No Man's Land (13 page)

The image flashed before Jaq’s eyes, and it wasn’t a pretty one. No werewolf would willingly let another bite them. The whole thing would dissolve into a nasty, probably deadly, fight. But what was the alternative?

“We
need
her; everyone is just too blind to see it. She may be young, but she’s smart, and she can help us defend our territory. And she’s not a monster. She’s actually nice. And funny.”

“She’s not your pet, Jaq. She’s a rival predator, and nice or not, she’s going to turn on you. We can’t trust her. I promised you a week, and I’ll stand by that. Help her get in good with her family then let her go back with them. It’s for the best.”

Jaq squirmed. “They’re not going to let her back. I can tell. They’re using her. Even if she does what they say, I’ve got a feeling they’ll just leave her here and laugh while she starves to death.”

“Well then, the best thing is to kill her now. You can’t let an animal starve to death, even a monster. Put her down.”

“No! She’s not a monster. I’ve talked to her, and she’s no different than us, just with some odd dietary requirements. Why can’t she stay? She’ll never be able to return to her family, and the vampire group won’t accept her. If we figure out a way to get her blood, then why can’t she just stay here?”

Jonah snarled, his eyes golden. “Jaq, you overstep your bounds. I won’t have a vampire in our territory.”

“It’s not just our territory; it’s the humans’ territory too. What do you think is going to happen if the vampires move in here? What do you think will happen to us? You can piss on the borders all you want, pretend that we’re the big bad in the woods, but at the end of the day we’re just a bunch of wolves hiding from the outside world.”

“And one vampire, some young, barely turned thing, is going to make all the difference?”

“One vampire and me. We just need forewarning, and with a big show of force, they’ll leave us alone. It worked once, centuries ago, it can work again.”

Jonah shook his head, his eyes dimming to warm brown. “It’s too risky, Jaq. We’re pledged to protect you, and we can’t do that if you don’t lay low. Besides, it’s not just you at risk; it’s the whole pack, and it’s werewolves as an entire species.”

She nodded. “I know. I’m thinking of a way we can pull it off without revealing too much, but we need this vampire.”

Jaq winced slightly at Jonah’s wry expression. He turned to tend to his quail, and she let the silence stretch on. One. Two. Three.

“All right. I don’t see how some vampire girl is going to get us out of this, but I’ll give you a few extra weeks. Just keep a tight leash on her.”

Relief washed over her. “I think we can make this work. I’ve already talked Dale into giving her a job at the bar. She’ll feed us information on what the other vampire groups are doing. She can be a valuable asset to us. We just have to figure out how to keep her from starving to death.”

“Not my problem,” Jonah growled. “I’m trusting you on this one, Jaq. Don’t screw up.”

The werewolf dipped her head in respect and took her leave, striding into the chill morning breeze. There was no plan. She had no idea how Kelly could be of help beyond supplying information, and even that might be worthless. Jaq’s main goal should be to protect the pack, to keep their territory intact, but she needed to be able to sleep at night. Kelly’s face flashed before her — pale skin with a silky cap of black hair and equally dark eyes. But it wasn’t the vampire’s features that hung in Jaq’s memory; it was the desperation behind her eyes. The girl had no options right now, no road that didn’t lead to her death. She could talk all she wanted about reinstatement with her family, but Jaq saw deep inside that the vampire feared her end was near. That wasn’t the look of a monster.

Kelly might be a ruthless predator, sneaky, conniving, and untrustworthy, but she was
not
a monster. Jaq wasn’t about to toss her out of the state into the clutches of those who would like nothing more than to rip her apart. If their territory was big enough for humans, werewolves, and her, then it would surely be big enough for one small vampire.

15

I
don’t know, Elizabeth.” George’s voice was thick with doubt and fear. His hand reached for hers and gripped. She felt the cold sweat on his palm. It sent a feeling of unease through her that she couldn’t manage to shake.

This was a different George than the lanky, sixteen–year–old butcher’s apprentice she’d run away with. That one had blown into the frozen emptiness of her life like a breath of warm summer air. He’d wooed her with his quick smile, and his promises of riches and power. She’d abandoned everything in a heartbeat, less interested in riches and power than the promise of something different in the boy’s sparkling blue eyes. Unlike the other men, he hadn’t smelled like onions, and his hands awoke a fire beneath her skin. She’d followed him into the dank dark of the catacombs and had happily talked to these intense strangers with him. George was her sunshine, the only happiness she’d ever known.

“Don’t be silly. So you saw one of them feeding. I’ve seen worse things in back alleys late at night.”

Her voice came out strong, confident, but inside she wasn’t. Why should she care? People did horrible things to each other all the time. These strangers might treat her with the same cool detachment as nearly every human she’d met in her life, but at least it didn’t concern them that she was a girl — or that she was a bastard.

“I’m not going through with it.” George looked around him nervously, clearly worried that someone might overhear. “They said we could say ‘no’ at any point if we wanted to. Let’s leave. We’re not locked in, and I know the way out. Let’s go now.”

And go back to the kitchens to peel vegetables? Cook would never let her return after she had run off with the butcher’s boy. How long would they survive on the streets? How long before George abandoned her and she wound up lifting her skirts for anyone that would have her, just to put a bit of food in her belly? She looked over at the boy, and his brightness dimmed.

Pulling her up by her hand, he stood and guided her to the doorway, his other hand firm on her lower back. He hadn’t even waited for her decision, just assumed she’d come with him. Should she? He was her sunshine. Fear gripped her at the thought of remaining in these dark stone rooms without him, surrounded by cold, emotionless beings that drank blood. George opened the door and a damp breeze stirred the loose strands of dark hair at her neck. She hesitated, hearing a thumping from far away, and a sound — as if someone was calling.

Kelly woke up to her door banging and the now familiar “Heloooo” of her neighbor Melody. For a moment, she tightened her hand and felt nothing.
Where was George?
Panic gripped her. Gone. They’d said he had moved on, forgotten her, and she’d been crushed. Years later she’d learned the truth, but by then it was too late to change her course. Far too late.

George. The pain was like a knife of silver through her chest, even after nearly two centuries. It was too long ago to still hurt this bad. George had belonged to another person — Elizabeth, the human. She was Kelly, the vampire, and there was someone banging persistently at her door.

“Helooo!” The loud knocking thankfully stopped, but the slam of the door alerted Kelly to the fact that Melody was no longer on her front step, but
inside
the trailer. Opening her eyes, she winced at the light and struggled to rise from the lumpy bed. Her head throbbed, and she felt an odd combination of peppy and ready to puke. Why couldn’t the dratted woman let her sleep? Why didn’t they respect the fact that she was nocturnal? She’d put old newspaper all over her bedroom windows, but it wouldn’t help her sleep during the day if the darned humans kept forcing her to keep to their schedule.

“Wake up, sweetie. Jaq and I are here with some food. I’m making coffee.”

Kelly buried her head under a pillow. It was no use. Melody was relentless. If she didn’t get up, the woman would be in her bedroom to ‘check’ on her. At least she’d brought food. That was one good point.

Kelly shuffled out in the borrowed oversized sweatpants and t–shirt, already smelling the coffee. Melody bustled about the little kitchen area, and Jaq looked up at her, snickering before turning her gaze away.

“How are you feeling this morning,
sweetie
?”

Dratted werewolf. Kelly rubbed her throbbing head and glared at the tall woman. “As good as can be expected.”

Melody chuckled. “Did you go out and tie one on last night? Don’t you worry one bit. Auntie Melody has the perfect hangover cure. I’ll just get breakfast going here and run over to my place and get it. I always keep it handy for Joe. He sometimes has a few too many beers at poker night, you know?”

What Kelly did know was that she’d need to watch this neighbor of hers. Jaq wasn’t the only sharp one around here. In spite of her appearance, Melody was pretty quick on the uptake.

“You are so thin,” Melody continued, looking Kelly over. “And I can’t believe how much food you go through. Didn’t that horrible man of yours ever feed you? No, don’t answer that. We’re not going to speak of him at all. I saw you went out last night, and I’m glad you’re starting to have some fun, but you need to be very careful. You’re just a tiny thing, and there are some pretty rough places around here.”

Kelly wasn’t sure whether to be amused that Melody thought her incapable of protecting herself, or alarmed that she was apparently keeping an eye on her comings and goings just as closely as the werewolves were.

“Early this morning, some man was found passed out in his car, all bloody from a fight at that titty bar down the road.” She giggled. “Did I say titty? Oh, I shouldn’t laugh. That poor man. He’s okay, but that’s what he gets, drunk and lusting after those loose women. You should be very careful. It’s not safe for a woman to be out alone at night. Next time take Jaq with you, or maybe Tanya. No, not Tanya; she’s liable to leave you stranded the moment some cute guy offers her a beer.”

Kelly stiffened and exchanged a quick, anxious glance with Jaq. It didn’t sound like the man had died, thank God. She’d taken so much blood from him that she hadn’t been sure, despite Jaq’s reassurances. She did need to be more careful, although not in the way Melody meant.

“I brought more food,” Jaq told her with a rather peculiar look. “I know you’re hungry. I’ll do the best I can to make sure you have what you need.”

The tall woman took an armful of ziplock bags from a sack and sat them on the counter, then reached back for more.

“Goodness Jaq,” Melody scolded. “Drain some of the blood out of those things before you put them in the fridge. That’s just gross.”

“No,” Jaq said sharply as she grabbed the bags. “They need that. Gives the meat flavor. Makes it tender.” She shot Kelly a stern look and stuffed the bags quickly into the refrigerator.

“Well, you’re the expert, dear,” Melody said cheerfully. “Jaq is such a good hunter,” she told Kelly. “She’s always giving us bologna, ground venison, and other stuff. She brought us squab a few weeks back. It was very good. I like it much better than that squirrel stew from the other week.”

Jaq smiled fondly at the plump woman. “If you run out, I’ve got more. I’m working this afternoon, but Mike’s home and he can get a few for you out of the ice box.”

Kelly looked at her fridge bursting with bags of meat floating in blood. There was no way she was going to force more cow blood down her throat. No way.

The fresh human blood she’d had last night should hold her for a few days. After that, she’d be back to living on the edge. Perhaps if she didn’t wait so long this time, she’d have better control trying to feed from a human. Where could she go that Jaq wouldn’t know? The woman probably wouldn’t let her out of her sight after what happened last night.

“I’ll definitely take you up on that, Jaq,” Melody replied. It took Kelly a moment to realize they were still talking about the squabs. “Not tonight though. We’re having pre–Thanksgiving Thanksgiving. Turkey and all the works. Joe loves it so much that we can never wait for the actual holiday. You’re coming over for dinner.”

Kelly started, realizing the command was directed at her. No! She had to hunt for Kincaid spies tonight. The vampire glanced out the window, quickly calculating sunset to be just before seven in the evening.

“How early?” Hopefully this whole dinner obligation would be over before nightfall. It’s not like she could say “no” after all the woman had done for her. It just wouldn’t be polite.

“Five. Come over at three, though. You can help me cook while Joe watches his game.” The woman dashed over to Kelly, and before she could flinch, wrapped her arms around her in a crushing hug and planted a wet kiss on her cheek. “See you soon!”

Kelly stared in shock as the woman darted out the door. Jaq made a choking sound then lost control and bent over laughing. “Your face; if only you could have seen your face,” she gasped.

“How in the world do you stand her? She’s so cheerful. I just want to rip her head clean off her body.”

Jaq wiped her eyes. “I know, I know. But she’s sincere. There’s never an ulterior motive with Melody.”

“That’s the only thing keeping her alive right now. That and her tuna casserole.”

Jaq laughed again. It came out as a snort, and Kelly couldn’t help but grin. “Just remember that when you’re suffering through hours of turkey and mashed potatoes tonight. You’ve got to refrain from killing her, otherwise no more tuna casserole.”

Kelly groaned. “And that couldn’t come at a worse time! I need to find a Kincaid scout to interrogate. How am I going to do that when I’m helping her stuff a turkey? Not that I know how to stuff a turkey. Or how to interrogate a vampire.”

With an easy jump, Jaq sat on the counter edge, tucking her legs up in an impressive show of agility and balance. “I’ll do the vampire search and then meet up with you after your dinner. How fast are you?”

The vampire couldn’t help the little noise of superiority. “Faster than you.”

“I doubt that.” Jaq grinned. “Will you be strong enough for a dash to Martinsburg? He or she may be pretty far ahead of us by the time you’re taking that last bite of pumpkin pie.”