Jeaniene Frost - Destined for an Early Grave

Fabian appeared at the windshield. The sudden sight of him made me jump in my seat. He could sure sneak up on someone.

“The yellow-haired vampire was there,” he announced. “He was behind the motel with six others. I don’t think they saw me.”

Bones stared at me. His gaze was filled with something I couldn’t name.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.

“For what?”

“This.”

His fist shot out.

When my eyes opened, I saw darkness with slight flickers of light around the edges. I was sitting, but not in the car. It sounded like we were on a plane.

Immediately, I reached for the blindfold, but cool hands stopped me.

“Don’t, Kitten.”

I turned in the direction of his voice. “Get this off me.”

“No. Quit squirming and let me talk.”

I froze, remembering. “You knocked me out.”

“Yes.” Wariness edged his tone. “Are you going to sit still?”

“Depends. Why’d you hit me?” He’d better have a damn good reason.

“Remember when I said the only people who could be informing Gregor of our whereabouts were in the car? Liza, Band-Aid, and Hopscotch didn’t know where we were staying in Fort Worth, and even if they did, they’ve been without means to communicate. Denise and Spade didn’t know where we were staying. Fabian was with us the entire time, and if somehow he were a traitor, he could have said Gregor wasn’t waiting at the hotel. That leaves only you and me. I haven’t told Gregor anything, so that leaves…you.”

I was stunned. “You think I’ve been sneaking behind your back with Gregor?”

“Not on purpose, but in the same way Gregor maneuvered you to Paris, and communicated with you in your dreams; who’s to say he hasn’t found a way to eavesdrop as well? It’s a guess, Kitten, but if I’m wrong, you only lose some time awake.”

And if he was right…

“What’s your plan? Smack me into a coma and wait to see if Gregor goes away?” I’d thought nothing was worse than feeling helpless, but being a potential liability? That was worse.

“Of course not. But when we change locations, I want you to take those pills so you’ll sleep. If you don’t know where we are, but Gregor’s still able to track you, we’ll know it’s not from his picking through your mind while you dream.”

God, this sucked. Like waiting to see if an animal was rabid, I’d be penned and quarantined.

“Then why did you bother waking me? We’re on a plane. I can hear the engines. Why not wait until we got to where we’re going?”

“You need to eat and drink, and I thought you’d like to freshen up.”

Once again I reached for the blindfold, and once again he stopped me.

“Leave it on.”

“Why? I already know we’re on a plane, but I can’t navigate by the clouds!”

“You don’t know what kind of plane,” Bones replied intractably. “Make, model, type; these things could be used to trace you. It’s just for a little while, Kitten.”

Just for little while if he was wrong. But for how long if he was right?

“Fine. Which is first, the feeding or the cleaning? I don’t know whether to open my mouth or take off my clothes.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment. Then, “I’m sorry.”

“Does that mean you’re going to hit me? Last time you apologized, my head got dented.”

I clung to flippancy to avoid bursting into tears at the thought that somehow I was the one who’d been tipping Gregor off.

“It’s your preference, and no, I’m not going to hit you.”

I wished I could see his eyes. They’d have told me more about what he was really thinking. But all I had was his voice, and Bones was keeping it carefully controlled.

“Then show me the way to the bathroom. Even I can tell that I stink.”

However long I’d been out, it wasn’t for only a quick nap. My bladder was squealing, and my mouth tasted filmy. Charming.

His fingers curled around mine. “I’ll show you.”

Left with no other choice except to stumble around, I let Bones lead me.

I used the tiny bathroom sink to wash my hair. That was interesting to do while keeping my eyes closed, since I’d insisted the blindfold be removed. Bones stayed in the doorway the entire time, handing me whatever I needed. From the sounds, there were others on the plane with us. Even though none of them would peek, I felt exposed with the door open. When I was finished, he gave me new clothes.

Then I got spoon-fed. With every bite of what tasted like chicken, my sense of despair rose. So much for equality in our relationship. I couldn’t be more useless right now. When Bones handed me the four caplets, I gulped them down eagerly. Better to be knocked out than this.

Bones woke me again after however long, and we repeated the procedure. The sightless rocking and lolling told me we were still on a plane, but it might have been a different one. The engine sounded throatier. Again I snatched at the pills and washed them down, this time refusing to be spoon-fed. I wasn’t going to starve, and keeping hydrated was the only real concern. Bones didn’t argue. He just stroked my head while I waited for them to take effect.

The last thing I heard before blackness claimed me was, “…landing soon, Crispin.” It sounded like Spade. Or maybe I was already dreaming.

MY EYES OPENED, ADJUSTING TO THE BRIGHTlight of the room. I was still swallowing Bones’s familiar-tasting blood when I became aware that it was from a glass, not a vein.

“If I had to drink that animal’s blood each day, I’d cheerfully starve myself to death.”

Oh, dear God. Please let me be dreaming! “Mom?”

She gave me a disapproving frown before setting the glass on a nearby table.

“You’ve lost weight again. Can’t that creature keep you from starving?”

Nope, not dreaming. This was her in the flesh. “What are you doing here? Where’s Bones?”

She held up a hand. “He went out somewhere. Even if I knew where, I wouldn’t be able to say. You know, in case the other vampire would find out. I must say, Catherine, you have deplorable taste in men.”

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Any one of the three, help me. “Can we skip the usual Bash Bones game? I’m not in a good mood.”

“Nor should you be,” she said without sympathy. How typical. “You married the frying pan, and now it looks as though you may have also wed the fire.”

What had Bones been thinking, bringing her here? Sure, have my mother spend some time with me. After that, I’d be begging to be drugged.

“Don’t mention Gregor, or I’ll…”

I stopped, and her mouth curled. “You’ll what, Catherine?”

What indeed? She was my mother. I couldn’t threaten to slap, stab, beat, or even name-call her. I tried to think of something to scare her into never mentioning my predicament with the Dreamsnatcher again.

“I’ll become a swinger,” I said. Her eyes bugged. Uptight rearing made her uncomfortable with alternate lifestyles. “That’s right. Threesomes, foursomes, more. Bones knows about a thousand chicks who’d love to hop into bed with us. It’ll be kinky, we’ll get our freak on—”

She puffed up in outrage. “Catherine!”

Below us, I heard a feminine laugh. One recognizable and just as unexpected.

“What is it you Americans say? I call shotgun!”

Annette, the first vampire Bones ever created, laughed again. It was the knowing chuckle of someone not kidding.

My mother vaulted to her feet. The bedroom was open and Annette had spoken loud enough for even my mother to hear her.

“The day after never, you voracious English tramp!”