No Man's Land (26 page)

Kelly felt this went far beyond neighborly care. “But without my fangs it would hurt horribly. I’d need to cut you over and over again to get enough blood.”

“Nonsense,” Barbara announced, waving a thick bag wrapped in plastic tubing. “I do this every single day. Thirty minutes tops and you’ll have a pint. See these tubes? You can drink it right from here, like one of those juice pouches.”

“There’s ten of us, including the husbands,” Melody chimed in. “Barbara says we can donate every eight weeks, so that’s a little more than a pint a week until we can get some other people on board.”

“And I can smuggle out expired blood from the hospital if that will do you any good,” Barbara added. “It might not be as beneficial as fresh, but it might work as a supplement.”

“How old?” This conversation was surreal.

“We have to dispose of it after forty–two days.” Barbara paused, an apologetic expression on her face. “Of course, our supplies are chronically low. I might not always have expired blood available.”

Kelly shook her head. “Forty–two days is too old, even if it’s been refrigerated. It’s not worth you risking your job over.”

Barbara looked relieved. “So which shall it be tonight?”

One pint per week would take the edge off, keep her just this side of starvation. It wouldn’t be enough, though, if she was going to fight. Kelly hesitated before making her decision. She wasn’t likely to live past the end of the week if the assassins kept coming, or if the war brewing between the two families sparked into flame. Might as well go into it as strong as possible.

“Would it be possible to have three tonight and two tomorrow?”

Jaq shook her arm slightly, leaning over to whisper. “That’s half your available supply, and you’ll need to go seven weeks on five pints if we can’t line up any more. Can you do that?”

A twinge of guilt went through Kelly. “Yeah. Once I’m up to full strength, it shouldn’t be a problem,” she lied.

It shouldn’t if she lounged around in bed for seven weeks. Racing through forests, fighting vampires, and healing injuries was another thing entirely. With all that, she’d go through her available supply by next week. Kelly put the thoughts in a corner of her mind. She’d deal with that later, if she survived long enough to worry about it. What mattered now was making sure she could protect her new friends.

“Yep. Do you want A and A, or O and O, or mix it up?”

“All three O’s tonight.”

It was easier than she ever dreamed it would be. The girls chatted as Kristin, Shanna, and then Melody’s blood steadily filled the plastic bags, like they were getting manicures and not giving blood to feed a starving vampire.

“Here.” Barbara handed over the three bags, and Kelly rolled them in her hands. Oh God, they were still warm. Her ears buzzed, and she felt weak at the thought.

“Hold the bag like this, then push this needle in through the seal of this tube. Make sure you stick the other end of the tube in your mouth first, because it’s going to flow out right away.”

“Thanks.” Kelly looked around at all the expectant faces, hesitant to do this right in front of them.

“You can use my bedroom, dear,” Melody beamed. “Or the bathroom if you’re worried about spilling anything. When you’re done, we’ll have some of these lovely brownies that Margaret made.”

Bathroom it was, because it would be mortifying for Melody to walk in and find her frantically trying to suck blood off her comforter.

The tub actually was ideal. Kelly sat on the edge and stuck the tube in her mouth like a straw, following Barbara’s instructions. The blood flowed almost as quickly as it did with her fangs, so warm and sweet that she almost cried. She never thought she’d experience this again. She’d truly thought that she’d spend her remaining days trying to ineffectually lap blood from messy razor–blade cuts.

Finishing the first bag, Kelly set it aside and started on the second one. Already she felt better, strength flowing through her limbs. The wounds from the silver shot granulated, the edges beginning to close as she watched. Her skin lost its gray tone, taking on a faint golden hue — a remnant from her human past that would remain for another few centuries before fading away.

With the second bag gone, Kelly moved on to the third. She felt full for the first time since she’d nearly killed that drunk outside the strip club. Her body had quickly absorbed the blood and its nutrients, and now her stomach growled, reminding her that she was still young enough to require other food. Brownies would be good right now, and maybe some of Melody’s tuna casserole.

There was no time for tuna casserole. Kelly had barely made it out of the bathroom when the door to Melody’s trailer burst open, and a burly man in a heavy tan jacket filled the doorway.

“They’re swarming the state,” Mike said, his expression grim as he faced Jaq. “There’s fighting in DC and Virginia, but a group crossed the border and they’ve seized that racetrack/casino in Charles Town.”

“What?” Jaq rose to her feet. “They can’t expect to hold one business in our territory. Have they made demands? Are they holding hostages?”

“Don’t know. Jonah wants us all there to assist. And if that’s not bad enough, the other battle might drag through here as they surge north.”

“What’s swarming?” Melody asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Mike turned to glare at Kelly. “Vampires,” he spat.

It was one thing for two families to battle it out, but why were they grabbing the casino and holding hostages?
Oakwood
. Kelly remembered the peculiar hostile takeover attempts from vampire companies into West Virginia businesses. They had been the Prince’s domain. The Master would never lower himself to bother with a small werewolf–held state, but the Prince….

“I don’t trust this,” she told him. “There’s no reason for them to physically take the casino — they’re on the verge of buying it out anyway. You’ve got nothing to negotiate against human hostages. I doubt you all would vacate the state and turn it over for a few–hundred humans.”

“No way,” Mike exploded. “This is our land. I’m not letting a bunch of stinking blood–suckers tromp all over my home. We’ll storm the place and take them out. Rescue the humans. I don’t care what they’re asking for, they’re not getting it.”

“How many vampires are in there?” Jaq asked.

“Jonah said maybe ten or fifteen. We’ll have a few hundred of the pack in Charles Town in less than half an hour. It’s overkill, but they’ll think twice about trying this again once we send a truckload of body parts back to them.”

“Ten or fifteen,” Kelly mused. “It’s not enough. This whole thing doesn’t make sense. Is the fight in the southeast vampire on vampire? Or are they gathering a force to attack you from the east?”

“It’s those north and south families, fighting it out,” Mike told her. “So far, they’re pretty busy with each other, but there’s a good chance it will spill over our border.”

“Crap. Should we head there in case they cross the border, or to Charles Town?” Jaq asked.

“Jonah says Charles Town. He wants a show of force there.”

“Wait,” Kelly urged. “Why? If two families are fighting to the east, why would they send a handful of vampires to grab a casino? It doesn’t make any sense. They’ve got enough to worry about without trying to snatch one out–of–territory business. No, there has to be a reason for this.”

“Would they want us to head to Charles Town and give them an opening to come in from the southeast, through Berryville?” Mike frowned. “That doesn’t make sense either. It’s only fifteen miles away. They wouldn’t make much progress before we’d be on their backs.”

“Or maybe someone is using the fight to the east as a cover while he makes a move on the state,” Kelly mused.

Jaq slowly shook her head. “Then they should have us all run to Leesburg while they make a grab behind us and push us into Virginia. Ten or fifteen vampires taking a casino and making a big deal about it? Reminds me of a prank — something just to get us riled up.”

It was a small number of vampires. If they’d wanted to annoy the werewolves, they would have just popped in and randomly killed humans here and there, or attacked werewolf–owned establishments. This was too big a move to be a thorn in their side, but too small to be more than a half–hearted attack. And vampires never did anything half–heartedly.

“The casino — it’s to get you all in one location,” Kelly said. “It’s a trap. He knows you’ll come out in a big group. It would be much easier than trying to pick you all off one at a time across the state. A few–hundred werewolves dead in one evening would make the rest think seriously about leaving the state — especially if he managed to kill your Alpha.”

“Who is ‘he’?” Jaq’s tone was suspicious. “Did you know about this? We had a deal. You were supposed to let us know in advance.”

“The Prince. I told you he might make a move to raid Kincaid lands across your territory. You told me about your businesses being bought up. I suspected he might make a play for your state, but couldn’t believe it. Seems he is.”

“We’ve got to warn Jonah,” Mike said. “If we hurry, we can get to Charles Town before he does.”

Kelly threw her hands up in frustration. “Doesn’t anyone around here use cell phones? Can’t we just text him?”

Jaq shook her head. “In a situation like this, we’d take wolf form. No pockets, no fingers to push the buttons. Everyone just leaves their phones at home or in their cars so they don’t get lost or trampled.”

Great. Suddenly they were all back in the Middle Ages.

“By the time we drive there, it may be too late,” Mike said, his brow creasing in worry. “We don’t have time.”

Kelly saw a look pass between Mike and his sister, and then Jaq turned to her, eyes full of indecision.

“I need to run ahead. I can change in a blink, and I’m faster than Mike. I’ll warn Jonah.”

Mike nodded. “I’ll catch up. Save a few for me. It’s been three months since I’ve ripped the head off of a vampire.”

Kelly winced. Jaq running ahead left her and Mike going together in the truck. Maybe she should go with Jaq. Anything but being trapped in a truck beside this werewolf who would like nothing more than to gnaw a vampire’s head off.

“You drive.” Jaq tossed Kelly the truck keys. “That way, Mike can change into wolf form in the bed and be ready for fighting.”

Ugh. Her worst nightmare. But Mike would be less likely to lop her head off from the bed of the truck. “Let’s go, then. Time’s a–wasting.”

“She’s not coming with me,” Mike snarled. “I’m not changing into wolf form in a truck while a vampire drives, and I’m most definitely
not
fighting beside one.”

“Fine.” Kelly tossed the keys over to Mike. “I’ll just run along with Jaq then. Have fun driving.”

“She’s not coming at all. No one wants to fight beside a vampire, Jaq. She’ll betray you to get in good with her family. If you’re lucky, one of the pack will kill her before she turns on us.”

Kelly caught her breath, but held silent, waiting for Jaq to defend her.

“He’s right,” Jaq said, trying for a gentle tone. “Mike, you change form a few miles out where you can be safe, then join us from there. Just leave the keys under the mat. Kelly, you stay here with Melody, and we’ll touch base with you when we get back.”

That hurt more than anything ever had in her life. Even more than George. “What do you mean? Don’t you trust me to fight beside you?”

Doubt flashed across Jaq’s face, and Kelly felt the knife twist further. “It’s not that. My pack won’t be able to tell if you’re friend or foe. Most of them don’t know you to tell you apart from the other vampires. Plus, these people we’re fighting are most likely your own family. I know you still have hopes that they’ll take you back. I can’t put you in a position that would jeopardize your ever being able to return to them.”

Oh, it hurt. “You mean you wouldn’t trust me to side with you out in the battlefield, don’t you? Isn’t that what you’re really saying? Because let me tell you right now, I made my choice the moment I tossed those two dead vampires in the back of your truck. I’m offering to come with you knowing that every vampire I kill tonight used to be one of my own.”

Melody looked back and forth between them, her face pale. “What should
we
do? Vampires can’t come into our house without invitations, right? So we’re safe if we stay here. I’ve got Joe’s rifle, and a jar of minced garlic. My rosary is in the nightstand.”

Kelly bit her lip, uncertain what to say to the five women frozen with fear in the trailer’s small kitchen. Vampires could come into any home they wanted, invitation notwithstanding. “Stay inside. I doubt any will be out this far, but, just in case, stay inside. Turn off the lights and be as quiet as possible. If anyone tries to get in, shoot them.”

“I’ll send one of us back to stay with you,” Jaq promised. “And we’ll come by to let you know when it’s all clear. As for you,” she turned to Kelly. “I do trust you to fight with us, but I also worry about you. Tonight is the first time you’ve had a decent amount of blood in five days. One skirmish and you’ll be right back where you started. What’s going to happen when your body can’t heal?”

“I’m going,” Kelly insisted, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

“We don’t have time for this,” Mike snapped. He threw the keys back at Kelly. “It’s time for you to prove whose side you’re really on. Time for you to earn your keep, to repay the kindness my sister has shown you. Get your butt out there and kill some vampires. And if you dare try anything while I’m changing in the back of the truck, I’ll hang your head above my doorway.”

Gross, but pretty much what she’d come to expect from Mike. This was probably as close to acceptance she’d ever get from him or any of the werewolves.

“We’ll be okay,” Melody chimed in. I’ve got a whole bunch of silver bullets for the rifle, and silver–coated slugs for the shotgun.”

Jaq looked at her in surprise. Melody’s expression turned defensive. “What? We’re surrounded by a bunch of werewolves, and as nice you, Mike and Dale are, some are not so nice. Best to be safe.”

Kelly hid a grin. “That should do it. Don’t answer the door. Act like no one’s home, and if someone tries to get in, open fire.”