Джанин Фрост - One Foot in the Grave стр 2.

Which one are you? I asked, holding the knife still. If he moved, it would shred his heart. If he stayed motionless, it wouldnt kill him. Yet.

What?

In 1788, four convicts sailed to South Wales penal colonies on a ship named the Alexander. One escaped soon after arriving. A year later, that runaway convict returned and killed everyone but his three friends. One of them was turned into a vampire by choice, two by force. I know who youre not, so tell me who you are.

If it were possible, he looked even more astonished than he had when I stabbed him in the heart. Only a few people in the world know that story.

I gave the blade a menacing flick that edged it fractions deeper. He got the point, all right.

Ian. I am Ian.

Motherfucker! On top of me was the man whod turned the love of my life into a vampire almost two hundred and twenty years ago. Talk about irony.

Liam, or Ian, was a murderer by his own admission. Granted, his employees may or may not have stolen from him; the world never lacked for fools. Vampires played by a different set of rules when it came to their possessions. They were territorial to a fantastic degree. If Thomas and Jerome knew what he was and stole from him, theyd have known the consequences. But that wasnt what stayed my hand. Eventually it boiled down to one simple truth-I might have left Bones, but I couldnt kill the person responsible for bringing him into my life.

Yeah, call me sentimental.

Liam, or Ian, if you prefer, listen to me very carefully. You and I are going to stand up. Im going to pull this knife out, and then youre going to run away. Your hearts been punctured, but youll heal. I owed someone a life and Im making it yours.

He stared at me. The glowing lights of our eyes merged.

Crispin. Boness real name hung between us, but I didnt react. Ian let out a pained laugh. It could only be Crispin. Should have known from the way you fought, not to mention your tattoo thats identical to his. Nasty trick, faking to be unconscious. He would have never fallen for it. Hed have kicked you until you quit pretending.

Youre right, I agreed mildly. Thats the first thing Bones taught me. Always kick someone when theyre down. I paid attention. You didnt.

Well, well, little Red Reaper. So youre the reason hes been in such a foul mood the past few years.

At once my heart constricted with joy. Ian had just confirmed what I hadnt allowed myself to wonder. Bones was alive. Even if he hated me for leaving him, he was alive.

Ian pressed his advantage. You and Crispin, hmm? I havent spoken to him in a few months, but I can find him. I could take you to him, if youd like.

The thought of seeing Bones again caused a shattering of emotions in me. To cover them, I laughed derisively.

Not for gold. Bones found me and turned me out as bait for the marks he was paid to kill. Even talked me into that tattoo. Speaking of gold, when you see Bones again, you can tell him he still owes me money. He never paid me my share of the jobs like he promised. The only reason its your lucky day is he helped rescue my mother once, so I owe him for that, and youre my payment. But if I ever see Bones again, itll be at the end of my knife.

Each word hurt, but they were necessary. I wouldnt hang a target around Boness neck by admitting I still loved him. If Ian repeated what I said, Bones would know it wasnt true. He hadnt refused to pay me on the jobs Id done with him-Id refused to take the money. Nor had he talked me into my tattoo. Id gotten the crossbones matching his out of useless longing after I left him.

Youre part vampire. You have to be with those glowing eyes. Tell me-how?

I almost didnt, but figured, what the hell. Ian already knew my secret. The how was anticlimactic.

Some newly dead vampire raped my mother, and unluckily for her, his sperm still swam. I dont know who he is, but one day Ill find him and kill him. Until then, Ill settle for deadbeats just like him.

Somewhere on the far side of the room, my cell phone rang. I didnt move to answer it, but spoke hurriedly.

Thats my backup. When I dont answer, they come in with force. More force than you can take on right now. Move slowly; stand up. When I take this knife out, you run like hell and dont stop. Youll get your life, but youre leaving this house and youre not coming back. Do we have a deal? Think before you answer, because I dont bluff.

Ian smiled tightly. Oh, I believe you. Youve got a knife in my heart. That gives you little reason to lie.

I didnt blink. Then lets do this.

Without another comment, Ian began to pull himself to his knees. Each movement was agony for him, I could tell, but he thinned his lips and didnt make a sound. When we both stood, I carefully drew the blade out of his back and held the bloody knife in front of me.

Goodbye, Ian. Get lost.

He crashed through a window to my left in a blur of speed that was slower than before, but still impressive. Out in front, I heard my men rushing up to the door. There was one last thing I had to do.

I plunged the same dagger into my belly, deep enough to make me drop to my knees, but high enough to avoid mortal injury. When my second officer, Tate, came running into the room, I was gasping and bent double, blood pouring out onto the lovely thick carpet.

Jesus, Cat! he exclaimed. Someone get the Brams!

My other two captains, Dave and Juan, fanned out to comply. Tate picked me up and carried me out of the house. With jagged breaths I gave my instructions.

One got away but dont chase him. Hes too strong. No one else is in the house, but do a quick check and then pull back. We have to leave in case he comes back with reinforcements. Theyd slaughter us.

One sweep and then fall back, fall back! Dave ordered, shutting the doors of the van Id been taken to. Tate pulled the knife out and pressed bandages to the wound, giving me several pills to swallow that no regular pharmacy carried.

After four years and a team of brilliant scientists, my boss, Don, had managed to filter through the components in undead blood to come up with a wonder drug. On regular humans, it repaired injuries such as broken bones and internal bleeding like magic. Wed named it Brams, in honor of the writer whod made vampires famous.

You shouldnt have gone in alone, Tate berated me. Goddammit, Cat, next time listen to me!

I gave a faint chuckle. Whatever you say. Im not in the mood to argue.

Then I passed out.

TWO

MY HOUSE WAS A SMALL TWO-STORY STRUCTURE at the end of a cul-de-sac. The interior was almost spartan in its bareness. A single couch downstairs, bookshelves, some lamps, and a minibar loaded with gin and tonic. If my liver wasnt half vampire, Id have expired from cirrhosis already. Certainly Tate, Juan, and Dave never complained about all my booze. A steady supply of liquor and a deck of cards was enough to keep them coming back. Too bad none of them were great poker players, even when sober. Get them drunk and it was funny to watch their card skills drop by the second.

So, how does one sign on for this life of luxury? My boss, Don, found me at twenty-two when I got into a little trouble with the law. You know, the usual youthful stuff. Killed the governor of Ohio and several of his staff, but theyd been modern-day slavers who sold women to the undead for food and fun. Yeah, they deserved to die, especially since I was one of the women theyd tried to sell. Me and my vampire boyfriend, Bones, had delivered our own brand of justice to them, which left a lot of bodies.

After I was arrested, my funky pathology reports tattled on me for not being totally human. Don snapped me up to lead his secret Homeland Security unit by giving me the quintessential offer I couldnt refuse. Or death threat, to be more accurate. Id taken the job. What choice did I have?

But despite his many flaws, Don truly cared about defending those the normal law could never protect. I cared about that as well. It was why I risked my life, because I felt this was the reason Id been born half dead but looking all human. I could be both bait and hook to what prowled in the night. It wasnt a happily-ever-after, true, but at least Id made a positive difference for some people.

My phone rang as I changed into my pajamas. Since it was almost midnight, it had to be either one of the guys or Denise, because my mother was never up this late.

Hey, Cat. Just get in?

Denise knew what I did, and she knew what I was. One night while minding my own business, Id come across a vamp trying to turn her neck into a Big Gulp. By the time I killed him, shed already seen enough to know he wasnt human. To her credit, she hadnt screamed, fainted, or done any of the things a normal person would. Shed simply blinked and said, Wow. I owe you a beer, at least.

Yeah, I answered. Just got in now.

Uh, bad day? she asked.

But she didnt know Id spent most of the day healing from a self-inflicted stab wound with the help of Brams and the dubious benefit of having gutted myself with a knife coated in vampire blood. That in itself had probably done more to heal me than Dons magic pills. Nothing but nothing healed like vampire blood.

Um, the usual. How about you? How was your date?

She laughed. Im on the phone with you; what does that say? In fact, I was just about to defrost a cheesecake. Want to come over?

Sure, but Im in my pajamas.

Dont forget the fluffy slippers. I could almost see Denises grin. You wouldnt look right without them.

See you soon.

We hung up and I smiled. Loneliness was put on hold. At least until the cheesecake ran out.

At this time of night, the Virginia roads were mostly deserted, but my eyes were peeled because this was prime undead foraging hour. Usually it was just a vamp taking a snack. They used the power in their gaze and the hallucinogenic in their fangs to drink and run, leaving their meals with a false memory and a lower iron count. Bones had been the one to reveal that to me. Hed taught me all about vampires: their strengths (many!), weaknesses (few, and sunlight, crosses, and wooden stakes werent among them), their beliefs (that Cain was the first vampire, created when God punished him for murdering Abel by changing him into something that must forever drink blood as a reminder that hed spilled his brothers), and how they lived in pyramidlike societies where the top vampire ruled over all the children they created. Yeah, Bones had taught me everything I knew.

And then Id left him.

I swerved and hit the brakes as a cat darted in front of my tires. I climbed out to find it lying near my car. It tried to run, but I caught it and looked it over. There was blood on its nose, some scratches, and it let out a cry when I moved its leg. Broken, without a doubt.

Mumbling soothing nonsense, I got out my cell phone. I just hit a kitten, I told Denise. Can you find a vet for me? I cant just leave it.

She made a cooing sound of sympathy and went to fetch the phone book. After a moment, she was back.

This one is open all night and theyre not far from you. Let me know how the kitty does, okay? Ill put the cheesecake back in the freezer.

I hung up, then called the vet to get directions. In ten minutes, I pulled up to Noahs Furry Ark.

Over my pajamas I had on my coat, but instead of boots, yes, I was wearing blue fuzzy slippers. I probably looked like a housewife from hell.

The man behind the desk smiled when I entered. Are you the lady that just called? With the cat?

Thats me.

And you are Mrs?

Miss. Cristine Russell. That was the name I went under now, another tribute to my lost love, since Boness human name had been Crispin Russell. My sentimental curse would be the end of me.

That friendly smile widened. Im Dr. Noah Rose.

Noah. That explained the corny name of the place. He took the kitty for X-rays and returned after a few minutes.

One broken leg, some abrasions, and malnutrition. He should be fine in a couple weeks. This was a stray?

As far as I know, Dr. Rose.

Noah, please. Cute little kitten; are you going to keep him?

The word kitten made me flinch, but I covered it and answered without thinking.

Yes.

The kittens wide eyes fixed on me, as though he knew his fate had been settled. With his tiny leg in a cast and ointment in his scratches, he looked truly pitiful.

With food and rest, this kitty will be good as new.

Thats great. How much do I owe you?

He smiled in an abashed way. No charge. You did a nice thing. Youll have to bring him back in two weeks for me to remove that cast. When is good for you?

Anything late. I, er, work strange hours.

Evenings arent a problem.

He gave me another shy smile, and something told me he wasnt as accommodating with every client. Still, he seemed harmless. That was a rarity in the men I met.

What about eight on Thursday in two weeks?

Fine.

Thanks for the help, Noah. I owe you one. With the cat in tow, I started toward the door.

Wait! He came around the desk and then stopped. This is entirely unprofessional, but if you think you owe me, not that you do, of course, butIm new in town, andwell, I dont know many people. Most of my clients are older or married andwhat Im trying to say is

I raised a questioning brow at this ramble, and he actually flushed. Never mind. If you dont show up for your appointment, Ill understand. Im sorry.

The poor guy was a sweetheart. I gave him a quick feminine perusal, far different from the danger-assessment one Id done when I first came in. Noah was tall, dark, and boyishly handsome. Maybe Id hook him up with Denise-she just said her other date hadnt impressed her.