by Dale Mayer
And he tilted his head. With a sharp warning look at Ian, he slid closer to the next door and held up his finger in warning.
Ian sidled up to the opposite side. On the count of three, they opened the door and jumped in.
***
Jared spoke with the police when they arrived. Said he hadn't seen her for a few days and although he'd called his uncle, he hadn't managed to reach him. No, he didn't know if the death of his aunt was related to his uncle's silence, but he gave them his uncle's address.
At least this way his uncle's body would be found and dealt with.
He told them he'd been in the blood farm mess and had spoken to the two officers about that already. There was no point in lying. They'd be able to find out easily enough. When they'd finished, they asked him if he wanted a ride back. He shook his head and made up an excuse that the walk back might help him clear his head of the shock. Knowing they might be watching, he took the route back to the group home. If he felt the penetrating stares as he walked, he put it down to common sense on his part. He'd found one body and was steering them to find another. That they hadn't mentioned anything about the bodies at the group home scared him shitless. Like what could have happened here? The last thing he wanted to do was go there and find out personally. He'd rather find Tessa and her family and stay with them. It was infinitely safer that way.
Sure, the humans were talking about rioting, but were they going to or was it all talk? All he'd seen so far was dead humans. That didn’t say much for their planning.
Not sure if the police were going to follow or check up on him, he walked all the way to the group home and approached it casually. He saw people through the windows. A couple were in the yard tossing a ball. Really? What happened to the dead guy he'd tripped over on the back step?
He'd just decided to keep walking when a cop car turned the corner and drove down the block.
Crap. He'd been afraid they'd check up on him.
He opened the gate and walked into the yard, as if he belonged. He walked around the side of the house to the back yard. He stopped where he could see the cop car. It pulled up to the side of the road and parked.
Double crap.
He'd hoped they'd drive on. He walked around to the back kitchen door and stared at the spot where he'd seen a body that morning.
The spot was empty. Clear. Clean.
He pulled his shirt away from his chest and swallowed. Had he imagined it? Surely not.
The wooden door was open, but the screen door was closed. Inside, he could hear the cooks working in the kitchen. His stomach growled. Should he go in or run like hell?
He walked back to the corner to see if the cops were still there. Not seeing the car, he walked around to the front and saw the cop car pulling away up ahead. Good. That was one problem gone.
"Jared? Hey, you left early this morning. What happened?"
The manager of the home was standing on the front porch.
"I couldn't sleep, so I left early."
The man's eyes sharpened. "What time did you leave? I thought you were sleeping late until I went and checked on you and saw you were gone."
Jared nodded. "I lost so much school that I wanted to get in early and speak to the teachers. Get the backlog of work done." He shifted his pack, having left his big one at school. "I went to my aunt's place on the way home." He let his voice fill with emotion and walked to the bottom step. "I pushed the door open and saw something I hope to never see again. She was dead – might have been for awhile." He gave a shudder, one that came easy considering the day he'd had.
"I had to stay to talk to the police." He motioned to the car that was now out of sight. "I walked home and they just checked to make sure I made it home safe."
The manager, who'd always seemed like a nice guy, said, "Christ, you've had a day of it. Come on then, there is leftover roast beef and potatoes." The manager turned around and held the door open. "Let's get you a solid meal and an early night. Things will look different in the morning."
The roast beef sounded damn good. But going back into that house…he didn’t know.
Was it safe?
***
David descended the stairs. He wondered when they would end. Surely there was no need for this many floors for a vamp hospital. Few vamps got sick, and even fewer needed more than a bone set right or a busted wing pinned up until it healed. Vampires healed on their own ninety-nine percent of the time. This massive complex made no sense. He knew the structural building was old. He had to wonder if it had always been a hospital.
The building looked modern enough on both the outside and the inside, but he didn't remember it being built in his day, and if it had been built in his father's day, that would mean it was still hundreds of years old. Why would they need something this size? He struggled to make sense of it. At every flight of stairs, there were doors going into another floor. He'd peered into the glass window at every floor hoping to see something – anything – on the inside. Yet saw nothing. He didn't get it. It's as if this lower half of the hospital had been built and never used.
He frowned as he descended yet another floor. The place was clean. Very clean. So someone was looking after the place.
Why? Actually, the why made sense – it was a hospital after all, and that meant cleanliness was important. Being empty, it had to be an easy enough job. Mop a few floors, do a few repairs.
He knew the vampire community had loads of space. Most houses were mansions, and many had multiple houses. They lived a long time and they liked their privacy and space. But honestly, these floors could house everyone in town and still have enough space to not trip over each other.
And he couldn’t fathom it. While he descended, he texted his sister and Motre.
This place was unbelievably huge and if they were looking for bad guys, they were out of luck, because they could be anywhere.
Chapter 20
Tessa sat beside her father as he drove toward the hospital. Cody was in the back seat. She'd been sending texts back and forth between David and Motre and getting them to connect. And to let everyone like Sian know what they were doing and why.
By the time she was done, they were at the hospital. Her father pulled into the underground parking space and stopped the car. The place appeared deserted, but she didn't know or care anymore. As far as she was concerned, this place could burn to the ground.
She'd had enough. Sian hadn't had any luck tracking down Seth, either. And that just sent fear racing down Tessa's spine. She just knew that once he left the country, the chances were very slim that she'd get her brother back. She didn't know if getting him back now would be any different, but to have him go so far away would be terrible. Who knew what these guys would do to him…no. She swore it wasn't going to happen.
That David had taken off on his own was something else she planned to rip him a new one for. He hadn't contacted their father or even Cody to go with him. Like crazy. And stupid. And freaking nuts. She loved both her brothers, but she didn't love what either of them were doing.
Or her mother. In fact, she was pretty disenchanted with all of her family right about now. Except her father, and wasn't that a switch?
They aren't all bad. It's just a tough time. Cody said in a gentle tone. Give them some space and understanding. Seth isn't responsible, and neither is Rhia. It's a tough time. Hang in there, Tessa. You're tired and hurting emotionally.
She closed her eyes, loving the way his voice wormed through her heart. It felt so good. It filled the cold empty places inside and made her feel not so alone.
Thanks.
I'm angry, she whispered shamefully. That this nightmare isn't over. I want it to be over. I want to go out on Friday night with you and your friends and be normal teenagers for a change.
You might want to be a normal teenager. I'm past that stage, thank you. But his voice was both humorous and wry.
True. She smiled and teased, You're like really old. Almost your father's age.
> He laughed at that, and she felt infinitely better as his joy lifted her own spirits.
I'm worried about Seth and Mom, she said. I can't believe Jewel and Ian are once again in trouble. It’s always been those two.
Yes, and I wonder if that is why they've been singled out now, Cody said. Maybe the scientists want to see the end results. Or maybe they want to move onto the next stage of their testing – whatever that is.
God help us all if that's the case. She shuddered. Also, I don't understand what's happening in the human world with Jared finding four bodies today. He has no one left now.
And that made her sad. She had so much in comparison.
He didn’t go back to the home, did he? Cody said. Surely he's too smart for that?
He has nowhere else to go. She frowned. Maybe a friend's house? But how can he? He's expected to be at the home. If he doesn't show up there, they will put out an alarm about him missing. I imagine there is a curfew and possibly some kind of bed check at night.
I always imagine it to be one step away from prison.
She laughed. I don't think it's that bad. Her laughter died and she started texting again. I'm going to ask him where he is. If nothing else, he can bunk at our house. The thing is empty and there is lots of room. I should have made the offer earlier.
There was silence. She turned to stare at him. Then got it. She gasped. Surely you're not jealous?
He grinned. Honey, when it comes to other men, I'm never going to be happy to have them sleep under the same roof as you.
Ha, she motioned outside the car. See where we are? The only one getting sleep this night will be Jared.
The gloominess in the underground lot surrounded them as Tessa walked to the entrance with Cody and her father. "Are we going downstairs after David or upstairs to help Motre and Ian?"
"Downstairs after David," her father said immediately. "Then the four of us will go and get Ian and Jewel. Then home. We're not here to fight a battle. Just retrieve a few friends that haven't been able to leave on their own."
Tessa hoped it would be that easy.
It won't be, Cody said with a groan. It never is.
He walked over to the big door and pulled it open. "Are you ready?"
Serus walked through first. Tessa next. Cody slipped in behind them. The three of them stared at the staircase that seemed to go on forever. And damn if Serus didn't look up, then down over the railing, then with a wicked grin at Tessa and Cody, he said, "See you at the bottom."
And he dropped over the side.
"What the…" Cody said as he raced to look down. Tessa was already there. She grinned. "He's taken the fastest way."
"Oh no, you don't," Cody said. "I'm not jumping over that edge."
She laughed. "Okay." She jumped to the center of the landing and then down a flight of stairs to the center of the next landing. And repeated it. Again and again.
Cody raced behind her, swearing and crying foul. She laughed and for the first time all day she felt good – in fact, she felt great.
She dropped down several more flights of stairs and realized her father hadn't called up to them. He was long gone. She leaned over the railing and waited for Cody to catch up. There was no visible end to the stairwell. Just blackness.
And her stomach sank. There was no bottom. Her dad had jumped.
But he was a glider. Not a flier.
"Dad?"
No answer.
Her father was gone.
"Dad!"
The cry echoed around and around.
Nothing.
This ends book 6! Book 7 is coming soon.
Author's Note
Dear reader,
Thank you for reading Vampire in Conflict! If you enjoyed the book, please take a moment and leave a short review.
I love to hear from readers, and you can contact me at my website: www.dalemayer.com or at my Facebook author page. To be informed of new releases and special offers, sign up for Dale Mayer's newsletter. And if you are interested in joining my street team, here is the Facebook sign up page.
If you'd like to read about other books I've written, please turn the page.
Cheers,
Dale Mayer
Blurbs of other books
Gem Stone
A juvie kid trying to stay on the right path stumbles into trouble...
Gemma takes her camera everywhere. From juvie hall to a halfway home, the new hobby gives her a focus she'd never had before and...hope in a future. Until she takes pictures of something that could get her killed.
And not just her...after she and another juvie girl are chased by a stranger to the halfway home that same night, the other girl goes missing and Gemma knows she needs help. But who can she trust?
Not the authorities that's for sure. Trusting them is impossible for a girl with her damaged history, and besides, who cares about a troubled kid...especially when trouble just naturally seems to find her.
Dangerous Designs – FREE
Drawing is her world...but when her new pencil comes alive, it's his world too.
Her... Storey Dalton is seventeen and now boyfriendless after being dumped via Facebook. Drawing is her escape. It's like as soon as she gets down one image, a dozen more are pressing in on her. Then she realizes her pictures are almost drawing themselves...or is it that her new pencil is alive?
Him... Eric Jordan is a new Ranger and the only son of the Councilman to his world. He's crossed the veil between dimensions to retrieve a lost stylus. But Storey is already experimenting with her new pencil and what her drawings can do - like open portals.
It ... The stylus is a soul-bound intelligence from Eric's dimension on Earth and uses Storey's unsuspecting mind to seek its way home, giving her an unbelievable power. She unwittingly opens a third dimension, one that held a dangerous predatory species banished from Eric's world centuries ago, releasing these animals into both dimensions.
Them... Once in Eric's homeland, Storey is blamed for the calamity sentenced to death. When she escapes, Eric is ordered to bring her back or face that same death penalty. With nothing to lose, can they work together across dimensions to save both their worlds?
This is book 1 in the series and ends on a hook that is picked up in book 2.
Broken Protocols
Dani's been through a year of hell...
Just as it's getting better, she’s tossed forward through time with her orange Persian cat, Charmin Marvin, clutched in her arms. They're dropped into a few centuries into the future. There’s nothing she can do to stop it, and it’s impossible to go back.
And then it gets worse...
A year of government regulation is easing, and Levi Blackburn is feeling back in control. If he can keep his reckless brother in check, everything will be perfect. But while he’s been protecting Milo from the government, Milo's been busy working on a present for him…
The present is Dani, only she comes with a snarky cat who suddenly starts talking...and doesn’t know when to shut up.
In an age where breaking protocols have severe consequences, things go wrong, putting them all in danger…
Tuesday's Child – FREE
What she doesn't want...is exactly what he needs.
Shunned and ridiculed all her life for something she can't control, Samantha Blair hides her psychic abilities and lives on the fringes of society. Against her will, however, she's tapped into a killer – or rather, his victims. Each woman's murder, blow-by-blow, ravages her mind until their death releases her back to her body. Sam knows she must go to the authorities, but will the rugged, no-nonsense detective in charge of tracking down the killer believe her?
Detective Brandt Sutherland only trusts hard evidence, yet Sam's visions offer clues he needs to catch a killer. The more he learns about her incredible abilities, however, the clearer it becomes that Sam's visions have put her in the killer's line of fire. Now Brandt must save her from something he cannot see or understand...and risk losing his heart in the process.
As danger and desire collide, passion raises the stakes in a game Sam and Brandt don't dare lose.
Touched by Death – adult RS/thriller – Part 1 is FREE
Death had touched anthropologist Jade Hansen in Haiti once before, costing her an unborn child and perhaps her very sanity.
A year later, determined to face her own issues, she returns to Haiti with a mortuary team to recover the bodies of an American family from a mass grave. Visiting his brother after the quake, independent contractor Dane Carter puts his life on hold to help the sleepy town of Jacmel rebuild. But he finds it hard to like his brother's pregnant wife or her family. He wants to go home, until he meets Jade – and realizes what's missing in his own life. When the mortuary team begins work, it's as if malevolence has been released from the earth. Instead of laying her ghosts to rest, Jade finds herself confronting death and terror again.
And the man who unexpectedly awakens her heart – is right in the middle of it all.
It's a Dog's Life – novella
It's the first day of Ninna's job in the local animal shelter...and a dog is talking to her. Not just any dog...a fat, old, smart-alecky Basset Hound who says his name is Mosey.
She can't quit, she needs this job. And then there's the yummy vet. Who turns out to live across the street from her in a much bigger house than her tiny house. Big enough to hold a few animals – including the mouthy Mosey. With all this going on, she doesn't have time to worry about the rash of break-ins and the sense of being watched. She's too busy worrying that she's nuts.
When Ninna agrees to dog sit for the cute vet from work, she sees it as a trial at being a pet owner and a way to build on her budding relationship with the vet. For Mosey, this weekend means time to get to know each other.
For the stalker who's tracking Ninna's movements, it means…opportunity.
