“Would Dave have shrunk back from avenging any of you out of squeamishness?”
That did the trick. Soon the sounds of sucking and swallowing were heard in the cave. It tasted bad, decomposing as quickly as it was, but even after death, the blood still held power. After several hard pulls, I felt the change begin. The second it started to taste less heinous, I threw the vamp aside, shaking.
“Everyone stop,” I ordered.
There was glad compliance. With my mixed lineage, it took much less for me to acquire a liking for it. They weren’t in danger of succumbing to the urge to feed like I was.
“Cat?”
Tate reached out to touch me, and I flinched. His heartbeat was louder in my ears, and I smelled blood, sweat, and tears on him. That was the whole point. I could smell him now—and everyone else.
“Don’t touch me. Wait.” My hands clenched. Dimly I remembered Bones flattening me on the bed, restraining me from chewing his throat open. Ride it out, Kitten, it will pass...
Several deep breaths later I could think again. Unerringly I went to where Lazarus had lain after I shot him. I took a long, deep whiff of his blood, and then licked it, letting his scent fill my nose. With grim satisfaction I turned to Tate.
“I’ve got him. Give me the transmitter and follow me by car. When I stop moving, that means he’s down. We’ll find out what he knows.”
“Cat... ” Tate looked in wonder at his hands and then around the cave. I knew he was experiencing more than he had before. “I feel... ”
“I know. Let’s go.”
SEVEN
THE BULLETS SLOWED LAZARUS, silver being kryptonite for vampires. Lazarus had used his power to heal himself, but because he hadn’t fed yet, he wasn’t running on all cylinders. Most of Dave’s blood had spilled onto the ground, not in his mouth, and he’d hightailed it into the woods without stopping for another snack. I exceeded my previous maximum speeds and made up lost ground, his scent pointing the way like invisible road signs. Furthermore, I knew these woods. This was where Bones had trained me. Roots and potholes Lazarus stumbled on, I vaulted over with ease while the memories came so hard and fast, I could almost hear his voice behind me, that English accent mocking.
Is this the best you can do, Kitten? That all you’ve got? You move that slowly and you’ll be nothing more than a flush in some bloke’s cheeks... come on, Kitten! This is a death match, not a bloody tea party!
God, how I’d hated him those first few weeks, and oh! how I’d do anything to turn back the clock and be there again. Recollection spurred me on faster. I smelled Lazarus about five miles ahead. He couldn’t scent me yet, being upwind, but soon he would hear me. I hoped he was afraid. If he wasn’t, he would be.
Lazarus broke through the trees to cross over a road, dodging traffic going both ways. Moments later I followed. Brakes screeched as drivers stopped in confusion with the blurs slicing in front of them. Across backyards and over railroad tracks I chased him, closing the distance between us. I could see him now, barely a mile away and heading for a lake. There was no way I could let him get to it. He’d lose me in the water with my dependency on oxygen. I reached down for something more to inspire me, and once again came up with a pair of dark brown eyes.
Don’t fret, luv. I’ll be back before you know it.
The last words Bones said to me. The last time I heard his voice. That was all the motivation I needed. Maybe if I ran fast enough, I could take it all back and feel his arms around me one more time...
I tackled Lazarus from behind less than twenty yards from the water. The silver knife molded around my hand drove with all my anguish into his heart, but I didn’t twist it. Not yet. We had some talking to do first.
“How’s that feel, Lazarus? Hurts, doesn’t it? You know what really hurts? If it moves the slightest bit... ”
I gave the blade a tiny shift. He got the picture and froze, his silvery eyes bleeding to green.
“Release me at once,” he commanded in a resonating voice.
I laughed maliciously at him. “Nice try but no cigar. Vampire mind control doesn’t work on me, pal. Know why?”
For the first time, I let him see the flare in my gaze. With all the bullets I’d shot into his face, he’d missed it before.
Lazarus stared at my glowing eyes uncomprehendingly. “It can’t be. You breathe, your heart beats... it’s impossible.”
“Yeah, isn’t it? Life’s a bitch and then one stabs you.”
A car screeched to a halt, then running footsteps. I didn’t need to look away to know it was Tate, Juan, and Cooper.
“Well, amigos, look what the cat dragged in,” Juan drawled venomously. Their guns were drawn and pointed. Lazarus tried the mind control once more.
“Shoot her. You want to shoot her. Kill her,” he ordered, glaring at them.