Vampire Mine

It is an effective strategy, Connor said quietly beside her. If one of the Malcontents gets his hands on you, knee him in the groin. Then plunge the dagger through his heart.

She winced. She didnt want to tell Connor she had no intention of killing anyone. Could she make it through the night by simply defending herself with blasts of air? Somehow, she had to. How could she be welcomed back to heaven if she ended a life?

Can ye sense them yet? Connor asked.

She closed her eyes and reached out. Deaths in hospitals, deaths in traffic accidents, a few murders. No horrendous mass murder in a warehouse. No, not yet.

Connor patted her shoulder. Doona worry. Most likely, they are west of us and still in their death-sleep.

She nodded. Upon awakening, Connor had immediately downed a bottle of blood. Then hed started strapping on his weapons. A claymore on his back, a dagger in each sock, more knives and wooden stakes in his sporran along with an automatic pistol loaded with silver bullets.

Hed given her a belt to wear that had a leather sheath connected to it. The sheathed dagger was hidden underneath her hooded sweatshirt jacket.

Meanwhile, Vamps and shifters were gathering at Romatech. Angus had called and reported they were ready to move out. Sean Whelan had arrived, armed to the teeth.

While they waited for the sun to set over the Malcontents, Connor insisted Marielle practice. She was happy to stay busy. Otherwise, she would worry too much.

Take me with you! Brynley shouted for the third time.

Connor groaned. I told you, no. Yere no trained for battle.

Theres a full moon tonight, Brynley continued. I have to shift anyway. Phils going. And three of his boys from school. Carlos is even letting the tiger shifter go. Why cant I go, too?

Connor glared at her. Theyve been trained for battle. Ye havena.

I can take down an elk in sixty seconds!

I can only teleport one, and it has to be Marielle.

Then tell another Vamp to get his dead ass over here, so he can teleport me, Brynley snapped. If you let me go, Ill stay close to Marielle and help keep her safe.

That was obviously the right thing to say to Connor, for he pulled his cell phone out of his sporran and made a call.

Brynley, Marielle said. This isnt your fight. You dont have to

I want to. Brynley gave her a sad smile. You deserve all the help you can get.

Connor dropped the phone back into his sporran. Phineas is coming. Hell take you to Romatech to join up with the others.

Brynley nodded. Thank you.

Hello? a voice shouted from inside the cabin. Phineas peeked out the front door. There you are. He stepped out onto the porch. Like Connor, he had a sword strapped to his back. Around his hips, he wore a belt with a gun holster and several sheaths containing knives.

He looked Brynley over and smiled. So is it true that youll need to take off your clothes before shifting?

She jabbed him in the chest so hard, he stumbled back a step.

He rubbed his chest. What the hell was that?

Brynley glared at him. Thats the stake that a Malcontent puts through your heart while youre watching me strip, you moron.

Connor chuckled. She has a good point.

Yeah, yeah, Phineas muttered. Like I want to watch a perfectly good woman turn into a dog.

Brynley whipped back a hand to slap him, but Phineas caught her wrist. Im faster than you, wolfie-girl.

She narrowed her eyes. I have a nasty bite.

So do I. He pulled her into his arms and waved at Connor. See you later, dude. He vanished, taking Brynley with him.

That was . . . interesting, Marielle said.

Aye. Connor gathered her in his arms. Were alone now.

She embraced him, resting her head on his chest. She felt him rubbing his chin against her hair.

Marielle, Ive asked Emma to keep an eye on you. Yell be stationed outside the warehouse to catch anyone who escapes. Some of the newly turned vampires may try to run away. They willna have learned how to teleport yet.

I want to be with you.

He shook his head. Well be fighting hand-to-hand inside the warehouse. Yer blasting power wouldna be helpful there. Ye would be hitting our side as much as the Malcontents.

She swallowed hard. I hate to be separated from you.

Tis for the best. Yer job is to find the Malcontents.

After that, let us do our job.

She nodded.

He kissed her on the mouth, a long, fierce kiss that left her knees weak and her thoughts reeling. Was this a farewell kiss in case something happened to him?

Please, God! Please protect him!

He released her and removed his phone from his sporran. Try again. Can ye sense them now?

She closed her eyes and reached out. Deaths rolled past her. Death caused by illness. Death caused by accidents.

She stiffened. Memphis, Tennessee. Screams of sheer terror. Thirty people dying all at once. In a warehouse. I have it.

He quickly made the call. Angus, were going. Give us ten seconds. He dropped the phone in his sporran and grabbed her.

She felt a cold stab on her brow as he rushed inside her mind and pounced on the destination. Everything went black.

They landed on a dark street, dimly lit by a street lamp on each end. All the street lamps closer by had been broken. On the right, the street was lined with abandoned stores, the glass fronts smashed and partially boarded up. On the left, a giant warehouse loomed, the same one theyd seen on the news report.

There was no one in sight, but screams filled the air.

Dozens of Vamps materialized around them, using Connors tracking device as their beacon. Some came alone; others brought shifters or mortals with them. Marielle recognized Shannas father as he arrived with Roman. Sean Whelan pushed away and drew his weaponsa huge pistol and a long, sharp dagger. The Vamps unsheathed their swords.

Robby led a group silently around to the back of the warehouse.

Emma dashed up to Marielle. This way, she whispered. We have to guard the shifters.

Marielle gave Connor one last look as she was led away. May God bless you and keep you.

He nodded as if he had heard her, then turned to follow Angus into the warehouse.

Her blood ran cold at the sound of their tremendous war cry, followed by gunshots and the clashing of swords.

Hurry! Emma dragged her across the street where the shifters had gathered in an alley between two abandoned stores.

There could be Malcontent guards roaming the area, Emma told her. Ill watch the other end of this alley. You watch this one. Dont let anyone near till the shifters are ready.

Marielle caught a glimpse of the shifters stripping, then turned her back to stand guard. She shuddered as the sound of the battle in the warehouse grew even louder. Amid the din of gunfire and swords clashing, a scream rent the air. She winced. It had sounded so human. She hoped the mortals wouldnt die. Or the Vamps. Or Connor. Her heart constricted with a sharp pang. She couldnt bear to lose him.

Theres one! Get her! a man shouted at the end of the street.

She spotted two men just before they vanished. Malcontents. Before she could shout a warning, they reappeared right in front of her. They pounced, but she sent them flying backward so hard, they crashed into the warehouse.

Her hands shook, and her heart thundered in her ears. Good heavens, that had been close!

A tremendous roar sounded behind her.

She spun around. Ack! Her heart lurched.

A huge Kodiak bear was standing on its hind legs, growling at her. She stumbled to the side and bumped into a broken sidewalk curb.

The bear dropped down on all fours and dashed toward the warehouse, followed closely by four large wolves, and the largest panther and tiger shed ever seen.

The bear and panther attacked the two Malcontents shed thrown against the warehouse, ripping their heads off. The two vampires turned to dust.

Marielles stomach cringed. The shifters charged into the warehouse, and soon after, more screams pierced the air.

Good work. Emma patted Marielle on the back.

A lone wolf trotted to the other side of the alley and sat there on its haunches.

Brynley? Marielle whispered.

The wolf looked at her, then bared its teeth and growled.

Startled, Marielle stepped back.

Damn. Emma pulled a knife and threw it spinning through the air right past Marielle.

Marielle whirled around just in time to see the knife thud into a Malcontents heart and turn him to dust. The knife clattered onto the sidewalk.

That was close, Emma muttered. Thanks, Brynley.

Marielle pressed a hand against her pounding heart. Her stomach felt twisted and queasy.

Are you all right, dear? Emma asked. I could teleport you to Romatech in a flash.

She shook her head. Im not leaving Connor.

Oh. Emmas eyes took on a speculative look as she leaned over to retrieve her knife. She straightened with a jerk. Here they come.

A swarm of newly turned, frantic vampires burst out the front door, screaming and hissing.

Marielle hit them with an air blast that sent them crashing into one another and the warehouse.

Emma dashed toward them, a stake in each hand. She turned four of them to dust before the vampires could even scramble to their feet. Brynley leaped on them, ripping and tearing into their bodies till they turned to dust.

More vampires escaped. Marielle couldnt blast them without hitting Emma and Brynley. She recognized Shannas father exiting the warehouse, shouting and slashing away at the vampires.

A Malcontent broke loose from the crowd and ran down the street. Marielle knocked him down with a blast of air.

Ill kill you! Sean Whelan raced after him.

The vampire jumped to his feet. Sean fired, but his pistol only made a clicking noise. He tossed the gun down and charged at the vampire with his dagger.

The vampire grabbed Seans arm, and the two locked in a struggle, falling onto the ground and rolling about.

Oh God, no, Marielle breathed as she moved closer.

The vampire overpowered Sean, knocked him flat onto the street, wrenched the dagger from his hand, and plunged it into his torso.

Marielle gasped. No! She couldnt let Shannas father die.

The vampires fangs shot out, and he sank them into Seans neck. Marielle couldnt blast him away without also hitting Sean.

She looked around frantically. Emma and Brynley were busy killing vampires by the warehouse door. And Seans attacker was lying on top of him, draining him dry.

She had to do it. Tears filled her eyes as she pulled the dagger from her belt. God forgive me. She estimated where the vampires heart would be, then plunged the dagger into his back. He turned to dust.

She stepped back, and a wave of nausea hit her. The dagger tumbled onto the street with a clatter.

What are you doing here, Marielle?

She spun around and saw Zackriel walking toward her. Is Buniel here? Can he heal this man? She motioned toward Shannas father.

Zackriel looked at Sean Whelan, then at the small battle that Emma and Brynley waged, and shook his head. There will be no Healers here tonight. Only Deliverers.

She swallowed hard at the bile in her throat. What about the humans inside?

All thirty are dead. Zackriel gave her an annoyed look. Do you really think this is the way back to heaven?

She stepped back and stumbled over the dagger shed dropped. Oh God, what had she done? Zack She turned toward him.

He was gone.

Help me, Sean wheezed. Blood oozed from his stomach wound and the open gash on his neck. He reached out a trembling hand.

Im sorry, she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. She couldnt even hold his hand without killing him.

His hand fell limp onto the hard pavement.

Their strategy had worked, Connor noted with satisfaction as he skewered another Malcontent through the heart. Casimirs followers were falling like flies, caught completely by surprise. Corky Courrant and her cameraman were running about, shrieking, and trying to hide behind stacks of lumber.

He glanced over at Roman to make sure the former monk was doing all right. Roman was holding his own. Jean-Luc Echarpe was watching Romans back just as he had done during the Great Vampire War.

Angus and Robby were both attacking the ring of Malcontents that surrounded Casimir. Connor wanted to join them, but twice he had to engage Malcontents who came close to killing Sean Whelan. Shannas father was fighting like a madman, taking such foolish risks that Connor wondered if the man had come to commit suicide.

He knew the battle was over after the shifters charged in, and most of the surviving fledglings ran screaming for the front door, trying to escape. The poor fools had thought they were gaining immortality by becoming Casimirs vampire minions. No doubt they were shocked to find themselves dying the very next night.

With the number of Malcontents dwindling fast, Sean Whelan was having an easier time of it. He was fighting a fledgling with dismal fencing skills. Connor turned to help Angus and Robby as they fought to destroy some of Casimirs most experienced swordsmen.

Robby broke through the ring and made a swipe at Casimir, slicing his shoulder.

Casimir teleported away, then yelled at them from the top of a stack of wood. I am sick of evading you! Youre like a pack of rats, always scurrying about and keeping me from fulfilling my destiny! I want this ended, once and for all. Tomorrow after sunset. Mount Rushmore.

He vanished, and his followers who knew how to teleport followed him. All that was left was a few fledglings trying to escape.

Connor glanced over to where hed last seen Sean Whelan, but he was gone. The fool must have gone outside to fight more fledglings.

A final battle? Robby turned to his great-grandfather. Tomorrow night?

Angus sighed. Most likely a trap.

Connor had to agree, but with the current battle moving out onto the street, his thoughts returned to Marielle. He charged outside, slashing at any Malcontents in his way.

He reached the street and spotted Marielle kneeling beside a body. She was alive! Marielle!

When she looked up, he saw the tears on her face.

He ran toward her. Marielle, are ye all right?

She shook her head. Ive been praying, but none of the Healers will come.

Connor jerked to a stop when he saw Sean Whelan bleeding to death on the street. Oh no.