Bones had said new vampires woke up with a burning, mindless thirst. That reality was playing out before my eyes. Tate didnt seem to be aware of where he was, or evenwho he was. There was nothing left of him in the gaze that scoured the small room he was trapped in.
Bones had none of my inner panic at seeing my friend in such a condition. He went over to the cooler, drew out a few blood bags, and walked over to Tate.
I couldnt hear what he said, because Tates screams drowned it out, but I saw Boness lips move as he dropped one of the bags right onto Tates gaping mouth.Nummy, nummy? my frozen mind supplied. Or,Bottoms up?
It didnt matter. Tate didnt drink from the bag-he tore at it until his face was covered in red and his snapping jaws made him look more like a great white shark than a man. Bones, unperturbed, plucked the plastic remains from Tates face, nimbly avoiding his fingers getting chomped, and then dropped another bag onto Tates mouth. It met the same garbage-disposal fate as the first one.
I glanced away, disturbed. That made no sense, because Id known what to expect, but hearing it and seeing it were two different things. To my right, I also noticed Juan looking away from the screen. He rubbed his temple.
Its still him.
Daves voice seemed very soft in the sudden break from Tates screams as he slurped. Dave nodded once at the monitor.
I know its hard to believe from what youre looking at, but Tates still in there. This is only temporary. Hell be himself soon.
God, I wanted to believe that. I knew there was no reason I shouldnt, except that now, Tate looked more frightening than the most homicidal vampire Id ever come across. I guess I truly hadnt been prepared to see my friend this way, even though Id thought I was.
It took five bags before the demented gleam left Tates eyes. Of course, most of the first two had spilled around his face and shoulders, not in his mouth, since hed sawed at them so crazily. Now, covered in blood, he finally looked at Bones and seemed to recognize him.
It hurts, were Tates first words.
Tears came to my eyes at the bleak rawness of his voice. There was so much despair leaking out of that short sentence.
Bones nodded. It gets better, mate. Youll have to trust me on that.
Tate looked down at himself, licking at the blood he could get. Then he stopped-and stared straight into the camera.
Cat.
I leaned forward, pressing the button on the monitor that allowed them to hear me.
Im here, Tate. We all are.
Tate closed his eyes. Dont want you to see me like this, he mumbled.
Shame over my initial reaction made my voice raspy. Its okay, Tate. Youre-
I dont want youseeing me like this!he snarled, jerking against his clamps once again.
Kitten. Bones glanced up at the screen. Its upsetting him. Thatll make it harder for him to control the blood craze. Best do as he wants.
My guilt deepened. Was this a coincidence, or could Tate somehow tell that Id been repelled by watching him before? What a crappy leader I was, let alone a bad friend.
Im going, I said, managing to keep my voice steady. IllIll see you when youre better, Tate.
Then I walked out of the room, not looking back as I heard Tates screams start up once again.
I was sitting at my desk, staring off into space, when my cell phone rang. A glance at it showed my mothers number, and I hesitated. I so wasnt in the mood to deal with her. But it was unusual for her to be up this late, so I answered.
Hi Mom.
Catherine. She paused. I waited, tapping my finger on my desk. Then she spoke words that had me almost falling out of my chair. Ive decided to come to your wedding.
I actually glanced at my phone again to see if Id been mistaken and it was someone else whod called me.
Are you drunk? I got out when I could speak.
She sighed. I wish you wouldnt marry that vampire, but Im tired of him coming between us.
Aliens replaced her with a pod person, I found myself thinking.Thats the only explanation.
Soyoure coming to my wedding? I couldnt help but repeat.
Thats what I said, isnt it? she replied with some of her usual annoyance.
Um. Great. Hell if I knew what to say. I was floored.
I dont suppose youd want any of my help planning it? my mother asked, sounding both defiant and uncertain.
If my jaw hung any lower, it would fall off. Id love some, I managed.
Good. Can you make it for dinner later?
I was about to say,Sorry, there was no way, when I paused. Tate didnt even want me watching the video of him dealing with his bloodlust. Bones was leaving this afternoon to pick Annette up from the airport. I could swing by my moms when he went to get Annette, and then meet him back here afterward.
How about a late lunch instead of dinner? Say, around four oclock?
Thats fine, Catherine. She paused again, seeming to want to say something more. I half expected her to yell,April Fools! but it was November, so that would be way early. Ill see you at four.
When Bones came into my office at dawn, since Dave was taking the next twelve-hour shift with Tate, I was still dumbfounded. First Tate turning into a vampire, then my mother softening over my marrying one. Today really was a day to remember.
Bones offered to drop me off on his way to the airport, then pick me up on his way back to the compound, but I declined. I didnt want to be without a car if my mothers mood turned foul-always a possibility-or risk ruining our first decent mother-daughter chat by Bones showing up with a strange vampire. There were only so many sets of fangs I thought my mother could handle at the same time, and Annette got on my nerves even on the best of days.
Besides, I could just see me explaining who Annette was to my mother.Mom, this is Annette. Back in the seventeen hundreds when Bones was a gigolo, she used to pay him to fuck her, but after more than two hundred years of banging him, now theyre just good friends.
Yeah, Id introduce Annette to my mother-right after I performed a lobotomy on myself.
I still cant believe she wants to talk about the wedding, I marveled to Bones as I climbed into my car.
He gave me a serious look. Shell never abandon her relationship with you. You could marry Satan himself and that still wouldnt get rid of her. She loves you, Kitten, though she does a right poor job of showing it most days. Then he gave me a wicked grin. Shall I ring your cell in an hour, so you can pretend theres an emergency if she gets natty with you?
What if thereis an emergency with Tate? I wondered. Maybe I shouldnt leave.
Your blokes fine. Nothing can harm him now short of a silver stake through the heart. Go see your mum. Ring me if you need me to come bite her.
There really was nothing for me to do at the compound. Tate would be a few more days at least in lockdown, and we didnt have any jobs scheduled, for obvious reasons. This was as good a time as any to see if my mom meant what she said about wanting to end our estrangement.
Keep your cell handy, I joked to Bones. Then I pulled away.
My mother lived thirty minutes from the compound. She was still in Richmond, but in a more rural area. Her quaint neighborhood was reminiscent of where we grew up in Ohio, without being too far away from Don if things got hairy. I pulled up to her house, parked, and noticed that her shutters needed a fresh coat of paint. Did they look like that the last time I was here? God, how longhad it been since Id come to see her?
As soon as I got out of the car, however, I froze. Shock crept up my spine, and it had nothing to do with the realization that I hadnt been here since Bones came back into my life months ago.
From the feel of the energy leaking off the house, my mother wasnt alone inside, but whoever was with her didnt have a heartbeat. I started to slide my hand toward my purse, where I always had some silver knives tucked away, when a cold laugh made me stop.
I wouldnt do that if I were you, little girl, a voice I hated said from behind me.
My mothers front door opened. She was framed in it, with a dark-haired vampire who looked vaguely familiar cradling her neck almost lovingly in his hands.
And I didnt need to turn around to know the vampire at my back was my father.
FIVE
MAX, MY FATHER, STOOD ABOUT THIRTY yards away between some trees. His red hair blew in the breeze and those identical gray eyes bore into mine. But what really held my attention was the rocket launcher Max had balanced on his shoulder. He also had a gun in his other hand. The disparity between the two weapons almost made me laugh out of sheer hysteria.
Iwas going to blow up your car before you even pulled into the driveway, Max said in a genial tone, nodding at the rocket launcher, but then I saw you were alone. And how could any dad pass up the chance to spend some time with his little girl?
If at first you dont succeed, try, try again. That was what Max had spat at me months ago after hed been busted for hiring two hitmen to put me out of my misery. I hadnt thought he would try more brazen attempts to kill me since Bones married me vampire-style, but it looked like I was wrong.
Wheres your sire, Max? I asked, my voice even. Is Ian running late? Is he still that pissed at me for getting away from him months ago?
Ian? Max laughed. Fuck my sire, I dont need him. Ive got new benefactors, little girl, and they want you dead as much as I do.
I debated going for my knives again. An icy smile stretched across Maxs face, which looked enough like mine for anyone to tell we were father and daughter.
Think you can get to your weapons before I shoot you? Maybe you can. But not before this rocket plows right through your mother, and wouldnt that be a shame.
My jaw clenched. Max and the other vampire were in the exact opposite direction from each other. Even if I was fast enough to take out one of them, the other would still have time to kill my mom.
Why dont we go inside? I think a family chats long overdue, Max said, gesturing with the gun.
There was no way I could do anything with the two of them this far apart. I started toward the house, but his laugh stopped me. Drop your purse first, little girl, and kick it over my way. Slowly.
A dozen different attack scenarios skipped through my mind, but fear for my mother made me reject all of them.If only it was just Max here. If only Id strapped some weapons on me before heading over. If only I had another damn watch with a panic button in it, so Bones could realize my mother and I were in deep shit.
I dropped my purse and gave it a sideways kick over to Max. He grunted and came closer, his aim not wavering with either weapon.
Lets make you a little more respectful, he said, and pulled the trigger.
The bullet hit me low in the stomach, doubling me over. It took a few seconds for the pain to hit, but when it did, it was merciless.
Behind me, I heard the other vampire giggle. It wasnt much louder than the sound of the shot. Maxs gun had a silencer.
Inside, he directed me with another wave of the gun. Or the next round goes in your leg.
With my fists covering the rapidly bleeding hole in my gut, I staggered into the house. As soon as Max closed the door behind us, he fired again, striking me in the thigh.
Id screamed at the second shot, which knocked me off my feet and sent me sprawling onto the floor.
It was too much fun to resist, Max smirked, then waved the gun, this time at my mother. You make one more sound and she gets the next slug.
Max would love to shoot my mother. It hadnt escaped my notice that she had a dull, glazed look on her face. Max had green-eyed her into compliance. The thought of how terrified she must have been to open her door and see my father there almost made my rage match the pain in pure intensity.
But that was short-lived. Waves of pain, nausea, and dizziness assailed me. Max might have missed arteries or vital organs, but in my current condition, I wouldnt be able to fight off him and the other vampire, plus rescue her. It was only because of being half vampire that I was even still conscious at all.
Bones. Id often teased him about being paranoid over my safety, but it looked like the joke was on me. Sure, if I didnt show up at the compound later, he would be worried. Probably enough to come straight here, but from Maxs expression, hed arrive too late.
You should have killed me when you had the chance, Max said, staring down at me. Bet now you wish youd done that instead of marrying Bones back at Ians that night.
Even if this was it for me-and I wasnt ready to concede that by a long shot-I couldnt bring myself to agree.
Have I ever mentioned how much I hate you, Max? I managed to grit out. Maybe I could stall him. Get him pissed enough to want to take his time killing me.
The other vampire laughed. She has such spirit, he said, eyeing me even as he stroked my mothers hair. What a waste.
Recognition dawned about where Id seen the black-haired vampire before. He was the one whod gotten away from Chuck E. Cheeses that day!
You, I said.
He smiled. Nice to see you again, too.
Max set the rocket launcher down, but that didnt do me nearly as much good now as it would have a few minutes ago.
Calibos, he said, if my daughter moves, kill her mother.
With that grim directive, Max disappeared into the kitchen. I kept applying pressure to the hole in my gut, since it was bleeding worse than my leg.Goddamn you, Max, I thought through the pain.Ill see you dead even if its the last thing I do.
And from the looks of it, it probably would be.
My mother still stared sightlessly ahead. Aside from that, to my relief, she didnt look hurt. Calibos, as Max called the other vampire, let his hand wander down the front of her shirt to squeeze her breast. A low growl came from me that made him grin.
Temper, temper, he purred, letting his hand creep lower.
Max came out of the kitchen and glared at Calibos. Not her, he said curtly. If theres time, you can have Cat, but Justinas mine.
Oh dear God. Renewed determination surged through me. I couldnt let Max live, even if I ended up killing me and my mother in the process of taking him down. I knew my mother. Shed rather be dead than raped by a vampire, especially Max.
I think its time to wake her up, dont you? my father asked me in that same chipper tone. He handed his gun to Calibos with directions to shoot me if I twitched, then went over to my mother. Max cut his thumb on one of the four knives hed returned from the kitchen with and held it to her mouth.
Rise and shine, Justina, he said, rubbing the blood on her lips.
My mother licked it, blinked once-and then screamed.
Maxs hand clamped over her mouth. I tried to push the pain back enough to concentrate on a plan.Come on, Cat, think! Theres got to be a way out of this.
Hello, beautiful, Max said, putting his face right next to my mothers. Im going to take my hand away, but for every time you scream, Im going to cut something off our daughter. Understand?
My mothers gaze flicked to me, widened, and then she nodded. Max dropped his hand.
Thats better. Now, to make sure kitty here doesnt spoil the fun
Max walked over to me, still holding those knives. I braced myself, wanting to grab for those blades like Id wanted nothing before it. But Calibos had the gun pointed at me and my mother within biting distance. Id make my stand, but this wasnt the time.
Max smiled, kneeling to grab my wrist. Youre going to die, he said, low enough that only I could hear him, but Ill let your mother live just so she can remember that she watched it happen. But if you fight me, little girl, Ill rape her and kill her in front of you before I finish you. How much do you want to save her from that?
Id never felt such hatred for anyone as I did for my father. There was a chance that Max would kill us both anyway, but I had three choices. Hope I came up with a brilliant plan and managed to rescue both of us, hope Max took long enough torturing me that Bones showed up in timeor go for those knives and risk watching Max make good on his threat about my mother. I knew he was capable of it. There wasnt much I thought was beneath him.
Let her go when its over, I said very softly, opting for Plan A or B.
Max smiled. Smart girl. His fingers stroked my wrist. Why did you come here alone? Wheres Bones?
Lying always sounded more authentic when it was mixed with the truth. Hes at the compound. He changed one of my team last night into a vampire, so hes staying with him until hes over the blood craze.
Maxs smile widened. Tate.
I couldnt hide my shock. My father laughed. How do I know about that? Belinda gave Calibos the information. Once I found your mother, all I had to do was compel her to invite you over. I owe Belinda a huge thank-you.
Belinda. Son of a bitch, Id underestimated that blue-eyed bimbo. Now I knew what shed been whispering to Calibos as she led him out of Chuck E. Cheeses. What was the one thing Belinda knew that no one else outside my unit did? The date and time we were changing Tate. Belinda must have figured with me dead, no one would piece together how Max had done this. But she hadnt figured on dying herself.
Another wave of light-headedness swept over me. I must have been bleeding internally, since what was leaking out onto the floor didnt account for how I felt.
Youll have to save the thanks, Max, because shes dead.
He shrugged. Thats a shame. Nice girl.
Max.
Both of us turned. My mother was still standing where shed been. Slow tears trickled down her face. Id never seen her cry before.
Its me you want, she said in a raspy voice. I raised Catherine, and I taught her to hate every vampire she met. Let her go. This is between you and me.
This, not being shot twice, was what brought tears to my eyes. All the times Id thought she didnt love me, and here my mother was trying to use herself to barter with the vampire she feared the most.
Max lasered a green glare her way. Oh, I have unfinished business with you, Justina. Do you know what a pain in the ass its been, being the vampire who fathered the half-breed? Ive had strangers beat me on sight! But I get no protection if I just kill you, whereas takingher out garners me new friends. They wanted Bones dead, too, but Ill take what I can get.
I was about to ask who these new friends were, when Max took one those knives and speared it straight through my wrist, hard enough to pin it to the floor. I gave a harsh gasp, but it was my mother who screamed.
Stop it!
Max grinned, keeping the other knives well away from my reach. Thanks, Justina. Now I get to do a little slicing, courtesy of you.
Calibos let out an annoyed sigh I could hear even above my own labored breathing.
This is boring. Am I going to get to do anything fun today?
Max took another knife, giving a meaningful glance at my mother before touching its tip to my skin. Go on, fight me. Give me a reason to make you watch your mother suffer before she dies, he whispered.
I set my teeth and didnt fight as he drove this blade slowly through my other wrist. It hurt even more than the first one had. My mother let out a moan that sounded like she was in pain, too.
Please. It was barely audible, and she held her hand out to Max. Please, no more. This is my fault, leave her alone!
What time is your playboy vampire expecting you back? Max asked, ignoring her.
It would take Bones twenty minutes to get to the airport from the compound, maybe less with the way he drove. Then another fifteen or so minutes to load up Annettes ridiculous amount of bags and head back. Would Bones call me once hed gotten back to the compound? I had my phone set to vibrate, so I wouldnt be able to hear it if he did, since it was outside in my purse. God, would it take him hours before he even wondered why I wasnt back yet?
Three hours, I said, keeping my face as blank as possible.
Max let a nasty smile curl his lips. Im going to assume that really means one hour. But dont worry. Ill make it count. Oh, and Ill take this.
Max yanked my engagement ring off my finger. He held it up to the light and grinned.
Must be five carats, he said admiringly. Thisll net me a couple million, easy.
Its a ruby, I snapped, hating the sight of my engagement ring in his hands.
Max laughed. Stupid little girl, thats adiamond. Red diamonds are the rarest in the world, and Bones has had this stone for over a century. Ians wanted to buy it from him for decades. But you wont be needing it anymore.
Max sliced up the front of my shirt, remarking that this was for Caliboss benefit, not his. The throbbing from my wrists, combined with the searing pain in my legs and gut, made it so easy for me to pass out. I kept fighting the blackness that crouched temptingly near.
My mother darted forward. Calibos caught her, giving her a hard shake.
Youre nothing but animals, she hissed at them.
Insults count as screaming, Max replied, laughing as she gaped in disbelief. My game, so I get to make up the rules. Thats two things I get to cut off Cat now. Want to make it three?
I met my mothers gaze over Maxs shoulder. Her eyes were wide and overflowing. I gave the barest shake of my head.Please dont. You cant make it better. Just run when you have the chance.
She couldnt hear my silent urgings, of course. Max let the tip of his knife dip to my jeans, and he slit them down the side.
Heres where Ill start, he remarked, then grabbed a handful of my hip and gave a hard upward swipe with the third knife.
I bit my lip so hard to keep from screaming that I tasted blood. Calibos snickered. Max held up my severed piece of skin like it was a trophy.
Nice tattoo, he said, flinging it to the side. Maybe Ill have that shipped to Bones, so he can have a spare.
My hip flamed where there was now a bleeding open wound instead of the crossbones tattoo Id gotten to match the one on Boness arm. My mother didnt cry out this time, but she drew in a deep, shuddering breath.
I love you, Catherine, she whispered.
I had to look away, because I didnt want to give Max the satisfaction of seeing me cry. I couldnt remember the last time shed said that to me. She must believe we were both doomed to die.
Im sick of holding her, Im putting her under, Calibos said, turning green eyes to my mother.
Stop it. Maxs voice was a whip. Shes going to see this. Shes going toknow.
Calibos made an exasperated noise, then dragged my mother over to the drapes by the window. He yanked one off, ripped it down the center, and then tied the end of it around her neck.
Max, I said warningly.
He swatted me in the head, hard. Shh, I want to see what hes got in mind.
Calibos threw the other end over one of the railings in the banister on the second floor. My mother was struggling, but she was no match for the vampire. I began to strain against the knives pinning me down. Max shoved another one through my wrist almost like it was an afterthought, then punched me in the gut where Id been shot.
The blast of agony must have knocked me out for a minute, because when my eyes focused again, my mother was standing on a chair, one end of the drapes wrapped around her neck, and the other tied to the banister upstairs. There was hardly any slack in the line, and one of the chairs legs was missing.
Now she can watch, and I can join the fun, Calibos smirked.
Max gave him an approving grin, then turned his attention to me.
Do you want to know what Im going to do to you, little girl? he asked in a conversational tone. After I torture the hell out of you, Im going to chop you into pieces. Cant risk Bones getting someone to raise you into a ghoul, now can I?
Vicious prick wasnt stupid. With my half-vampire bloodline, it was entirely possible I could be raised as a ghoul, if Max were just to murder me. But if I was dismembered, that option was out.
Same rules apply. Lets see how long you last before you scream and I get to cut something off Justina, he taunted.
Maxs fist began knocking my head back and forth like a toy on a spring. Blood filled my mouth and my lip split, but I bit my tongue and didnt make a noise. After a few minutes, the ringing in my ears dulled the thwacking sounds of him beating me. Then he stopped.
Stubborn bitch. Hmm, lets see if you can keep quiet through this
He pulled a lighter out of his pocket, flicked it, dialed the flame up as high as it could go, then held it to my arm. My whole body shuddered and I twisted futilely, gasps and grunts coming from me. After a few minutes of unimaginable agony, I couldnt hold back my scream any longer.
Max laughed, delighted. Vaguely I was aware of throwing up.
I think thats going to cost Justina a finger, he remarked. What else will you make her lose?
Even if you kill me, Bones will find you, I panted. Sweat was pouring off me and my arm hurt in ways I didnt know were possible. Believe me, youll be sorry when he does.
Calibos and Max chuckled like Id told a joke. That vampire wont start a war over you. Max grinned. Hell, the only reason Bones married you was to spite our sire.
Thats why Max felt secure enough to risk pulling this? Because he thought he had enough protection from his new friends and Bones had only married me to piss off Ian?
Oh, Boneswill find you. Count on it.
They glanced around, uneasy at the vehemence of my tone.
Pathetic, Max said at last. Youre trying to scare me into letting you live, but it wont work. Still, Calibos, go outside and keep watch. Just in case her playboy decides to drop by early.
But I havent gotten to play with her yet, Calibos protested, with a look my way that made me recoil.
Youll get your chance, Max snapped. But I set this up, so I go first.
Calibos smirked at me as he headed out the door. Ill see you soon, sweetie.
Max got up and sauntered over to my mother next. She was almost on her tiptoes to keep the drape around her neck slack enough to breathe. Underneath her, the chair wobbled ominously on its three legs. Her hands were tied together with another piece of drapery, and Max grinned as he contemplated her fingers.
Which one will you lose, Justina? Lets see, this little finger went to market, he started to singsong, tapping one of them. This little finger stayed home. This little finger had roast beef
I tried to mentally prepare myself for my chance. Now that one of them was outside, this was my best opportunity. It was hard for me to focus, however. Id had years of experience getting knocked around, but with all of my injuries, I kept feeling myself wandering closer to unconsciousness.
My mother met my eyesand then kicked the chair out from under her.
Goddammit, Max snapped, holding her up with one hand. Whyd you do that?
In the second that he was distracted, I yanked against the knives on my wrists with all my strength, feeling my flesh shred. Id gotten one of my hands free when Max turned around.
What the hell?
He let my mother go. She dangled by the neck, her feet well above the floor, while I wrenched my other arm free, ignoring the white-hot burst of pain that caused. I tried to grab one of the knives, but my wrists were too damaged for me to hold anything. I kicked them away and then lunged at Max instead, head-butting him hard enough to knock him over.All I need is a little of your blood, I thought, biting at him savagely,and Ill be healed enough to fight.