They Come by Night (28 page)

“I’ll have my people take care of it.” Adam took out his cell phone and spoke quietly into it.

He had people who could do things like that? Were they… were they
minions
? Like Renfield in
Dracula?
Adam smiled when he saw how wide my eye had gotten, and he rested a hand on my shoulder and rubbed his thumb back and forth over it.

“Thanks,” Jimmy said morosely. “That still doesn’t help. My car’s in the shop. Mom’s van will be in the shop. I’m so dead meat.” He eyed the way Adam was touching me. “Y’know, I still can’t believe you’re letting him….” He shook his head. “Just take me home, okay?”

T
HE DRIVE to Jimmy’s house didn’t seem to take that long. In spite of his words, I’d had no intention of letting anyone else drive. And the ice had helped, because I’d had no problem with depth perception.

We pulled up in front of the house, and I turned off the ignition. Except for the light above the door, the house was dark.

“We’ll walk you to the door, James.”

He scowled at Adam. “I’m not some chick, y’know.”

“I know. Indulge me, all right?”

“Yeah, well….” He yawned. “Geez, I’m exhausted. You won’t mind if I don’t invite you in, will you?”

“Do you want Ty to go in with you? I can wait in the car with Mina.”

“Doesn’t matter what he wants,” I said. “I’m going in. Mina…. Oh, fine watchdog you are!”

She was asleep in Adam’s arms. She’d become not only very vocal but almost frantic when she realized I was going out onto the porch even though I wouldn’t be alone, and finally I’d had to snap on her leash and let her come along. She’d been tense for the first couple of miles, but had finally relaxed and settled down on Adam’s lap.

I’d have liked to have been on Adam’s lap myself, but someone had to drive.

He grinned, got out of the car, and set her on the passenger seat. She raised her head, blinked and woofed softly, then laid her head down on her paws and went back to sleep.

“Yeah, well…,” Jimmy started to protest.

“You’re repeating yourself.” We stood before the door. “Get your key out and move your butt. It’s not getting any warmer out here. Adam….”

“Take as long as you need.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Jimmy kept fumbling for the lock, and I wound up taking the key from him and opening the door.

“I can’t understand why I’m so tired.” He took off his jacket and tried to hang it in the coat closet. It fell to the floor, and I picked it up and put it on a hanger.

“How’s your head?”

“It’s fine. Why?”

“Well, you were complaining about a headache before.”

“I was? Oh, yeah, I was. Well, it’s fine now.” He rubbed the back of his head. “I think.”

“Do we need to get you to the ER?”

“For what?”

“Concussion?”

“No, thanks, I already have one.” But he grinned to show he was kidding.

“Jimmy, don’t bust my chops.”

“I’m sorry. Listen, you go on home. I’m going to bed.”

I was right behind him as he walked through the living room to the part of the house where the bedrooms were. There was a nightlight on in the hallway, but all the doors were closed.

Jimmy went to his door, and I followed him into his room.

“Are you planning on staying?”

“No. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

“Seriously, I’m fine.” He saw I wasn’t going to budge. “Okay, Jeeves, turn down my bed while I brush my teeth.”

“I live to serve.”

“I know you do.” He grinned and shucked off his jeans and shirt. I didn’t take much notice. His maroon boxer briefs were bland compared to the
Star Wars
underwear we used to wear.

I went to his queen-size bed and started tossing aside the pillows his mom liked to pile on it. As soon as he closed the door to the adjoining bath, though, I stopped what I was doing and pulled out the garlic bulbs I’d stuffed in my pockets before I’d joined Adam and Jimmy at my front door. Adam had given me a puzzled look, but I’d pretended not to notice.

I wasn’t sure if the garlic would work, but Uncle Phil had believed in it, and he had more experience with hostile vampyrs than I did.

I tucked the garlic behind the curtains and on the window sills, then blew out a breath. That was all I could do for now. I just hoped being my friend hadn’t put Jimmy’s life in jeopardy.

When he came out of the bathroom, he was wearing a pair of black-and-red-checked pajama pants and a white undershirt, and the bed was ready for him.

“Thanks, Jimmy.”

“For what?”

“For coming over and cheering me up. That means a lot to me.”

“Hey, we’re friends, right?”

“Right.”

He took a step toward me, and I backed away. I knew he just wanted to hug me, but even for him, I couldn’t tolerate it.

“Shit. It really sucks being your friend, Small.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“You gotta lighten up, man. I was teasing! You’re my best friend.”

“And you’re mine.”

We stared at each other for a minute, and then he said gruffly, “Okay, enough of this mushy stuff. Go on home. I’ll give you a call tomorrow after class.”

“Sounds like a plan.” And if I hadn’t heard from him by then… I had no classes myself. I’d come looking for him. “Just do me one favor: don’t let any strangers in.”

“Are you kidding? Who’d come this time of night? Vampyrs?”

I shrugged.

“Seriously? You have been watching too many horror movies, my friend.”

“Humor me?”

“Geez, Ty. Okay, fine. Now
I’ll
have nightmares.”

“Thank you. G’night, Jimmy.”

“Yeah, yeah. Night, Ty.”

I left him getting into bed. We’d been friends for so long and were so familiar with each other’s houses that he didn’t need to see me out.

I made sure the door was locked behind me and went straight into Adam’s arms.

“Thank you for coming when I asked you to.”

“Of course I came. Did you doubt it?”

“I… I wasn’t sure.”

“Always be sure. I’m your vampyr, aren’t I?” I could feel his lips stretch into a smile against my temple. “How’s your head?”

“It hurts a little.”

He drew back and looked into my eye. “You’re not concussed.”

“You can tell?”

He nodded.

“Well, that’s good. Nothing like a concussion to ruin a romantic night.”

“Let’s go home.” He touched my hair gently. “We have much to talk about.”

H
E WAS quiet until we got on the thruway headed north. Mina slept on his lap, and he stroked her absently. Finally he said, “I apologize for earlier tonight.”

“Huh?” I risked a glance at him. “What are you talking about?”

“You shouldn’t have been targeted like that.”

“She was one psycho bitch vamp. Are there many like her?”

“No. While you were with James, I contacted the rege, and he’s going to have this incident looked into.”

“He’s got minions too? Well, yeah, I guess he would.” He was the rege, after all.

“He’ll also make sure no harm comes to your friend.”

“Thank you. I told him not to open the door to strangers, but I’m still worried about him.”

Adam rested his palm on my thigh, and I spread my legs a bit, hoping he’d take the hint and touch my crotch.

He didn’t. He took his hand away instead.

What was going on? Was he going to tell me he wouldn’t be coming to me anymore?

“Adam, about earlier tonight…. Why did you knock on the door? You started to turn the knob, but then you stopped. Why? Why didn’t you just come in?”

“I thought perhaps it might be better if I waited for permission to enter. I didn’t want to startle you.”

I swallowed. “You didn’t want to startle me, or you just didn’t want me?”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“You know you have free entry!”

“Actually, I wasn’t sure I was welcome anymore.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Juan de Vivar—”

“That creep.” Talk about another psycho vamp.

“My mother was the one who turned him.”

“So? You didn’t have anything to do with that. Did you?”

“Of course not. That was before I was born. And stop trying to distract me. He would have hurt you. As he hurt your uncle.”

“But he didn’t. And that was thanks to you.”

“Now you’re confusing me, Ty.”

“You were the one who told me I didn’t have to let every vampyr in.”

“Well, thank Lilitu!”

“Excuse me?”

“Never mind.”

“Are you… are you disappointed I let the rege feed from me?”

“Of course not. I always knew you would have to feed other vampyrs. It’s your destiny, and for me to resent it or blame you for doing what you were born to do is unfair.”

“Is… is the rege pissed because I turned away those other vampyrs?”

“He is perturbed.”

Oh, boy. My exit came up, and I flipped up the blinker and took it, then let the car roll to a stop at the stop sign.

Adam put his fingers under my chin and turned my face toward him. “I want you to tell me all about these vampyrs.”

“There isn’t anything to tell. They wanted to come in… I said no.”

“Why?”

“Adam, I don’t know.” It was bad enough I felt like I’d cheated on him with the rege. The last thing Adam needed to hear was I didn’t want another vampyr near me. “There was just something about them that really skeeved me. And Mina went nuts each time.”

Hearing her name woke her, and she yawned and sat up.

“Did she.” It was more an affirmation than a question. He rested his hand on her head. “How many did you turn away?”

“Including de Vivar?”

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

“Me too. Five.” I eased off the brake and made the right turn. From here to home would be one straight run.

“So this last one—”

“Rhiannon.”

“Excuse me?”

“She said her name was Rhiannon.”

“Blonde, blue eyes?”

“Yes. You know her?”

“And the other vampyrs?”

“The other vampyrs what?” I couldn’t help noticing he hadn’t answered my question.

“Their coloring.”

“Uh… two brunettes, a nun, and a redhead. The brunettes were way weird.”

“How…. Never mind. A
nun
?”

I shrugged. “She was dressed like one. Although I have to tell you none of the sisters I knew dressed like that.”

“Like what?”

“Um…. That thing on their head? A wimple? And a veil and a long, black dress.”

“You know she wasn’t a nun, don’t you?”

“Well, duh. With the way Mina reacted to her I couldn’t miss it.”

“All right. Now tell me, what was it about the brunettes that bothered you?”

“One of them didn’t want to drink my blood—she wanted to suck my dick.”

“
What
?”

I felt myself blush. She had to be at least thirty-five, and while I’d have welcomed a blowjob from Adam, the thought of this woman going down on me frankly turned my stomach. “Have you ever heard of that?”

He shook his head, looking a little dazed.

“Should I let a vampyr do that?”

He frowned at me. “Only if I’m the vampyr.”

“Okay.” I didn’t even care if that meant I wasn’t a virgin anymore. “Oh, and she was dressed weird too, almost like she was in costume. If it was Halloween I’d have thought she was trick-or-treating. She looked like a Spanish peasant woman.” Mr. Castile, who taught Spanish our senior year, made us study the whole ball of wax: history, diet, clothing. It had been interesting. He’d asked the Home Ec teacher for the use of the kitchen, and we’d made gazpacho and quesadillas.

And I was letting my thoughts wander.

“Hmm. I’d have thought—” Adam shook his head. “Tell me, what struck you about the other brunette?”

“She kept going on about how I needed a mother and she would take care of me.”

Adam looked as baffled as I’d felt. “And you sent her away.”

“Yeah. I mean, I’ll be nineteen in six months. I really don’t need a strange woman to be my mother.”

He reached across and squeezed my thigh. After a moment, he said, “Tell me about the redhead.”

“He had an Irish accent.”

“And?”

“He had red hair?” I shrugged. “I didn’t notice much more about him. I mean, Mina was freaking out, and then he showed fang without even asking, and I slammed the door and bolted it.”

“Oh, Ty.” I didn’t know vampyrs could sound so tired.

“I’m sorry. I’m making things difficult for you.”

“Don’t be sorry, and don’t worry about me.” He ruffled my hair, and I wanted to pull down my collar so he could feed. “So Rhiannon made five.”

“What? Oh, yes.”

“And the rege was the last one who fed from you. Which was in January, if I’m not mistaken?”

“Yes. Wake up, Min. We’re home.” She’d been leaning against Adam’s stomach, her eyes closed. “Hey, the van’s gone!”

“It will be in James’s drive when he awakens tomorrow morning.”

“Cool beans!”

“Ty, you have to permit other vampyrs to feed from you.”

“I know.” I turned into the driveway, pressed the remote on the visor, and waited while the garage door rose. Abruptly, I frowned. “She was one nasty bitch. She wanted a threesome!”

“Did you find the idea distasteful?”

“With Jimmy? That would be like sleeping with my brother. And a woman? No way.”

“Suppose with two men?”

“And what would I do, watch? I don’t like being touched and I… have to stay that way. Not much of a threesome.” I shrugged again. “Anyway, I don’t understand why she freaked out like that. None of the others did.” I garaged the car, and while Adam closed the door, I went out to the curb to see how much of a mess I’d have to clean up the next morning.

“What did they do?” Adam joined me. He put Mina down and handed me her leash.

“Leave, I guess. Once I had the door locked, I peeked out the window, but I didn’t see anything.” I leaned over and studied the area at the curb. Sand or whatever they used to absorb automotive fluids covered the rectangle where the van had been parked, but otherwise there was no sign mayhem had been played upon a vehicle. “You really do have minions!”