Real Vampires Dont Wear Size Six Page 6

Chapter Six

  That snapped Penny out of her bloodlust.

  "Glory, what have you done?" She jumped up and ran over to Jenny, rolling her over to stare down at her pale face.

  "Not a thing. She fainted. " I dragged Josh up off the floor where he'd landed after our little tussle and sat him in a chair. He was still staring blankly into space. To my amusement, the cat jumped into his lap and made himself comfortable. If Josh had been awake, I'm sure he'd have let out a few yelps as paws trod over his crotch.

  "Jenny. " Penny patted her sister on the cheek. "Wake up. "

  "Don't think I'd be in such a hurry to do that. You've got blood smeared all over your face. " I checked Josh's wrist, which was still bleeding sluggishly. I forced back my fangs when all I wanted to do was take up where Penny had left off.

  "I'll go wash it off. " Penny turned toward her tiny kitchen.

  "Not yet. Get over here and do what I tell you. " I was not a happy camper. Can you tell? "You've got to close these wounds so that when Josh wakes up, he won't be wearing evidence of your snack time. "

  "But Jenny. " Penny squatted down again. "I can't just leave her on the floor. "

  "Pick her up and put her on the couch. You've got vamp strength now, should be easy to tote around that lightweight. If she starts to wake up, you'll have to use the whammy on her until we figure out what we're going to do with her. " I tapped my foot and looked around. A luxury condo, this wasn't. And a housekeeper, Penny wasn't. I was surprised she'd brought a man back here.

  A big computer setup held pride of place on the small dining room table and it was surrounded by a sea of papers, boxes of books, notebooks and stacks of more papers on the floor. Penny might have big grants, but she sure didn't waste them on interior decorating. The sagging couch looked like it had come from a charity store, as did the rest of the furniture. I could see an unmade bed in a tiny bedroom next to the kitchen with a sink piled with dirty dishes. Clothes were draped on a chair next to that double bed.

  Penny heaved Jenny over to the couch and arranged her head carefully on a throw pillow that was the only bright spot in the avocado green and brown room. Too bad the burnt orange UT pillow wasn't Jenny's color.

  "She's still out. Guess the sight of your fangs, which are way bigger than mine, blew her fuse. " Penny stumbled over to my side. No coffee table, which was a good thing. Otherwise poor Josh would have a bruise to add to his bite marks. "Now what?"

  "You have a healing agent in your saliva that makes bite marks disappear. You should always lick wounds closed after you feed from a mortal. Not that you should make that a habit. " I grabbed her shoulder as she leaned forward to take his wrist again. "Do not be tempted to take another drink. I swear I'll knock you against that wall if you try it. "

  "Geez, Glory, go all Terminator on me, why don't you?" Penny carefully reached for his wrist with two fingers then really looked at Josh's pale face. "Oh, God, what did I do? I was the Terminator, wasn't I?"

  Great, here came the waterworks. But, no, she sucked it up.

  "How long? How long can I safely drink from a mortal and not kill him?" She ran to her dining room table and snatched up a notebook and pencil.

  "What? You're taking notes?" I sighed. I guess I should have expected this from a brainy scientist. And it sure beat tears. But if I hadn't followed her and been on the scene, she could have killed Josh, no doubt about it. Fledglings made those kinds of mistakes.

  "Josh here might have been okay after three minutes, but two to be on the safe side. Trust me, you weren't in control enough to watch a clock, Penny. " I gave her a fierce look and waited until she stopped writing and glanced at me. "I don't care how smart you are in your old world. In this new world, you're dumb as dirt. When bloodlust takes over, you can't just stop on a dime. At least not until you've learned to get a handle on it. Tonight, if I hadn't been here to get you off of Josh, you would have drained him dry. Then you'd have had to figure out how to dispose of his body. "

  Penny swayed, dropped her notebook and pencil, then sank down on the floor. "Oh, God. Oh, God. "

  "I'm sorry, but that's the truth. " I sat beside her and put my arm around her. "You see why I'm trying to stay close to you when you're around mortals? You can't think your way through this. It's an instinct. Primitive and not easily controlled. Until you can convince me you're managing your thirst like an adult vampire, you're going to be stuck with me. "

  Penny leaned against me. "Thanks, Glory. I had no idea. " She took a watery breath. "Just, uh, thanks. "

  "No problem, kiddo. I had Jerry do it for me. " I smiled, remembering. "Now let's handle this situation, okay?"

  "How? Here's Josh, looking pale and probably weak and now I've got Jenny. Obviously I don't want to tell her about my new status until I can look at her and not want to bite her. " Penny stood and picked cat hair off her jeans. "Guess I've finally come down to earth. "

  "Josh's okay. He's a big dude. He can handle losing the little bit you took. But if you attacked someone small like your sister, a minute or two too much could do her some serious harm. " I stood too. "It's all about percentages. "

  "I get that. " Penny grabbed her notebook again and scribbled, then ran to the kitchen. She came out with something clutched in her hand and dropped it into her purse.

  "What's that?" I was suspicious of everything Penny did now and, looking at Josh's pale face, rightly so.

  "A kitchen timer. " She grimaced. "Okay, so I'm thinking ahead. But maybe I'll get another chance to - "

  "Bite Josh?" I really wanted to scream. But what good would it do? Penny was used to being the smartest kid on the playground and in her new world she still thought she could beat the system. Who was I to doubt her? I just shook my head.

  She'd pulled the timer out and stared down at it. "Mom gave me this timer. I used it to b-b-bake brownies. " Tears. Now these I could understand. My mad evaporated and I patted her shoulder.

  "Brownies. Little squares of chocolate heaven. I've never even tasted one. Just smelled them. " I took the timer and dropped it back in her purse. "Now let's finish with Josh and get this" - I looked over at Jenny, still out, but showing signs of coming back to life - "mess cleaned up. "

  "What do you want me to do?" Penny stared at her sister too. "I can't believe Jenny just showed up here. This late. Guess I didn't do a very good job of putting her off. "

  "Well, we'll handle it. Now lean in and lick away the evidence that you were ever at Josh's wrist. Got it?"

  "Got it. " She took a steadying breath and did what I told her. "God, his blood still smells so . . . delicious. What blood type is he? I like it a lot. "

  "Josh's is one of the rare ones and my personal favorite if you must know. AB negative. The synthetic of this type is expensive. It's like a fine wine. To be sipped and savored, not gulped. " I kept my hand on Penny's shoulder. Good intentions or not, I was relieved when she dropped his wrist and ran her fingers through her cat's fur.

  "Look at this, Booger likes Josh. I take that as a good sign. " She smiled at me. "My old boyfriend has the claw marks to prove the B-man doesn't take to just anyone. "

  "Doesn't matter in this case. We're going to escort Josh out to the hall and you're going to give him the suggestion that you dumped him. Remember?" I pulled Josh to his feet, dislodging the cat in the process. "Sorry, fur face, but the mortal has got to go. "

  "I don't remember agreeing to that. I told you, I want to keep Josh. As a boyfriend. Or a pet. This guy was into me, Glory. Surely I can figure things out so that I can keep him. " Penny kept glancing back at Jenny, who hadn't opened her eyes yet. "I'm worried about Jenny. She's not the fainting type. "

  "It's only been a few minutes. But we need to hurry. We can discuss Josh's fate later. " I steered him toward the door. "Mortals as pets would be damned complicated and I, for one, have never had the patience to even try it. Stick to synthetics. It's a better option. "

  "But some vampires do kee
p pets? Like those women at Damian's. " Penny waited for my reluctant nod. "I knew it! There are too many Goths desperate to join the vamp fan club. " Penny looked Josh over speculatively, obviously picturing him in leather and a choke collar, with AB negative on tap.

  "Stop thinking, Penny, and start getting this mess untangled. " I'd been watching her sister and saw her eyelids flicker. "For now, go out there, look him in the eyes and tell him you two did a little necking but you called a halt because you don't fall into bed on what was your first decent date. If he's got even a tenth of your gray matter, he'll realize that fiasco where you ended up abandoned on a hilltop didn't count. Am I right?"

  Penny shrugged, obviously not happy.

  "You know I am. Then tell him to wake up, kiss him good night and send him on his way. Got it?"

  "Okay, I can do that. " Penny got a sly look on her face like maybe she'd add a suggestion or two of her own.

  "I've got vamp hearing, Penny. I'll be listening to everything you say. You screw this up and I'll take care of Josh my way later. I'm sure I can find him. " I grabbed her arm. "And I'll be in here with your sister. Don't forget that. "

  "You wouldn't hurt Jenny, would you?" Penny's eyes narrowed.

  "Not without provocation. " I kept my thoughts blocked, determined to get the upper hand in this mentor relationship early. No need for Penny to realize I was far from the badass I was pretending to be. "I didn't survive four hundred years by letting some upstart newbie endanger me with her bloodlust or her libido. Keep that in mind. "

  "Fine. " She ran into the kitchen and washed her face and hands. "Am I clean?"

  "Yes. Lipstick's gone, but after your make-out session that's to be expected. " I nodded toward Josh.

  "I just look into his eyes and tell him what I want him to remember, right?" After I nodded, Penny dragged Josh to the door and out into the hall. I heard her tell him he'd had a wonderful time with her and all the rest we'd agreed upon. Then there was silence, which I figured was her getting the kind of kiss she wanted.

  "Whoa, I have to come up for air. For some reason, I'm dizzy. " Josh laughed. "Don't tell my frat brothers, they'll think I'm a wuss. "

  "Your secret's safe with me. " Penny laughed. "You okay to drive? Maybe it's low blood sugar. I could get you some juice. " She sounded anxious. "If I had some. Darn it, I've got to get to the store. "

  "That's okay. I'm fine, seriously. " More silence. "See? Not dizzy this time. Thanks, Penny. I'll call you. " Josh sounded like he meant it. Then I heard him walk away.

  Penny stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "Happy now?"

  "You did fine. Now let's see about your sister. " I gestured toward Jenny, who was struggling to sit up.

  "Jenny, are you all right?" Penny sat beside her and brushed back her hair.

  "What happened? And who is this woman?" Jenny's eyes widened and latched on to me. "I saw something. The strangest thing. The two of you . . . " She went silent when Penny stared at her and obviously put her into a trance.

  "We have to erase her memory, don't we?" Penny looked up at me, her eyes swimming with tears. "I don't want her to remember me with my face covered with blood, fangs down like that, before I have a chance to explain things. "

  "I'm sure it was a pretty horrifying sight to a mortal who has no clue we really exist. " I sighed. "And there's no need to explain any of this tonight. Give yourself a break. One thing at a time. You can tell her you're moving in with me. That I have a great location, a cheap room to rent and you decided you were tired of living alone. " I looked around her place. "Surely you won't be sad to leave this behind. "

  "Hey, it's not that bad. Though I admit I don't keep it as clean as I could. Jenny and I never could share a room at home. She's a neatnik. " Penny sighed and sat her sister up, arranging her like she would a pretty, life-size doll.

  "I'm not a neatnik, but you will have to keep your mess confined to your bedroom at my place. " I frowned at her computer station. "Guess I'll concede my dining table to you, though. We don't need it for a meal, that's for sure. "

  "Thanks, Glory. And my parents will be tickled at the news. They've been living in fear that I'll get another guy in here. As it was, they never told Gramps that I had Albert as a roommate for a while. "

  "Gramps the preacher. I can see where that would cause a stir at prayer meetings. " I sat in Josh's abandoned chair and got a visit from Booger. The cat was growing on me. He licked my hand with a sandpapery tongue and I stroked between his ears.

  "A stir? Me living in sin would have called for a candlelight vigil. " Penny sighed. "Jenny would never disappoint Gramps by shacking up with a guy before marriage. " She looked at me. "She's the one who always gets the smiling pictures and features in the local paper. Of course she was homecoming queen, head cheerleader. "

  "But you're the one who has grants and degrees. " I looked from one twin to the other. Hard to believe they'd popped out during the same birth. They were so different. Yet there was a slight similarity to the tilt of the chin and the curve of the brow. Of course Penny's eyebrows were dark and hadn't been properly shaped.

  "Whatever. We don't compete. We accept our differences and love each other for them. " Penny put her arm around Jenny. "No way am I letting her grow old and die when I won't. "

  "You may not have a choice in that. " I felt the cat purring in my lap. "It will be Jenny's decision when the time comes. And it's way too soon for you to ask her to make it. "

  "Why? I'm stuck in this nineteen-year-old body. " Penny looked down. "Not the one I might have wished for, but look at hers. It's perfect. Who wouldn't want to be stuck like that?"

  I had to admit she was right. Jenny could have posed for a magazine ad. She was the size six the demons had tried to tempt me with but taller than I was by a few inches.

  "You have to give yourself time to get used to your new life. I'm not allowing you to tell Jenny anything about vampires until I get to know her better and see what kind of risk we'd be running telling her about us. That is nonnegotiable. " I gave Penny my sternest look. "If you want to keep seeing Jenny on a regular basis, it's going to have to be playing Penny as usual, no vampire vibe visible at all. Got it?"

  "That's never going to work. " Penny gave me a venomous look. "I get that my bloodlust is a problem, but otherwise . . . Come on, Glory, she's my twin. We don't keep huge secrets like this. "

  "You do now. You're the brain around here. Quit arguing and start doing. Erase her memory of the scene she walked into and wake her up. Introduce us. Tell her about the new living arrangement. Your new life starts now. " I sat back, cat in my lap and waited.

  "I hate you. " Penny stood, her hands fisted by her sides.

  "I can live with that. Just do it. " I ran my hand across Booger's back while Penny told her sister she had just walked up to the door, had felt dizzy because she'd skipped dinner and Penny had caught her when she'd passed out. Then she told her to wake up.

  "Jenny, I hope you're feeling better. " Penny handed her sister a bottle of cold water from her refrigerator and a protein bar.

  "Yeah, I know better than to skip a meal. " Jenny twisted off the cap and took a deep drink. "Thanks. You sure you can spare this bar?"

  "You left it here. I'd rather eat the wrapper. Of course I can always zap you a frozen pizza. Sausage. " Penny smiled like this was an old joke between them.

  Sure enough Jenny shuddered. "I'd rather eat the box. "

  "This is Glory St. Clair. " Penny waved in my direction. "Glory, my sister, Jenny, who made that dramatic entrance. She's on a vegetarian kick. That's why the shudder. "

  I smiled. "I get it. I have dietary restrictions myself. " I ignored Penny's gasp. She'd just have to get used to vampire humor. "Nice to meet you. Penny and I have known each other awhile. I've persuaded her to move in with me. Share the rent. She's moving in tonight. "

  "No kidding?" Jenny's eyes went wide. "That's odd. I thought you liked it here
, Pen. " She gazed around the cluttered room and winced. "Though I never could understand it. Where's your place, Glory?"

  "On Sixth Street in an apartment over my shop, Vintage Vamp's Emporium. " I put Booger on the floor when he scratched my hand to be let down. He ran to Jenny and hopped up into her lap.

  "I love that store. Perfect for finding a Halloween costume. You own it?" She gave the cat a quick pat. "Down, big guy, you're shedding all over my new skirt. " She sat him on the floor.

  "Yes, vintage clothes are my thing. " I could see at a glance that everything on Jenny was brand-new, right down to her silver thongs. Her toenails were painted a hot pink to match her clingy T-shirt. The skirt she didn't want decorated with cat fur was a dark-wash denim and now had orange hair on it. She got busy plucking it off and dropping it on the rug.

  "Well, now you can mention Penny's name and get a discount. " I kept smiling but Penny's sister was a little too perfect and perky for my taste. I didn't read her mind. I wasn't in the habit of prying unless I felt it was absolutely necessary.

  "That is so cool. " Jenny frowned when Booger tried to jump up into her lap again. "You are letting her take the cat with her, aren't you? I just can't have him with me in the sorority house. "

  "Of course. I had less of a problem with the cat than with what she calls her big-ass computer. "

  Jenny laughed. "I know what you mean. What a mess. " She patted Penny on the arm. "She says she knows where everything is in that pile of junk, but beats me how she finds anything. "

  "Speaking of, I need more boxes and to get packing. Did you still need help with that math, Jenny?" Penny glanced at her watch. "It's getting late. "

  "No, I've got it. Just wanted to touch base. You said you had a date. How'd it go?" She looked around, like maybe she doubted the date story.

  "It was fine. It's the frat guy I saw last weekend. Josh. We hit it off. " Penny edged away from her sister.

  Surely she wasn't being hit by the bloodlust again. After taking Josh down a pint or more? I jumped up.

  "I met him. He's cute and into Penny. Which is great. Right, Jenny?" I watched her reaction.

  She gaped at the open bedroom door. "You brought him here? You didn't - "

  "No! Geez, Jen. " Penny flushed. "Give me a little credit. Yeah, I'm a slob, but guys don't notice stuff like that. He said he'd call me. "

  Jenny pasted on a bright smile and jumped up to hug her sister. "Then I'm sure he will. Guess I was wrong about that party after all. I wish I had time to hear all the details. Call me tomorrow and we'll dish. " She brushed at her skirt. "I've got to go. Need my beauty sleep, you know. It is late. Surely you're not going to move stuff tonight. "

  "We'll just take a load or two. " Penny ignored the party comment. "Glad you stopped by. You can always text me when you want to get together but I'll be super busy for the next two weeks. This grant project is coming to a head. If we meet, it'll have to be at night. "

  "Sure. And I've got finals looming. " Jenny looked me over, taking in my vintage designer jeans and red sweater. As usual I'd gone for a V-neck and a color that was good for me. I might not be a six, but I knew how to work what I had. "How did you and Penny meet, Glory? I'm sure it wasn't over a dress rack. Though I bet you're the one who got her into flats. Am I right?" She winked at me.

  "Yes, Jenny hates my boots as much as you do, Glory. " Penny hunched her shoulders and I felt sorry for her.

  "Hate's a pretty strong word. But Penny looks good tonight, doesn't she, Jenny? Josh couldn't take his eyes off of her. And she had another guy hitting on her last night at N-V. " I couldn't resist. Jenny was just too cute, and Penny, when she'd shown up on my doorstep, had been far from it. Why the great divide? "Trey couldn't wait to get her on the dance floor. "

  "You went to that new club last night?" Jenny's eyes were saucers. "You're kidding me. "

  "Oh, we were there. Glory's best bud owns it. Rafe's cool. And Trey's a hunk, isn't he, Glory?" Penny's shoulders were back again and she was smiling.

  "I've never been. " Jenny looked me over speculatively. "You already out of school, Glory?"

  "Oh, yeah. I'm way out of school. " I gave Penny a look that kept her from jumping into the conversation. "Actually, Penny and I have a mutual friend. He put us together. You know how these things work. I had an extra bedroom and needed the rent money. " I swept my gaze around the cluttered living room. "And Penny needed to live with someone who could keep her environment reasonably organized. " I grinned. "Someone your grandfather would approve of. "

  Jenny laughed. "Oh, I get that. Good luck to you on the organization thing. I gave up years ago. "

  "Hello. I'm in the room. " Penny glowered at both of us. "Laugh all you want. But when I'm rich and famous and cure the incurable, we'll see who's laughing. "

  Jenny planted a kiss on her sister's cheek. "My bets are on you all the way, sis. Now I've got to go. " She turned to me. "I'll be praying for you, Glory. " She hit the door and left without a backward glance.

  "That went well. She never really questioned my decision. " Penny collapsed on the couch.

  "Good thing. Because she wouldn't have gotten any answers. "

  "Am I a total pervert for having a moment or two where all I could think about was tasting her blood? I know Jen's blood type. It's not exotic like Josh's. It's just plain old B positive. But I had to fight my fangs when I got too close to her and the sound of her heartbeat . . . " Penny stared at me. "Damn, Glory, it sounded loud as a drum to me. "

  "Only natural. Now you need to grab what you want to take right away. We'll get Damian to arrange for the rest of your stuff to be moved. " I glanced at her computer. "You can come tomorrow night and supervise. " Booger rubbed against my leg. "You have a cat carrier? We might as well take this guy with us. "

  "Sure. I have to use it when he goes to the vet. Pick him up first. If he sees me get the carrier out of the closet, he'll hide and we'll never find him. " Penny walked into her bedroom.

  I grabbed Booger and hugged him. "Such a sweet boy and such an ugly name. I think I'll call you Boogie. Like the way I danced during the war. "

  "Which war was that?" Penny was back and I felt Boogie stiffen, his claws digging into my arm.

  "WW Two, of course. I was over in England and helped keep the troops happy in the USO canteens. I love to dance. " I dropped the cat into the carrier and slammed the lid shut while Penny gathered food, litter and the litter box.

  "Amazing. I can't imagine what a long life you've had. " Penny had her arms full. "Let's go. I have enough underwear in my backpack for tomorrow and you bought me those new clothes. Please call Damian when we get back to your place. I really want my big computer with me. I've got my laptop, but my major work is on Chuck here. I guess it's never too late to call a vampire. "

  "As long as it's between dusk and dawn, we're good. " I lugged the carrier to the door. "You have a car?"

  "Yep. It's a relic, but it runs. Should I park on the street in front of your shop?"

  "No, there's parking in the alley behind it. " I shivered. There'd been a lot of bad things that had happened in that alley. It was almost a death trap. "Follow me and, when you get out of your car, stay alert. I've had some trouble back there so pay attention. I'm sure the demons aren't through with me, for one thing. "

  "Now you're creeping me out. " Penny locked the door with her key as she followed me out to the curb and watched me stow the cat in the passenger seat of my car.

  "I'm glad. A vampire can't just walk around without watching for danger. Just like a woman by herself on a dark night in an alley can't. " I slammed the car door. "Understand?"

  "Only too well. I know Sixth Street gets its share of crime too. " Penny pointed at the apartment lot. "That's my car, the blue Ford. "

  "Must get good mileage. " It was an economy car and not old, but it had more than its fair share of scrapes and dings.

  "It does. The battered look is courtesy
of my inattention to detail when I park. " Penny made a face. "That's what Dad says anyway. He gave up fixing the cosmetic stuff. Says I have to live with it, warts and all. "

  "Guess you think too much. " I grinned. "About things other than the world around you. "

  "Exactly. " Penny laughed, for once in sync with me. "I'll meet you there. " She walked over to the car and I saw her add a scratch when the edge of the litter box bumped the rear door. I was watching her carefully near my new car.

  I drove home with Boogie griping the whole way. He was obviously very worried that I might be taking him to the vet. I tried to reassure him, but talk was cheap in his world. By the time I parked, he was yowling. Penny pulled in a few moments later. I had deliberately parked between two cars so Penny couldn't park next to me. I heard a thunk as she opened her car door into the side of the Dumpster.

  "Aw, Booger, is Glory being mean to you?" Penny stuck a finger into the carrier. "Ow! Don't bite me. This is not the vet's office, you ungrateful feline. "

  We both were distracted by Boogie's yowls so, when the man stepped out of the shadows, it was only natural that we jumped and yelled.

  "Hyyyy-yah!" Penny swung into action with a karate move that impressed the hell out of me. The man fell flat on his back and grabbed his stomach where her kick had landed.

  "Stop, vamp girl. I know this man and he's no danger to either of us. " I grabbed her arm and pulled her back to keep her from landing a kick to his head while he was down.

  "What?" Penny looked down at her victim, keeping a good distance from his arms as he struggled to sit up.

  "Glory? Who the hell is this?" Nathan Burke took the hand I offered him and got to his feet.

  "A fledgling I'm mentoring. " I smiled at her. "Good work, Penny. I didn't know you had it in you. "

  "Self-defense classes. My folks wouldn't let me come to the big city without them. " She smiled tentatively at Nathan. "Sorry if I overreacted. Obviously you and Glory know each other. " She offered her hand. "Penny Patterson. " Her nose twitched and I knew she was taking a whiff of her second delicious and rare mortal of the night. Another AB negative. She gave me a wink like maybe she thought I'd kept this guy a secret, as my own pet.

  "Penny, this is Nathan Burke, a friend, not my blood buddy. " I watched them shake hands, then stepped between them. "Nathan, be careful around Penny. You may not remember this, but new vamps have a problem with self-control around mortals. "

  "Some not-so-new vamps do too. " Nathan ran his hand over his close-cropped hair. "That's why I'm here. Ray's way out of control and I need your help. "

  "Can we go upstairs to discuss this?" I gestured at the cat carrier where Boogie still wailed his distress. "I think the neighborhood may be getting ready to call animal control. "

  "Sure. Let me carry that. " Nathan reached for the crate.

  "Careful, he may try to scratch you. " Penny relinquished the handle.

  Nathan just shook his head. "I'll deal, but if he draws blood, don't think it's an invitation to dine. " He grinned at me. "Glory has first dibs. Am I right?"

  "Don't start putting ideas in Penny's head, Nate. Come on up and tell me about Ray's crisis. " I helped Penny unload the rest of the cat paraphernalia and we trouped up the stairs.

  Once Boogie was in the apartment, we let him loose and he ran to hide under my bed. We settled in the living room and Penny was all big eyes and curiosity.

  "Who's Ray?" she asked first.

  "Israel Caine. Nathan's his best friend and manager. I was Ray's mentor too. And, for a while, we pretended to be engaged, for the media. " I grabbed a bottle of synthetic and one of the beers Rafe had left in my fridge. I handed the beer to Nate, who opened it gratefully.

  "Are you telling me that Israel Caine, the rock star, the legend, is a vampire?" Penny was on the edge of her chair.

  "Unfortunately. " Nate took a deep swallow of his beer and sighed. "He's really into the synthetic with alcohol now that he's discovered it. "

  "I was afraid that would happen. " I glanced at Penny. Might as well tell her the rest. "Ray was close to having to go to rehab for alcoholism when he was turned. Being a vampire was no more his choice than it was yours. He earned his fangs in an act of revenge by a woman who thought he deserved to lose daylight. "

  "As revenge, she got it right. He's still brooding about it. Getting suicidal again. Really into the daylight drug and I'm afraid he's going to fall down drunk outside some morning and just fry. " Nate took another gulp of beer. "I've hired people to watch him, just in case. "

  "Oh, Nate. " I was beside him on the couch and I put my hand on his knee. "This has got to be killing you. "

  "I was hoping you'd help me snap him out of it. " Nate gave me a sad smile. "You know he loves you. Still. "

  "Doubt it. We really didn't part well the last time he made a move on me. " I'd laid it out pretty clearly that I was either all for Jerry or even Rafe before I'd take a chance on a rocker with Ray's history of love 'em and leave 'em.

  "I know you're not going to go back to him as his woman or anything like that. " Nate grimaced. "Ray shared some of what went down with you. One night when he was bombed it came pouring out. I don't think he remembers telling me or he'd be embarrassed. Anyway, you always had a way of making him remember what he has to live for. " Nate looked at Penny. "You guys have forever. But if you've lost what you value most, I guess that's not such a good deal, is it?"

  Penny sniffed. "No, it isn't. I'm still trying to figure this out. How am I going to handle it when my parents die? My friends? Hell, I have a twin sister. Glory won't even let me clue her in yet about this freakin' change I've gone through. "

  "Listen to Glory. " Nate put his hand on mine and squeezed. "She's been through a lot. She knows. I saw her handle Ray when I couldn't and he's been my best friend since grade school. "

  "I want to help him, Nate. Seriously. But how? Last I knew he was with Nadia and having a fine old time learning the ropes and chains and you name it of her freaky sex-perience. " I eased my hand from his. "He's been living here in town and hasn't even called me, even though we're supposed to be friends. "

  "Nadia got tired of Ray's drinking and dumped him. I told you, he's out of control. Won't rehearse. Isn't writing the songs we need for the new album. Told the band to take a break so they're about to head out. He's pushing everyone away. You're not the only one. " Nate shook his head. "Here's the worst. He even talked to Ian MacDonald about coming here to Austin. Ray offered to be the guinea pig if Ian would move his lab so they could work to make the daylight drug last all day. I think Ian's going to come check out the city. "

  "No way. " I jumped up. This was bad. Definitely suicidal.

  "What's this daylight drug?" Penny just had to ask.

  I'd been so into the Ray thing I'd almost forgotten she was in the room. "It's a drug that will let vampires stay awake long enough to watch the sun rise. Out of direct sunlight, of course. You let the sun's rays hit you and you're toast. "

  "Wow. This Ian must be a genius with chemistry. " Penny looked really interested.

  "He is. You'd probably love him. I think I already mentioned that. " I really didn't want her meeting the man. We needed to head Ian off at the pass.

  "Have you tried it? Are you sure it works and isn't just an urban legend?" Penny was up now too, on my heels as I paced.

  "Yes, I've tried it. " I grabbed her. "Stop following me. The drug worked for a little while. It costs the earth. I can't afford it on what the shop makes so I put it out of my mind. Rich vamps can blow their money on a few minutes of daylight but I won't. "

  "So your boyfriend paid for it. " Penny's eyes were shining, and I again got the feeling that her wheels were turning. That giant brain was trying to figure out what Ian had done to let vamps see daylight.

  "Yes, one of them did. Think about it, Penny. After four hundred years, seeing the sun again can be a big deal, worth whatever the price if you'
ve got it. " I sighed. Might as well spill all the beans. "Ian's got a weight-loss drug too. I tried it. It worked. Actually got me down to a size six. "

  "No way. " Penny was riveted, eyes wide, her hands on my arms.

  "Oh, yes. " I looked at her hands and she let me go. "But it was temporary. Also expensive and Ray picked up the tab for that one. " I made a face. "Ian's a businessman, in it for the money. Which I get. But he's also a genius and dangerous as hell. He surrounds himself with bodyguards and he's a vampire with lots of weapons at his disposal. Not someone I'd like to see you mess with. "

  "Sounds fascinating. " Penny grinned at Nathan.

  I grabbed Penny by the shoulders and looked her dead in the eyes. "Stay the hell away from him. "

  "Make me. " Penny jerked free, snatched up her cat, who'd finally come out from under the bed, and ran for her bedroom.

  I flopped on the couch next to Nate. "You see what I'm up against?"

  "Wait till you see what Ray's doing. Penny's just a kid acting out. " Nate looked tired and worried. "Come tomorrow night. Last performance before the band breaks for vacation. A venue out at Zilker Park. General admission. I really didn't want them to do it but Ray insisted. He likes Austin. Plans to stay here to cut the album so he wanted to give back. " Nate shook his head. "Ticket prices were ridiculously cheap. It'll be a mob scene. "

  "I'll be there, though I'm not sure what I can do to help. " I leaned back and glanced toward where I could hear scratching at Penny's bedroom door. Obviously Boogie wasn't happy being shut in. "Sometimes people need to make their own mistakes. "

  "Thanks, Glory. If there's anything I can do for you, just let me know. " Nate yawned, obviously exhausted.

  I leaned against him and inhaled, telling myself I was never going to drink from this mortal no matter how delicious he smelled. I got up, grabbed my bottle of synthetic and chugged it.

  "Just leave before you become my late-night snack. " I pulled him up and walked him to the door.

  Nate grinned and kissed my cheek. "You wouldn't. Though you're more than welcome. Have to tell you though. " He lost his grin and shuddered. "The truth is, I knew Ray was losing it when he threw me down and drank from me last night. " He winced when I gripped his hand and let my horror show. "Yep, his best bud. Luckily one of the shifters I'd hired to watch him ran in and wrestled him off me or I'd be dead, drained dry. " Tears sheened his dark eyes. "I had to be driven to the hospital for a transfusion, Glory. I was that far gone. We had a hell of a time arranging that too. Fortunately, I know a doctor . . . " He shrugged, trying to go for casual, and failing. "I'm scared, Glory. For Ray, for our friendship. This time he went too far. "

  "Oh, Nate. I'm so sorry. " I pulled him into my arms and just held him. Ray had crossed a line and I was wondering if he could be pulled back. If the council got wind of this, they'd take a hard look at Ray. Because he was an inch away from going rogue. I shuddered. And there was only one outcome for a rogue vampire in Austin. That was at the end of a stake.