“How’re you doing, Vayl?” I glanced into the back of the minibus we’d stolen from the Trust. Vayl’s light- impermeable tent took up the space where we’d lowered the backseat. “I am fine,” came his muffled voice.
My twin and I traded looks, still slightly dazed from our initial discovery. It takes a while to get used to the fact that your vampire boss has not gone down for the day and, as a result, must be watched like an escaped convict.
At just after eight in the morning we’d outfitted ourselves for the trip to town and decided a couple of small fires would be the ideal distraction for the Trust’s human occupants. Something to keep them occupied while we joined up with Trayton. I was working up a smoking rage when Vayl opened the bedroom door. Like a couple of executives whose lackey has just walked in late, Dave and I checked our watches.
“Well, stop staring at me as if I had just grown a tail,” Vayl said irritably. “I cannot seem to sleep.”
“But . . . dawn was over an hour ago,” I said.
“Do you think I am not aware of that?”
Dave walked up to Vayl and began studying him like he was a rare specimen just flown in from the Salk Institute. He said, “Bergman is going to be so pissed he wasn’t here for this.” He glanced at me and sobered instantly. “Of course it’s bad. Vampires have to sleep during the day. The ones I’ve heard about who were forced to stay awake have committed some of the worst atrocities known to the species.”
“All of them?” I demanded.
“Well, the ones who escaped.”
“Who has been experimenting on vampires?” Vayl demanded, the threat clear in his voice.
Dave shrugged. “Mostly other vamps. You people have some weird-science guys in your ranks, you know that? One of our units came across a mad tester called Frilam in the sixties who found a way to ‘deny the day-death,’ as he called it. But when he did, the vamps wigged out. Usually in a rip-the-skin-from-the-skeleton kind of way.”
I went to Vayl. Smiled up into his stormy blue eyes. “Hey, if you decide to tear up the town, you can always use the leftover bread from my breakfast in place of your cane. I’m pretty sure it’s hard enough to bust heads.”
To my relief his lips quirked. “You seem unconcerned, considering your own potential for danger. Given the situation, I mean.”
“What situation? So you’re awake. Big whoop. If you get grumpy we’ll sic the dog on you.”
Vayl lowered his voice. “I can feel the Trust’s power, Jasmine. Disa is squeezing it into and through me. That is why I walk when I should sleep. I am holding on to my control, but I can feel its edge now.”
I gulped. “Would it help, uh, if I gave you some of my blood?”
Vayl’s eyes changed to red so suddenly I felt dizzy.
“
“Yes.”
He pulled back. Straightened as his eyes bled to brown. “Then I will endeavor not to disappoint.”
Now, as Dave hit another bump, I decided Vayl’s brain damage may have started before the trip. Possibly around the time he ripped Disa. But my brother’s driving wasn’t improving his chances at recovery. “Seriously, are you trying to lobotomize the undead guy?” I demanded.
“I am fine,” Vayl called.
My neck was beginning to ache from craning to see. “Are
“I’ve been better,” he said.
“Did you hear that, Dave?” I snapped. “The werewolf’s been better. Have a heart, will ya?”
“Well, it’s tough to concentrate with somebody yapping in my ear!”
“I’m not a poodle, you inconsiderate jerk! Did you remember the camera?”
“Of course—do I look like a fool to you? Lean forward, like, an inch. Now look at me. It’s hanging from a strap around my frigging neck, ya doink!”
“Well, I couldn’t tell. Your jacket’s in the way!” At least it wasn’t camouflage. He’d chosen a button-down brown suede over a navy blue mock turtleneck and faded jeans. But no way in hell was I gonna tell him how great he looked, especially when he said, “Boy, they really sharpen your observation skills in the CIA, Sis. So impressed with your trainers, lemme tell you. Speaking of which, what the hell is with this piece of crap equipment? Nobody with a clue about photography is going to buy my cover if they get a close enough look at this camera.”
“You know what, next time we’ll risk turning your thousand-dollar Nikon into a really heavy necklace if our plan unravels and somebody puts a bullet through it.”
“At least we’d get some good shots before it all went to shit!”
“That doesn’t even make sense!”
