I have to find Chas.
She listened, waiting. The only sounds were distant-laughing, cries of pleasure, conversation. The chill at the back of her neck was present, but not insistent or foreboding. She opened the room's small, high window, hoping some of the heavy smell of vampire dust would disseminate before any others noticed it.
After a moment, she unlocked and peered around the door. No undead in sight. Before leaving the room, she replaced one stake in her garter, the other in her sly pocketbook, and tucked the silver cross back down into her dress.
Now to locate Chas. And maybe do a little snooping. It was safer, now that she wasn't in the room with the remains of a vampire, waiting to be found.
And she'd slain three of them. All at once. All on her own.
Macey couldn't help the thrill of excitement and relief at her success. I can do this.
Listening for the sounds of anyone approaching, Macey went down the hallway, stopping at each door. Silence, silence, silence. But behind one there was the unmistakable sound of pleasure and pain. She hesitated at the door. It would be easy to break in and kill the vampire-particularly if he or she was in the throes of feeding, or other erotic play-but Macey wasn't certain if it was the best thing to do: making more noise, sending more ash in the air.
And then there would be the mortal left behind, who might shout or call warning, or worse, need an explanation if he or she had been a willing participant. Because, yes, there were those Tutela members Chas had told her about. They desired to be fed upon. They craved it, sought it out.
Still. . . what if the mortal was in danger? Unwilling?
Macey had no way of knowing, but her job, her calling was, above all, to protect and save.
She made the decision and, hand inside her pocketbook, ready to yank out her weapon, she carefully tested the doorknob. It turned soundlessly. Carefully, she pushed it open a crack. The deep sounds of pleasure sent a little shivery twinge in her belly, but then she recognized slurping and suction, and the flutter turned into an uncomfortable twist.
Neither occupant sounded in distress, but Macey peered through the crack anyway. The sight that met her eyes was disturbing and, shockingly, erotic.
A female vampire bent over the bare, muscular shoulder of a man. Her hands curled into his skin, covering his bare torso from behind, and the tendons and veins in his neck were distended as his head tipped to the side. Even through the skinny crack, she could see his chest rising and falling rapidly, the muscles in his arms bunching. His hands were fisted on the bed, making no move to fight off the vampire.
Macey swallowed hard and was just about to close the door when the man shifted and she saw his face, taut with arousal and pain. Chas.
Without thinking-without allowing herself to think-Macey shoved open the door and launched herself into the room. Both faces whipped up at her entrance, but it was too late-she had her stake in hand and was on the female in an instant.
One sharp thrust, and the undead was gone.
Macey spun away to catch her breath, not certain she'd seen what she thought she'd seen. . . not ready to face him and find out. Her heart pounded and her insides were in turmoil. But the image of his expression was burned into her mind. Stark, beautiful, and filled savior who carries the deepest taint coming blood with pain.
She heard him behind her-rising, pulling on his shirt. When she finally turned, it was to find him facing partly away. His mouth tight, his movements sharp and quick.
"I-"
"Any news about Vioget?" He had a stake in his hand, and his eyes were cold and dark.
"No. I don't think Alvisi has him. But I killed four vampires-now a fifth-and I think the others might know something is happening. "
He nodded curtly. "The smell of ash-it can spread like smoke. That's why it's not the best idea to stake them here. "
Was he criticizing her for killing that vampire? Macey shook her head but held her tongue. She knew what she'd seen. She just wasn't sure what to make of it.
"Let's go. "
"Where to?"
"Out of here. You're obviously leaving a trail behind you, and we'll soon be discovered if we don't leave. " He started toward the door.
She had no choice but to follow him. "Back to the club?"
"For now. "
But two steps later, the sound of voices approached, and the back of Macey's neck grew icy cold. She and Chas looked at each other at the same time, and without speaking, ducked into one of the rooms.
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