Always the Vampire

The bathroom was also off the living room and was a work in progress since the tub and tile I’d wanted was out of stock. A new toilet and an inexpensive pedestal sink had been installed, though, and I’d scrubbed the shower-bath combination thoroughly. It might not be an HGTV quality bathroom, but it was no longer disgusting.

The kitchen and enclosed back porch rounded out the tour. I’d bought new, apartment-sized stainless steel appliances and had replaced the nasty countertop with one made of butcher block. The cabinets and floors had been sanded, and the wood floors stained dark like those in the rest of house. The cabinets I’d left unfinished until I decided on a paint or stain, but the stainless sink and fixtures were new, and every corner had been cleaned. I even had four place settings of dishes, glasses, and utensils, and a few pots, pans, and cooking spoons on the shelves and in the drawers. Garage sales rock.

The storm shutters blocked the ocean view from the porch, but I opened the back door to point out the crude walkway to the beach.

“What a great place to sleep to the sound of the ocean,” Lynn said, eyeing the hammock hanging from the porch beams.

“Knock yourself out, if Ken and David are cool with it.”

Ken shrugged. “I don’t object as long as Ms. Heath understands that we’ll need to check on her through the night. No matter where she sleeps.”

“Just don’t laugh if I snore.”

“Word of a Marine, ma’am.”

“Okay, then, I just have a few more things to go over.”

I led them back to the living room where Triton and Saber sat in the wicker chairs. Saber handed me the list I’d prepared, and I turned on a side-table lamp. Lynn plopped onto the daybed near Triton.

“First, I’ll get a small TV if you need one, but I don’t have cable hooked up, so the reception might be rotten.”

“Don’t bother,” David said. He and Ken stood facing the door. “If I can get a strong wireless signal, we can watch television on my computer.”

“Great.” I unfolded my list and handed it to Ken. “Here’s the information I thought you’d need. The guy watching Lynn during the day is Vic. He’ll be expecting her from before daybreak to after sunset. And don’t freak if he stands at the door with a shotgun.”

Ken chuckled. “Not a problem.”

“Don’t take him lightly,” Saber warned. “Vic hates vampires and has a history of going off half-cocked. If he gives you any grief, I need to know.”

“Will do, Saber.”

“Also, here’s a sketch of the guy you need to watch out for. Starrack.”

David stiffened as soon as he heard the name, and snatched the likeness from Saber. One glance, and he swore under his breath then shoved the sketch at Ken.

I laid a hand on David’s arm. “You know Starrack, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I know him,” David spat. “I built a website for the scary piece of shit.”





TWENTY




“Shifter Magic?” Saber rose from the chair, eyes alight. “Is that the website you designed?”

The blond vampire looked pole-axed. “That’s the one, but how’d you come across it?”

“I told them about the site,” Lynn chimed in. “I was led to meet Triton through a message posted in the forum.”

“Ken, you know Starrack, too, don’t you? You’re clenching your jaw like you want to chew him up.”

“More like spit him out, Princess, but yes, I know him. All of us in the Atlanta nest saw Starrack in March when he invaded Vlad’s nest.”

Saber’s cop face crashed into place. “We need to know everything. Now.”

Triton rose from the chair. “Since this could take a while, I should call that other party we were supposed to meet tonight. Tell them we won’t make it. Lynn, you want to keep me company?”

She might be young, but she wasn’t slow on the uptake. She sprang from the daybed and took Triton’s hand. “Oh, sure. See you all later.”

“All right, take a seat,” Saber said, pointing to the wicker chairs.

The vamps sat stiffly, and I settled on the daybed opposite them. Saber stood for the interview, though I don’t think Ken and David were intimidated. Their faces reflected anger, confusion, and a disturbing dose of fear.

“Starrack visited the Atlanta nest,” Saber said. “Start our briefing there.”

“First,” Ken said, “you need to know that some of this is secondhand intel.”

“Understood.”

Ken continued. “Starrack showed up shortly after we all awoke one evening. It was late February, before the time change. Some of the nestmates were still dressing for their jobs, but most of us were with Vlad to witness his nightly ritual feeding.”

“On a human?” I gasped.

“On his favorite female vampire child, Gail. He was big on tradition.”

“Go on.”

“The concise version is that Vlad ordered two vampires to toss the wizard out.” Ken paused and visibly swallowed. “Starrack retaliated. He decapitated Vlad’s bodyguard.”