"Any time you want to know, babe, I"ll be glad to give you a taste of what else I"ve got hidden under here." Roz"s voice was cushioned in silk and he batted his eyes at Camille. "Want to play show-me-yours show-me-yours now?" now?"

"Enough. Let"s get moving." I pushed ahead of them.

We headed into the thicket and Camille once again raised her hand. "The willows are quiet now. Wisteria was the one stirring them up. They"re watching. Just watching."

The undergrowth surrendered to a path that had been hidden from the walkway. No doubt they"d gone to a lot of trouble to forge a trail out of sight to pa.s.sersby. Snow-covered huckleberries and ferns shimmered in the dark of the wood, while scuttling noises announced the presence of squirrels and other night creatures who lived on the outskirts of the zoo.

"This way," I said. I could smell the faint whiff of vampire on the wind. All vamps had a scent. Not quite decay, not quite perfume, we smelled like graveyard dust and old bones and lilacs and yew trees and the faint promise of pa.s.sion in the night. A vamp could always smell a vamp, which meant that if they were near enough, if they were paying attention, the newborns knew that I was on the way.

As we pushed on through the bushes, Camille tapped me on the shoulder. "Over there-see?"

I squinted, staring into the darkness. There it was: the entrance to an underground vault with stone steps leading down to the door. Probably a utility shed sunk into the ground for protection, or maybe an old foundation to a house long forgotten. Whatever it was, the newborns were using it. Which meant that the floraeds had probably scouted it out for them at Dredge"s request.

"Let"s go. Stakes at the ready. Watch your backs." I wiggled my finger at Roz. "Come on. We take the front. I"m the least likely to get hurt by this bunch, and you"re next in line. Camille and Morio, you fall in behind Roz. Then Chase. Delilah, bring up the rear and keep a close watch on our backs."

The steps had cracked, with weeds growing through the fractures in the concrete. Patches of ice and snow dappled the dark cement, and I slowly began to descend the narrow stairwell, hand resting on one of the stakes in my belt. The door at the base of the stairs was dimly lit by a single touch light that hung at a lopsided angle on the side of the wall. Whatever this place was, it barely extended above the surface. We were almost fully underground.

I frowned at the door. Metal, it had a vaultlike wheel for a door handle, reminding me of the submarines we"d seen on late night World War II movies.

"A bunker," Chase said, his voice low.

"What?"

"Fallout shelter. I"ll bet you this was built in the fifties during the Cold War." He let out a sigh. "Whoever owned this land must have sold it to the zoo at some point and forgot to tell them this was here."

Cold War. I vaguely knew the reference, but it wasn"t important. What was was important were the vamps waiting for us on the other side. I could smell them now, thickly. I couldn"t tell how many might be inside, but my guess was that we"d be facing at least four. important were the vamps waiting for us on the other side. I could smell them now, thickly. I couldn"t tell how many might be inside, but my guess was that we"d be facing at least four.

"Be careful. I don"t want any more company on my side of the fence," I said, raising my foot. With one well-placed kick, I smashed the door open, the metal shrieking as hinges twisted and the door crashed in against the wall.

As I rushed in, Roz followed me. A blur of motion greeted us.

We were in a short hall that opened into a larger room, two more doors on the other side. A quick count told me we were facing three vamps. I took on one while Roz spun into the room, aiming at the second. The third rushed past in a blur, headed for Camille who was standing behind me. And the fight was on.

My opponent was a woman. She let out a long hiss and backhanded me before I could dodge to the right. s.h.i.t s.h.i.t, I thought, flying back. A martial arts freak. She must have had an extensive background in it before she died. The moment I touched the ground, I rolled and flipped, coming to my feet again as I circled around to get a better angle while staying out of her reach. I learned fast. Once kicked, twice as quick.

"Why are you helping them?" She beckoned me to move closer. "Come over to our side, sister. You are one of us."

"I"m no more one of you than I am an ogre," I said, spitting at her feet. "I"d offer you the chance to live, to learn how to control the thirst, but something tells me you wouldn"t be able to handle it."

"Why should I? Our sire"s promised us a playground." And then she struck again, but this time I was watching every twitch and was ready for her. I turned to the side just as she lunged, grabbing her arm as it shot past me.

"So sorry to cut this short, but I don"t have time to play," I said. She might be stronger than when she"d been alive, but I was a long sight more powerful and I yanked her to my side.

Fighting me, she lurched into my arms.

I thrust the stake up into her chest, watching her eyes as she realized what was happening. And then, like lava hitting the ocean, she burst into a thousand ash flakes. I s.n.a.t.c.hed up the stake and turned to see how the others were faring.

Roz was tangled with one of the men. As I turned, he"d just managed to stake him. Two down, one to go.

The other vamp had hold of Camille"s throat and was trying to bite her. As I moved in to help, Morio dropped his stake and before you could say fox fox, he started to shift.

I"d never seen him in full demon form before. Fully eight feet high with glowing golden eyes and fur the color of burnished copper, he"d changed into a fox-man, rearing up on two legs, long muzzle bristling. But no shy fox this-no, he was a demon fox. His nose was black and wet, and steam poured out of his nostrils. As he grimaced, a full row of razor sharp teeth gleamed in the dim light of the bunker.

Instead of paws, he still had hands and feet, but they were fully furred with long, curling claws. Without thinking, my gaze traveled down his length. Whoa! No wonder Camille appreciated him, I thought, staring at his nether regions. Morio might not be a tall man, nor muscle bound, but he sure made up for it in other ways.

He grabbed goth-boy by the scruff of the neck and jerked him off of Camille. The vamp gave a frightened cry. For a moment, I thought I saw a spark of humanity peering out from behind those dead eyes. Then the fear disappeared and the vampire swiped at Morio, catching him across the upper arm.

With a loud yip, Morio raked his claws down the man"s chest, gutting him wide. Delilah, who"d been watching from where she was guarding Chase, leapt forward and thrust her stake into the exposed heart. The vamp twitched, then vanished, ashes like the rest.

Morio turned to Camille and in a voice that echoed through the chamber, asked, "Are you all right?"

"I"m fine. He didn"t manage to hurt me," she said, gazing up at him. "But you"re injured."

As he slowly shifted back into his human form, Morio shook his head and picked up his bag, slinging it back over his shoulder. "I"ll be all right. It"s barely a scratch." He glanced at the gashes showing through the ripped clothing. "Don"t worry about me."

The fight over, I glanced around the room. The other two doors caught my eye. Two more chances for vamps to be lurking, waiting for us. The smell of blood hung heavy, but I was still so impressed by Morio"s transformation that I barely noticed. However if there were were other vamps here, it would draw them to us for sure. other vamps here, it would draw them to us for sure.

"Be careful-your wound is as good as a beacon-" I started to say, but one of the side chamber doors slammed open and two more bloodsuckers came through. "Bingo!" I rushed forward, along with Roz and we spun into action.

This time the fight was pretty much one-sided. Camille cast a blinding light spell in the room, which backfired in a sense that instead of a globe in the center of the air, the light shot out from her eyes, effectively eliminating her ability to fight. But Roz and I managed to take down the two vamps before the others could move in. The illumination flared and sputtered out to dwindle back into darkness.

"h.e.l.l. I felt like a Roman candle," she said, blinking.

"You looked like one, too," I said. "Any damage?"

She swallowed, then coughed. "My throat feels like I just chugged a bottle of Johnnie Walker, but otherwise I think I"m okay."

Morio let out a snort, arching his eyebrows as she glared at him. "Don"t blame me. You know that was funny," he said, but she held up a hand.

"Shut up. I hear something." She raced to the other door and swung it wide before I could stop her. "Erin! I found Erin!"

I darted into the room, glancing around to make sure we were alone. Delilah was right behind me, and the boys behind her.

Erin was bound on the floor, her flannel shirt nowhere to be seen. So butch in the outer world, here she looked terribly frail and terribly hurt. Blood splattered the room. It looked like the newborns had been feeding off of her. The scent of fear hung heavy in the air, and my fangs automatically extended, the hunger churning like an ocean wave.

Camille knelt by her and felt for her pulse. She looked up, ashen. "She"s dying. She"s not going to make it. Even if we manage to miraculously get an ambulance here in five minutes, they won"t be able to give her blood fast enough." Her eyes flashed. "I want them dead. All of them!"

I slowly joined her, crouching to stare at Erin"s lifeless form. She wasn"t gone yet. There was still a flutter of breath in her struggling lungs, but Camille was right. She was going to die.

Camille turned to me. "You can save her," she said.

"What? How? Even I can"t get her to a hospital fast enough." Confused, I glanced around at the others. Roz and Morio had knowing looks on their faces, but Chase pulled a blank stare.

"You can," Delilah said, dropping by Erin"s other side. "You can save her, Menolly. You have to-she didn"t ask to die. She doesn"t want to die."

And then, staring at my sisters, I knew what they were asking. "What? You can"t mean it! You can"t tell me you want me to turn her?" I leapt up and strode over to Roz"s side. "I can"t believe you"d ask me to do something I find so repulsive."

Camille gently laid Erin"s head in Delilah"s lap. She stood, eyes blazing, hands on hips. "What happened to you is totally different. You were tortured with every vile act Dredge could think of. Erin"s been used as a feeding station, but she doesn"t look scarred. And she didn"t ask to be put in this position. Don"t you get it? She"s going to die if you don"t do something now now."

I stared at Erin"s lifeless form. "People die, Camille. People live and they die. It"s the way of the world."

"It doesn"t have to happen," Delilah chimed in. "She doesn"t have to be like those newborns. Look at Wade and Sa.s.sy-look at you! You"re different. You choose to be different. You can help Erin from the beginning."

"Remember what Grandmother Coyote said?" Camille c.o.c.ked her head. "Remember what she said at the meeting? You"re going to have to do something you don"t want to do. But I"ll I"ll know it"s right. And this is it. Turning Erin into a vampire is the right thing to do." know it"s right. And this is it. Turning Erin into a vampire is the right thing to do."

Frantic, I glanced at Morio for support. "Tell her she"s wrong. This is just her desire to keep Erin alive talking."

Morio shook his head. "If Grandmother Coyote foretold this, then I have to back up Camille. Grandmother Coyote never says anything she doesn"t mean."

Camille yanked me around, ignoring my hiss. "Trust me. Erin has a part to play in the future. You You have to make sure she"s around to do it. Turn her, d.a.m.n it! You don"t have to like it, you don"t have to approve of it, but you have to make sure she"s around to do it. Turn her, d.a.m.n it! You don"t have to like it, you don"t have to approve of it, but you have have to do it." to do it."

She was so fierce that I almost feared her. I struggled with my conscience. What had Grandmother Coyote said?

"Menolly, you"re going to have to do something you have vowed never to do. When the time comes, you"ll know what it is, and you"ll balk. But do it you must, regardless of your aversion to the idea. A long thread of destiny hinges upon your action... or inaction. Don"t fail me. If you shy away, you"ll upset a critical balance."

Was this it? Was raising Erin into the world of the undead what she"d meant?

I held very still, searching within, looking deep into my core, deep within my soul. The day I regained my sanity, I swore I"d never sire another vampire, never add to the host of demons raised from unwilling victims.

And yet... if Grandmother Coyote was right-if Camille and Delilah were right-had fate singled Erin out for transformation? And if someone was to sire her, who better than me? I could give her what few other sires would: guidance, a conscience, and care. I could usher her into her new life, cushioning the shock that usually accompanied the change. Was this the path to take?

"Hurry-she"s almost dead," Delilah said.

Camille leapt toward me and grabbed me by the wrist. "Do this, do it now, or I swear I"ll f.u.c.king sic the Moon Mother on you, Menolly. Trust me-it"s more than just my friendship with her talking. I know know Erin has to live, and this is the only way she can!" Erin has to live, and this is the only way she can!"

Delilah let out a squeak and I saw her begin to shift. Both furious and frightened, I said, "s.h.i.t! Delilah, hang on, baby. Oh f.u.c.k. Camille, get hold of Delilah. Help her calm down so she can shift back. I"ll do it, all right? I"ll sire Erin. But don"t you ever ever threaten me like that again." threaten me like that again."

Saying nothing, Camille rushed over to scoop up our golden tabby sister while I flew to Erin"s side. Quickly, without thinking, I leaned down and drank from the b.l.o.o.d.y mess that was her neck. She"d have a scar all right, but it wouldn"t be too bad. As soon as her blood went down my throat in that warm, luxurious flow, I held up my wrist and flicked a vein open with one nail. As the drops began to dribble out, I pressed them to Erin"s lips.

"Erin, it"s Menolly. You have to drink if you want to survive. If you don"t drink my blood, you"re going to die." I held her in one arm like a baby, my wrist pressed to her mouth. She opened her eyes and blinked as she tried to focus on me. "Honey, listen to me. This is your choice. If you drink, I"ll sire you and take care of you as you go through the change. I"ll teach you how to control the thirst. You don"t have to become a monster. But if you"d rather let go, then I won"t force you. It"s all up to you."

Camille caught Delilah and held her, watching us. Roz, Morio, and Chase stood guard by the door. Chase looked queasy, but he didn"t say a word.

"Erin, please drink," Camille said. She shoved Delilah into Chase"s arms and knelt on the other side of Erin. "We need you. The world needs you. Destiny has plans for you. If you don"t do this, it could mess up the future. Grandmother Coyote warned us about this moment."

Erin"s gaze fastened on mine. She opened her lips. They were so dry they cracked and bled. "Do you... do you promise to watch over me? Do you promise to kill me if I do anything horrible? I won"t become like them them." She spat out the word, and I knew she was talking about the newborns.

"I promise you with my heart and soul. If you drink, I"ll guide you every step of the way. I won"t let you turn into a nightmare." What the h.e.l.l was I letting myself in for? I didn"t know, but the moment I"d offered her the chance, every fiber of my heart told me this was the right decision.

With a flutter of breath-a very small flutter, she was on the edge of death-Erin opened her lips. "I"ll drink."

I pressed my wrist to her mouth. "Suck as hard as you can. You only need a few drops to seal the pact, but drink as much as you can. It will make the transition easier."

As she began to lick up the blood flowing from my vein, I closed my eyes against the competing tides within me. Every shred of my ethics told me to stop, to let her go peacefully to her ancestors. And yet my intuition told me to let her drink, to sire her, raise her, and make sure she lived.

Surprisingly strong, Erin managed to drink about a quarter cup of my blood before she suddenly gasped, convulsed in my arms, and then went limp.

"Is she dead? I thought you were siring her!" Camille stared at me, her voice spiraling against the walls.

I looked at her. As much as I loved my sister, I wanted to smack her a good one, but I resisted, trying to remember that she was upset and didn"t fully understand the process.

"Oh, she"s going to change," I said. "It"s simply a matter of time, now."

"What do we do until then?"

I glanced over at Chase, who was petting Delilah. She began to shimmer and I coughed. "Johnson, better put Kitten down, she"s ready to shift back."

Standing, I dusted my hands on my pants and turned back to Camille. "It"s simple. We wait. So cool your jets and pull up a chair. And, by the way, we need food for her-she"s going to be ravenous. Unless one of you wants to play blood bank, we"re going to need a donor."

Roz grinned. "I can find someone. I know the drill, even if I don"t wade in the pool." Before I could speak, he slipped out of the door, leaving the rest of us sitting in silence.

CHAPTER 18.

Having never sired a vampire, I wasn"t entirely clear on the process myself, but I was d.a.m.ned certain it would go easier than my own rebirth.

The shock of opening my eyes, of believing I was still alive, had been bad enough. But the suffocating inability to catch my breath had been even more frightening. Then came the dawning realization that yes, I was dead, I just hadn"t been allowed to cross over. And that"s when the madness began to set in, as did the hunger. At least Erin had made her own choice. Hopefully she wouldn"t regret her decision.

I glanced around the room. There were a few cushions, some heavy drapes that were being used as a floor cover. "Those curtains. Someone gather them and make a bed. Cover those blood-soaked cushions with them, and set the whole thing in the center of the room."

Morio and Chase set things up while Delilah and Camille rooted through the bunker in search of anything that might help us. "All of you, stay well out of Erin"s reach. Especially you, Chase. She"s going to wake up confused and ravenous. The hunger will be so bad that she"ll be ready to attack anybody nearby."

The jangle of my cell phone suddenly cut through the m.u.f.fled hush of the nest and I yanked it out, wondering who the h.e.l.l could be calling me. I"d warned Chrysandra that I"d be out of touch for a night or so, and not many other people besides my sisters had my number. I glanced at the caller ID. Iris. Oh s.h.i.t, what was wrong?

I flipped it open. "Iris, what"s up?"

The static was horrible. I hurried outside, onto the steps, where the signal strengthened. "Hurry it up. I"m in a dicey situation here. What"s wrong?"

Iris took a deep breath. "I know you are. Roz is here and he wants to talk to you. And another thing-Trillian just returned from OW." Something in her voice made me wary.

"What"s wrong?"

"He"s been hurt. He was shot by one of Lethesanar"s archers."

Holy c.r.a.p. Had she called me so I could cushion the blow for Camille? Was Trillian dead? I suddenly found myself whispering a silent prayer that my sister"s love-bunny was okay. "Tell me."

"He"ll live, but he"s lost a lot of blood. He"s not going anywhere for a while. So don"t count on him coming to help you tonight. His shoulder is pretty mangled. I"ve called Sharah to come out with a medic kit so she can work on him." Iris sounded rushed. "She"ll be here any minute. Meanwhile, here"s Roz."

"Put him on." I decided to wait on telling Camille about Trillian. If she wasn"t worrying about him, she"d pay more attention to what we were doing. And since Iris said he"d live, there was no real urgency.

Roz took the phone. "I found a volunteer. I don"t have that internal guidance system you do in picking out perverts-at least not the kind you"re looking for. And I didn"t want to risk somebody innocent, since Erin"s going to wake up ravenous."