by Jeaniene FrostNight Huntress #5This Side of the Grave
1
The vampire pulled on the chains restraining him to the cave wall. His eyes were bright green, their glow illuminating the darkness surrounding
us.
Do you really think these willhold me? he asked, an English accent caressing the challenge.
Sure do, I replied. Those manacles were installed and tested by a Master vampire, so they were strong enough. I should know. Id once been
stuck in them myself.
The vampires smile revealed fangs in his white upper teeth. They hadnt been there severalminutes ago, when hed stilllooked human to the
untrained eye.
Right, then. What do you want, now that you have me helpless?
He didnt sound like he felt helpless in the least. I pursed my lips and considered the question, letting my gaze sweep over him. Nothing
interrupted my view, either, since he was naked. Id long ago learned that weapons could be stored in various clothing items, but bare skin hid
nothing.
Except now, it was also very distracting. The vampires body was a pale, beautifulexpanse of muscle, bone, and lean, elegant lines, alltopped
off by a gorgeous face with cheekbones so finely chiseled they could cut butter. Clothed or unclothed, the vampire was stunning, something he was
obviously aware of. Those glowing green eyes looked into mine with a knowing stare.
Need me to repeat the question? he asked with a hint of wickedness.
I strove for nonchalance. Who do you work for?
His grin widened, letting me know my aloof act wasnt as convincing as Id meant it to be. He even stretched as much as the chains allowed, his
muscles rippling like waves on a pond.
No one.
Liar. I pulled out a silver knife and traced its tip lightly down his chest, not breaking his skin, just leaving a faint pink line that faded in seconds.
Vampires might be able to healwith lightning quickness, but silver through the heart was lethal. Only a few inches of bone and muscle stood
between this vampires heart and my blade.
He glanced at the path my knife had traced. Is that supposed to frighten me?
I pretended to consider the question. Well, Ive cut a bloody swath through the undead world ever since I was sixteen. Even earned myself the
nickname of the Red Reaper, so if Ive got a knife next to your heart, then yes, you should be afraid.
His expression was stillamused. Right nasty wench you sound like, but I wager I could get free and have you on your back before you could stop
me.
Cocky bastard. Talk is cheap. Prove it.
His legs flashed out, knocking me off-balance. I sprang forward at once, but a hard, coolbody flattened me to the cave floor in the next instant. An
iron grip closed around my wrist, preventing me from raising the knife.
Always pride before a fall, he murmured in satisfaction.
I tried to throw him off, but a ton of bricks would have been easier to dislodge. Shouldve chained his arms and his legs before daring him like
that, I mentally berated myself.
That arrogant smirk returned as the vampire looked down at me. Keep squirming, luv. Rubs me in allthe right places, it does.
Howd you get out of the clamps? Over his shoulder, I saw a hole in the cave that used to be where the inch-thick titanium cuffs had dangled.
Unbelievable. Hed ripped them right out of the wall.
A dark brow arched. Knew just the right angle to pull. You dont installrestraints without knowing how to get out of them. Only took a moment; and
by then, I had you on your back. Just like I said I would.
If I stillhad a heartbeat, it would be racing by now, but Id lost thatfor the most partwhen Id changed from a half-breed into a fullvampire
severalmonths ago. My eyes turned bright green as fangs slid out of my teeth.
Showoff.
He leaned down untilour faces were only an inch apart. Now, my lovely captive, with you trapped beneath me, whats to stop me from having my
vile way with you?
The knife I stillheld dropped from my hand as I wrapped my arms around his neck. Nothing, I hope.
Bones, my vampire husband, gave a low, sinfullaugh. Thats the answer I wanted to hear, Kitten.
Being underground in a cave wouldnt make most peoples favorite last-minute accommodations list, but it was heaven to me. The only sounds
were the smooth motions of the underground river. It was a relief not to have to tune out the background noise from countless conversations that
were alltoo audible with a vampires hearing. If it were up to me, Bones and I would stay here for weeks.
But taking a time-out from our lives to get some R&R wasnt in the cards for us. Id learned that the hard way. What Id also learned was to grab
moments of escape when we could. Hence the stopover to rest the dawn away in the same cave in which, seven years ago, my relationship with
Bones began. Back then, it had been me in the chains, convinced I was about to be eaten by an evilbloodsucker. Instead, I ended up marrying that
bloodsucker.
Helsing, my cat, gave a plaintive meow from the corner of the smallenclave, scratching at the stone slab that served as a door.
You dont get to explore, I told him. Youd get lost.
He meowed again but began to lick his paw, giving me balefullooks the whole time. He stillhadnt forgiven me for leaving him with a house sitter
for months. I didnt blame Helsing for his grudge, but if hed stayed with me, he might have gotten killed. Severalpeople had.
Rested enough, luv? Bones asked.
Um hmm, I murmured, stretching. Id fallen asleep shortly after dawn, but it hadnt been the instant unconsciousness that had plagued me for my
first weeks as a vampire. Id grown out of that, to my relief.
Wed best get moving, then, he said.
Right. We had places to be, as usual.
The only thing I regret about stopping to catch some sleep here is the lack of a normalshower, I sighed.
Bones snorted in amusement. Come now, the rivers very refreshing.
At forty degrees, refreshing was a kind way to describe the caves version of indoor plumbing. Bones moved the stone slab out of the way so
we could exit the alcove, putting it back before my kitty could leap out, too.
The trick is to jump in, he went on. Taking it slow doesnt make it any easier.
I swallowed a laugh. That advice could also apply to navigating the undead world. Allright. One leap into a freezing river, coming up.
Then it was time to get to the realreason why wed come to Ohio. With luck, nothing was going on in my old home state except for a few random
cases of fang-on-fang violence.
I doubted it, but I could stillhope.
The afternoon sun was stillhigh in the sky by the time Bones and I arrived at the fountain of the Easton mall. Well, a street away from it. We had to
make sure that this wasnt a trap. Bones and I had a lot of enemies. Two recent vampire wars willdo that, not to mention our former professions.
I didnt sense any excessive supernaturalenergy except a smaller tingle of power in the air that denoted one, maybe two younger vampires
mixed in with the crowd. Still, neither Bones nor I moved untila hazy, indistinct form flew across the parking lot and into our rentalcar.
Two vampires are at the fountain, Fabian, the ghost Id sort of adopted, stated. His outline solidified untilhe looked more like a person and less
like a thick particle cloud. They didnt notice me.
Even though that was the goal, Fabian sounded almost sad at that last part. Unlike humans, vampires could see ghosts, but by and large they
ignored them. Being dead didnt mean people automatically got along.
Thanks, mate, Bones said. Keep a lookout to make certain they dont have any unpleasant surprises waiting for us.
Fabians features blurred untilhis entire body disappeared.
We were only supposed to meet with one vampire, I mused. What do you think of our contact having a buddy with him?
Bones shrugged. I think hed better have a bloody good reason for it.
He got out of the car. I followed suit, giving the silver knives concealed by my sleeves a slight, reassuring pat. Never leave home without them
was my motto. True, vampires were keen on protecting the secrecy of their race and this was a crowded, public place, but that didnt guarantee
safety. The knives didnt, either, but they sure tipped the odds in our favor. So did the other two vampires parked farther down the street, ready to
jump into action if this turned out to be something other than a fact-gathering chat.
Scents assailed me as I approached the courtyard fountain. Perfumes, body odor, and various chemicals were the strongest, but underneath
was another layer Id gotten better at deciphering: emotions. Fear, greed, desire, anger, love, sadness . . . allthose manifested in scents that
ranged from sweetly aromatic to bitterly rancid. Not surprisingly, unpleasant emotions had the harsher aromas. Case in point: The vampires seated
on the concrete bench both had the rotten-fruit smellof fear emanating from them, even before Bones gave them a quelling glare.
Which one of you is Scratch? he asked in a crisp voice.
The one with gray streaks in his hair stood up. I am.
Then you can stay, but heBones paused to give a short jerk of his head at the other, skinny vampirecan leave.
Wait! Scratchs voice lowered and he moved closer to Bones. That thing youre here to talk to me about? He might have some information on
it.
Bones glanced at me. I lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. May as wellhear what our unexpected guest has to say, I commented.
Im Ed, the vampire spoke up, with a nervous look over Boness shoulder at me. Scratch didnt tellme he was meeting you guys here.
From Eds expression, I guessed that between my crimson hair, the large red diamond on my finger, Boness English accent, and the tingling
aura of power he emanated, Ed had figured out who we were.
Thats because he didnt know, Bones answered coolly. His emotions, accessible to me ever since the day Bones changed me, were now
locked down behind the impenetrable wallhe used in public. Still, anyone could pick up on the edge to his voice as he went on.
I take it introductions arent necessary?
Scratchs gaze slid to me and then skipped away. No, he muttered. Youre Bones, and thats the Reaper.
Boness expression didnt soften, but I smiled in my best Im not going to killyou way.
Callme Cat, and why dont we find some shade where we can talk?
The suns rays werent lethalto vampires as mythology claimed, but we were easily sunburned. Expending some of our supernaturalenergy just
to healfrom the strong summer rays was pointless. A French restaurant with outdoor seating was nearby, so the four of us found a table under an
umbrella and sat down as if we were old friends catching up.
You said your Master was killed a few years ago, and she left no one to look after the members of her line, Bones stated to Scratch, after the
waitress took our drink orders. A group of you banded together to watch out for one another. When did you first notice something odd was going
on?
Severalmonths ago, around falllast year, Scratch replied. At first, we just thought some of the guys skipped town without telling anyone. We
kept an eye on each other, but we werent babysitters, yknow? Then, when more of us went missing, people whod normally say something before
taking off . . . well. It got the rest of us worried.
I didnt doubt it. As young, Masterless vampires, Scratch and others like him were on the bottom of the pecking order in the undead world. I might
have some issues with the feudalistic system vampires operated under, but when it came to protecting members of their line, most Master
vampires were pretty damn vigilant. Even the evilones.
Then, more ghouls started showing in the area, Scratch went on.
I tensed. This was why Bones and I had come to Ohio. Wed also heard about a recent influx of ghouls in my old home state, and reports of
missing vampires.
Hey, its an undead playground here, Scratch continued, oblivious to my uneasiness. Lots of ley lines and fun vibrations, so we didnt think
anything about allthe flesh-eaters showing up. But some of em act realnasty to vampires. Harassing the Masterless ones, following them home,
starting fights . . . it got us thinking maybe they were behind the disappearances. Problem is, no one gives a shit since we dont belong to anyone.
Im amazed youre interested, frankly.
I have my reasons, Bones said in that same impassive tone. He didnt even glance at me. Centuries of feigning detachment made him an
expert at it. Ed and Scratch would have no idea that the reason we were pumping them for information was to see if my Worlds Weirdest Vampire
condition might be the reason that some ghouls were acting hostileand why vampires were disappearing.
If youre looking for money, we dont have much, Ed piped up. Besides, I thought you retired from contract killing when you merged lines with
that mega-Master Mencheres.
Bones arched a brow. Try not to think too often, youllonly hurt yourself, he replied pleasantly.
Eds face tightened, but he shut his mouth. I hid a smile. Dont look a gift horse in the mouthespecially one that bites.
Do you have any proof that ghouls might be involved in your friends disappearances? I asked Scratch, getting back to the subject.
No. Just seems more than coincidence that whenever one of them went missing, they were last seen at a place where some of those asshole
ghouls were.
What places? I asked.
Some bars, clubs
Names, Bones pressed.