by Megan Hawke
"Yes. Where did you go?"
"La-la land," I said. "Did they say why they burned the businesses down?"
"They want Timmy back."
"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! Timmy, you bastard!" I cried to the Heavens. "Why didn't you call them!"
Kale backpedaled three steps, alarm filling his face and aura. The phone was crushed in my hand. I still had minutes on that phone, too.
For the second time that evening my eyes started burning. I was shaking. Trembling. I couldn't stop.
"It was supposed to be over," I whispered. "I found Timmy. I found him! Dammit. I asked him to call home. I demanded it, and he agreed." I squeezed my eyes shut, fists clenched. "Stupid. Stupid. Stupid."
Truth was I didn't know if I was calling myself stupid, or my parents and the Saxons. We were all stupid. Timmy was stupid for not calling, and that failure gave our parents time to do something monumentally stupid. So we were all stupid, especially me. I shouldn't have trusted Timmy to call. It was my responsibility.
"What's happening?" Kale said. "What can I do?"
"You? Run and hide," I said. "I have to stop a massacre. Take me back to the house."
While Kale drove, I started making calls. I called Dane and Gabe. They were my best firepower, especially Gabe since he kept an incredible stash of weapons. I called Sabrina and told her to go to Kale's house, too. Heidi was already there.
By the time I finished with the phone calls Kale pulled up into his driveway, behind Desiree's red Dodge Charger. Sabrina's silver Mustang was parked on the curb behind Heidi's silver BMW SUV. My battered black Mustang was in the driveway, too.
"Are Dane and Gabe coming?" Sabrina said the second I walked in the door.
"They are going straight to the church," I said. "But first they are gathering up all the guns and silver ammo they can carry."
Everyone seemed dressed for battle. They all wore jeans and jackets, with the straps of shoulder holsters visible. Even Heidi, which was a first for her, was dressed for a fight. Heidi, though, was wearing a black latex catsuit, knee boots and leather jacket. Heidi and Sabrina had their hair back in ponytails.
"Where are we going?" Desiree said.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" I said. "I mean, you've never gotten involved in the fighting before."
"Don't worry about me," Desiree said, smiling grimly. "I haven't lasted eighteen years on the streets without being tough."
Eighteen years? She started at thirteen? I shuddered. But she was right, and God knew we needed the extra help. I glanced at Heidi, trying to look all badass, but she was just too pretty and feminine. Of course, she was a vampire so was incredibly deadly.
"You and Sabrina are going to the church," I said. "It's already setup for defense against vampires."
"Are Momma and Daddy already there?" Sabrina said.
Good question. I called everyone but them. I just assumed. Probably not a good idea to assume. I mean, I assumed they were sane and wouldn't do anything suicidal, and they proved me wrong.
I picked up the house phone, calling my father's cell. He answered on the fourth ring.
"Daddy? Where are you?"
"At the church," he said. He sounded stressed.
"Are you all right? What's the matter?"
"Nothing. Nothing," he said, but there was something. "It's just we were attacked by a trio of vampires. One of the men went outside of the circle of crosses, to his car, and was attacked."
"Is he all right?"
"No. He's dead. They took their time killing him, too," Daddy said. He choked up for a second. "There are pieces of him scattered all around the church yard."
"Stay inside the church. Dane and Gabe are on the way with weapons and silver ammo. Do what they say," I said. "They know how to fight vampires."
"Yes. Good," he said. He didn't sound relieved. "We can't reach Charlotte. Have you heard from her?"
"No," I said, feeling soul sick. It was after dark. The vampires knew who the players were, and where to strike to cause the most pain. "I'll check on her, and get her to the church first thing." I paused to take a deep, steadying breath. "Have the Saxon's heard from Timmy yet?"
"No, should they have?"
"Yes," I said. Okay, I snapped it out. He so infuriated me. "I found Timmy late last night."
"You did? Great!"
"No, very bad. Timmy wasn't taken by vampires. He joined a werewolf pack," I said. Daddy gasped. "The vampires had nothing to do with his disappearance."
"Oh," he said. That was enough. He understood the gravity of their mistake.
"Exactly," I said. "Why couldn't y'all listen to me? Why did you have to go out and burn down vampire owned businesses? Are you crazy? Do you all have death wishes or something?"
"We-We might've made a mistake or two," he said.
"You think?" I said. "Okay, pointing fingers is less than useless. I'm sending more people to help defend you. Some of them might be friendly vampires. You make sure those idiots in the church with you can tell the difference. I won't take kindly to having my friends attacked by the people they are helping."
"Yes," he said. I think he was shell shocked. "I'll tell them. What are you going to do?"
"Find Charlotte, then go try to stop this at the source."
"The source?"
"The vampire community leadership."
"Vampires have a community?"
"Yeah, I was surprised, too," I said. "Stay safe. Love you."
I started stripping. I couldn't fight vampires in a dress. Well, I could but I'd be naked pretty quick. It wasn't that durable. I needed tough clothes, and something I could fly in without ripping the clothes apart.
"Good luck," Sabrina said, hugging me.
She and Desiree headed for the door. Kale was already out the door. I suspected he was heading for his kids to take them into hiding.
"Desiree, do me a big favor and talk to Boney. He has to help us with Antoinette. We have to keep her out of the fight," I said. "Lie, beg, promise her the blood of a thousand virgins, I don't care. Find a way to keep Antoinette out of this fight."
"Will do," she said, pulling her phone as she walked out the door.
"What about me?" Heidi said.
"You're with me," I said. "I can't send you to the church. It’s surrounded by crosses. That would leave you alone outside with all the bad guys."
I headed into the master bedroom, going straight for my closet. I pulled on black latex low-rider pants, a wide belt and a matching halter top. The halter top left the space where my wings came out open. After putting on lace-up ankle boots, I strapped a double holster around my waist, with a Glock hanging off each hip. The bottom of the holsters strapped around my thighs so they wouldn't flap around when I walked, ran, or fought.
"We'll take my car. You drive," I said. "I have more calls to make on the way to Charlotte's house."
"More calls?"
"I have to convince Henri Trudeau not to kill everyone," I said.
Chapter 17
Heidi never ceased to amaze me. She was a girlie-girl. She was selfish, self-centered, and petulant at times. But she showed remarkable depths of courage and resourcefulness at times, too. I'm sure her courage was helped by her nearly indestructible body, but she'd taken on me while still a mortal, and did rather well, too.
On the trip to Garland, she drove like a bat out of Hell. It was just after seven at night, so rush hour wasn't completely over. But Heidi weaved through it going eastbound on Loop 635. I couldn't have done any better.
While she drove I borrowed her cell phone and worked my way through the tiers of Trudeau Family lackeys and lieutenants, working my way up to Henri, the Big Boss. It was never easy calling Henri, and actually talking to him, but it seemed especially difficult that night.
"Henri?"
"Oui," he said.
That's it. It was the first time I recalled he spoke French. Well, except for during sex. I insisted he speak French to me when we made love, even though I didn't unders
tand a word. It was just so sexy.
"Don't go all macho on me, Henri," I said. "I need you to think rationally."
"They attacked me," he said. "Without provocation."
"They were scared and desperate," I said. "Believe me, if they'd known who actually owned that business they wouldn't have gone within ten miles of it."
"That is neither here nor there," Henri said. "They burned down my property, a family business. There were two Family vampires within that building, and both perished."
Heidi and I looked at each other with big eyes. She could hear every word. Besides, we were linked.
Trudeau vampires were more often than not actual members of the Trudeau family, descendants of the four brothers, who had "earned" their fangs. That made their loss more meaningful. I was starting to have doubts I could stay Henri's hand. He liked me, but I didn't think he liked me that much.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know any vampires died," I said. Heidi started gnawing on her lip. "We'll try to make it up to you."
"How? Are you going to Change two members of your family and give them to me?" he said.
Oh, he was angry.
"You know I can't do that," I said. "I'll find a way. I'll owe you if you do me this favor."
"Just let them go? Without doing anything to punish them?" Henri said, sounding disgusted. "I don't think so. We don’t work that way, Sable."
I wasn't making any headway. Henri was determined.
"I saved your life," I said.
"What?"
"I saved your life, when Roger Rippner had you dead to right," I said. "That should be worth something."
Henri started cursing. I didn't understand a single word, but French cursing was sexy, too. I could listen to French people speak all night.
"You weren't there to save my life, but to catch Roger," he said. I had a mental picture of him, eyes flashing, fists clenched. Why wasn't he wearing a shirt? Well, it was my mental picture. "So it was no real favor."
"Oh, it was a favor. I didn't want you hurt," I said. "I put in extra effort to ensure you weren't hurt. Does that mean nothing to you?"
More cursing, then, "Hold."
"He put me on hold," I said.
"How rude," Heidi said. "He has a sexy voice."
"I know. Don't tell anyone, but listening to him makes me weak in the knees," I said. "Henri really knows how to please a woman, too, if you know what I mean."
"Thank you," Henri said.
"Jesus! You pig!" I cried. "You aren't allowed to listen in on girl talk."
Was that a chuckle?
"We have discussed it," Henri said. "We might be able to work out a mutually agreeable resolution."
"Oh, that sounds interesting," Heidi muttered. "Like scary interesting."
"Not so scary," Henri said.
"What's your offer?" I said, dreading the answer.
"Because you did save me, once, perhaps you are not the enemy," Henri said. "Time will tell, heh? In the meantime, we will not seek retribution for the crimes committed against us if you agree to perform a favor for us."
"What favor is that?"
"It is not time," Henri said. "Indeed, we may never call in that favor, but we want you available if necessary."
I looked at Heidi. She shrugged. Big help there. I didn't have time to figure out what incredibly dangerous stunt they wanted to do.
"I agree," I said. To not agree would be to write my family off as dead. I didn't have a choice.
"Very good," Henri said, quite pleased. "Good luck with Jeff Howell."
Henri hung up. That was it?
"You are in so much trouble," Heidi said. "The vampire mafia just sank their fangs into your ass. They won't let go."
I had a sinking feeling she was right. Henri had me "on call" now. Anything he wanted. Would I be forced to commit a crime? It could be anything, but I had to do it. If I failed to live up to my side of the bargain, they would go out and kill my family.
"Life sucks sometimes," I said.
"Being undead certainly doesn’t help," Heidi said. She slanted a sly smile my way. "I’ve developed an oral fixation since become a vamp. I just love having something, anything in my mouth."
"Can we talk about something else?" I said.
"I’m a vampire. All I think about are sex, blood, and clothes. In that order."
"Me, too," I said. "But still. People’s lives are in the balance. I’m a little distracted by that."
"I’ve noticed," she said. Heidi fidgeted and gnawed on her lower lip. "You know, this stuff scares the bejesus out of me."
"Scares me, too," I said.
"But I’m not as powerful as you," Heidi said. "Someone might kill me. I don’t want to die any more than I already have."
"You and me both," I said. "I don’t want to go to Hell. I’m sure they’re waiting for me, too. I’ll probably be doubly tortured and tormented for all I’ve done to the forces of evil."
"Being your lackey, I’ll probably suffer the same fate," Heidi said. She was one unhappy puppy. Were all my friends becoming unhappy being around me?
"You can walk away from it all anytime you want," I said. "I wouldn’t blame you."
"I can’t. I belong to you," Heidi said. Now she was confused and scared for a different reason. My link with her allowed me to feel what she felt, but not read her mind. "You Changed me. I have to serve you for a hundred years or something. Right?"
I laughed. Heidi suffered from selective hearing, and not always to her benefit.
"No. I can compel you to serve me for a while. Most vampires are strong enough to break the chains of compulsions by the age of one hundred. But I would never force you to stay with me, or do anything you don’t want to do," I said. "I thought you understood that."
"So I can leave anytime I want?"
"Yes."
She was silent a long moment. "Do you want me to leave?"
"No. I like you," I said, and surprised myself in saying it. There was a time I bordered on despising her. Rivals for a man’s attentions can be rather ruthless. But after Changing her, then training her in the vampiric ways, I discovered I liked her. I enjoyed watching her little antics and life dramas. "I consider you a friend."
"Whew! I thought you wanted me to leave," she said. She smiled brightly. "I’ll stay."
"The boys will all be relieved to know that," I said.
"I should think so," she said. "And that brings us back to my oral fixation."
"You’re incorrigible," I said.
"One of my many charms," she said. "We’re here."
The apartment complex was one of the older ones. Garland had a lot of older residential areas. Most of the buildings were just two floors, with the central building three floors tall. It was still early, so most of the apartments were lit up. Of course, the flashing red and blue lights from the seven police cars lit things up nicely too.
"Well, that can’t be good," Heidi said. "Is that a SWAT team?"
"Yes, it is," I said. The cop on guard to keep civilians out approached us. He was young, clean cut, sharp. I stepped out of the car and got his attention over the roof. "Hello, Officer. What’s going on?"
"We have a hostage situation, Miss. Y’all have to leave," he said.
"But I’m supposed to pick up my friend, Charlotte Saxon," I said.
"Saxon?" he said, he stress level spiking. "I’m sorry, ma’am, but your friend might be the person being held."
"By who? Charlotte doesn’t have an enemy in the world."
"A werewolf," he said, glancing nervously at the apartment.
"Timmy?" Heidi said, getting the cop’s attention.
"You know the werewolf?" he said, rather too aggressively for my tastes.
"Is Timothy Saxon the werewolf in the apartment?" I asked. "If he is, then yes, we know him. He’s Charlotte’s husband. He would never hurt her. I should go up there."
"No, you’re not going anywhere," he said. "Sergeant! Sergeant Cox!"
"You want me to bite him?" H
eidi said under her breath. She was too quiet for a mere human to hear.
"No," I whispered.
Sergeant Cox was a heavyset African American with salt and pepper hair. He didn’t look happy about being interrupted.
"What is it, Peterson?"
"Sir, these two women know the werewolf and the victim," he said. "They say the werewolf is Timothy Saxon, the husband of Charlotte Saxon."
"No, I said we know him if it is Timmy holding Charlotte, but no one has said for sure who is being held, or who is doing the holding," I said. Yeah, I was a little annoyed. "So, is it Timmy and Charlotte?"
"We aren’t sure," Sergeant Cox said. He was looking me over curiously. It wasn’t normal for them to encounter a pair of latex sheathed young women. Not in Garland, Texas. No sirree. "Who are you? We’ll need to see both of your driver’s licenses."
"I am Sable Hart," I said. I showed them my fangs. Both men stepped back, hearts racing. In two seconds flat I caught both of their eyes, one at a time, and mesmerized them. They froze in place, heart rates dropping back to normal. "People call me Black Heart. I hunt and kill vampires. In what apartment is the hostage being held?"
"Wow, you’re fast," Heidi said. "I can’t capture two men that fast."
"Practice," I said. The cops would be furious when word got out that I mesmerized a pair of them. Turning back to Cox. "What was that apartment number again?"
"Apartment 203, ma’am," he said.
"Dammit," I said. "That’s Charlotte’s apartment.”
I reached out with my vampiric senses. I found one heartbeat in the apartment. Just one. A big one. Male. Timmy?
"I’m going up," I said. "Sergeant Cox, tell the other cops to not shoot me."
"Yeah, it really ticks her off when you poke holes in her clothes," Heidi said, grinning.
"You're having way too much fun," I said.
This was one of those worst-case scenarios. I could only pray Timmy didn’t lose it and kill his wife and child. The chance of that happening seemed awful remote to me. There was only one way to find out.
Cox started calling for everyone to hold their fire. That caused confusion, and when I started up the steel and concrete stairs to their apartment shouts rose up. But Sergeant Cox kept them from shooting me. Heidi was right, I hated it when someone ruined my clothes by shooting me.
