was still drizzling; misty drops hit the flames and sizzled. The sound shot pulses of electricity through me.
Other than that, the silence and dark of the early night were absolute. No cars, no music, no human noise at all.
I forced down my fear, knowing they could smell it, knowing their excitement would grow. Bravado was my best weapon, and I held the cross high. It glowed bright in my hand, the silver reacting to the presence of vamps. But they didn't recoil. They held their places, which meant they were old vamps, every one. The wind whipped once and went still. Shadows and torchlight flickered over them, harsh and unforgiving on their skin, pale no matter their original race. My heart rate sped. What were they waiting -
A black silhouette stepped out of the shadows, lithe and elegant. Leonard Pellissier. In evening attire. Here to . . . visit. The most powerful vampire in the city had dressed to kill. A titter started in the back of my throat and I forced it down. Would not be smart to laugh right now.Would not.
Beast rose in me, taking over my reflexes, ready to move, ready to fight. Ready to rush away, back inside to save my guests. If I could.Kits , Beast murmured, protective instincts fighting to get loose. I held her down, but close to the surface. I needed her strength and speed.
A floorboard creaked from upstairs. Thank God. Molly must have seen the flames. She would be bringing up the wards, something defensive that would burn vamp flesh, maybe. I could hope. But it would take time. Maybe too much time.
Leo stepped to the front of the small group that circled my house, his eyes holding mine. His fangs were snapped down, white in the early night; his pupils bled black in bloodred sclera. The silver cross and capering flames reflected in his pupils.
"You killed my son," he said, eyes fixed on me.
"No. I killed the creature that took his body."
His lips pulled back, exposing his teeth, a killing grimace. "You," he whispered. Vamps didn't need to breathe much except to talk, but he took a breath, deep and slow.
"Killed." Anger built in him. I could smell it, strong and sour. "Myson !" he roared into the night.
Beast lifted my own lips, exposing my human teeth.Change , she demanded.
But it was too late. A dozen possible reactions and scenarios buffeted me. I could attack, but they'd set fire to the house. I could run inside, but they'd set fire to the house. I could -
"Hi. My name's Angelina."
The vamps froze, an unearthly stillness in the fluttering flames. The stillness of death.
His head moving slowly, Leo looked up, from me to the veranda above.
"I like the fire. Can I come play?"
Leo breathed in, scenting her. Scenting child and witch. His body tensed. Held.
The eyes of Leo's scions flickered to their blood-master, then to me. I saw uncertainty, worry. Clearly they hadn't signed on for killing a child. Two vamps retracted their fangs with littlesnick s. The one with the open kerosene container looked at it, then back up at the little girl, deliberate and measured. His pupils contracted and he swiveled his head to Leo. Waiting.
"What's your name?" she said, her footsteps pattering out to the edge of the veranda, directly above my head. "Are you Aunt Jane's new friends?"
"Angie, go inside," I said, striving for calm and not succeeding. My heart raced like a doe in flight. Like prey. I knew they could smell my terror.
Leo pulled in another breath, his chest rising, then falling, the sound of the breath whispering through his fangs. We were balanced on the blade of a knife. Leo could go either way: kill his son's murderer and the witches he now smelled in my home, or withdraw and save the child. The Vampira Carta prohibited the killing of children, even witch children, and killing a witch could revoke the unstable peace between the races.
But his grief was out of control. Had been for days now. And witches were the sworn enemies of vampires, though I didn't yet know why.
"Are you a vampire?" Angelina asked, for once ignoring me.
The torches flickered in a sudden gust, bringing her scent down from the upper porch.
Bubble bath and the warmth of her skin caught in the humid night breezes, swirling down to the ground to mix with vamp pheromones and smoke. The vamps with Leo each took a step back. "Mama says you eat people."