.

manageable. He pulled open his shirt and looked at the nearly healed hole in his chest.

      No dusty street, no mano a mano, no matching wits, no fair fight, just a stake driven through his back while he was distracted.

      “Bastard,” he whispered.

      After a long, hot shower, Jake wandered through the maze of hallways, following hints of voices until he found Skidmore talking to several of his lackey vampires. The conversation skidded to a halt when Jake walked into the sitting room.

      “Dear boy, you look immensely better. Here, have another drink.” Skidmore filled a glass from a dark pitcher and handed it to him.

      Unable to stop, Jake drained the glass, then frowned at it. “What did you mean by ‘quite a few donors at the moment’?”

      Skidmore waved off the question. “There’s plenty of time for that. Tell me, what happened?”

      Jake shrugged. “I found some of the hunters.”

      “I could have guessed that much.” Skidmore motioned to the others and they hurried from the room. Then he settled into an oversized chair near an empty fireplace. “You must have uncovered quite a large group.”

      Jake huffed. “Yeah, two.”

      “Two? Two mortals did this to you?”

      Jake upended the glass to get the last drop, then placed it on the serving table and sat in the chair opposite Skidmore’s. “Unfortunately, one of them was a very tempting redhead.” He ran his fingers through his wet hair.

      “Ah.” Skidmore steepled his fingers under his chin. “So they found your weakness. That seems to be the modus operandi for this bunch.”

      “What do you mean?”

      “Modus operandi is the term—”

      “I know what an MO is.” Jake frowned at his host. “What the hell are you talking about?”

      Skidmore sighed as he rose. “Unfortunately, this group is more of a threat than we knew. André’s remains were found at the cabin in the mountains. In several pieces.”

      “What?” Jake’s chest tightened with instant sorrow at the news. “But, how?”

      “One can only guess. He’d sworn off human blood centuries ago, so it is unlikely he was in search of a meal. The signs suggest he stopped to help someone and was attacked by a group of at least four hunters armed with stakes and swords. He fled back to the cabin, where they caught up with him and…beheaded him.”

      Jake stared at the Navajo rug under his feet. André’s wisdom had been a guiding light for so many for so long. The world became a darker place without him.

      “Son of a bitch.”

      Skidmore sighed again. “Crudely put, but a true sentiment indeed. And there are others unaccounted for.”

      Jake’s gaze snapped up to Skidmore as his sorrow turned to fear. “Katie?”

      Skidmore shrugged. “She’s not due in for another night or two. I wouldn’t worry too much, however. She’s armed with the knowledge of their methods, and, as we both know, she’s a formidable foe.”

      Jake knew well just how formidable Katie could be, but that wouldn’t stop him from worrying about her. After all, he’d been caught off guard.

      “No, I’m not overly concerned about Katie, but I fear the worst for Michael Ponce and his friends.”

      Jake knew Ponce, but not well. He moved more in Skidmore’s circle than Jake’s. Still, the idea that some of the older vampires had been hunted down had his attention. “What are we going to do?”

      Skidmore, with another of his dramatic waves, motioned toward the door. “Come, dear boy, let me show you what we’re already doing.”

      Jake followed Skidmore down several long, winding hallways, which seemed to take them well below ground level. The last hallway opened into a tremendous room filled with people, vampires, and a variety of mechanical devices. Rings protruding from rock walls held chains attached to the wrists and ankles of men and women, many lacking clothing. Even the vampires wore little more than loincloths.

      “Welcome to my dungeon,” Skidmore said.

      Bile rose in Jake’s throat. “What the hell are you doing, torturing them?”

      “Torture?” Skidmore laughed. “No, dear boy, I would never do that. Here, let me start at the beginning.” He led the way to a heavy wooden door and pulled it open to reveal a room full of mortals lounging in chairs and on sofas, most watching television or playing video games. “See? These mortals are my guests.”

      One of the nearby men sneered at the two of them. “You motherfuckers are doomed to walk through eternal hell.”

      “Ah, yes.” Skidmore grinned at Jake. “Such a pleasant lot.” He led the way back out and closed the door.

      “As we find hunters,” he explained, “we give them two days to decide if they wish to continue to hunt us, or join us. If they make the choice not to join us, they’re moved into the donors’ room.” He walked to the next door and slid back a small window.

      Inside, a dozen or more mortals lay on tables, hooked to IVs. A young female vampire worked at switching out full bags for empty ones.

      “They’re all drugged,” Skidmore said. “As far as they’re concerned, they’re simply sleeping. After a week or so, we’ll finish them off, and they’ll move into death. All in all, not a bad way to go.”

      Jake shook his head. “I don’t know. This doesn’t bother you, huh?”

      Skidmore stiffened. “Dear boy, I watched my family, friends, and most of the village I grew up in die slow, agonizing deaths at the hand of the Black Death. That bothered me. This is a pleasant way to dispose of a very unpleasant part of the population.” He sighed. “And don’t forget what you are, after all. Their blood sustains us. You made the choice to live this way.”

      Jake decided not to argue the point. He hadn’t actually made an educated choice when he was brought into the Night, but he hadn’t fought it, either.

      “So, what about the others?”

      Skidmore relaxed again. “Those who choose to join us will either be allowed to remain mortal, or offered eternity. We must first decide their worth. And that is the group you see here.” He motioned toward the vast main room. Lowering his voice, he leaned close to Jake. “This is my favorite part.”

      Skidmore led the way around the room. “Only a few will be given eternity. The rest will be allowed to go, once we’re assured of their allegiances. But first, we must be sure that the ones we choose are truly sensuous creatures.” He stroked the side of a young woman’s face as she looked up at him with wide eyes. “This is Ruby.”

      Ruby had lips as red as her namesake stone, and coal-black eyes. Long, dark hair hung in front of her shoulders, partially covering her bare breasts, but not enough to hide their fullness. She wore jeans cut off into shorts, and as Jake studied her, her hands slid between her thighs and her legs opened just enough to suggest interest. Above her bare feet, fur-lined cuffs encircled her ankles, attaching her to the wall.

      In spite of his weakened state, Jake felt his body react, and a mild ache started behind his fangs. And then he heard all the heartbeats in the room, as soft and sweet as songbirds on a cool, fall morning.

      “Ah, dear boy,” Skidmore said, his hand falling on Jake’s shoulder. “I see you haven’t lost your interest. Good. You may help me weed through them. What do you say?”

      Jake remembered Athena, standing before him gloriously naked, using her beauty to lure him into a trap. And he had been terrified of hurting her. The betrayal still stung when he thought about it. “What the hell?”

      Skidmore beamed. “Wonderful. I have a perfectly