Reborn to Bite (Vampire Shadows Book 1) (29 page)

They walked back to Conzelman Road, and spotted Deirdre and Ethan by a Winnebago motor home at the scenic outlook up the hill. They made their way to the RV and piled in, Sabine putting herself between Doug and Kelly the whole way.

Deirdre sat in the front passenger seat as Ethan got into the driver's seat. Lorenzo, Ernesto and Melina went to sit in the bedroom in back, while Doug and Tiana and Shelby shared the sofa opposite the dinette. The dinette had room for four, but the seats facing backward were occupied by an elderly couple. They sat like statues.

Kelly slipped into the dinette, and Sabine slipped in next to her, blocking her in.

"What's with them?" Kelly asked, pointing to the couple.

Sabine sighed. "It would be really difficult to explain why you're covered with dirt and have blood all over your chest. So Ethan and Deirdre put them in a trance."

Kelly shook her head weakly. "So how can you- we- I thought vamp-"

"First things first," Sabine said, holding up a hand. "Doug, can you take Tiana in the back? Maybe you should see if you guys can stump Melina with trivia questions. Doesn't that sound like fun?"

Tiana's eyes had rarely left Kelly, except to check with Sabine that everything was okay with having a freshly dug-up person walking around with them. Tiana nodded a little.

Doug lifted Tiana up and walked to the back of the RV. Ethan put the RV in gear and pulled onto the highway heading into town.

Once Doug closed the door separating the back, Sabine continued in a hushed whisper. "Okay, first thing, we need to keep the whole 'being a vampire' thing on the down-low whenever humans are listening. There's a Council that leads the vampires. They might go hurting people that learn too much. The less people know about us, the better. Second, you and I aren't your run-of-the-mill vampire. We have our souls bound to us, which is kind of a huge deal. We're called 'Damphir'. The rest are hanging onto their souls by a thread, cursed to walk in darkness. Thanks to me and a thing called a blood bond, the vampires in this RV can walk around during the day without turning into a fireworks show."

Kelly shook her head. "This has to be a nightmare."

"It's not Kelly, I'm sorry. Neville did this to me last year. I didn't have anyone to help me when I was fresh out of the ground. You have us, and I plan to stop Neville if I can, before another girl has to wake up like you just did."

"I need to make a phone call," Kelly said, then looked around. "How long was I buried?"

"Two days. You can't tell anyone you're a Damphir or vampire though. I mean it. Unless someone's around to erase their memories if they freak out," Sabine said, as they stopped in the traffic for the toll booths. "People running around with knowledge of vampires have a way of getting killed."

"I don't want to drink blood anymore," Kelly said, looking a little panicked.

"Look, I totally know how you feel. Been there. But there are people who actually can benefit from giving blood to you. People with high blood pressure and diabetes, and a few other things. The healing properties of our saliva actually have some very beneficial effects. And you can transmit pleasure into your donor. I've spent the last year trying to figure out a way to live with this without hurting people. I was actually thinking about starting a clinic."

Kelly stared at Sabine. "Are you insane?"

Sabine laughed. "I sent Tiana out because we really need to avoid filling her head with too much vampire stuff. It'll be bad enough if the vampire Council finds out that humans are running around with knowledge of us. A human with intimate knowledge, well... the Ancients are apparently ruthless in enforcing secrecy."

"Great. So how do I explain being gone for two days?"

"Maybe an accident. You had amnesia, and just woke up. Tell people you're gonna need to go to the doctor and get it checked out. We'll get you home so you can use your own phone so there are fewer questions. We can help you adjust. Otherwise, you run the risk of losing control and being declared a Rogue."

"I work at a coffee shop. My boss is an ass. He's probably already fired me. I'll lose my apartment!"

"Relax. We'll help you with money if you need it for now. Besides," Sabine added with a smile, "you'll find that you can convince your boss of just about anything now."

Kelly stared at the old man sitting in the dinette for a minute, and waved her hand in front of the old guy's face. "You think I might lose control?"

"This thing we are, it's like having an addiction that can drive you insane. If you go without blood too long, then you start losing your inhibitions. Eventually, you lose your morality, then your sanity. The desire to feed overwhelms everything. If you let that feeling take hold, and nobody can control you, then you're called a Rogue. Then the other things that go bump in the night will try to hunt you down and kill you."

"Why?"

"To keep you from exposing our existence. For fun. You name it," Sabine said.

Kelly nodded.

"Where are we heading?" Ethan asked from the driver's seat.

"Excuse me for just a sec, Kelly." Sabine gave directions to Mike and Esmerelda's house. Then she dialed the number on her cell. "Hi! Who's this? Mike? I'm so sorry for your loss–"

"That's nice of you, but we're very busy at the moment," Mike replied.

"Yes, if there's anything I can do–"

"I promise to let you know."

"I was wondering if I can come over and see Trent. In about twenty minutes?"

"Sure."

"Can I bring my people?"

"If they want to guard the perimeter of the property, that's fine. But we can't afford any vamps in the house right now. Everyone is tense, and the slightest provocation might push them over the edge."

"Okay, thanks Mike. See you soon," Sabrina said, and clicked "end" on her phone.

"That's so freaky," Kelly said.

"What?" Sabine asked, putting the phone in her pocket.

"I could hear that guy Mike's voice on the other end like he was standing here."

"The hearing is great, unless you're trying to sleep. You'll find that sleeping during the day is much easier. The sun will make you dead tired - literally - unless you're really well fed," Sabine said, then gestured to Shelby. "Shelby and the rest are lucky. They're dead to the world during the day unless I juice them."

"I miss dreaming though," Shelby said, a faraway look in her eyes. "But the whole world is like a dream come true now. Sorry Kelly, but I totally love being a vampire."

They arrived at Mike's and Esmerelda's house, and Sabine introduced everyone out on the porch since the werewolves weren't willing to invite vampires in. Val decided to leave, complaining of the smell, but the rest were cordial. Trent still had a limp. They hadn't repaired the damage to the house yet. Bullet holes riddled the siding, and several exterior walls looked like they'd been hit with a wrecking ball in the shape of a man. Or a wolf. A small nearby tree lay felled, splintered as though it had been snapped by blunt force.

When Kelly found out Esmerelda was a witch, she hissed like a scared cat.

Sabine stared at Kelly. "You need to feed."

Kelly clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes going wide. "I'm so sorry." She started pressing her temples. "God, I hate this."

Sabine took Kelly's hands and looked into her eyes. "It's going to be okay. We'll help you. Esmerelda is a good witch."

Esmerelda had them sit in the chairs on the porch, and brought out a cup of tea. She handed it to Kelly. "This might help soothe your nerves."

"Is it a potion?"

"It's just Earl Grey, with two sugars; the way you like it," Esmerelda said, sitting in a chair across from them.

Sabine smiled, guessing that Esmerelda had done a reading on Kelly and had approved of the new Damphir.

"Grandma?" Elise stepped out onto the porch, a tear rolling down her face. She held a cordless phone out to Esmerelda.

Esmerelda took the phone, and a minute later she clicked it off. "Phoebe and her daughter are dead."

"How?" Sabine asked, her stomach sinking.

"Werewolves. Two of Lance's pack were found at the scene, dying from Phoebe's magic. Her ward had a karma clause in the magic; whatever someone brought to the house would be rewarded in kind. It was meant for good."

Sabine sat back in stunned silence, then looked down when she heard a cracking sound where she gripped the armrest of her chair. "I should have thought to protect Phoebe also."

Trent shook his head from where he leaned against the house. "It's not your fault."

The others all agreed.

Esmerelda sighed. "We cast a summoning spell to bring those responsible for all the recent troubles before us, but it may be months before the magic takes effect. Our magic works slowly."

Sabine thought about Doug, and the walk he had taken. Doug had known what was coming, just maybe not on a conscious level. As she started thinking about whether there might be a way to use his gift, she recalled the spell Esmerelda had wanted Heather to cast in Nevada, using Sabine as a conduit. "What if you focused a spell through me, like you wanted to do in Nevada?"

Esmerelda rubbed her chin in contemplation. "You'd have to glamour the whole city."

Sabine thought about the overloaded feeling she'd had on werewolf blood, and how even before that she'd glamoured a whole block. Could she do it? She looked at Trent, worry in her eyes. She didn't want to bite him again. "Maybe if the werewolves helped me."

Trent nodded. "Phoebe was a good friend. I'll do it."

"Let's do it," Sabine said.

A few hours after sunset, the covens gathered on the island in Stow Lake. Thirteen women stood together in the clearing by the reservoir at the top of the hill, nervous but resolute. Their whole families stood nearby to bear witness. They were all dressed in black, mourning the loss of Phoebe and her daughter.

For the first time in their history, vampires were allowed on the island. The witches treated Claudia like a heroine. And Claudia refused to take any credit unless Sabine's role was recognized.

The werewolves were gathered there too, in spite of the fact that the full moon was only days away. The werewolves seemed to bristle with anger, filling the air with pheromones as Esmerelda eulogized Phoebe and her daughter. When Esmerelda finished, there wasn't a dry eye in the group. Even Kelly, the newest addition to their group, looked sad. Kelly's eyes darted from face to face, and she fidgeted in her borrowed clothes.

Sabine turned and whispered to Kelly. "I'm sorry you got tossed in the deep end like this."

Kelly stared at her before whispering back. "Witches. Werewolves. Vampires. They're all real."

"Yup," Sabine whispered, putting an arm around Kelly as they sat when everyone else did. "I was all alone for a year before I discovered all this. I've only known these folks a few days, but they're good people."

"After this, can I go home?"

Sabine smiled at her. "Sure. But we need to stay in touch. You'll need help for a while."

Kelly stared at her hands in her lap and nodded.

Esmerelda addressed the group. "Regina and Michaela have been involved in two ritual sacrifices, and are missing. We have a pack of werewolves that are involved in several murders. We're going to summon them all."

"We already did a summoning spell," one of the witches replied. "We just have to be patient."

Sabine stood. "You can use me as a conduit and get them to respond tonight."

"I have a theory that Sabine's vampire glamour can amplify our spell a thousand times over," Esmerelda said.

The witches sucked in a breath and started murmuring and debating and arguing. Someone mentioned sorcery attracting the attention of demons.

Sabine sat back down and started to worry that their tricks might have some repercussions.

"So this might be dangerous?" Kelly asked, suddenly worried.

Sabine shrugged. "Maybe. But I want justice. I want to protect these people from the bad people out there. I'd like the guy who killed me... twice mind you... to know how it feels to be on the receiving end of that."

"I don't remember anything at all," Kelly said, staring at the symbols on her palms.

"Be happy you don't," Sabine said, trying to block the images that popped into her mind. "But if the memories ever come back, I'll be there for you if you need someone to talk to."

Kelly mumbled her thanks.

Trent sat down with them and put an arm around Sabine. He brushed an errant hair out of Sabine's face. "You ready to impress this crowd? You don't have to if you don't want to."

Sabine smiled. "It's a little late to be having second thoughts."

"Oh, for God's sake, just kiss already," Shelby said.

Trent smiled and kissed Sabine on the forehead.

Sabine turned and glared at Shelby. "Bad minion."

Shelby laughed. "Whenever I can be, Boss."

The witches assembled in a circle, and started chanting.

Trent pulled up his sleeve. "Take a little of my blood."

"You're just hoping for some of that pleasure thing again."

Trent shrugged and smiled. "What can I say? This isn't totally selfless. But it'll help the cause."

Sabine nodded and took his arm, biting down as she sent a small wave of pleasure into him. She closed her eyes as the power of his blood filled her. She pulled away as her vision started to blur and go into hyper-focus. She licked the wound closed, letting her tongue linger a beat too long. She looked up at Trent and touched his face. She fought the urge to kiss him.

She turned to Kelly.

Kelly's eyes grew wide as she stared. "Your eyes..."

"Yeah. Black and glowing, check. Time for me to go do my thing."

Sabine ducked under the witches' outstretched arms to enter their circle. Esmerelda pointed to a spot at the exact center, and Sabine took her position there. Sabine breathed slowly to calm herself, trying to focus through all the sensations of life around her. She sent out her power, feeling the island. Then the park. She felt vampires in the nearby streets, and kept going. She released more power, sensing more vampires, and then werewolves.

She could tell the vampires noticed her energy. She could feel their curiosity. She could feel them moving. Coming as if summoned. But they hadn't been summoned by the magic. They were coming on their own.

"Vampires. They can sense me, and they're coming to investigate," Sabine whispered.

Esmerelda said a few words and suddenly the ward came up around the island. Sabine felt nothing outside it.

A backlash of energy slammed Sabine. Pain filled her mind. She screamed and fell to her knees.

"What is it?" Esmerelda's voice called. Her voice sounded small and far away.

Sabine swallowed, trying to make her mouth move. "The ward is blocking me."

"Oh shoot. Sorry," Esmerelda said, then said a few words. The ward came back down.

Sabine felt the backlash of power flow back out from the circle like a tsunami, taking away her pain as it flowed. She pushed it, eager to make the pain stop.

She felt the whole peninsula a few seconds later. Outside of their gathering, she sensed one hundred and fourteen vampires, twelve werewolves, and exactly two witches. Along with about a million humans. And a few beings she didn't recognize.

"I'm ready," Sabine said, holding her focus without opening her eyes.

The seconds ticked by as the vampires came at them and the witches chanted. Esmerelda and the others used the words of summoning.

As the vampires entered the park around them, Esmerelda touched Sabine's forehead with a spell.

Everything went black.

Sabine felt life flow back into her. Then she felt Trent holding her. She opened her eyes to see Mike looking down into her face with his forearm over her mouth.

His blood tasted like Heaven.

Sabine licked the wound shut, stifling a whimper. She looked up at a blurry Mike. "Th-thanks," she slurred, "but I'm tryin' to cut down." She giggled. "Get it? 'Cut'?"

"We need you," he replied, as they lifted her up.

"How long wash I-" Sabine slurred before a wave of dizziness hit her. She closed her eyes and took a second to get her equilibrium back. Her legs felt like clouds under her, and she leaned on Trent for support. She looked up at him and smiled. "You're hot."

Trent rolled his eyes and stood her up. "You're drunk."

The witches stood in a wider circle than before, but now they were facing outward with the families on the inside. Two packs of werewolves stood outside the circle, in wolf form, facing off with each other and growling.

They were massive.

The werewolves each looked bigger than a Mastiff or Great Dane, standing shoulder height to a human. Their mouths looked large enough to bite someone's arm off, and had about as many teeth as a great white shark.

Regina and Michaela stood nearby, in a protective circle of their own, with a werewolf staring them down. Sabine's vampires stood behind Regina and Michaela, looking like they were guarding them.

Trent looked Sabine in the eyes. "You've been out for a couple of hours. We've been feeding you our blood for a while."

"Oh God," Sabine said, looking at Trent. She looked back at the wolves. "Why d'int someone s-someone take Lance's pack prisoner?"

Trent shook his head. "We tried. It's a stalemate. We used up all our silver ammo and everyone shifted. Each side has seven fighters in wolf form, since Mike and I were trying to revive you. We need you and your people to try to take down one wolf so we can have enough advantage to win."

"You need-" Sabine paused to count. "-six-seven-eight vampires to handle just one wolf?"

"We're much stronger than you when we're in wolf form," Mike said. "And completely immune to vampire mind tricks."

"Let's test that," Sabine said, sending out a wave of power.

She cursed as the energy reverberated back off the circle of witches, and several of the women cried out. The witches struggled but held their ward, and a damn powerful one. She could sense how worn out the women were. They couldn't hold on much longer.

"Sorry," Sabine shouted. She looked around and saw Kelly, sitting on the ground and being comforted by Doug and Tiana and some of the witches' family members. Kelly held her knees and rocked back and forth, looking like she was about to have a breakdown.

"You. Should watch Kelly. Don't... let her... hurt any-one, if things go bad." Sabine said, staggering around Trent.

"What are you going to do?" He asked.

"I'm gonna go," Sabine said, pointing at his chest, "-kick some werewolf ASS!"

She noticed a few appalled expressions around her and quickly added, "Not the good werewolves. The bad werewolves." She looked up and smiled at Trent, poking him in the chest. "You know what I mean." She turned to the rest of the group. "He knows what I mean."

The group stared at her like they had been chewing on lemons or smelling something nasty. Maybe they didn't think Trent knew what she meant.

Sabine took a deep breath and staggered carefully to the women holding hands at the outer edge. She ducked under a pair of the witches' arms that were shaking from fatigue. The witches had their eyes closed, chanting. Sabine tolerated the feeling of walking through Jell-O, and took a reflexive breath when she cleared the ward.

Her Family filled her head.
Don't try to fight them Mistress, they're too strong.

Sabine ignored them and sent her power out toward the werewolves, drawing her sword. She felt less drunk, but realized that Mike was right. The wolves ignored her power as if it had been a slight breeze.

The werewolf nearest her Family turned an ear her way, but other than that, nobody moved.

"Okay," Sabine said. She flicked her sword. "There's more than one way to skin a dog."

Sabine charged.

The werewolf by her Family turned and bared fangs at her.

She took a leap.

The werewolf charged, maw snapping for Sabine's throat.

Sabine landed and bent back, dodging the bite. Her sword slid across the werewolf's throat. Blood sprayed on her, and she dove aside. The werewolf tried to bite, but fell forward instead. Sabine drew her blade across the beast's gut, spilling the contents in a gruesome pile before jumping back to avoid another bite.

Two wolves broke from the rest to attack her, and the rest became a snarling melee of fur and fangs.

Sabine feinted right and dove to the left, dodging two snarling fang-filled mouths. She rolled to her feet while the werewolves were still turning, and dove forward like an Olympic gymnast on crack. Her blade sliced through the rib cage of the first wolf and stuck. She lost her grip as the beast screamed and bent away.

The other wolf jumped toward her over the writhing wounded, fangs snapping.

Sabine pulled the silver knives from her wrist sheaths and buried them in the beast's neck. She used the blades to hold back the maw as the weight of the beast pinned her to the ground. Blood spewed over her like rain, and she held her mouth open to drink it. The beast started to weaken, and she tossed it aside.

Her Family lifted her, and handed her the sword she'd lost in the werewolf's chest. The three werewolves she'd sliced shifted back to human women. The two with neck wounds weren't moving. The one with the chest wound writhed in agony, holding a hand over the wound and crying. Sabine knew that the woman would heal human-slow, and silver residue would make it burn like hell. One of the witches knelt to help her.

The rest of the werewolves had stopped fighting, and started shifting back. As they came back to human, Sabine recognized her friends as the victors.

The witches dropped their arms and stopped chanting. Several collapsed. Esmerelda stepped forward and started snapping silver bracelets on the naked werewolves from Lance's pack. Heather and a few of the other witches grabbed clothes for Mike's pack and passed them around.

Sabine turned from watching the naked werewolves when she heard her name screamed in stereo.

Regina and Michaela rushed her. With wide smiles and tear-filled eyes, they held out their arms to hug her.

She held up a hand to stop them. "I'm a hot mess. Literally. I'll get blood all over you if you hug me."

"I don't care," Regina said. She pounced on Sabine and gave her a tight hug. "I'm so happy to see you. We cried for a week when we staked you. You have no idea. When we heard you were alive, we tried to get away. We only escaped tonight because the vampires were distracted by that power wave you sent out. We missed you so much."