SOMETHING SEEMED TO BE DIGGING AT MY brain. With agonizing slowness I opened my eyes, squinting at the unshaded lamp nearby. It made the sun seem pale in comparison. My hands were above me, my wrists ached, and the pain in my head made me immediately lean forward and throw up.
“I thawt I thaw a putty tat.”
The mocking voice caused my pain to dissipate in a rush of terror. When I saw the vampire close by, I shuddered.
“I did, I did thee a putty tat!”
Finished with his Tweety Bird imitation, he grinned unpleasantly at me. I tried to scoot back and realized my hands were chained to a wall. Both my feet were also cuffed together. My top and pants were gone, leaving me in only my bra and underwear. Even my trademark gloves were missing. Oh God.
“Now, then, luv, let’s get down to business.” The bantering left his tone and his eyes hardened into pools of dark granite. “Who do you work for?”
This surprised me so much, it took me a moment to answer him. “I don’t work for anyone.”
“Bollocks.” He bit the word out precisely, and I didn’t have to know what it meant to guess he didn’t believe me. I hunched when he moved nearer.
“Who do you work for?” With more menace.
“No one.”
My head snapped back as he slapped me. Tears came to my eyes, but I held them there. I was going to die, but I didn’t have to grovel.
“Go to hell.”
Immediately there was another ringing in my ears. This time I could taste blood.
“Once again, who do you work for?”
Spitting it out, I blazed up at him defiantly. “No one, ass-munch!”
He blinked in surprise, and then rocked on his heels and laughed so loudly my ears rang. Regaining control, he leaned in until his mouth was inches from my face. Fangs gleamed in the light.
“I know you’re lying.”
His voice was a whisper. He lowered his head until his mouth brushed my neck. I held myself rigid, praying for the strength not to plead for my life.
Cool breath blew on my skin. “I know you’re lying,” he continued. “Because last night I was looking for a bloke. When I spotted him, I saw the same lovely red-haired girl who’d been rubbing on me leaving with him. I followed, thinking I’d sneak up on him while he was occupied. Instead, I watched you plug a stake in his heart, and what a stake!” In front of my stricken eyes, he dangled my modified weapon triumphantly. “Wood on the outside, silver on the inside. Now, that’s made in America! Poof, down goes Devon! Yet it didn’t stop there. You plopped him in the trunk and drove to your truck, where you chopped his bleedin’ head off and buried him in pieces. Then you went home whistling a merry tune. How in the bloody hell could you do that, hmm? You don’t work for anyone? Then why, when I take a deep whiff here”—he put his nose against my collarbone and inhaled—“do I smell something other than human? Faint, but unmistakable. Vampire. You’ve got a boss, you do. Feeds you some of his blood, right? Makes you stronger and faster, but still only human. Us poor vamps never see it coming. All we see is…food.”
With one finger, he pressed lightly on my jumping pulse.
“Now, for the last time before I forget my manners, tell me who your boss is.”
I looked at him, knowing his would be the last face I ever saw. Bitterness briefly coursed through me before I pushed it aside. There would be no complaints. Maybe, maybe the world would be a better place for what I’d done. It was all I could wish for, and so I’d die telling my executioner the truth.
“I don’t have a boss.” Each word was poison. There was no need to be polite. “You want to know why I smell like a human and a vampire? Because that’s what I am. Years ago, my mother went on a date with what she thought was a nice guy. He turned out to be a vampire, and he raped her. Five months later there was me, premature but fully developed, with a whole slew of funky abilities. When she finally told me about my father, I promised her I’d kill every vampire I found to make up for it. To ensure no one else suffered what she had to. She’s been afraid to leave her home ever since! I hunt for her, and the only thing I regret about dying now is that I didn’t take more of you with me!”
My voice rose until I screamed the last part, hurling the words in his face. I closed my eyes and braced for the killing blow.
Nothing. No sound, no strike, no pain. After a moment I peeked to see him standing exactly where he’d been. He tapped his chin with his finger and looked at me with an expression that could only be described as thoughtful.
“Well?” Fear and resignation strained my voice to the breaking point. “Kill me already, you pathetic suck-neck!”
That earned me an amused glance. “Ass-munch. Suck-neck. You kiss your mum with that mouth?”