Fang Me (5 page)

As Josh hesitated, Fang broadcast, YOU KNOW I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU, OR SHADE WON'T LET ME SEE PRINCESS ANYMORE. IT'S ME OR HIM, BUDDY. WHO'S IT GONNA BE?

"Okay, okay," Josh said."Fang can watch out for me."

And Fang did as Josh wandered the streets for a couple of hours without a nibble, careful not to go beyond Fang's range. The rest of us hung out in the lobby, watching customers come and go. Most who did arrived in a group or were escorted by a member of the Movement and wore large silver crosses until they got inside.

Though the Movement gave the option of donating blood in a sterile location downstairs, the vast majority of these nighttime visitors chose the other—far more personal—method of donating. It made sense. The other kind of donation could be given during the day. Since the up close and personal kind required fang to neck, the sun had to be down. Unfortunately, that meant the bad vamps were out and about as well. But since the"customers" got a thrill along with the donation, a lot of them were willing to risk it. I bet some of them were becoming addicts. Would we soon see Fangees Anonymous forming here in town?

My musings were cut short as Fang alerted us that Josh had spotted someone tailing him. I didn't get too excited since we'd already had a couple of false alarms. One was a stray dog and the other some blood bank customers. But we moved toward the door just in case. Not too fast—we didn't want to spook the customers—but to be there in case Josh needed us.

IT'S THEM, Fang confirmed, and we all charged out into the street.

Lust for the hunt sizzled in my blood. As we burst outside, I saw four vamps chasing Josh toward the blood bank. One reached for him and Andrew yelled,"Phase, now!"

Josh went transparent for a moment and the vamp's hand went right through him.

"Here," Andrew shouted again,"I have your weapon."

Josh continued his rush through a parked car. Two of his pursuers crashed into it. The other two swerved in time and came around it—smack into Luis and me. I was ready with a stake and plunged it into one's heart. He fell like a rock. Luis scuffled with the other one so I looked back to check on Josh and Andrew.

They had their backs against the brick wall and were scrambling to arm their crossbows. Fang had jumped protectively in front of them, bared his fangs and growled, his eyes flashing purple. He was actually holding the two bloodsuckers at bay. I took a running leap and tackled one of them. He slammed into his buddy, taking them both down. Bowling for vampires, anyone?

I fumbled for a stake as the two unwashed dead fought to get out from under me. Sheesh, it smelled like they hadn't bathed for a month. Phew!

Uh oh. All that writhing woke Lola up, and they were inside my energy field, which meant I didn't even have to try to make them want me. The male vamps suddenly seemed far more interested in holding on to me than in fighting me off. Ick. Was one of them seriously trying to hump my leg?

Forget using Lola to tame them. I didn't want their smelly energy anywhere near me. I jumped off of them, feeling as though I'd been slimed. Now I was able to grab another stake from my back waistband. I slammed it toward the one who'd been humping my leg. He rolled to the side. Missed. I hit his buddy in the thigh instead. He screamed and Fang lunged for his crotch. The stabbed vamp's scream took on a higher pitch and he curled up into a ball. That ought to keep him out of action for a bit.

His friend scrambled to his feet, looking royally pissed, and flashed his fangs at me. Something slugged me on my left side, making me stagger forward a step. Searing pain followed shortly after, but I couldn't deal with that right now. The standing vamp rushed me and I stepped aside. He missed me, slamming into the parked car. I heard something whoosh past me—a fireball! It hit the vamp right in the chest and he went up in flames, screaming. Luckily, he fell on the sidewalk instead of against the gas tank, and thrashed in agony until he died.

Barbecued vamp . . . not a nice smell. And a sucky way to die.

I turned to see a pale and horrified Josh and Andrew staring at the three undead who were definitely
dead
dead now. Not a pretty sight since Luis had twisted the head off of his opponent. He now held the last one standing—the one I'd bowled over—pinned to the wall by his throat. The stake was still in the vamp's thigh and his crotch probably hurt like hell, judging by his whimpering.

Luis whispered fiercely into his ear."The Movement and the Slayer will no longer tolerate your harassment and killing of humans for sustenance. From now on, we cry war against all of the unaffiliated. Join us or die."

The vamp, who seemed to be no more than twenty years old, gaped at me in horror. Though my side was hurting like a son of a gun, I tried to come across as all mean and slayerish.

"I didn't know," the vamp sobbed."I didn't know."

Luis flung him away in disgust and yanked the stake out of his thigh."Go, tell the others. As for you, if we hear of you attacking anyone again, we will hunt you down, and your ending will make these deaths look like a walk in the park. Got it?"

The vamp gave a jerky nod."Okay. I-I'll join tomorrow. Right after I tell everyone else."

"You do that," I said sternly as he hobbled away on his injured leg as fast as he could.

Fang came to stand beside me, his tongue lolling in amusement. Y
OU
DO
THAT
? WOW, GREAT LINE.

Oh, shut up. It was the best I'd been able to come up with, considering the pain in my side. Speaking of pain, I
glanced down and saw that a crossbow bolt had pierced the outer edge of the skin above my hip and was sticking out both in the back and the front. Crap.

I turned to glare at the two demons. The first time I'd been really injured . . . and I'd been shot by my
own
side?

"It was an accident, I swear," Josh said, his crossbow on the ground and his hands held out as if to ward me off."I was aiming at the vampire."

Luis's reply almost sounded like a growl."Didn't we tell you two to use those weapons only as a last resort?"

"Yes, but there were two of them and Val—"

"Val had them under control," I said."And see what you did? You shot me!"

Luis glared at Andrew."And you were told not to use your powers."

Andrew lifted his chin defiantly."I killed him, didn't I?"

"You do as you're told!" Luis slapped Andrew, hard, and for some reason, that shocked me more than anything else that had happened this evening.

But it reminded me that he could have done much worse if he wanted to. And, it apparently did the same thing for the two demons, because their eyes widened and they paled even more.

Bet they were really sorry they hadn't listened.

YEAH, Fang snickered. LUIS PUT THEM IN DEMON TIMEOUT.

"Stay here," Luis ordered."I will do damage control, to clear the minds of any who witnessed this."

Sure enough, there were horrified lookie-loos staring out of the blood bank and cruising down the street.

"I'm so sorry," Josh said."It won't happen again, I swear." He seemed to be genuinely apologetic.

HE IS, Fang confirmed. YOU'RE HIS NEW HERO.

Huh?

Fang chuckled. HE'S GOT THIS IMAGE OF YOU IN HIS MIND, STANDING LIKE A FEARLESS GUNSLINGER WITH AN ARROW IN YOUR SIDE, HALOED BY THE STREETLIGHT, FACING DOWN THE EVIL BLOODSUCKERS. ANDREW, TOO.

Oh, great. Groupies."So, what are we going to do about getting this thing out of me?" I took off my vest and carefully peeled away the shirt around the wound, wincing as the cloth brushed against the short bolt. It had caught only about an inch of my skin so nothing vital was hit, but it hurt like hell, especially now that the adrenaline was wearing off. Luckily, it didn't have any barbs on the pointy end, or it would have done a lot more damage.

"Sorry," Andrew muttered."Does it hurt?"

Duh."Oh, no, I'm good," I said, not bothering to hide my sarcasm."I think I'll start a trend with the latest rage in body piercings." When his eyes went wide with surprise, I snapped,"Of course it hurts, you moron." More and more with each moment that passed.

Luis, his mind-bending apparently complete, returned to our side and bent to inspect the bolt."You need to remove that."

"Yeah," Josh said."And call Shade."

"No, not Shade," I protested, struggling to keep the pain from showing on my face.

"Why not? He can heal you."

YEAH, Fang echoed. WHY NOT?

I'll explain later, I
told the hellhound. Aloud, I said,"This is trivial. Call Gwen. She's a trauma nurse—she'll know what to do." Besides, she knew what I was and wouldn't make a fuss."She's on duty at the ER tonight." I handed Josh my phone and pulled a Special Crimes Unit locator out of another pocket. I activated the beacon to send our GPS coordinates. Soon, the SCU ambulance would be here to cart away the remains.

Andrew and Luis stared down at the bolt in my side."It's silver," Luis said,"or I'd remove it."

"I don't have a problem with silver," Andrew said. And before I realized what he planned, he grabbed the back of it and yanked it out.

Agony burned through my side, radiating through my entire body, and I barely kept from screaming. But no amount of will could keep me conscious. My brain fuzzed out and I crumpled to the ground.

CHAPTER FIVE

I woke to a throbbing ache in my side, with the occasional piercing pain. Where was I? I lay curled on my right side on a comfortable surface that appeared to be made of soft, supple leather. Wherever I was, it was moving. I opened my eyes and stared straight into concerned brown eyes framed by wispy reddish blond hair. Fang.

He licked my nose. YOU'RE IN THE BACK SEAT OF LUIS'S CAR, Fang said from the floorboard. WE'RE TAKING YOU TO GWEN'S ER.

Good. There were closer hospitals, but Gwen would be discreet. I shifted to a more comfortable position and pain lanced through my side. I winced. Note to self—don't do that again.
Where are Josh and Andrew?
If Luis had done something to them—

HE DIDN'T, BUT I DID. I CHEWED ANDREW'S BUTT FOR THAT STUPID STUNT.

Literally?

NAW, THOUGH I WANTED TO. THEY'RE SHARING THE FRONT SEAT. NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT EITHER.

I glanced up to see Josh peering around the seat at me."Her eyes are open! Val, are you okay?"

Okay? How could I be okay? He'd shot me in the side, fergawdsakes."Yeah," I managed to say.

"You sure you don't want us to take you to Shade?"

"I'm sure," I croaked."I want Gwen."

Fang poked me with his nose. AND ARE YOU GOING TO TELL ME NOW WHY YOU WON'T DO THE SENSIBLE THING AND HAVE SHADE HEAL YOU?

I gave him a reason he'd understand.
Remember what happened when Shade healed Josh? Opening
the healing conduits to the other world made Shade more vulnerable to the demons waiting there. Since exchanging healing energies took a lot out of him, he was less able to keep the demons at bay. He'd almost lost control then and would have killed himself to keep the demons out of our world if I hadn't stopped him.

BUT YOU WERE ABLE TO GROUND HIM THEN, Fang reminded me. YOU CAN DO IT AGAIN.

I did it then with Lola's help. Her seduction had proved more powerful than the demon's pull. But seducing him
right now . . . no. Neither of us needed that kind of temptation. And while I was all gung-ho to have Shade as a boyfriend, keeping us dependent on each other couldn't be a good idea.

Besides, I wasn't sure I'd have any oomph left to control him immediately after he healed me. If I remembered right, the others he'd healed had been pretty much exhausted afterward. Plus there was another reason, but I didn't want to go into it right now.

I could feel Fang's attention sharpen on me. YOU
WANT
TO FEEL THIS PAIN. MASOCHIST MUCH?

I should have known he'd sniff it out anyway.
I'm not a masochist. It's just that . .
. Heck,
I didn't know how to say this. As the Slayer, I didn't get injured often. What would happen if Shade and I made love, then I got hurt and couldn't heal as fast? I needed to know what it was like to feel pain as full humans did. I needed to know if I could handle it. I needed to know if it was worth it.

The hellhound poked me in the stomach with his nose. HOW'S THAT WORKING FOR YOU, VAL?

I'll let you know. Luis hit a pothole and agony seared my side. But I wasn't about to let a little pain stop me. I
was determined to not be a wuss. After all, I had to live up to that heroic image in my groupies' eyes.

Fang snorted then raised his nose, sniffing as the car slowed and turned. WE MUST BE AT THE HOSPITAL.

Luis stopped the car and took charge."Andrew, go get a wheelchair. Joshua, you get the trauma nurse." The vamp came around to open the door by my head.

I struggled to sit up."I don't need a wheelchair."

"Don't be stubborn," Luis snapped."We don't want to attract undue attention."

"Yeah, right. Like being pierced by a crossbow bolt is an everyday occurrence."

"They don't have to know what wounded you." Luis gave Andrew a passing glare as he returned with the chair."Tell them some children were playing with bows and arrows and got out of hand."

Andrew's face turned as red as his hair, but he didn't respond to the taunt."Do you need help?" he asked me.

Gwen came running up, her bouncing red curls not quite as brassy as Andrew's. My normally cheerful, upbeat roomie was all business as she pushed her way into the car beside me."What happened?"

We explained and I said,"I don't want Shade for this. Can you take care of it . . . discreetly?"

She frowned."I have to use the resources here at the hospital, which means you'll have to be seen by a doctor. Is there anything . . . unusual about your blood or anything?"

"I don't know. Probably."

Andrew nodded."Definitely."

Crap."And you'd better make sure it's a female doctor. If a guy gets too close . . ."

Gwen's mouth rounded in an"o" of realization.

"Don't worry," Luis said dismissively."I shall ensure no one remembers anything unusual tonight."

Gwen glanced at him curiously but didn't ask how or why. That was only one of the many things I loved about her.

"Okay," Gwen said decisively."I'll make sure she gets help." She eased me gently into the chair and glanced at Fang."I'm sorry, but he can't come in."

My best friend couldn't be by my side? Then I wasn't sure I wanted to go.

YOU CAN STILL REACH ME MENTALLY, EVEN IF I STAY OUTSIDE.

He was right. I hated hospitals, so I was just trying to delay the inevitable. Sighing, I thought back at him,
Okay. I nodded at Gwen and she turned to Luis."Can you deal with the paperwork?"

He frowned, but obviously didn't want to admit there was something he couldn't do.

"I'll get the info from Micah," Josh said."Do you want me to call anyone else? Your family?"

Lord, no."Anyone calls my mother and they're dead meat. Got me?" I did
not
want her hovering over me, trying to act all maternal and caring when it probably wasn't serious.

Josh looked surprised, but everyone nodded, so Gwen whisked me inside. I had an impression of light tiled floors, white walls, ugly harsh white lighting . . . and the distinctive hospital smell that had the blood draining from my head. If I wasn't sick before, that smell would do it every time.

IT'S PSYCHOSOMATIC, Fang told me.

How do you even know those kinds of words?

BEFORE I MET YOU, I DID A LOT OF PEOPLEWATCHING AND SAW A LOT OF TV THROUGH WINDOWS. HAD TO ENTERTAIN MYSELF SOMEHOW. AMAZING WHAT YOU LEARN.

I guess. But psychosomatic or not, being here made me feel worse. I liked it even less when the doctor came in
to work on me.

A couple of hours later, I was bandaged up and woozy from the medication they'd given me. The doctor must have noticed something odd because she wanted to run some tests, but Luis, who pretended he was my brother so he could be by my side, used his mind-control mojo to persuade her otherwise.

When she left, I turned to Gwen."Did she talk to anyone about my strangeness? Is there anything written down?"

"She only mentioned it to me," Gwen assured me."And your . . . brother," she glanced askance at Luis,"took care of the lab techs who tested your blood. Josh helped me find all your records. There's nothing weird in them."

"Good."

I fell asleep on my way home. When I woke, I was in my own bed, Fang curled up beside me, and practically everyone I knew was standing around—Luis and his two troublemakers had been joined by Shade, Alejandro and Micah. They were all chatting quietly at the foot of my bed. Gwen must have gone off-shift, because she was standing over me, checking my pulse. Made me feel a bit like Dorothy, with Gwen playing Auntie Em and Fang as Toto. Guess who the two brainless scarecrows were?

SHE'S AWAKE, Fang announced. BUT I THINK SHE'S DELIRIOUS.

No, just feeling a little goofy."What's
going on?" I said aloud. I lifted myself up onto my elbows, wincing. Note to self: movement causes pain."Am I about to die or something?"

"You're fine," Gwen soothed."You'll just need some peace and quiet to heal from your injury." She glanced at the guys who had come to surround my bed, but none of them took the hint.

"Then why the death bed scene?" I persisted.

Micah grinned."We wanted to see you for ourselves."

Alejandro nodded."But this will not get you out of your contract, you know." He smiled, and I realized he was making a joke. Would wonders never cease?

"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm hungry," Gwen said in her brisk nurse tone."Who wants to help me make something to eat?"

She collected Josh and Andrew with her gaze and they went willingly—Gwen's cooking was legendary in the Demon Underground. She was one of the few humans who knew about us, and because of her cooking and nursing, everyone had sort of adopted her as one of us. Luis followed, too.

When they left, I noticed Shade hadn't approached the bed. He just stood there and, because of the swirls where his face should be, I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

HE'S NOT SURE YOU WANT HIM HERE, Fang told me.

Why not?

BECAUSE YOU REFUSED TO LET HIM HEAL YOU. DUH.

Sheesh. I wondered how to reassure Shade without letting him know Fang was picking his brain for me.

"Why didn't you want Shade to heal you?" Micah asked, sitting on the end of my queen-sized bed.

What a great coincidence. I glanced at Fang. Or maybe not.

From the smug look on his face, definitely not. The furry telepath had struck again.

I answered Micah's question but looked at Shade."Because I know how much it takes out of you . . . and what happens afterward. I didn't want that for you."

I held out my hand and Shade took it. His features blipped into focus then, and he looked both pained and relieved at the same time. He sat gingerly next to me on the bed."I would've healed you, gladly."

"I know, and that's why I couldn't let you do it."

AWW, HOW SWEET, Fang cooed, projecting his thoughts to all who could hear him.

Micah chuckled.

"Don't encourage him," I warned."Or you might be his next target."

"Oh, I've been used for target practice many times," Micah said with a laugh."Remember, he was with me before he came to you."

"And now I see why you foisted him on me." I rubbed Fang's fuzzy head to let him know I didn't mean it. I didn't have to, though—he knew it. And if Fang ever lost his snark, I'd probably think he was possessed or sick or something.

"So," Alejandro said."No more vampire hunting for you until you are well. Besides, Luis tells me that the message was delivered."

"Yes, but the other vamps aren't really organized, so I don't know how the word will spread. Or how much good it'll do if you're not willing to back up Luis's threats . . . . "

"That will not be a problem. We will indeed take the war to the streets. We cannot jeopardize our big announcement. He spoke for me in this matter."

I shrugged then winced when the movement hurt my side."Okay, boss. I won't purposefully hunt down any vampires. But I'm scheduled to meet Trevor at dawn." Which was probably coming up really soon.

Alejandro nodded."I called him and let him know you will not be able to make that appointment, so he plans to canvass the city on his own. He asked if you could meet him at midnight tonight." He looked at Micah."Will she be well enough then?"

My cuz nodded and said,"She'll still be in pain, but her accelerated healing will help. So long as you weren't planning on her doing anything strenuous, she should be fine."

I hated the way they talked about me as if I wasn't there. Strengthened by Fang and Shade's nearness, I said,"She is right here and can decide that for herself."

Micah lifted an eyebrow."And what does she decide?"

"That I can meet Trevor, because it shouldn't involve anything more strenuous than driving around in a car looking for some sign of the books."

"Very good," Alejandro said."I shall see you then. And now, if you will excuse me? It's approaching dawn."

He bowed and left."I'd better go, too," Micah said, and gave me a kiss on the forehead."Take care of yourself."

"I will," I promised.

After he was gone, only Shade, Fang and I were left in the room. And with all the other distractions gone, I was a hundred times more aware of Shade. So was Lola, and, pain or not, she was kind of interested in coaxing him down to lie beside us.

I CAN LEAVE IF YOU WANT, Fang offered.

No, don't. The plan
was to stay away from Shade as much as possible until my contract was over. He was just too much temptation.

Shade looked concerned."Are you really okay?"

"I'll be fine. I heal fast and this wasn't enough of a wound to call out the big guns." I yawned."I don't know if it's the meds or what, but I'm suddenly very tired."

"Should I leave you alone then?" Shade asked, looking reluctant.

"If you don't mind. You'd better go and get some of Gwen's cooking before those others scarf it all down."

"Don't you want some?"

"Not now. The meds are making my stomach a little queasy. I'll eat later." Then, to punctuate my decision, I let out another huge yawn.

"Okay," he said and leaned over to give me a peck on the lips."Get well soon."

I watched Shade leave with regret. It would have been nice to snuggle up with him, but not the best choice when I was so weak. As Shade closed the door softly behind him, Fang cuddled even closer. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE ME LEAVE, TOO, ARE YOU?

Not a chance. Pets are therapeutic, haven't you heard?

YOU GOT THAT STRAIGHT.

Chuckling, I stroked his soft ears and closed my eyes, letting the medication fog my brain. With any luck, I'd soon be fast asleep.

I was partway there when a faint, urgent thought pierced through the fog.

Help me. Find me.

Huh? Who the hell was that?