Halfway to the Grave

  “Don’t bother.” He interrupted my hail of the bartender and traced a finger along my jaw. “Let’s go.”

  “Now?” I looked around, thrown off guard.

  “Yeah, now. Changed your mind, luv?”

  There was a challenge in his eyes and a gleam I couldn’t decipher. Not wanting to risk losing him again, I grabbed my purse and gestured to the door.

  “Lead the way.”

  “No, no.” He grinned chillingly. “Ladies first.”

  With several glances over my shoulder, I preceded him into the parking lot. Once outside, he looked expectantly at me.

  “Well, get your ride and let’s be off.”

  “My ride? I—I don’t have a ride. Where’s your car?” I fought to remain cool, but I was inwardly rattled. This was all off my normal routine and I didn’t like it.

  “I drove a bike here. Fancy a ride on it?”

  “A motorcycle?” No, that wouldn’t do. No trunk to carry his body in, and I wasn’t about to balance it on the handlebars. Plus, I didn’t know how to ride one. “Umm, we’ll take my vehicle instead. It’s over there.”

  As I walked to the truck, I reminded myself to stagger. I hoped he’d think I had been pounding the booze.

  “Thought you didn’t have a ride,” he called after me.

  I stopped short, turning back at him. Crap, I had said that.

  “I forgot it was here, is all,” I lied breezily. “Think I drank too much. You want to drive?”

  “No, thanks,” was his immediate response. For some reason, his strong English accent grated on me.

  I tried again with a lopsided smile. He had to drive. My weapon was in my right pants leg, since I was always in the passenger seat before.

  “Really, I think you should drive. I’m feeling woozy. I’d hate to wrap us around a tree.”

  It didn’t work.

  “If you just want to beg off until another night…”

  “No!” There was desperation in my voice, which raised his eyebrow a notch. “I mean, you’re so good-looking and…” What the hell did one say? “I really, really want to get it on.”

  He stifled a laugh, dark eyes glittering. A denim jacket was casually thrown over his collared shirt. Under the streetlights, his cheekbones looked even more pronounced. I had never seen such perfectly chiseled features before.

  He looked me up and down, his tongue tracing the inside of his bottom lip.

  “Right, then, let’s be off. You’re driving.”

  Without another word, he climbed into the passenger seat of the pickup.

  Left with no other option, I got in the driver’s side and pulled away, heading for the highway. Minutes ticked by, but I didn’t know what to say. The silence was unnerving. He didn’t speak, but I felt his eyes as they moved over me. Finally I couldn’t stand it anymore and blurted the first question that came to mind.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Does it matter?”

  I glanced to my right and met his eyes. They were so dark brown they could have been black. There was that cool note of challenge in them again, almost a silent dare. It was disconcerting, to say the least. All the other ones had been perfectly willing to chat.

  “I just wanted to know. Mine’s Cat.” I exited the freeway and turned onto a nearby gravel road leading to the lake.

  “Cat, hmmm? From where I sit you look more like a Kitten.”

  My head jerked around and I shot him an annoyed look. Oh, I was going to enjoy this, all right.

  “It’s Cat,” I repeated firmly. “Cat Raven.”

  “Whatever you say, Kitten Tweedy.”

  Abruptly I slammed on the brakes. “You got a problem, mister?”

  Dark eyebrows rose. “No problem, pet. Have we stopped here for good? Is this where you want to shag?”

  There went that pesky flush again at his bluntness.

  “Um, no. A little farther up. It’s prettier there.” I steered us deeper into the woods.

  He gave a low chuckle. “I just bet it is, luv.”

  When the truck stopped at my favorite rendezvous spot, I glanced over at him. He sat exactly as he had been, immobile. There was no way I could go for the surprise in my pants yet. Clearing my throat, I gestured toward the trees.

  “Don’t you want to go outside and…shag?” It was a strange word, but much better than fuck.

  A quick grin lit his face before he responded. “Oh no. Right here. Love to do it in a truck.”

  “Well…” Damn, what now? This wouldn’t work. “There’s not much room.” Triumphantly I began to open my door.

  He didn’t budge. “Plenty of room, Kitten. I’ll stay here.”

  “Don’t call me Kitten.” My voice was sharper than romance dictated, but I was seriously aggravated. The sooner he was truly dead, the better.

  He ignored me. “Take off your clothes. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

  “Excuse me?” This was too much.

  “You weren’t going to shag me with all your clothes on, were you, Kitten?” he taunted. “Guess all you’ll need off is your knickers, then. Come on. Don’t take all bloody night.”

  Oh, I was going to make him sorry. I hoped this hurt like hell. With a superior smile, I looked back at him.

  “You first.”

  He grinned again with a flash of normal teeth. “Shy bird, are you? Didn’t peg you for the type, what with walking up to me and practically begging for it and all. How about this? We’ll do it at the same time.”

  Bastard. It was the filthiest word I could think of, and I chanted it in my mind as I warily stared at him while unbuttoning my jeans. He nonchalantly loosened his belt, unbuckled his pants, and pulled out his shirt. The action revealed a taut pale belly that was hairless until it met his groin.

  This was way further than I’d ever let things progress before. I was so embarrassed, my fingers shook as I peeled off my jeans while reaching inside them.

  “Look here, luv, see what I have for you.”

  I glanced down and saw his hand close around himself before quickly looking away. The stake was almost in my hand, all I needed was another second…

  It was my modesty that did me in. When I turned to avoid seeing his groin, I missed his hand clenching. His fist moved unbelievably fast to connect with my head. There was a flash of light followed by shooting pain, and then silence.

  Chapter Two

  SOMETHING SEEMED TO BE DIGGING AT MY brain. With agonizing slowness I opened my eyes, squinting at the unshaded lamp nearby. It made the sun seem pale in comparison. My hands were above me, my wrists ached, and the pain in my head made me immediately lean forward and throw up.

  “I thawt I thaw a putty tat.”

  The mocking voice caused my pain to dissipate in a rush of terror. When I saw the vampire close by, I shuddered.

  “I did, I did thee a putty tat!”

  Finished with his Tweety Bird imitation, he grinned unpleasantly at me. I tried to scoot back and realized my hands were chained to a wall. Both my feet were also cuffed together. My top and pants were gone, leaving me in only my bra and underwear. Even my trademark gloves were missing. Oh God.

  “Now, then, luv, let’s get down to business.” The bantering left his tone and his eyes hardened into pools of dark granite. “Who do you work for?”

  This surprised me so much, it took me a moment to answer him. “I don’t work for anyone.”

  “Bollocks.” He bit the word out precisely, and I didn’t have to know what it meant to guess he didn’t believe me. I hunched when he moved nearer.

  “Who do you work for?” With more menace.

  “No one.”

  My head snapped back as he slapped me. Tears came to my eyes, but I held them there. I was going to die, but I didn’t have to grovel.

  “Go to hell.”

  Immediately there was another ringing in my ears. This time I could taste blood.

  “Once again, who do you work for?”

  Spitting it out, I blazed up a
t him defiantly. “No one, ass-munch!”

  He blinked in surprise, and then rocked on his heels and laughed so loudly my ears rang. Regaining control, he leaned in until his mouth was inches from my face. Fangs gleamed in the light.

  “I know you’re lying.”

  His voice was a whisper. He lowered his head until his mouth brushed my neck. I held myself rigid, praying for the strength not to plead for my life.

  Cool breath blew on my skin. “I know you’re lying,” he continued. “Because last night I was looking for a bloke. When I spotted him, I saw the same lovely red-haired girl who’d been rubbing on me leaving with him. I followed, thinking I’d sneak up on him while he was occupied. Instead, I watched you plug a stake in his heart, and what a stake!” In front of my stricken eyes, he dangled my modified weapon triumphantly. “Wood on the outside, silver on the inside. Now, that’s made in America! Poof, down goes Devon! Yet it didn’t stop there. You plopped him in the trunk and drove to your truck, where you chopped his bleedin’ head off and buried him in pieces. Then you went home whistling a merry tune. How in the bloody hell could you do that, hmm? You don’t work for anyone? Then why, when I take a deep whiff here”—he put his nose against my collarbone and inhaled—“do I smell something other than human? Faint, but unmistakable. Vampire. You’ve got a boss, you do. Feeds you some of his blood, right? Makes you stronger and faster, but still only human. Us poor vamps never see it coming. All we see is…food.”

  With one finger, he pressed lightly on my jumping pulse.

  “Now, for the last time before I forget my manners, tell me who your boss is.”

  I looked at him, knowing his would be the last face I ever saw. Bitterness briefly coursed through me before I pushed it aside. There would be no complaints. Maybe, maybe the world would be a better place for what I’d done. It was all I could wish for, and so I’d die telling my executioner the truth.

  “I don’t have a boss.” Each word was poison. There was no need to be polite. “You want to know why I smell like a human and a vampire? Because that’s what I am. Years ago, my mother went on a date with what she thought was a nice guy. He turned out to be a vampire, and he raped her. Five months later there was me, premature but fully developed, with a whole slew of funky abilities. When she finally told me about my father, I promised her I’d kill every vampire I found to make up for it. To ensure no one else suffered what she had to. She’s been afraid to leave her home ever since! I hunt for her, and the only thing I regret about dying now is that I didn’t take more of you with me!”

  My voice rose until I screamed the last part, hurling the words in his face. I closed my eyes and braced for the killing blow.

  Nothing. No sound, no strike, no pain. After a moment I peeked to see him standing exactly where he’d been. He tapped his chin with his finger and looked at me with an expression that could only be described as thoughtful.

  “Well?” Fear and resignation strained my voice to the breaking point. “Kill me already, you pathetic suck-neck!”

  That earned me an amused glance. “Ass-munch. Suck-neck. You kiss your mum with that mouth?”

  “Don’t you talk about my mother, murderer! Your kind isn’t fit to speak of her!”

  A ghost of a smile hovered on his lips. “Bit of the pot calling the kettle black, isn’t it? I’ve seen you do murder. And if what you’re telling me is true, you’re the same kind I am.”

  I shook my head. “I am nothing like your kind! You’re all monsters, preying on innocent people and caring nothing about the lives you wreck. The vampires I killed attacked me—it was their bad luck I was ready for them. I might have some of this cursed blood in my veins, but at least I was using it to—”

  “Oh, stick a sock in it already,” he interrupted me with an irritated tone you’d use to scold a child. “You always ramble on so? No wonder your dates went right for your throat. Can’t say as I blame them.”

  Speechless, I gaped at him. With absolute clarity I understood the phrase adding insult to injury. First he’d slapped me soundly, now he was going to slander me before murdering me.

  “I hate to interrupt your sympathy session over the other dead vampires, but are you going to be killing me soon or what?” Brave words, I thought. At least it beat sniveling.

  Faster than I could blink, his mouth was at the pounding pulse in my neck. Everything inside me froze as I felt the unmistakable graze of teeth. Please don’t let me beg. Please don’t let me beg.

  Abruptly he leaned back again, leaving me trembling in relief and fear. One eyebrow cocked upward at me.

  “In a hurry to die, are you? Not before you answer a few more questions.”

  “What makes you think I will?”

  A curl of his mouth preceded his response.

  “Believe me, you’ll like it much more if you do.”

  I cleared my throat and tried to slow my heartbeat. No need to keep ringing the dinner bell for him.

  “What do you want to know? Maybe I’ll tell you.”

  That little smirk widened. Nice to know one of us was having a good time.

  “Brave little Kitten, I’ll give you that. Right, then. Suppose I believe you’re the offspring of a human and a vampire. Almost unheard of, but we’ll get back to that. Then let’s say I believe you troll clubs hunting us evil deads to avenge your mum. The question remains, how did you know what to use to kill us? It’s not an open secret. Most humans think good old wood will do it. But not you. You’re telling me you’ve never dealt with vampires before, except to kill them?”

  In the midst of all that was occurring, my life over and a horrible death looming in front of me, I spoke the first words that popped into my mind.

  “You got anything to drink around here? Nothing with clots in it, I mean, or that can be classified as O-negative or B-positive. Hmm?”

  He let out an amused snort. “Thirsty, luv? What a coincidence. So am I.”

  With those frightening words, he pulled a flask out of his jacket and placed the rim against my lips, tilting it. My manacled hands were useless, so I wrapped my teeth around it and used them for leverage. It was whiskey and it burned slightly going down, but I kept swallowing until the last drop trickled down my throat. Sighing, I released my bite and let the flask drop back into his hand.

  He held it upside down, apparently bemused by its lack of contents. “If I’d known you were such a lush, I’d have given you the cheap stuff. Going to go out with a bang, are you?”

  I shrugged as much as my raised arms would allow.

  “What’s the matter? Did I ruin my flavor for you? I’m sure I’ll be turning over in my grave worrying that you didn’t like how I tasted. I hope you choke on my blood, you jerk.”

  That drew more laughter. “Good form, Kitten! But enough stalling. How did you know what to use if no vampire told you?”

  Another modified shrug. “I didn’t. Oh, I’d read a hundred books or more about our…your kind after hearing about my father. They all varied. Some said crosses, sunlight, wood, or silver. It was pure luck, really. One night a vampire approached me at a club and then took me for a drive. Of course, he couldn’t have been nicer, right up until he tried to eat me alive. I made up my mind that I was going to kill him or die trying, and the big cross dagger was all I had on me. It worked, though it took a bit of doing. So, presto, I knew about silver. Later I found that wood didn’t work at all. Got myself a nice scar on the thigh to prove it. That vamp laughed when he saw my stake. Clearly, he wasn’t afraid of wood. Then when I was making caramel apples it occurred to me to hide the silver in something a vampire would think was harmless. It didn’t seem like such a stretch. Most of you are so busy eyeing my neck, you don’t see me pull out my pointy friend. There you have it.”

  He shook his head slowly back and forth as if uncomprehending. Finally, he fixed piercing eyes on me and burst out, “Are you telling me bloody caramel apples and books taught you how to kill vampires? Is that what you’re saying?”

  He
started to pace in short, rapid lengths. “It’s a damn good thing most of the recent generations are nearly illiterate or we’d all be in serious trouble. Blimey!” Throwing back his head, he laughed in rich, deep peals of mirth. “That’s the funniest bleedin’ bit I’ve heard in decades!” Still chuckling, he returned until he was next to me again.

  “How did you know he was a vampire when you saw him? Did you know, or did you not find out until he tried to have an artery party?”

  Artery party? Well, that was one way to put it. “Honestly, I don’t know how I knew. I just did. For starters, your kind looks different. All of you do. Your skin looks…ethereal, almost. You move different, more purposefully. And when I’m near you, I feel it in the air, like static electricity. Happy now? Heard what you wanted?” Desperately I tried to hang on to my courage, but this chattering was eating away at it. Being flippant was all I had left.

  “Almost. How many vampires have you killed? Don’t lie to me, or I’ll know it.”

  Pursing my lips, I considered lying despite the warning. Would it be better if he thought I’d only killed a couple? Maybe it wouldn’t make any difference. If he could tell I was lying, perhaps he’d do more than just kill me. There were so many things worse than death….

  “Sixteen, including your friend from last night.” Honesty won out.

  “Sixteen?” he repeated in disbelief, looking me over thoroughly again. “Sixteen vampires you took out yourself with nothing but a stake and your cleavage? Makes me ashamed of my kind, it does.”

  “And I would have killed more if I hadn’t been too young to get into bars, since they’re vampire trolling ground, not to mention all the time I had to take off when my grandfather got sick,” I flared. So much for trying not to make him angrier.

  In a flash he was gone, leaving me staring at the spot where he’d just been. He certainly moved fast. Faster than any vampire I’d seen. I cursed my earlier impatience. If only I’d waited until the next weekend to hunt again. If only.

  Left alone, I craned my neck to see where I was. With a start, I realized I must be in a cave. There was the sound of dripping water in the background, and it was dark even for my eyes. The single bald lamp only shone light in the immediate vicinity. The rest was blackness as complete as my nightmares. I heard slight echoes of him in the distance, how far away I had no idea. Seizing my chance, I wrapped my fingers around the braces holding me and pulled downward with all of my strength. Sweat popped out on my brow, my legs clenched with effort, and I channeled every muscle toward that singular goal.