Джанин Фрост - This Side of the Grave стр 2.

Scratch began to rattle off a list, but allof a sudden, his voice was drowned out under a deluge of others.

. . . four more hours untilI get a break . . .

. . . remember to get the receipt for that? If it doesnt fit, Im taking it back . . .

. . . if she looks at one more pair of shoes, Im going to scream . . .

The sudden crash of intrusive conversation wasnt coming from the mallshoppers around usId tuned that out even before we sat down. This

was coming from inside my head. I jerked as if struck, my hand flying to my temple.

Oh shit. Not again.

2

 Whats wrong, Kitten? Bones asked at once.

Ed and Scratch also gave me concerned glances. I forced a smile while struggling to concentrate on them instead of the plethora of

conversations that had suddenly taken up in my mind.

Just, um, a little hot out here, I muttered. Damned if I was going to telltwo strange vampires the realcause of my problem.

Boness gaze traveled over my face, his dark brown eyes missing nothing, while those voices pitilessly continued to chatter on in my mind.

. . . no one saw me. Hope I can get the security tag off . . .

. . . Illgive him something to cry about soon . . .

. . . if she doesnt show up in five minutes, Im eating without her . . .

I, ah, need some air, I blurted before recognizing the stupidity in that excuse. One, we were already outdoors, and two, I was a vampire. I didnt

breathe anymore, let alone have any health conditions I could blame my sudden weird behavior on.

Bones stood, taking my elbow and throwing a stiff Stay here over his shoulder at Ed and Scratch.

I walked quickly, trying to concentrate on the coolpressure of his hand more than where I was going. My head was lowered, because my eyes

had probably turned bright green from agitation. Shut up, shut up, shut up, I chanted at the unwelcome crowd in my head.

The din in my mind seemed to amplify the noises from the people milling around us, untileverything blurred into a sort of white noise. It grew,

overwhelming my other senses, making it hard for me to focus on anything except the relentless voices coming at me from allsides. I struggled to

push them back, to concentrate on anything except the sounds that seemed to grow with every second.

Something hard pressed against my front the same time that a straighter, harder barrier flattened my back. Underneath the now-thunderous

chatter bombarding my mind, I heard a familiar English voice.

. . . allright, luv. Force them back. Listen to me, not them . . .

I tried to picture the countless voices in my head as a TV channelI just needed to turn downwith my willpower being the remote control. Fingers

stroked my face, their touch an anchor I drew strength from. With great effort, I pulled my mind away from the melee, distancing myself from the

noise that wanted to consume the rest of my senses. After severalminutes of dogged concentration, that mentalroar subsided into an annoying but

manageable mumble. It was similar to the sounds from the shoppers around us, oblivious to the fact that they were in biting distance of creatures

that werent supposed to exist.

I have got to stop drinking your blood, I said to Bones when I felt in controlenough to open my eyes. A glance around showed that hed backed

me into a pillar in what probably looked like a passionate embrace, judging from the slanted glances thrown our way.

Bones sighed. Youllbe weaker.

But sane, I added. And safer, too, because if hundreds of voices suddenly crashed into my mind during a battle, it might be distracting enough

to get me killed.

I tugged at Boness short dark curls untilhe pulled back to look at me. You know this cant be leftovers from when I drank Mencheress blood; its

happening more often, not less, I said softly. I have to be getting this from you. And I cant handle it.

Id thought changing from a half-breed into a fullvampire meant an end to my uniqueness, but fate thought differently. I woke up on the other side

of the grave in possession of two things unprecedented in vampire historyan occasionalheartbeat and a craving for undead blood. The side

effect of the latter meant I temporarily absorbed power from the blood I drank, much like vampires absorbed life from human blood. That was allweland

good, but if I drank from a Master vampire, I also temporarily absorbed any specialabilities that Master had. This was great when it came to

enhanced strength, but not so great when it came to other abilities that were out of my depth to control. Like Boness ability to read human minds.

You dont give yourself enough credit, Kitten, he said, his voice low.

I shook my head. Theres a reason why it takes centuries for vampires to get specialpowers, and only if theyre Masters. Its too much to deawith

otherwise. If I keep drinking from you, what happened today willonly get worse. Youve obviously grown into the mind-reading power you

inherited from Mencheres, so much so that Im starting to pick it up from your blood, too.

And if Bones started manifesting any other abilities as a result of the power exchange hed received from his co-ruler, I really wanted no part of

them. Id drunk from Mencheres once out of necessity, and it had fried me for over a week afterward. I shuddered at the memory. Never again if I

could help it. The voices thrumming in the background of my mind seemed to agree.

Wellsort that out later, but we need to go back now, if youre ready, Bones said, giving my face a last stroke.

Im okay. Lets head back, before they freak out and bolt.

Bones slowly uncurled his body from mine. The din in my head was now low enough that I noticed severalfemales around us checking him out. I

stamped even harder on those inner voices. The last thing I needed was to hear a flood of lusty imaginings involving my husband and other women

to really sour my mood.

In fairness, I couldnt blame them. Even in his trademark black pants with a casualwhite pullover, Bones stood out like a jewelamong rocks with

his finely molded features and tall, sculpted frame. Every move of his body sent ripples along those lean muscles, and his flawless crystalskin

practically dared people to see if it felt as good as it lookedwhich it did. Even when wed first met and I plotted to killhim, Boness looks had

turned my head. In that way, he was a perfect predator, enticing his prey to come close enough to bite.

Youre being eye-humped by about a dozen women as we speak, but Im sure you already know that, I said in a wry tone.

His mouth brushed my neck with the lightest of kisses, making me shiver.

I only bother about one womans desires, he murmured, the breath from his words teasing my ear.

His body was close enough to graze mine, a tantalizing reminder of how thoroughly he could satisfy my every lustfulinclination as wellas a few I

probably hadnt thought of. Still, even though heat began to fillme, we had disappearances to investigate. Any intimate investigations between the

two of us would have to wait.

As if in agreement, the cadre of voices in my head rose again, cutting off the warm sensuality that his nearness brought out in me.

I dont know how you stand hearing this racket in your mind every day, I muttered, shaking my head as if that could clear it.

He gave me an unfathomable look as he drew away. When its always there, its easier to ignore it.

Maybe that was true. Maybe if I didnt have only my own thoughts in my head most of the time, picking up on other peoples mentalfrequencies

would seem less overwhelming. I didnt know.

Still, I didnt want to keep drinking Boness blood to find out.

Ed and Scratch didnt comment about our abrupt departure when Bones and I sat back down with them. Their expressions were also suitably

bland, but the furtive looks they darted my way spoke volumes. They were wondering what the hellhappened.

Thought I smelled someone I knew, I offered, downing the gin and tonic that had arrived with the other drinks while Bones and I were away.

It was an obvious lie, but Ed and Scratch made agreeable noises and pretended to believe it. The look Bones gave them didnt lend itself to

further questions on the subject.

Right then, any more names of places these nasty flesh-eaters tend to frequent? Bones asked, as if there had been no interruption in

conversation.

Scratch elbowed the other vampire. No, but Ed has something to tellyou.

Ed looked reluctant but then straightened his narrow shoulders.

A buddy of mine, Shayne, called me last night and said our friend Harris got the shit kicked out of him from some ghouls at a club. Shayne was

gonna go home with Harris to discourage any more beatings on him. Thing is, Ive been callin Shaynes cellallday, but he hasnt answered, which

isnt like him. When I told Scratch, he told me to come here because he was meeting people who might be able to help.

Do you know where Harris lives? I asked at once.

Yeah. Its not too far from here, actually.

Yet you didnt go there yourself to check on him? Bones asked with heavy skepticism.

Ed gave Bones a weary look. No, and I stillwont unless I can get severalpeople to go with me. I dont want to be the next vampire no one ever

hears from. Judge allyou want, but I dont have a bunch of badass powers to protect myself if something did happen to Shayne and Harrisand the

ghouls who made it happen are stillthere.

Sympathy welled up in me, dulling the voices stillyammering on in my mind. Ed and Scratch were doing the best they could to look out for their

friends under the very harsh circumstances of living in a world where they were close to second-class citizens. I knew from experience that it sucked

to feellike no one had your back when the monsters came sniffing around. Of course, technically, Ed and Scratch were monsters, too.

Then again, so was I. In this case, that was a plus.

Bones looked at me and arched a brow.

Lets do it, I said to the unspoken question.

He rose, giving his knuckles a quick, expert crack, and then threw severalbills on the table.

Allright, then, mates. Lets see if Shaynes mobile just ran out of charge.

True to Eds word, Harriss apartment was only twenty minutes away. I found it ironic that it was also only about a mile away from the apartment

complex Id lived in when I went to OSU, seemingly another lifetime ago. If Bones noticed the close proximity to my old place, he didnt comment on

it. He seemed more focused on the exterior of the building, trying to pick up any vibes of danger within. We couldnt risk sending Fabian in first to

check it out. The ghost had snuck into our trunk when we drove off, unnoticed by Ed or Scratch, but if we sent Fabian in ahead of us, that would

draw their attention to our phantom friend.

Tingles of power rode on the air behind us in the narrow parking lot. Ed and Scratch jerked around, but Bones didnt flinch. Neither did I. That

was Tiny and Band-Aid, our backup whod followed us over from the mall.

Tiny, Band-Aid, keep an eye on these two for a moment, willyou? Bones said to them before striding toward the complex. I went with him,

shrugging into my long leather coat. It wasnt because I was cold; the late summer day was warm, but my coat held severalpounds worth of silver

knives. Sure, I had knives tucked under my blouse, but those were the shorter, throwing variety meant for vampires. Only decapitation killed a ghoul,

which meant I needed bigger blades if any sinister members of that species awaited us inside.

Bones inhaled once we reached the second floor. So did I. The front doors were allin a line facing the parking lot, with the fresh air chasing away

most of the telltale scents of their occupants, but I caught a whiff of something inhuman coming from the second to last unit. Bones must have, too,

because his steps quickened. I inhaled again, my nose wrinkling when we were almost at that door. Bones paused to give me a grim look.

The shades were drawn tight, preventing us from peering inside, but I already knew what wed find. The scent of death was unmistakable.

Were too late, I whispered. Seeing the broken lock on the door was almost redundant.

Bones pushed the door open, moving immediately to the side in case a flash of flying silver accompanied his entry. Nothing moved, however.

The inside of the apartment was as quiet as a tomb.

And just like a tomb, it had bodies in it.

I dont feelanyone, but stay sharp, Bones said as he stepped inside. I followed, checking the corners first, joining Bones in doing a sweep of

the interior with as much caution as if we knew enemy forces were within. As wed suspected, though, the place was empty of everyone except usand

two shriveled vampires on the floor of the tiny family room.

The damn voices in my mind began to rise again. There werent as many people in the apartment complex as the mall, so it didnt affect me with

the same sort of mentalexplosion, but it was like my mind was filled with the hum from a nest of angry bees. I rubbed my temple, as if that could

tone them down, but of course, it didnt help.

Bones didnt catch the gesture. His attention was stillfocused on the two shriveled corpses near our feet.

Looks like a dawn ambush, he noted, taking in their lack of shoes and how neither body was fully dressed. Poor sods didnt have the chance to

put up much of a fight.

The lack of disarray in the apartment was testament of that. When supernaturalcreatures fought to the death, things usually got a lot messier than

a few overturned tables and some blood smeared on the carpet. Investigating the deaths of vampires was stillsomewhat unusualfor me. Sure, Id

spent years working for a covert branch of Homeland Security tracking paranormalhomicides, but in those circumstances, the vampires had usually