No Man's Land (11 page)

Kelly frowned. West Virginia wasn’t viable for vampire occupation — no huge urban areas with enough crime and gang activity to cover up human deaths, and the businesses weren’t the type of industry vampires specialized in. Biomedical and pharmaceutical, maybe. Hospitals and power companies? No way. At least they weren’t stupid enough to look into coal or retail, which were West Virginia’s biggest employers. They’d proven to be hopeless at running those kinds of businesses profitably.

“Why would Kincaid possibly be interested in West Virginia? No offense, but he’s got enough poor states with struggling businesses. Why spread himself thin by adding one more, especially when he’d have to fight his way through a bunch of werewolves to take and hold the territory?”

A smile flitted across Jaq’s face. “They weren’t Kincaid scouts; they were yours. It’s your family that’s plotting a raid on us. With your southern enemies, it’s just business as usual.”

Kelly felt a surge of anger. This wasn’t anything she could barter for her return. “I don’t care about my family, I need to know what Kincaid is planning.”

Jaq stood, towering over the smaller woman. “You should care. Your family killed one of ours, is threatening to take our lands. Trust me, if there is a war on our doorstep, the pack would be more sympathetic at this point with your enemies to the south than your own family.”

“Let me get this straight — vampires passing through your territory get ambushed and killed. Two manage to take down one of your own. One as compared to the dozens or so you werewolves have killed, and you’re ready to jump in bed with the Kincaids? I’m sure their scouts fought back too; we just got lucky, or maybe we’re better fighters. Either way, I can’t see how you’re taking the highroad here. Trespassing surely doesn’t warrant a death sentence.”

“This is our territory,” Jaq rasped out, curling her lip slightly. “Ours. We won’t have you all feeding on our neighbors, buying up our businesses, drawing attention to us and putting us at risk. We’ve fought to keep you out this long, and we’ll continue to fight as long as we live. You signed an agreement with us. You know the risks each time you step foot over the border.”

Kelly opened her mouth to argue then realized she would have done the same. A trespasser in their territory was as good as dead. “So why let me live? I’m of the same family that killed one of your own. It would have been easy enough to kill me when they dumped me here.”

Jaq’s expression was unreadable as she stared at Kelly. “Because I’m an idiot. You looked so helpless, and the vampires who left you were horrible, throwing you around and kicking you like you were a play toy. There were too many for me to kill, so I let them go. But I just couldn’t kill you.”

“Instead you fed me.” Kelly mused. Fed her. Like she was a wounded bird and not a dangerous predator encroaching on another’s territory.

The tall woman glared. “Yeah. I helped you. You were dying, and like I said, I’m an idiot.”

And with that, the vampire made a decision. “I need to do anything I can to get back. I can’t stay here — vampires don’t live solitary lives, and your pack wouldn’t tolerate me here on a permanent basis. I appreciate what you’ve done for me. I’m sure most of your pack would rather I was dead. I’ll not only let you know what’s going on as far as any raids on the Kincaid lands, I’ll dig up what’s going on with my family and their interest in your businesses.”

The other woman smiled faintly. “That would go a long way toward convincing my pack you’re to be trusted.”

Kelly took a deep breath. “And hopefully I’ll be leaving soon.”

The werewolf looked oddly unsettled at the idea. “I patrol this area each night. Are you interested in any rival vampires I catch? Maybe you’d like to join in my hunts.”

Normally Kelly would be interested, especially with the need to provide information to her family, but given her injured state, and the fact she was unlikely to get a regular source of human blood in the heart of werewolf territory, she doubted she could keep up. Her pride swelled, choking her slightly. “No. This is your land. You go ahead; just let me know if you find anything out from those you catch, or bring them to me if you can.”

Jaq’s eyes glowed, reminding Kelly that she was not the only predator in the room. “Do you want them alive and talking, or just the heads?”

This werewolf was downright nuts. “Umm, alive and talking, but severely disabled would be best. Better dead than escaped, though.”

Jaq grinned, picking up her donut. “I agree.”

12

K
yle frowned down at his tumbler of gin. He had more pressing matters to worry about than some cast–off New starving and going insane in the werewolf territories.
You’re not ready
, a nagging voice inside his head reminded him. He wasn’t. Haste was unseemly in a vampire, but he chafed under his father’s increasingly condescending rule.

Would it really be more advantageous to wait than to act now? In another fifty years, some other vampire might have snatched Kincaid’s territory, and he’d wind up stuck between two losing options. He was Born of a Born of a Born. From the moment of his birth he’d been shepherded toward his destiny. Already at three–hundred years, he had more power than most of his father’s top advisors. Those with greater power bowed before him because of his lineage. It was good to be Prince, although it would be better to be Master. If he passed up the opportunity before him, would he find himself regretting it?

But instead of concentrating on getting his finances and alliances in order for a possible takeover, he was listening to one of his staff complain about the stupid girl. He’d dumped her in the werewolf territory expecting her to be dead within a few days, and he’d put a silver knife on the table beside her just in case she wanted to take the easy way out. He wouldn’t condemn her for using the knife. No one would. In fact, his man Rube was incensed that she hadn’t used it.

“She’s drinking blood from wildlife,” Rube repeated in outrage. “A bunny.”

“And this matters to me why?” Kyle asked in monotone voice. “I didn’t ask you to go check on her. I know you all still have bets on the table, but we have more pressing things to do. Instead, you’re tormenting an exile and critiquing her dining habits.”

“Juan was trying to collect,” Rube protested. “He was sure she was dead by now. I don’t have her killing herself until next week. Besides, she’s right next to the Kincaid border. I figured if she’s still alive she could prove of some use to us.”

Kyle sighed. “She’s a business manager, not a spy. She’ll never survive long enough to get us information. If some Kincaid scout doesn’t kill her, the werewolves or the humans will.”

“They haven’t yet. I’m sticking with my wager that she’ll last another week. She might as well be valuable for that week.”

Kyle ran a hand through his dark hair, tugging it in frustration. “Fine. Go back tonight and see what she’s managed to find out. I don’t care what you threatened, don’t kill her yourself. Her fate is in her own hands now. And besides, you’d be disqualified from the betting pool.”

“She should be dead,” Rube asserted. “What self–respecting vampire eats cute little bunnies? Meat from the grocery store is one thing, but blood from an animal? It was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

“We’ve never been a day away from starvation,” Kyle said, amusement coloring his voice. “It’s hard for us to know what we’d do in that position.”

“I’d never eat a bunny,” Rube insisted vehemently. “She doesn’t have any fangs, and she practically gnawed the thing’s head off. You should have seen it, Sir. Wager aside, if I see her eating a raccoon or a groundhog, I’m going to kill her.”

Kyle shook his head. “I said no, and I mean no. Kill her without my permission, and you’ll find yourself taking her place in that trailer. Understood?”

Rube swallowed hard and nodded.

“Good. But just to show you I’m not a complete stick–in–the–mud, let’s have a little side bet. If she dies in the next thirty days, you win. If she lives, I win.”

“Even if she’s insane?” Rube asked doubtfully.

“If she’s insane and tearing the heads off animals now, she’ll hardly live another month,” Kyle replied dryly.

“Ok,” Rube agreed. “If I win, I get my pick of the humans at the next private staff party.”

“And if I win,” Kyle said in amusement. “I get to watch you eat a rabbit.”

13

T
he moonlight through the naked trees cast faint shadows along the ground. Kelly’s night vision highlighted the warm patches where animals had recently passed, as well as the shape of a rabbit hiding in a patch of briar. Wind stirred her short black hair, but she didn’t notice. Her focus was on listening for the vampire she was to meet tonight, hoping he’d bring more blood. The small bag she’d consumed the night before only highlighted her desperate need. The boost it had given her reminded her of how many skills she’d lost, and how close to death she’d been. Her body ached with hunger, and she felt dizzy and weak.

Kelly shifted slightly and heard the crunch of leaves beneath her feet. Presumably he was to meet her in the same spot as before. He’d given her no instructions otherwise, so she’d just have to assume he’d manage to find her.

As if on cue, a shadow disengaged itself from behind an oak and moved towards her, gliding on silent feet. The wave of his aura was sharp against her skin. Family. The very feel of him brought her a sense of relief, easing the tension she experienced in this desolate place. It felt so good to have another vampire near. Even the hated Pierre would be welcome right now. Any vampire from her family helped her feel more settled, more in control.

“At least you’re not eating a bunny this time,” he sneered.

She was hungry enough to, but she’d hoped he had something better with him. Some kind of reward to keep her going.

“I have information.” She wanted to get right to the point, so she could feed. There was no way she’d be going home right away. It would probably take a few times before she proved herself enough to be allowed back home.

“Speak.”

“There are Kincaid spies and scouts that frequent the area. They move through fast and tend to exit into our territory in Hagerstown and along the Maryland border near Martinsburg. They stay a few days then pass back through on their way to Virginia. I doubt they’re planning any large–scale attack. Most likely they’re just taking preventative measures.”

“Or planning a pre–emptive strike.” The other vampire rubbed his ear, lost in thought. “How many? Are they increasing the frequency of their scouting missions, or just following a routine schedule.”

“They’ve increased, but I don’t know how many.” Kelly faltered, not wanting to give enough information away that her source would be questioned. “I’ve only been here nine days, and most of that I was unconscious. Not much time for me to see any patterns in movement or judge the frequency.”

“So catch one and interrogate him.”

Right. In her condition? Jaq had offered to assist her, to bring in the next vampire she caught so they could question him or her. Good thing, otherwise she’d really be stuck. She was a casino manager, not a spy, not a warrior. This sneaking around the woods wasn’t her strong suit. But “no” wasn’t exactly an option.

“What information does the Master wish me to obtain, specifically?” she asked.

“What Kincaid is doing in the border lands, and what he is planning.”

Kelly nodded, her heart sinking. She hated to keep going back to Jaq for help, but this wasn’t something she could do herself. “When do you need this information? I don’t really have any way of knowing when they’ll be sending more scouts over. Is there some way to contact you?”

“Nope.” The vampire seemed almost gleeful. “I’ll be back in three days.”

Three days. Let’s hope he had a bag of blood or she’d starve before he returned. “Okay.” She watched the vampire grin before breaking the silence. “Can I have some blood now? I got you the information you wanted.”

“What? Lost your taste for rabbit?”

Kelly swallowed her pride. “Please. I won’t be any good to you dead.”

His grin grew wider until he appeared eerily like the Cheshire cat in the moonlight. “Yes you will. I’ve got a sizable sum of money on you only making it one more week. Personally I care more about that than if you manage to collect any further information. You’re New. You’ll be killed by the first Kincaid scout that gets downwind of you if the werewolves don’t take you out first. Since you’ll be dead either way, I might as well profit from it.”

The vampire vanished in a burst of speed, but not before his laugh rang out through the forest.

Kelly felt anger bubble up. They ripped her fangs out, dumped her in some backwater without even a fucking toothbrush, then took odds on her survival and made a game out of her struggle. This was her
life
! Everything had been stripped from her; she was fighting to survive, and this jerk was treating it like a sweet sixteen college playoff. Screw them.

Running on adrenaline–fueled fury, she moved with vampire speed to Dale’s. It was only about midnight, and activities were in full swing. Country music pounded from the tavern, and she could hear the clink of glass and the shouts of the humans enjoying their evening. She prowled around the woods behind the bar, keeping downwind as much as possible and watching carefully for a suitable victim. Sober people going in were ruled out, and those leaving weren’t drunk enough yet to consider. It was possible she’d need to wait a few hours for a truly inebriated patron to leave.

“Scott!” a man yelled into the parking lot after a guy climbing into an old sedan. “You going to the strip club?”

A strip club? Where was the strip club?

“Yeah,” the guy yelled back. “Meet you there?”

“Gotta finish our drinks and we’ll be there,” the first guy promised, stepping back into the doorway.

Kelly walked casually by the car, identifying the particular smell of Scott as well as his vehicle then blended into a bush by the road to see which way he went. The car turned left and Kelly ran after it, keeping in the shadows. A short two miles down the road, the car pulled into another establishment advertising exotic dancers. That was it? Two friggen miles? Less than three miles from her trailer? There had to be a God and he had to be smiling on her tonight.