The vampires? Shane, thats stupid! You cant! You know whatll happen! Eve said. She put the bowl of chili back on the tray and got off the bed, looking tear streaked and forlorn but more like herself. Your dads crazy. Im sorry, but he is. And you cant let him drag you down with him. Hes going to get you killed, and Claire and me, too. He already She caught her breath and gulped. He already got Michael. We cant let him do this. Who knows how many people are going to get hurt?
Like Lyssa got hurt? Shane asked. Like my mom? They killed my mom, Eve! They were willing to burn us up in this house yesterday, dont forget, and that included Michael.
But
This town is bad, Shane said, and looked at Claire, almost pleading. You understand, right? You understand that theres a whole world out there, a whole world that isnt like this?
Yes, she said faintly. I understand that. But
Were doing this. And then were getting out of this place.
With your father? Eve managed to put a whole dictionary of contempt into that. I dont think so. I look good in black, but not so great in black and blue.
Shane flinched. I didnt saylook, just the three of us. We get out of town while my dad and the others
We run? Eve shook her head. Brilliant. And when the vamps have a big party and roast your dad and his buddies, what then? Because theyre definitely going to come looking for us. Nobody escapes who had any part in killing a vampire, you know that. Unless you really believe that your dad and his idiot muscle are going to be able to take down hundreds of vamps, all their human allies, the cops, and, for all I know, the U. S. Marines.
Eat your damn chili, Shane said.
Not without something to drink. I know your chili.
Fine! Ill get you Cokes! He slammed the door behind him. Lock it!
Claire did. This time, Shane didnt linger in the hall; she heard the hard thump of his boots as he went downstairs.
Did you have to do that? she asked Eve. She leaned against the door and folded her arms.
Do what, exactly?
Hes confused. He lost Michael, his dads got him
Say it, Claire: his dads got him brainwashed. Worse. I think his dads beaten the fight out of him. Hes certainly beaten the brains out of him. Eve wiped at her face impatiently; there were more tears streaming down her cheeks, but it was more like water escaping under pressure than real sobs. His dad wasnt always like this. He used to bewell, not nice, because he was kind of a drunk, but better. Way better than this. After Lyssa he just wentcrazy. I didnt know about Shanes mom. I thought she just, you knowkilled herself. Shane never really said.
Claire hadnt heard any footsteps on the stairs, but she heard and felt a soft knock through the door, and then a rattle of the doorknob. She unlocked and swung it open, holding out her hands for the Cokes she expected Shane to thrust at her and there was a grinning, smelly mountain of a man in the doorway. The one whod stabbed Michael.
Claire let go of the door and stumbled back, thinking only an instant later, Stupid, that was stupidyou should have slammed it but it was too late; he was already inside, closing the door behind him.
And locking it.
She looked in terror at Eve. Eve lunged forward, grabbed Claire, and hustled her around to the far side of the bedand stepped in front of her. Claire looked frantically around for a weapon. Anything. She picked up a heavy-looking skull, but it was plastic, light and utterly useless.
Eve yanked a field hockey stick from under her bed.
Lets do this nice, the man said. That little stick isnt going to do you any good, and its only going to piss me off. His lips widened in a grin, revealing big, square, yellow teeth. Or get me all excited.
Claire felt sick and faint. This wasnt like Shane coming into her room the other night, not at all. This was the flip side of men, and although shed heard about ityou couldnt grow up without thatshed never really seen it. Some jerks, sure, but there was something horrible about this guy. Something that looked at her and Eve like pieces of meat he was about to devour.
Youre not touching us, Eve said, and raised her voice. Shane! Shane, get your ass up here now!
There was a touch of panic in her voice, although she was putting on a good front. Her hands were shaking where they gripped the hockey stick.
The man glided around the end of the bed, prowling like a cat. Six feet tall, at least, and as broad as two of Eve, maybe bigger. His bare arms were ripped with muscle. His blue eyes looked shallow and hungry.
Claire heard the thump of footsteps outside, and then a bang as Shane fetched up against the locked door. He rattled the knob and pounded hard. Eve! Eve, open up!
Shes busy! the biker yelled, and laughed. Oh yeah, gonna be real busy.
No! Shane screamed it, and the door shook with the strength of the blows he put into it. Stay away from them!
Eve backed Claire up, all the way to the window. She took a swipe at the biker, who just stepped back out of range, still laughing.
Get your dad! she yelled at Shane. Make him do something!
Im not leaving you!
Do it, Shane, now!
Footsteps pounded down the hall. Claire swallowed, feeling suddenly even more alone and vulnerable. Do you think his dad will come? she whispered. Eve didnt answer.
Swear to God, you come near us and Like this? The biker sidestepped a slash from the hockey stick, grabbed it on the way, and yanked it out of Eves hands. He tossed it over his shoulder to land on the floor with a clatter. This near enough? Whatcha gonna do, doll girl? Cry all over me?
Claire hid her eyes as the biker reached out for Eve with one tattooed hand.
No, Eve said breathlessly. Im going to let my boyfriend beat the crap out of you.
There was a dull thunk of wood meeting flesh, and a howl. Then another, harder thunk, and a crash as a body hit the floor.
The biker was down. Claire stared at him in disbelief, then looked past him, to the figure standing there with the field hockey stick in both hands.