who didn’t even consider me human.

  Fang snuffled my knee. YEAH. THE ONLY PARTNER YOU NEED IS ME.

  “I can’t do that,” Ramirez said. “Everyone else in the unit is already paired up and working well together.”

  “Then I’ll work alone,” Dan said.

  “I’d prefer it, too,” I said, just in case the lieutenant thought he was trying to spare my feelings or something.

  He disabused me quickly of that notion. “You will not work alone, either of you. It’s too dangerous out there without backup.”

  I shrugged. “I did it before. What’s different now?”

  “I’ll tell you what’s different. We have vampires coming out of the freaking woodwork. Attacks have doubled in the last week, and from what I hear, more and more bloodsuckers are being made every day.”

  “Maybe that’s because of the time of the year,” I said, offering a possible explanation. “Halloween, Days of the Dead . . . ”

  “Maybe,” Ramirez conceded. “Except now that the Days of the Dead are over, vampire activity hasn’t lessened any. Fortunately, some vampires must still be keeping the media under compulsion not to notice—or not to reveal what they know. Otherwise, there would be wide-spread panic by now.” He leaned forward, spearing us both in turn with his intense gaze. “It’s dangerous out there, and we can’t afford to lose either of you. Either you work together, or you find another job.”

  “Then I want a transfer,” Dan blurted out.

  Ramirez leaned back in his chair and raised an eyebrow at Dan’s vehemence. “So, you finally learned what she is, huh? Finally learned about her gift?”

  “Gift,” Dan said derisively. “That’s rich.”

  Well, he was right, there—it was more like a curse.

  “Yes, gift,” Ramirez insisted, giving Dan a hard stare. “Without it, you might be dead right now. I’ll bet she and Fang have saved your butt more than once, haven’t they?”

  Dan shrugged, but wouldn’t admit it.

  “I’m sure you’ve helped her too. And that’s exactly why you two need to stay together. You make a damned fine team . . . when you aren’t acting like prima donnas, that is.” When Dan and I didn’t answer, Ramirez added, “You two have the potential to be the best team in the SCU. I can’t afford to lose you to something this stupid. I need you. The city needs you. Bad.”

  I didn’t know what to think, but Dan had no problem verbalizing his thoughts. “How can we work as a team when I can’t trust her?”

  “Has she let you down yet?” the lieutenant countered.

  “Not as a partner.”

  That hurt. “What does that mean?” I snapped.

  But Dan responded to Ramirez, not me. “I’m talking about her powers. I can’t trust her to keep her lust to herself.”

  Fang glared at him. THFPTTTTT.

  I had to agree with Fang’s mental raspberry. What a pig-headed egotist. I laughed. “Don’t flatter yourself, Sullivan. You’re not irresistible.” Not anymore.

  Ramirez regarded Dan thoughtfully. “This isn’t something she has control over, you know.”

  “No kidding. I found that out last night.”

  The lieutenant raised an eyebrow, as if he would have liked to ask how, but wisely chose not to go there. “But it does give her an edge. She’s the best weapon we have to fight the vampires, and you’re the best we’ve got to find out what’s causing this and what they’re up to.” His voice hardened. “Now, are you going to hunker down and do your job or am I gonna have to kick your ass?”

  Fang wagged his tail. NOW THAT I’D LIKE TO SEE.

  I raised my hand. “I vote for—”

  “Shut up,” Ramirez said, cutting off my smart-aleck response. “You’re no better. You wanted a chance to fight the vampires, wanted the ability to feed your demon with the lust of the hunt. I gave that to you . . . and now you want to cave because it got a little difficult?”

  How did he know all that? “No—”

  “Good. Then you’re in.”

  Ramirez was right. I needed this job. Not only for the money, but for the outlet to keep Lola under control. If Dan couldn�
�t handle it, that was his problem. “Yeah. I’m in.”

  Ramirez nodded, as if he’d expected nothing less, then swung his gaze to Dan’s. “Sullivan?”

  “I’ll do it,” Dan bit out. Left unspoken but hanging there in the air was what he left unsaid—he’d do it, but he wouldn’t like it.

  “Good. Now let me explain what we’ve learned.” And as if nothing had ever happened, the lieutenant briefed us on what the other SCU members had experienced throughout the city as Dan and I took notes. Increased attacks on tourists, vampires traveling in small groups to do more damage, and lots of missing victims who turned up undead the next day. Ramirez was right—it did sound bad.

  When he was done, Dan said, “I just have one last question.” He sounded so belligerent that I had the feeling I wasn’t going to like this.

  “Shoot,” the lieutenant said.

  “How did you know about her demon? And why didn’t you tell me?” He tried to keep his voice calm, but obvious anger seethed beneath the surface.

  “I didn’t tell you because it’s Val’s business, not yours.”

  Fang grunted. YOU GOT THAT RIGHT.

  I’d wondered how he knew, myself. “Will you tell me?” I asked. “Privately?”

  Ramirez nodded. “Sullivan, we’re done here. You can wait outside.”

  “Gladly,” Dan gritted and left.

  Once Dan was out the door and out of hearing range, I asked, “How did you know so much about me?”

  Ramirez hesitated, then said, “My informant told me about you, encouraged me to seek you out in fact. But you crossed my threshold before I could find you.”

  So that’s why the lieutenant had recruited me so quickly. I’d wondered. “Who is it? Who knows that much about me?” When he hesitated, I said, “Please, I have to know.” Was this person discreet . . . or would the whole world soon know what I was?

  Ramirez answered my unasked question. “Don’t worry—your secret is safe.”

  “Is it?” I asked doubtfully. “How do I know that? How do you know that?”

  He sighed. “I’m not sure if you’re ready to hear this yet, but my informant isn’t anonymous. He’s the leader of the demon underground.”

  The what?

  The lieutenant nodded as if he’d heard my stunned question. “Yes, San Antonio has a demon underground. You’re not the only one in town, you know.”

  “I know, but . . . there are more?” More people like Micah and me?

  “Yes . . . more than you’d think.”

  “So how did he know about me?”

  “He makes it his business to follow the lives of every person with demon blood, to help where he can, offer assistance when it’s needed. If you ever need it, he’ll be there for you, too.”

  Sounded like this mysterious leader had already helped me out at least once. “Lucas Blackburn . . . The leader sent Lucas Blackburn to my parents, didn’t he?”

  “You could say that.”

  I relaxed a little. “But . . . how do you know all this?” A suspicion bloomed in my mind. “Are you one of them? Are you . . . part demon, too?”

  Fang nudged me. NO, I’D KNOW IF HE WAS.

  Ramirez shook his head and said softly, “No, I’m not . . . but my wife is.”

  I stared at him, open-mouthed.

  He smiled ruefully. “I don’t have to tell you this is confidential . . . .”

  “Of course,” I assured him. Stunned by the secret he’d just placed in my care, I vowed to do everything in my power to keep his trust.

  That was the easy part. Now for the hard part—trying to find a way to work with Dan that wouldn’t make me feel like a monster . . . and wouldn’t engage the monster within me.

  I found Dan in the parking lot. He kept his body distant and his face hard. But I was so over it already. The anger had drained out of me and now all I felt was sad. Sad that it had come to this, that any potential we might have had as trusted partners—of any kind—was now gone.

  Dan ran a hand over his face. “We need to talk about what we’re going to do next.”

  “Okay, where?”

  He hesitated for a moment, obviously trying to think of a place that would be private enough not to be overheard, but not intimate. “How about your place?”

  “Okay. See you there.”

  Luckily, Gwen wasn’t home. Dan pointedly took a chair on the opposite side of the living room from me, and Fang just as pointedly parked himself between us and eyed Dan with an odd expression that was definitely undog-like.

  “What exactly is a part-hellhound dog?” Dan asked uneasily, looking at Fang as if he thought the cute little mutt was as much of a monster as I was.

  I shrugged. “Fang’s abilities seem to lie primarily in the area of sniffing out vampires, demons, and other unworldly creatures.”

  I’M THINKING OF ADDING EMASCULATING STUPID COPS TO MY TALENTS.

  “So why is he looking at me like that?”

  I decided not to relay Fang’s threat to Dan’s genitals. “He’s also very intelligent.”

  “What does that mean?” Dan asked, looking a little offended.

  I sighed. “He understands English, and though he can’t speak it, he can communicate telepathically. With me, anyway.”

  Dan glanced down at Fang, whose jaw had dropped open in what looked like canine amusement. “You understand me?” Dan asked skeptically.

  NO, DUH. Fang rolled his eyes then deliberately nodded.

  Dan looked taken aback. “Do I smell like vampire to you?”

  Fang shook his head.

  “Then why are you staring at me?” he asked the dog.

  BECAUSE I’M HUNGRY AND YOU LOOK LIKE LUNCH.

  I snorted. “What do you expect him to do, spell out an answer on the rug? You’ll either have to trust me to translate or limit your questions to those he can answer with actions. He doesn’t have vocal cords like humans. If he was in demon-hunting mode, you’d know it—his eyes flash purple, too. But I think the reason he’s staring at you is because you’ve been so hostile and he wants to make sure you’re not going to hurt me.”

  YOU GOT IT, BABE.

  Fang let loose with a yip and a glare that left Dan in no doubt that the hellhound was agreeing with me.

  “Me hurt you? That’s rich.”

  Tired of this whole Val-is-a-monster thing, I said, “Are we done with the insults? Can we get to work now?” Focusing on work would be the best all the way around. Maybe then Dan would forget what I was . . . and I would forget he thought of me as something less than human.

  “Okay,” he said grudgingly, though he didn’t apologize. “What’s next?”

  “You still think Alejandro is the culprit, don’t you?”

  Dan nodded. “Things got worse just as his movement started growing. I don’t see how that could be a coincidence. We can’t overlook the fact that he might be responsible for the increased activity. Let’s talk to him again, see if we can learn any more.”

  “Yeah, before my parents barge in and do something stupid.” I paused, remembering. “I’d also like to find out where Jen is staying, if I can.”

  “Well, I did some research on him earlier to see if I could get a home address.”

  “And?”

  “No luck. His blood banks are all in the name of the New Blood Movement and he’s not listed as officer or board member on state’s corporate records. It’s hard to find out more information without knowing his last name. Alejandro is a common name here in San Antonio.” And before I could ask, Dan added, “I checked under Lily’s name, too. Nothing’s changed since she was . . . turned.”

  “Could she still be living in the same place she was when you were dating?” I asked.

  “No—she left and someone else has already moved in. But she hasn’t registered a change of address anywhere that I could find.”

  I nodded slowly. “And we don’t know the last names of any of his other people. Wonder if they do that on purpose?”

  “Probably.
Most cults try to get people to submerge your identity in theirs.”

  That was an odd thought. “This isn’t really a cult, is it?”

  “Not yet . . . but you want to bet it won’t turn into one?”

  “Yeah, I guess it could, even if Alejandro doesn’t want it to. So what do we do now?”

  Dan shrugged. “We investigate, see what leads we can find, see if we can find a connection between the three vamps who attacked us and the Movement.”

  I nodded. “Makes sense. How?”

  “See what the word is on the streets.”

  “Ask the gangs, you mean?”

  “No, I don’t think they’d know much about this. I mean we should ask the bloodsuckers themselves. Find a couple and question them.”

  Fang perked up. NOW YOU’RE TALKING.

  Dan continued, “It’ll be dark soon. Let’s catch a bite to eat, then catch them before they can get a bite.”

  GROAN.

  I agreed with Fang, but at least Dan seemed to be trying to overcome his prejudices. “You make it sound so easy.”

  “Hey, how can I lose with a hellhound and a demon vampire Slayer by my side?”

  He kept his tone light, but there was an undercurrent to it, as if he resented having to rely on us for help. “All right, let’s hunt down some vamps.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Dan rose to his feet. “So, dinner first, then where? The blood bank to check on your sister? Or would you rather go hunting first?”

  I thought for a moment. From all indications, Jen didn’t seem to be in immediate danger. “Hunting.”

  According to Dan’s notes, the River Walk was attracting more vampires lately, so we decided to go there first. Dan went to pick up the SCU truck, but I decided to drive the Valkyrie and meet him at a restaurant. We both needed some space.

  We walked down the stone steps to the river. During the day, it was a lot more colorful. The beautiful jade green river was lined with dozens of tables topped with brightly colored umbrellas, bustling with tourists. We chose to eat outside at a restaurant on the water so Fang could join us. He wasn’t too pleased at having to be on a leash, but it was required at the River Walk.