Tempting Eve

TEMPTING EVE

Cynthia Rayne

TEMPTING EVE By

Cynthia Rayne

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TEMPTING EVE

Cynthia Rayne

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© copyright April 2006, Cynthia Rayne Cover art by Eliza Black, © copyright April 2006 ISBN 1-58608-900-5 New Concepts Publishing Lake Park, GA 31636 www.newconceptspublishing.com

This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.

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Chapter One

“Can we make this quick? I have dinner plans tonight.” Eve Flynn retrieved the blade she always stashed in her black leather boot. “You vampires sure know how to suck all the fun out of a girl’s social life.” She grimaced as the hungry vampire’s eyes widened. “I probably shouldn’t have said sucked.” The vampire howled in response, his attention completely focused on her smooth, white neck. When a vampire first rises from the grave it has a feral hunger for blood until it finally feeds. Eve tried to never think of vampires as people. It made them easier to kill. Eve guessed the vampire was a fledgling, because of the dirt clinging to its hair and the outfit it was wearing. Most vampires didn’t go for a double-breasted suit with pinstripes. They were usually a leather and lace kind of crowd. “Hungry!” the vampire growled. Eve’s grip tightened on the blade. “Yeah, well, me too! If you hadn’t interrupted, I’d be halfway through a dinner roll right now.” “Must have blood!” “Not that you aren’t an interesting conversationalist, but it is definitely time to die.” Eve frowned. “You, not me.” She began circling the vampire, poised for the perfect time to strike. Eve had killed a couple dozen vampires over the past few months as well as some other

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creepy creatures. Fighting off a fledgling vampire was more of an annoyance than a challenge for Eve. The vampire made a grab for her but she caught its arm and brought it down across her knee, breaking it. Enraged, the vampire roared at her. Eve kicked it in the shin and forced the vampire to its knees. Without hesitation, she brought the knife up. The blade glinted in the moonlight, outlining the shining Celtic cross on the handle. It had been blessed by a priest and consecrated in holy water. She slid it through the flesh of the vampire’s neck easily, severing the head from its body. The vampire shuddered before it winked out of existence, just like a television screen being shut off. All evil creatures disappeared when they were killed. Eve thought it must be a defense mechanism, like a safety feature for the forces of darkness. Humans were much easier to kill when they were caught unaware. Most people didn’t believe that monsters walked among them. For Eve, they were all too real. She dusted herself off and buttoned up her leather jacket. It was spring, but you’d never know it by Ohio’s changeable weather. It was lightly snowing, even though it was late March. Eve lived in Full Moon Bay, which was just on the edge of Lake Erie. While it wasn’t a hotbed of supernatural activity, Ohio had its share of vampires, werewolves, and other things that went bump in the night. They were drawn to northern environments because of the shortened daylight hours during the winter. She continued walking down the street to the café where she was meeting her best friend, Nicholas Jackson. Eve affectionately referred to him as her gay boyfriend. It was a running joke between them because so many people assumed they were dating. While Nicholas preferred the romantic company of other men, they were very close. Nicholas and Eve had met in freshmen orientation at college

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and had been inseparable ever since. She thought Nicholas might be the best friend she’d ever had. He knew her inside and out and accepted her, faults and all. Eve walked in The Apropos Café. She found her friend, Nicholas, seated at a small table for two near the fireplace. It was a warm and cozy sort of place that served simple fare like soups, salads, and sandwiches. The café was their favorite haunt and Eve and Nicholas usually ate there at least once a week. She waved to a couple of people before she came to the table. It was one of the pleasures as well as hazards of living in a small town. Eve knew nearly everyone because she’d lived in Full Moon Bay all of her life. While she enjoyed the sense of community, there was something to be said for privacy. Nicholas got to his feet and leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek. As always, he was impeccably dressed in a pair of tastefully faded blue jeans and a white dress shirt. “Everything all right?” Nicholas asked. “Vampire attack,” Eve whispered as she slipped off her jacket and placed it on the back of her chair. She sunk down into her seat and sighed. “Rude! And when you were on your way to dinner.” Nicholas knew all about monsters, due to his association with Eve. He’d become accustomed to them. He’d even gone on nightly rounds with Eve in the town. “I know. They could at least consult me. What if I was doing something important like going to the movies or shopping?” Eve replied, tongue firmly in cheek. She picked up her menu, although she already knew everything that was on it. “At least he didn’t put up much of a fight,” she said with a shrug. “Did you already order?” “Of course. You’re having broccoli cheese soup and a Greek salad. I’m having a Caesar salad and French onion soup.”

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“I knew I could count on you.” She tossed the menu aside. “What are non- romantic life partners for? We’ve got to do something besides not have sex.” “Life partners?” Eve joked. “We both know you’d dump me in a hot second for a halfway decent guy.” “I was thinking along the lines of a ménage a trois,” Nicholas teased, waggling his eyebrows. “Tell me you wouldn’t want two handsome men all to yourself.” It was their favorite game to see who could be more shocking. Nicholas was a master at it. “That sounds like a good offer until you get to the part where you and this hypothetical man would only be interested in each other.” “Wouldn’t you at least try to convert me? I might be yours after one really energetic blow j–” ”Nicholas!” “I win!” he crowed. “Only because you went straight to the embarrassment-inducing, inappropriate oral sex comment.” “And why shouldn’t I? Fellatio is one of the divine rights.” “I must have missed that decree in Sunday school.” “Oh, sure, it was right after the part about resting on Sunday. You know, because Saturday is a very, very busy night.” Eve sighed. “What am I going to do with you?” At his look, she glared at him “Nicholas! Do you ever stop?” “No, honey, I keep going and going. Just like that little pink bunny.” Nicholas smirked at her. If teasing Eve were an Olympic sport, he’d have a gold metal. But he grew serious when he saw her suppress a yawn with her hand.

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“Honey, you look like hell. Haven’t you been sleeping?” “You’re such a charmer, Nick.” “Come on, tell me. And never call me that again. Nick sounds like a knuckle-dragging straight man.” “Sorry. You’re anything but that. But, no I haven’t been sleeping. There’s been a lot of activity, lately. I can’t walk down the street without running into a zombie.” “If I had a dime for every time that’s happened to me ... ” “That’s just it. They don’t show up everywhere. These zombies seem to be following me around.” Nicholas suppressed a shudder. “I can deal with vampires, but animated corpses? No, thanks.” “Oh yeah, that reminds me. There is a heaping crop of fledgling vampires right now. Luckily, they’ve all been minions.” Vampires fell into two categories, masters and minions. Minions were made to carry out orders and be the muscle for a master vampire. In the world of supernatural creatures, they were blue-collar workers. Master vampires were made to rule. They called the shots for a group of vampires. Beyond the bloodletting, she wasn’t exactly sure how either types of vampire were made, but she could see the difference between a minion and a master when she fought one. While minions were slow and filled with an almost crippling blood lust, master vampires were cunning and possessed far superior strength. Eve had only fought a master vampire once and she’d been lucky to escape with her life. “Do you want me to help you go vampire hunting tonight?” “Thanks, Nicholas,” she said with a smile. “But this is a risk that I’m prepared to take alone. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt because of me.”

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“Well, I may be more of a lover than a fighter, but if you need me all you have to do is ask.” She squeezed his hand. “Thank you.” “Okay, enough of the mushy stuff.” He patted her hand. “Eve, you know I love you, but I just have to say something. I hate to judge but--” Eve cleared her throat loudly. “Well, I pretend to hate to judge. There’s no other way to say this, so I’m going to blurt it out. You’ve got to get out a bit more. I’m worried about you. There’s more to life than killing monsters. Like friends, and shopping, and sex. Even Buffy took a breather once in a while and so should you. You know, see the Scoobies. Hang out at the Bronze or something.” “Yeah, well, you’re my only ‘Scooby’ and this sure as hell isn’t the Bronze. Oh, yeah, and Buffy is not real!” Eve said rolling her eyes. She leaned closer to him. “I’m a real live monster hunter with real problems and a real life to lead. Besides, I don’t have time for much of a social life.” She self-consciously played with her moon earrings. “Or to accessorize the way she does.” “You should. If you won’t take some time off, you should at least change your look. That might brighten your spirits up. I know it would do wonders for mine.” Nicholas looked at her clothing and hair with critical eyes. “You’ve got all the goods, you’re just not putting anything out for sale. You’re what--five-feet five inches?” “Yes, and if you try to guess my weight, you might be joining the dearly departed vampire.” Eve was a size sixteen. Her weight had always been something that she’d battled against but never won. She knew she’d never be a skinny girl and she’d made peace with it long ago. Even though she’d come to accept that she would never be thin, it didn’t mean she wanted to discuss her weight just before

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she ate. It would take the flavor right out of the meal. “I wouldn’t dream of it, honey. Besides, you look fabulous! You know, Marilyn Monroe was a size fourteen and you’re just a bit bigger. You’re curvy in all the right places and you’ve got nice breasts.” Eve nearly choked on her water. “Excuse me?” Nicholas’s smile was sly. “While I don’t go for the girly parts at all.” He gave an affected little shiver. “I can appreciate them on an aesthetic level. Breasts are just plain pretty. And, speaking of girly parts, why aren’t you showing yours off? Maybe you should wear something besides jeans and t-shirts.” “I do!” Nicholas made a noise. “When I’m not out tracking down vampires or zombies.” “Which is all the time!” Nicholas said with exasperation. “What about make-up? Just because you are fighting the forces of evil doesn’t mean you can’t wear a little color.” “Make-up makes me itch.” “No pain, no gain. You’re got a lovely face.” Nicholas looked at her snub nose, her wide-spaced bright green eyes, and apple cheeks. “You should play up your eyes and your mouth. You might even get a good sex life out of this vampire avenger gig. You know, like Anita Blake.” “I’d like to point out that she’s not real, either. Between you and me? Her technique is a little confusing. Monsters are hard to kill if you’re having sex with them every five seconds.” “As opposed to your supposedly healthy, men-shunning way of life? I know nuns who get more action than you.” “No, you don’t! You’re not even Catholic. Besides, I think it’s the other way

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around. Men shun me. Do you know how long it’s been since I had a date?” “You wouldn’t have a problem if you wouldn’t hide your light under a basket. Or, in your case, hide it under a shapeless hooded sweatshirt. There would be plenty of men for you to date, if you’d started wearing some tighter shirts.” “The kind of men that are attracted to free range breasts? No, thanks.” “Honey, is there any other kind of straight man?” “Maybe not. But this is all a moot point anyway. I don’t have time for a real relationship. And it’s not like I’m the type to pick up some random guy for--” “Sweaty, meaningless and yet somehow satisfying sex?” Nicholas finished. “Nicholas! Let’s hold off on trying to shock each other for the rest of the night, okay? My nerves can’t take it. Besides, I could never have a one-night stand with some guy I’d never see again. It’s just not me.” “ I think you are giving straight men too much credit. Most of them don’t have feelings when it comes to sex. If you won’t consider a regular guy, how about doing the nasty with a handsome undead stranger? I bet they don’t mind that type of thing so much.” “A vampire?” The thought had never occurred to her. In her mind, vampires were for killing, not for dates. “That’s disgusting. I don’t do dead guys. Literally.” “Undead, not dead. Assuming all of their naughty bits work, right?” Eve blushed a little. “It’s not like I’ve looked. I’m trying to kill them, not cop a feel.“ “I didn’t mean to imply that you weren’t professional,” Nicholas teased. “But you’ve had to notice them. Come on, have you ever seen an ugly vampire? I don’t think so!” “Oh, you have some undiscovered fetish, hmm?” “I wouldn’t call it a fetish. All of the Hollywood vampires are sexy. Actually,

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the whole vampire thing is sexy. When you factor in the leather and the eternal youth, not to mention all the sucking they do.” His eyes looked a little dreamy. “They don’t even have to come up for air.” “Blood sucking, Nicholas. Not the kind you’re referring to.” “Come on, not even Angel or Spike?” She yawned. “Jean-Claude? Asher?” Eve shrugged. “Fine, how about Lestat? Louis?” She shook her head. “You’re just being difficult. Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise played them on screen. Who says no to Brad and Tom?” “Me? Well, at least when they’re in the vampire make-up and have those creepy long fingernails.” “Fine. What about Dracula?” Eve made a face. “Oldman, not Lugosi.” “Like it matters. Hollywood vampires aren’t real. Real vampires are dangerous and more interested in killing you than sleeping with you.” “How do you know? Did you ever ask one?” “Of course not!” “Not all of them are killers, Eve,” Nicholas reminded her. Technically, it was true. She’d learned as much as she could about vampires, which was difficult considering how intent they were on hiding their existence. Some of them claimed to be peaceful and preferred animal blood or willing donors to taking blood by force. But the vast majority were killers. While she loved and

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trusted Nicholas, he had no idea what she was up against. He had no concept of what the undead were really like. Vampires hadn’t killed his parents and destroyed his life. “Only because they don’t have the opportunity to be,” Eve said harshly. “Eve, I--” Nicholas stopped as something shuffled past the window. Thankfully, the café’s clientele were all occupied with their meals or their companions. Now that he knew about the supernatural creatures that really did go bumping in the night, he was amazed that people could ignore what was going on. “Great. Dead guy at six o’clock.” Eve turned, her hand automatically reaching for her blade. “Oh, crap. Our soup is about to arrive, too. I’ll be back in a sec!” She said as she dashed out the door. Nicholas smiled at the few curious diners who glanced his way. He shrugged. “Women!” Eve followed the zombie at a safe distance. Luckily, the streets were deserted. The zombie was weaving on the sidewalk without any sense of direction, like the mindless creature it was. Zombies responded only to the demands of their zombie master and their desire to feed. This one had been in the grave some time. It only had bits of dried skin and tattered clothing clinging to it. The zombie master who raised it must have been quite powerful; it took some serious black magic to raise a corpse who’d been dead more than a week or two. Eve steeled herself as she approached. The worst thing about fighting a zombie wasn’t touching a dead body or even the smell of decay they gave off. The most terrible part was dodging their pitiful attempts to feast on her flesh. Zombies crave flesh like vampires crave blood. “Hey, walking dead, over here!”

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The zombie wheeled around, its rotted arms automatically reaching out for her in a mockery of an embrace. The zombie’s broken teeth were chomping down on the air in anticipation of tearing into her skin. She shivered involuntarily, sickened by the sight. Eve kicked the walking corpse in the shin, shattering the bone. The zombie gave a grunt of pain and tried to get up. It made an attempt to crawl towards her. Summoning all her strength, she jumped up and snapped her leg forward. The zombie’s head rolled off into the grass. She hadn’t really killed it, per se. It was already dead, but removing a zombie’s head severed the mental link to the zombie master. Decapitating it, made a zombie just another corpse. It, too, blinked out of existence. Eve turned to see Nicholas running up behind her. “Did I miss it?” he asked. “You didn’t miss much. Just another zombie. What is this now?” She did a mental list. “Four? I’ve killed one every night this week.” “Too bad you don’t get paid on commission.” Eve laughed. Sometimes, she wondered what made him stay around all the death and destruction that surrounded her when he didn’t have to. His only connection to this madness was being her friend and she was grateful for that. Nicholas kept her sane. Eve had told Nicholas she believed vampires killed her parents. Of course, he had been skeptical about it but he’d supported her. He didn’t truly believe her until he witnessed her kill a vampire. She supposed she wouldn’t believe in them either, if she had the opportunity to forget vampires really existed. “I’ve got to stop these zombies before someone gets hurt,” Eve said, blowing out a breath. “I’m sorry it ruined our evening.” “I never let a little chaos bother me,” Nicholas replied with a grin. He pulled her into a hug.

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Eve couldn’t help but laugh. “Let’s eat before anything else disturbs our dinner.” **** After she’d finished dinner with Nicholas, she’d decided to go for a hunt through the cemetery. He’d been disappointed that she wasn’t going to the movies with him but he’d gotten over it. She’d really wanted to go but Eve was hoping she could get a break in these zombie attacks. She’d rest easier once it was solved. Eve didn’t get paid to do what she did. Being a vigilante against the forces of darkness was strictly a pro-bono gig that played havoc with her social life. It also came with the unsettling side effect of near death experiences. Yet, she had no desire to stop. Ever since her parents had been killed in a vampire attack two years ago, Eve had been obsessed with all things vampire. She’d read everything about the undead that she could get her hands on. Then, she’d learned fighting techniques until she was ready to face them. It had become her life’s mission. The memories of that night were inescapable. Vampires had broken into her parent’s bookstore while the couple was doing inventory one evening. Eve now knew that they must have been young vampires by their attack pattern. The vampires had been on an all night death and destruction binge and they’d just happened to pick Flynn’s Books as a place to party. It was violent and messy, not the lethal attack a veteran vampire would execute. Her parents’ hadn’t lasted more than a few minutes once the vampires broke in. Eve had found them both the next morning. She still couldn’t get the images out of her head. The back door had been literally ripped off of its hinges; the metal had actually bent under the force they exerted. The silence had been so eerie and absolute. Normally in the mornings her parents, James and Susan, would be talking

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about something they’d read in the paper or saw on television. They’d laugh or argue and it was all so blessedly normal. But not that morning. It was completely silent. She’d rounded a corner and slid in a pool of their blood. There had been so much of it. Everywhere. Blood was spattered on the bookshelves, on the wall, and it had collected in large pools on the floor. But the worst was seeing their bodies. Their lifeless eyes stared up at her, frozen forever in a look of fear. Their throats had been torn out. Her parents had died a few feet from each other; in death their arms were outstretched, seeking safety. One thought ran through her mind. No human being had done this--not even a deranged serial killer. There was no other plausible explanation. She wasn’t sure how she knew, but she did. Maybe it was the way the door had been bent or the odd wounds on their throats. The police had other ideas. The detectives that worked her parents’ case had decided a pack of rabid dogs must have come in from the alleyway. When she’d tentatively shared her ideas with the police, they dismissed it as trauma induced hysteria. Eve supposed it was only natural they wouldn’t or couldn’t believe her. It’s not like the judicial system was prepared to handle vampires. She hadn’t pressed the matter, but Eve had decided that she must punish who did this. Eve hadn’t found their killer yet but she knew that one day she would face the vampires who killed them and see that vengeance was done. Eve was far beyond wanting justice. She wanted to hunt down and kill the vampires responsible. “You have been a very naughty girl.” Eve was thrown back to the present by a honeyed voice that was laced with venom. She mentally berated herself for not being more aware of her surroundings. It was a good way to become a permanent resident in the graveyard. The Flynn family plot already had too many occupants.

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The vampire stood a few feet from her, illuminated by the light of the moon. She knew instantly that he was a force to be reckoned with. He vibrated with barely leashed strength only a master vampire could possess. It wasn’t only his power that was intimidating. The vampire was also physically imposing. He was taller than she was, well over six feet. His eyes were a piercing blue and Eve got the impression that he missed nothing with his unwavering gaze. He had shortcropped blond hair with just a trace of silver at the temples. He’d been made a vampire when he was a bit older. Eve guessed he was made while he was in his late thirties He was dressed in a pair of black jeans and a gray sweater. His arms were crossed over his chest and his expression was mocking. Yes, this vampire was most definitely male. Eve had heard that master vampires weren’t made on a whim in the vampire community. They were selected for their cunning, physical prowess, and beauty. This vampire seemed to embody all of those characteristics. All of these qualities were combined with the tightly leashed power he possessed was frightening. Eve was in big trouble. She decided to play dumb. “Because I’m at the cemetery after visiting hours?” Unfortunately, he wasn’t buying it. “No, because you’ve been killing my minions,” he admonished. “Good help is hard to kill these days.” His accent was British and upper-crust. Eve knew she was out-gunned or at least out-fanged here. He was a powerful master vampire and she’d be willing to bet that he was at least a century old. Probably more. She really wanted to avoid a physical fight if possible. “Who are you?” “Lazarus,” he announced, as though his name alone was reason enough to be

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afraid. “That’s it? Just Lazarus? No last name? Like Madonna or Cher?” “I’ve long ago done away my surname, Eve.” He knew her name. Great. “Now that we’ve been introduced, are we going to fight?” Eve took a shuddering breath, she trying unsuccessfully to appear nonchalant. “Not just yet,” Lazarus replied. “ I know who you are and what you’ve been doing. I’ve been watching you all night. I must say that I’m not impressed. The first lesson a fighter should learn is to always be aware of one’s environment” He began to pace a path around her. His movements were slow and sure. “I’ve heard all of the whispers about a young human woman who fancies herself a warrior. You’ve been meddling in things that are far beyond your reach, little girl. How old are you, anyway?” “I’m 24, but who’s counting?” Eve knew the key to dealing with a vampire was to walk the thin line between deference and contempt. Vampires were predatory beings and if she appeared to be too weak, he wouldn’t respect her and, therefore, attack. If she behaved too boldly, he would see it as a challenge to his authority and he would attack to protect his reputation and place of power. Of course, she got the impression that she’d already challenged his authority. The conversation sounded like a prelude to a beat down, not a nice, safe graveyard chat, assuming there was such a thing as a safe graveyard chat “You need to be taught some manners.” “Funny, you don’t look like Emily Post.” Eve taunted, trying to fuel her anger, not her fear. “She rarely kills people for breaches in etiquette. I don’t have any qualms

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about making an example of you.” He slowly began to advance on her, a predator caging in some tasty prey. “What’s the big deal?” Eve asked, resisting the temptation to back away. It wasn’t easy. “Vampires kill people all the time. I was only trying to even the score.” “You simply need to see things from our vantage point. We’re a bit higher on the food chain than humans.” “You aren’t on the food chain. Humans are as high as it goes.” Eve knew she had no hope of defeating this vampire. She slid off the tombstone easily and moved back away from him, trying to get a clear shot out of the cemetery. “Do you think you’re going to get away, Eve? You’ll never out run me.” The need to flee had been instinctual but she knew he was probably right. Lazarus had longer legs and preternatural strength. She wouldn’t even make it to the graveyard gate. Eve knew that he wasn’t some undisciplined minion looking for a quick feed. Lazarus was a master vampire and in complete control of actions and his vampire abilities. Her only hope was to make him angry enough to attack her without a plan. She might be able to injure him if he was unfocused. Even if she did manage it, any wound she could inflict would merely slow him down. But it might give her enough time to run to safety. “It’ll be a lot easier after I break your kneecaps.” Eve bragged as she stretched her arms over her head. “Hold on. I need to limber up first.” “If you were a fledging you would have learned to obey your elders. You need to learn some respect.” “Well, I don’t intend to pledge that particular fraternity. Ever.” “I don’t remember issuing you an invitation.” He pondered it for a moment. “Fledglings are such a lot of hassle, but some are worth the effort.”

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“No thanks.” She laughed at his look. “Oh, excuse me, did I offend you?” Her apology was less than sincere. “I don’t really care how baby vamps act. I don’t respect filthy, bloodsucking creatures-of-the-night.” “You will learn the error of your ways shortly.” Lazarus began to pace around her and she stayed up with him, never giving him her back. “You’re faster than I thought.” He took a swipe at her but she easily ducked his hand. “Very good.” “I don’t enjoy being toyed with.” “Who said I’m only toying with you? Maybe I’m testing you.” “Why?” Lazarus closed the distance between them so fast that she hadn’t seen him move. Before she could react, he was on her. Lazarus pulled her flush against his body. He spoke low into her ear, his mouth grazing her earlobe, a soft push of air. “Before this night is over, I’m going to taste you.”

Eve could hear her heartbeat roaring in her ears. Adrenaline was pumping through her body but she couldn’t compete with him in a fight. He could toss her across the graveyard as if she were a matchstick. Summoning all of her anger, she turned her head to face him. Their lips were an inch apart. “Before this night is through, I’ll be wiping your blood off of my knife.” Lazarus tightened his hold on her. Eve struggled in his grasp, which only made him laugh. “I’m disappointed, vampire killer, you can’t even get yourself free.” “Don’t expect miracles. You’re a lot stronger than me.” Eve stopped moving completely and turned baleful eyes on him. “You’re just going to give up? That’s quite a let down.” He still held her

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arms, but he gave her a small amount of space. “I was hoping that you’d at least be entertaining to kill.” Eve struck before he could block her. She shoved a wooden stake she’d pulled from under her sleeve into his side, right between his ribs. It tore through his flesh with a revolting wet sound. It wouldn’t kill him but she bet it hurt a hell of a lot. Lazarus gasped in pain and threw her away from him with a roar. Literally. She was airborne for a second before she landed on her side on the damp grass. Wincing in pain, Eve got to her feet. She took off at a dead run with the vampire right behind her. The grass was damp with dew, almost matted to the ground and extremely slippery. Eve couldn’t get enough traction to run at full speed so she didn’t get very far. Lazarus landed on top of her, nearly knocking the breath from her lungs. The vampire rolled her over so that she lay on her back and eased off her body. He loomed over her, like some sort of a conquering warlord, one foot on either side of her prone body. “That wasn’t very nice,” Lazarus admonished as he pulled the stake out of his side. He didn’t even flinch. It came out with a sickening scrape of wood against bone. Lazarus tossed it aside as if it were a splinter. “I’ll have to punish you for your insolence as well.” “Yeah, I always forget to say ‘excuse me’ when I jam a stake into a vampire. I need to work on that.” “You know, you should be thanking me for my attention. Normally, I’d just send a minion to take care of something this small.” “Actually you did, remember? I killed them all.” Eve couldn’t help it. Mouthing off to him was the only defense she had left. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m

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really touched, you taking the time out of your busy schedule of blood sucking and bossing people around or whatever it is you do. Besides following women around the cemetery and drooling on them, that is. Remind me to send you a greeting card.” He ignored her. “I don’t think killing you is an option just yet.” “Your plan is to talk me to death instead?” Eve was growing more nervous. She raised herself up on her elbows, even though it brought her nearly flush against his body. Why wasn’t he attacking? “Don’t test my patience, little girl.” “I thought your plan was to ambush me, get a little neck, and be on your way? But now you feel the need to talk.” He seemed mystified by her behavior. “I must say that I’m intrigued. I had no idea you would be so devious. You actually managed to hurt me. Do you know what an achievement that is?” Lazarus rubbed his side. The wound had already closed. She’d never ceased to be amazed at their healing powers. By tomorrow evening, he’d be on the mend. In a couple of days, he wouldn’t even have a scar. The blood had already stopped flowing from the wound “Yeah, I’m sneaky like that. Don’t get your hopes up, I’m not kissing it and making it better.” His fingers came away tipped with crimson. His eyes filled with heat as he gazed down at her. “I’d rather have you kiss something else of mine.” Eve’s eyes widened. “How about you kiss something of mine instead? You can kiss my ass. How’s that?” Far from being deterred, he continued his perusal of her body. “That wouldn’t be the first place I’d want to start, but if you insist ... ”

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Eve was dumbstruck for a moment. She hadn’t imagined the veiled sexual hunger in his gaze. The vampire was flirting with her, after he’d just tried to end her life. “You can’t be serious.” His eyes slid down her body, almost like a physical caress. “I assure you that I’m quite serious.” “No!” “You’re already protesting? I haven’t done anything yet.” His eyes were heavy lidded. “And you’re not going to! Let’s fight instead.” “You actually want to fight me? A few minutes ago you were trembling in your boots.” “Please!” Eve scoffed, rolling her eyes. “I’m not scared. Besides, which one of us is injured?” “Barely injured.” “Let me guess, it’s only a flesh wound,” she sniffed. “Let’s test that theory.” Lazarus shook his head ruefully. She was a little spitfire. He’d never had a woman fight him like this. When he was mortal, women were eager to share his bed. When he became a vampire, he’d had a few human paramours. They were ready to please him so he would gift them with eternal life. Female vampires wanted him for his status and power. On an intellectual level, this little girl wanted nothing to do with him. Yet, he could detect her body’s response to him. “Hmmm ... what should I do with you?” His humor was a slap in the face. He didn’t view her as a threat. She scrambled out from under him, and he let her go. “If we aren’t going to fight, then I’m leaving.” She walked away, but never turned her back on him. “Be quiet,” Lazarus ordered as he, too, got to his feet. He brushed his hand

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across her cheek before she could pull away. “You have very soft skin.” He pushed her back against a nearby tree, caging her with his body. His hand ever so gently closed on her throat, just enough to hold her there. Scarlet streaks of his blood marred the alabaster beauty of her throat. Eve was shivering from a unique blend of fear and desire. She wanted to run. She wanted to stay. “Well, I moisturize,” she said breathlessly. Lazarus turned her head ever so slightly, exposing her vulnerable neck. His breath was hot as he leaned down and licked her, tracing the line of her lovely neck. “I know that you want me, yet you fear it.” “You are a vampire.” “That isn’t the real reason, pet. You aren’t really afraid of vampires, per se. Cautious maybe, but not afraid. They spark your anger more than your fear.” While holding her gaze, he deliberately slid his hand down her neck and across the swell of her full breasts. “What do you think you’re doing?” Eve was too stunned to fend him off and too aroused to be afraid. “I should think that was obvious.” He stroked her breasts through the thin cotton t-shirt and bra she wore. “Why do you deny this attraction?” Eve could feel her breasts swelling, plumping at his touch. “Because it’s wrong.” Lazarus smiled. “Doing something wrong once in a while makes life worth living.” Lazarus slid a finger under the collar of her t-shirt. “You have the most appalling taste in clothing,” he commented. “Vampires suck,” he read. His lips curved in response. It wasn’t really a smile. “Vampires suck what?” Eve took a shaky breath. “Blood?” “Vampires also like to suck other things.”

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Eve prayed it was her nipples. Some vampire hunter. “You all have oral fixations.” “I admit to that. But what about you? What do naughty little human girls suck?” “I don’t suck on the first fight.” She was proud of herself. It wasn’t easy to sound cocky when a vampire was fondling you. “I usually require my paramours to wear more substantial clothing.” His voice turned smoky. “It makes the unveiling even more pleasurable. However, there is something to be said for expediency.” “Look, as much fun as rough sex in a cemetery must be for you, I’d really rather skip it. Let’s get to the part where you try to kill me.” Lazarus knew she felt the instant attraction between them. Her heart beat in a furious rhythm, though it had nothing to do with fear. Her body was becoming flushed, she was readying herself for him. He hadn’t felt like this in a very long time. Excited. Unbearably aroused. And he’d long gotten over human morality. “There will be no fatalities, but there will be a great deal of little deaths tonight.” Eve knew exactly what he was insinuating. “This isn’t the time to go French on me. I mean that in every sense of the term.” ”Quiet. I’ll give you an excuse. You’ve killed my flesh and blood. While, I don’t really care about minions, I do care about having to replace them. You owe me for their loss. I shall have my pound of flesh from you, but I choose to take it an infinitely more pleasurable way.” “So instead of killing me, you’re going to rape me. Wow, it must be my lucky day.” “Yes, it is. I don’t do rape, Eve. There’s no need for it.” He nibbled her lips,

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hoping for an invitation to enter. Despite herself, Eve squirmed under the delightful torment of his lips. No, it wouldn’t be rape at all. She was so screwed. “I haven’t had a human in so long. I’d forgotten how warm and how delicate they could be. Especially one so plump and perfect.” He stroked her alabaster belly. “You are going to give yourself to me. Completely.” Eve felt a little dizzy. This was all happening too fast. “Never.” She could feel him, hard and fierce, against her hip “Unless I mistake the signs,” Lazarus said as he scented the air like a predator, “you feel it, too.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Unfortunately, this is not the proper time or place for me to take you. “I will let you go, for now, if you kiss me.” Eve shivered. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him to go to hell. But this might be the only way to escape unharmed. Then, she’d check herself into a mental hospital for an evaluation. Vampires were for killing, not kissing. He turned her head towards him. Their mouths were inches apart. “Kiss me, pet.” She didn’t know if she wanted him to beg him to stop or beg him to go on, and that scared the hell out of her. Eve opened her mouth and Lazarus brushed her lips with his. It was so light a touch and yet she felt as though she’d been branded. His mouth seized hers then, seeking union with her body. His tongue darted into her open mouth, possessive and sure. Eve moaned into his mouth, yielding to his mastery. He wanted to brand her, mark her as his possession. When Lazarus pulled away, his eyes hooded. “Good girl.” He stroked her cheek. “Yes, I think I’m going to enjoy this immensely. You’re going to make a

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delightful little companion.” Reluctantly, he released her. Eve wanted to give him a snappy comeback, but it was difficult to do so after she’d let him fondle her. She settled for glaring at him. Lazarus chuckled, interpreting her emotional state. “You are all the same. So self righteous at first, but human girls eventually come to crave me.” His look was harsh. “You will belong to me.” “Go to hell! Once I’m ... .well, back to myself, I’m going to kick your ass. You get that? Kick. Not kiss.” “Oh, I am afraid. What are you going to do?” Lazarus said mockingly. “Go to the police? Tell them a vampire is after you?” Eve’s attention strayed behind him and caught sight of something that made her green eyes flash with triumph. “No, I think I’m going to do this instead.” Just as she finished, the zombie came up behind the vampire, moaning as it stumbled across the uneven grass. “Bloody hell!” Lazarus said as the zombie slammed into him, trying to gnaw on his elbow. “Stop that!” Eve didn’t stick around to see what happened. She ran as fast as she could out of the cemetery. She ran across the lawn and out the front gates. She was so sore that it hurt, but adrenaline spurred her on. It was difficult but she put her all into it. Eve ran down Oak Street, which bordered the cemetery. Her sides were aching but she couldn’t stop. She was looking for a home with a light on inside it. She knew it was after midnight and most of Full Moon Bay’s citizens were safely tucked in their beds. Luckily, an acquaintance of hers still had some signs of life in the house. Eve scrambled up the front stairs of the house and frantically knocked on the door. “Mrs. Langston? Mrs. Langston, are you there?” Eve nervously looked behind her, but didn’t see anything. Of course, that

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didn’t tell her whether or not Lazarus had followed her. Vampires often couldn’t be detected until it was too late. “Mrs. Langston!” The porch light flicked on. Eve knew it was ridiculous but it somehow felt safer to be in the soft electric glow of the light. She knew it offered no vampire protection but it was still comforting. “Eve, is that you?” “Yes, Mrs. Langston, it’s me. Please let me in. There’s a strange man following me!” Mrs. Langston appeared at the door. She was a fragile old lady who was in her late seventies. She’d wrapped her hair in rollers and was wearing a purple dressing gown and slippers. “For heaven’s sakes, come in.” She was a customer of Eve’s at the bookstore since she was a little girl. Eve crossed the threshold and gave a sigh of relief. Vampires couldn’t enter a home without being invited. She was safe for the moment. “Thank you, Mrs. Langston. I’m so sorry to intrude on you.” “Don’t you worry about that, dearie. I was up puttering around in the kitchen. My grandson is coming over tomorrow and I was putting the icing on his chocolate cupcakes.” She stared at Eve’s bloodstained, dirty t-shirt. “My word! Are you hurt?” “No, I um ... fell.” She looked skeptically. “On some glass. A lot of really, sharp glass,” Eve fibbed. “But I’m all right. I was just going for an evening walk when this man, um, came over and he wouldn’t leave me alone.” She closed and locked the front door. “Should I call the police, dearie?” “No, I don’t think that will be necessary.” Eve said. She didn’t add that the police wouldn’t stand a chance against Lazarus.

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“Well, why don’t you have a seat in the living room until we know he’s gone.” Eve took a seat near the window where she could keep an eye on the street. Mrs. Langston went off to see about her cupcakes. Across the street, Lazarus stepped from the shadows into the anemic light of a street lamp. He had done it deliberately, so she would be able to see him. Eve’s chin raised a notch as she gave him a triumphant smile. She had the childish urge to stick her tongue out at him. She flicked him off instead. Lazarus smirked at her and executed a mocking little bow. “I’ll take you up on that offer another time, pet,” he said. Eve knew there was no earthly way she’d been able to hear him from across the street, but she’d heard every velvety soft syllable. That’s when she figured out that he’d been speaking in her mind. The night just went from bad to so much worse.

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Chapter Two

Eve groaned as she stepped into the harsh glare of the morning sun. She pushed up her sunglasses and blearily focused on the sidewalk as she made her way down the street. Getting up at eight a.m. when she’d spent the night fighting off the forces of darkness wasn’t good for her health or her temper. At least it was a reasonably warm morning. That was the fabulous thing about Ohio. Don’t like the weather? Give it five minutes and it’ll change. Eve was convinced there had to be some disgruntled weather warlock behind it. She also had a short commute. Eve had converted the large storage rooms on the second floor of the bookstore into a small apartment for herself. It saved on the rent and it was practical. She really didn’t need that much space for one person. Eve was able to live comfortably. She had enough to pay her bills and a little extra left over. She supposed that she could come up with store promotions to bring in new costumers or try to market the store in some other way, but her heart wasn’t in it. Eve’s true passion was hunting vampires. She kept the store for practical reasons as well as sentimental value. She’d spent many a weekend at the store with her parents. She could never get over the thought that this was her parent’s real gravesite. They’d died in the store and it would be wrong for a stranger to own the place. It had been her parents’ business and it would remain in the family. Her morning routine was always the same. Eve got up, took a quick shower, and put on her shopkeeper outfit. It usually consisted of a pair of black jeans and a

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knit top of some sort. Her parents, Susan and James, had always insisted that she not wear blue jeans when she worked in the store because it didn’t look professional and she’d never gotten out of the habit. Today, she’d paired her black jeans with a black sweater. The somber outfit matched her mood. Eve went out the front door of Flynn’s Books and went next door to the quaint little bakery. It was a bad habit but Eve craved sugar in the morning and Mr. Ferguson’s glazed donuts were the best in town. Eve entered and a cheery little bell announced her arrival. She resisted the urge to yank it off the wall. Eve was always a little cranky before she had coffee. The smell of fresh baked donuts did improve her mood, though. She looked at the array of donuts available. They all looked delicious, like beautifully wrapped sugary presents. The Fergusons always put small decorative touches on their donuts, like streaking them with different colored icing or geometric shapes drawn in colored sugar. Mr. Ferguson appeared in the kitchen doorway, bearing a tray of freshly baked jam donuts. The smell wafting from the kitchen was heavenly. He was a short, wiry man in his late 40s. He had blazing red hair and warm brown eyes. She’d gone to school with his oldest daughter, Tracy, and he’d been an acquaintance of her parents. “Let me guess. Two glazed donuts?” he said with a grin. “You read my mind.” Actually, it was what she ordered every day. She was nothing if not predictable--at least when it came to breakfast choices. He popped two of them into a small pastry box. “Do you want a cup of coffee, kiddo?” “No, thanks,” Eve said with a shake of her head. Mr. Ferguson made excellent donuts but his coffee tasted like turpentine. Eve was a coffee connoisseur and no middle of the road supermarket coffee was good enough for her. It was her

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one extravagance. She paid for the donuts and went out the door with a little wave. Eve inserted her key in the door and opened the shop’s door. Luckily, she had her own private back entrance to her apartment and set her donuts down on the front counter. She flipped on the lights, revealing three-dozen large bookshelves, brimming with an assortment of titles. Flynn’s only carried fiction books because her parents liked escapism reading. The walls of the building were a non-descript white. Eve supposed she could have jazzed it up with some paintings or some posters but she’d never really looked for anything. The floor was black and white linoleum. Eve went in the office and retrieved her stash of gourmet coffee. Eve didn’t think she would have had such a good GPA in college if it weren’t for Starbucks. Their vanilla caramel blend had helped her wake up for early classes. She knew if she didn’t get to campus early, she wouldn’t have time to stop in the student center for coffee. Not to mention the positive effects caffeine had on her late night study sessions. Soon, Eve was ensconced behind the front counter with a heavenly cup of cinnamon coffee and two donuts. She was idly flipping through a new martial arts book she’d purchased. Books on weaponry and fighting techniques were the only non-fiction she was interested in reading. She was a novice and she was always looking to build her skills. Eve had found that learning jujitsu, judo and karate had helped her fight evil. Eastern fighting styles focused on using an opponent’s strength against him and maintaining an inner calm when fighting. Eve had mainly focused on learning defensive maneuvers. It might be time to focus on some offensive techniques and the book had some very interesting combo punches. Eve drew the shades on the shop so that she could discretely do a little kung

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fu on the down low. She began moving through the new routines. She was still learning but she was becoming more proficient by the day. Eve wondered what it would be like to fight after she’d studied and trained for a few years. If she ever got the money for lessons, that’s just what she’d do. Thankfully, the punches and kicks she practiced seemed to work for her. And, bonus, she hadn’t kicked over anything in the store. Mondays were notoriously slow for the bookstore and she often used the time to research the latest in evil activity. It was either research vampires and other creatures or work on the store’s accounts, which was always depressing. Although, she doubted she’d have anything useful on Lazarus. She’d already been through all of it and the master vampire hadn’t ever come up in any of her research, let alone his tricky mind move from last night. Eve felt something rub against her leg and she smiled to see the store’s resident feline, Magic. “Hey, furball,” she said affectionately, as she swept him up on her lap. Magic purred and rubbed his head against her as she scratched his chin. Magic was a sleek, black cat that had lived in the alleyway behind the store for a short time. He was a so-called Hemingway cat because he had two extra toes on in his front paws, making Magic’s feet resemble mittens. Eve had taken the cat in shortly after her parents’ death and he’d been a store fixture ever since. She’d once thought to keep him in the apartment but he seemed to enjoy the interaction with the customers. He was a scrappy little cat that had been through a lot, as evidenced by the many scars he had on his face and ears. Eve felt a strange affinity with the animal and it seemed fitting that he lived with her. Eve, too, had scars. They weren’t all physical, but they were there. Magic struggled to get down and she let him go off in search of his food dish. Eve pulled out some of the occult books from under the counter. She wished

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she had the money to buy a decent set of books for research. Nowadays, you could find almost any book you wanted if you knew where to look. Ebay was veritable treasure trove of occult books and items. Unfortunately, the books she needed were rare and very expensive. Why on Earth would someone use ogre blood for ink or bind a book in dragon’s skin? It really drove up the price. She checked through some likely chapters but there was no mention of telepathy or of Lazarus. The phone rang and Eve grinned, grateful for the distraction. She knew exactly who it was. It was time for their regular check in. He always called on his mid-morning coffee break. “Hello, Nicholas.” “Hello, honey. Asked me what I did last night.” “Had sweaty meaningless sex? “It wasn’t that good of a night but I did meet a handsome stranger. We watched For True Love at the multiplex and we laughed at all the same parts. He’s a Snow-Caps fan, too” “Really? Wow. It must be love. Have you registered for China patterns yet?” “Mock me all you want but this one is something special.” “What does he look like?” “Taller than me with a thicker build. Think Brad Pitt in Troy. Didn’t get to see any rippling muscles though because he wore a sweater but that’s okay because it was cashmere. But he had great hair, too. You know my weakness for redheads. And he has the biggest--” ”Nicholas!” “–feet,” he finished lamely. “What? Did you think I was talking about something else?” he asked sweetly. “Never mind. Are you gonna see Bigfoot again?”

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“We have some lunch plans later on in the week. And, honey, he’d better bring all of his big parts with him.” Eve laughed. “Then, I’m very happy for you.” “Thank you. And what about you? Another dull night in dead people land?” “Not really. I ran into another vampire.” “Two vampires in one night? Girl, you need to eat your Wheaties. ” “Only, I didn’t get a chance to kill him. He was really powerful and pretty pissed that I was killing his baby vampires.” “That sounds bad. Are you okay?” “I’m fine.” Eve cleared her throat. “But something else happened. Lazarus isn’t like other vampires.” Relieved that she was all right, he had to needle her a bit. “Lazarus, is it? You never call vampires by their names or pay attention to their gender. Did he do something to you?” There was a slight pause. “Did he touch you where you pee?” “No! I mean, yes. I mean, that’s disgusting! Actually, he touched me in a lot of places.” She heard the phone drop on the other end and a filthy word. She couldn’t resist smiling. At least, she’d finally shocked him. Nicholas picked the phone up. “I want details, honey. Plenty of descriptive details.” “No!” “Come on, tell Daddy everything.” “Fine, but I’m not calling you daddy because that’s just wrong.” She sighed. “Lazarus took me off guard. I’m used to vampires wanting to kill me. I was a little thrown when he wanted to molest me instead.” “Whatever. Get to the good parts.” “Lazarus was angry and he threatened me and told me he wanted me. He

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said that in the sex way, not in the I-want-to-drink-your-yummy-blood way. Big fight. And then ... .well, then he touched me.” “A good touch or a bad touch?” “I was always confused by that. How about a bad touch that felt very good?” “He wants to pet your kitty, eh? “Nicholas!” “What?” Eve was grateful he couldn’t see her. She had a horrible poker face. “It was revolting.” “I’m sure it was.” “No, really, I was appalled.” “Of course.” I’m going to kill him tonight.” “I see,” Nicholas said sagely. It was clear he didn’t believe a word of it. “I will!” Eve argued. “I’ve got to go. There’s a line of people here.” It was yet another lie. “Whatever you say, Eve. I’ll talk to you later. Say hello to Lazarus for me and make sure he wears protection!” Eve said something else filthy. “I’m going to have to say no. I’m just not that bendy” She hung up the phone with a curse. **** That evening, she was faced with a difficult decision. Eve knew she needed to work on finding the zombie master. There had been too many sightings in a short time and she worried that someone would get hurt. She knew that the only way to find the master was to wait in the cemetery. Unfortunately, that left her out

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in the open for Lazarus. He would come for her but it was a risk she was forced to take. Eve had taken Nicholas’s advice. She was wearing plenty of protection. She made sure that she was heavily armed. She carried two stakes up each sleeve. Around her neck was a small wooden cross, hidden under her shirt. She also had her trusty knife tucked in her boot. Eve had put holy bombs, small glass containers that shattered on impact, in her pocket. Eve had also placed a long sword in a sheath on her back, beneath her unbuttoned leather jacket. It would have been more convenient to carry her sword but she had a feeling it would be hard to explain. She tried to imagine that conversation. Yes, office, I just went for a stroll with my Japanese sword. It needed some fresh air. She wandered through the rows of headstones, being cautious of every noise. Eve needed to be alert tonight. There was any number of creatures about, including Lazarus. Eve heard a low groan coming from up ahead. Sure enough, she found a bedraggled zombie, struggling out of the grave and the zombie master stood above the grave, laying a protective circle of salt around himself. Finally. The zombie master was a tall, thin man dressed in an expensive black silk suit and a long trench coat. His hair was streaked with white. He carried an elegant silver cane in his hand. The man turned when he saw her, tucking the small jar of sacred salt in his pocket. Hardly any voodoo practitioners wore traditional clothing or tied bone necklaces around their necks these days. Not that they all didn’t have a personal totem of some sort, they just liked to keep a low profile. This guy looked more like a banker than a zombie master. “Do you know that grave robbing is illegal?” she asked casually. “Allo, ma petite chou. I’ve been expecting you,” he said with a smile that made her skin crawl. He gave her a little bow. “I have been looking forward to

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meeting you ever since I arrived. The local vampires talk of little else.” “Well, I’m a popular girl lately. And now that we’ve established that you know me, let’s learn a bit about you. Got a name?” “Arnaud Le Grande,” he said with a nod. “Oh yeah, from New Orleans.” She’d heard something about an older man moving into the Johnson house, a historical home on the eastern side of town. He’d only been in town a month and the locals didn’t know much about him because he kept to himself. That was always a bad sign in a small town. Usually when strangers moved in, the locals spent the first few weeks finding everything out about them. It was a little like moving into a village populated by CIA agents who interrogated suspects over pie and coffee. “Oui, I arrived a short time ago.” “And what? You decided to show up and make some zombies?” Le Grande smirked at her but didn’t reply. “Let me be the first to tell you that kind of thing isn’t acceptable in the Midwest, especially Ohio. Haven’t you heard that this a red state? We have a lot of gun-toting Republicans around here who don’t take kindly to that sort of thing.” “Ah, but this is a modern time, non? This place is ripe for change and that’s what I bring with me, my dear. Glorious change. I have very big plans for your provincial little state. I was one of many in the bayou, but here? Here, I shall make my mark.” “No. Not in my town you won’t.” Eve squared her shoulders. She hadn’t really planned out what she would do with the zombie master once she found him. Technically, he was human and she had never harmed a person. Yet she couldn’t let him raise the dead and wreak havoc. “If you don’t leave, I’ll be forced to--” “Give me a lecture? I’m a very busy man, cherie. I’m afraid I don’t have

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time for that just now. If you’ll excuse me.” Le Grande turned his back on her and instead faced the zombie, which had extricated itself from the grave. He held out a charm of some sort. It was a beaded leather pouch that smelled like something found on the side of the highway. The zombie master had raised the old librarian, Ms. Tuttle, who died two weeks ago. She was standing just outside the protective circle, waiting for orders, dressed in her lavender gown with lacy cuffs and collars. It would have been beautiful, except for the grave dirt and the stench of decay she gave off. “From the grave you have risen and your mind I now own. You will hear only my voice, follow only my orders.” Then, the zombie master turned to Eve. “You were saying?” Eve’s eyes widened as he pointed her out to the zombie. “Seize her!” “Dammit.” Eve backed away from the zombie, waiting to see what it would do. The remains of Ms. Tuttle steadily walked forward with a vacant expression. It was clear that peaceful former librarian made a poor attack zombie. “You know normal people use dogs for this type of thing. It’s a little less messy. You know no grave robbing.” Eve lobbed a holy bomb at the zombie. The blessed water made the zombie yowl in protest. It sounded inhuman, animal-like and she was grateful. Eve couldn’t afford to be compassionate right now. This wasn’t the first zombie she’d had to kill someone that she’d been acquainted with. She hadn’t really known Ms. Tuttle that well but she’d spent a lot of time after school in the public library. She hurriedly shrugged off her coat and retrieved the sword as the zombie advanced on her. Eve had been practicing with the sword a lot lately but hadn’t really used it in the field. She was hoping it would be a more efficient means of

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death. Eve slashed out with the blade once or twice to remember the feel of it. The zombie shrank away from the blade. The third time, she swung the sword and separated the zombie’s left arm from her body. The zombie cried out as her arm hit the ground with a nauseating thump. Eve felt the gorge rise in her throat. Thankfully, no blood came forth because she’d been embalmed. Eve took another swipe at the zombie but the creature moaned and instinctively backed away, running from a painful stimulus. Zombies were never completely reliable because they didn’t have a mind to command anymore. “Finnesez ceci!” he ordered angrily. The zombie did stumble forward and Eve took a fortifying breath before she brought the sword around in a sweeping motion and beheaded the zombie. She turned away as all of its body parts disintegrated in a blinding flash. “I’m sorry,” she murmured under her breath. Eve turned angry eyes on him. She suddenly knew what her plan was. “I’ve been looking for you for quite a while.” Her grip tightened on the sword. “I think I’m might enjoy this a little bit.” She had no intention of killing him, but she planned on getting a little of her own back. Le Grande looked at her carefully. “Oh, I have been looking for someone like you, ma chou, for quite some time. You have power! I had hoped you would be the one and I can see I was right. But I doubt you could kill a human being, let alone an old man like me.” “I don’t really think the term human being applies to you. You prey on the dead and I’ve never had difficulty killing evil things.” Eve casually lifted the sword, watching it gleam. “Don’t worry, I’ll make it fast.” She was just grandstanding though. Eve hoped that if she pushed him enough, he’d back off and leave town. She wasn’t ready to become a murderer.

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“I won’t.” The zombie master’s expression changed, filling with glee. “You are going to make me very powerful, ma chou. What a wonderful sacrifice to give my god.” His eyes widened with a fanatical zeal. “Yes, Baron Samedi will eat you right up.” Something was very wrong here. “Baron Samedi?” “Oui, I have worshiped him for quite a while now. Let’s see,” he paused, tapping one long finger against his chin. “I believe it’s been nearly two hundred years.” “Two hundred?” Well, maybe it wasn’t that hard to believe. After all, a short while ago, she assumed vampires weren’t real. “You only look like you’re in your late fifties.” ”In my late fifties?” He looked offended. “I don’t look a day over forty-five. My god is very powerful. He lets me play with the dead and he slows the aging process for a price.” Le Grande laughed. “You see he is a very greedy god and he demands a little tribute every fifty years. Can you guess what it is?” “I’m guessing it isn’t a little chicken blood.” “Ah, so you know a little something of my faith. Yes, I do practice voodoo, if you must use that offensive term. But, no, Baron Samedi’s tastes don’t run to a little blood. No, he likes the trappings of men. Baron Samedi fancies fine cigarettes, spicy food and rum steeped in hot chili peppers. But what he likes best is young virgins brimming with good intentions.” Eve’s mouth fell open in shock. “Please, ma petite chou, it’s all over you. You’re sparkling white aura and those innocent green eyes give you away. Why hasn’t your flower been plucked?” “Flower plucking, eh? That’s a weird way to put it. I certainly wasn’t saving it for you and some hell god with lung cancer.”

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“Ah, well, the Baron won’t mind. He likes a bit of fight in his ladies.” She’d had enough. “While this has been an interesting discussion on voodoo, I think the lecture portion of this evening has come to a close.” “I agree.” Le Grande snapped his fingers and shouted, “Maintenant!” On cue, the rustling of dirt could be heard from several graves. Le Grande had already performed his little ritual on at least a half dozen graves. He’d just rigged the spell with an activation word. There was no way she could defeat this many zombies. She’d stupidly walked straight into his trap. Great, Eve, confront the zombie master in a cemetery, she mentally berated herself. It was a little like having a standoff with an NRA member at a gun show. Eve turned to Le Grande. There was only one way to stop this. If she killed Le Grande, the zombies would be left without instructions. She could probably behead all of them without a fight. She raised her sword, but the zombie master had already sprinted away, throwing salt as he went. “Get back here and fight, you big coward! You let your corpses fight all your battles?” The zombies began to circle her, shuffling towards her. Their mouths were open, drooling in anticipation of tasting tender human flesh. “Great. I never wanted to see Night of the Living Dead and now I’m about to catch the live show.” Eve gripped the sword, ready to take out as many of them as possible. She wanted to go down fighting. She’d rather be drained by a vampire than be eaten by a group of hungry zombies. The first attacked, it was the remains of a teenage boy. Eve reacted quickly, doing a spin kick and sending him down to the ground. She easily beheaded him. Two more shambled forward, this time it was two old men in rotted suits. One was behind her and one ahead. She threw a holy bomb at the one in front causing it to

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hiss and wail in pain. Then she turned to her right and brought the sword across the other’s midsection. The zombie landed on the ground, severed in two but still animated. “Need some assistance?” Eve glanced up to see Lazarus leaning against a mausoleum. He was dressed in black jeans and a black sweater. He was sipping a cup of coffee, looking relaxed and unconcerned, as though he were watching a television show or play. “No, I’m fine!” Zombie sliced into another howling zombie. The one she’d severed had seized her ankle and was gnawing on her shoe. “Bravery will only get you killed, pet. You need some help and I could be persuaded to step in, if it you made it worth my while.” Eve lobbed a couple of holy bombs into the crowd of zombies, but there were far too many. She needed to make a deal with the devil. “ Fine. What do you want?” “We both know the answer to that question, pet.” She kicked a zombie. “You’re blackmailing me into sex?” “That sounds so tawdry.” Lazarus took another sip of coffee. “No, I’m blackmailing you into letting me seduce you.” “I don’t date vampires,” she puffed. She stomped on a nearby zombie’s foot, breaking it. “How do I know you aren’t finishing off the zombies so you can kill me yourself?” “You do have quite an imagination. I thought I made it abundantly clear that my intentions aren’t homicidal.” “It still isn’t fair to use the situation to your advantage!” “You’d rather be zombie fodder? You do realize they eat people alive, don’t you? Any second now they’re going to be having some human sushi.”

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“I can’t believe you!” Eve took a swipe at another zombie. “Weren’t you born in the age of chivalry or something? This isn’t very gentlemanly.” “This isn’t very flattering for me either. Going out with me is only slightly better than being devoured by a group of the walking dead?” He set his coffee down and pushed up his sleeves. “I do hope you’re done complaining, they’re starting to get the upper hand.” Eve couldn’t stand it anymore. She was getting tired. “Yes. Fine! I agree! Just get over here!” Lazarus retrieved a spade that had been propped against the crypt before he sprinted over, beheading zombies with the sharp shovel as he went. He wielded the garden implement as though it were crafted for him. Eve continued her assault on the zombies, keeping her back to Lazarus as she did. Odd, that she should trust him with her life. . .at least for a small amount of time. Between the two of them, they were able to kill all of the zombies. Eve collapsed on the grass, breathing heavily and exhausted. “I hate zombies.” Lazarus wasn’t affected at all. He sat on a tombstone, watching her intently. “Must be nice to have super powers,” she griped. “I enjoy it. Oh, I forgot.” He stood up and walked over to the crypt again. He held another travel cup aloft. “Would you like some coffee? It’s chocolate mint.” Eve stood up and dusted herself off. She had mud on her backside and stray bits of grass in her hair. Oh, yeah, real sexy. Hold up. Who cares? Regardless, she plucked the vegetation from her body and threw it away before heading over. Eve took the coffee and was about to drink it, when something didn’t add up. “What are you doing wandering around with coffee anyway? I thought vampires don’t drink or eat.” Then, comprehension dawned. “You were stalking me!”

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“No, I was merely keeping an eye out for you. And that’s complete rubbish. We do eat and drink, just not that often. Blood is our main food source.” “I don’t really care about your feeding habits right now. You were following me!” “That sounds so negative. If I hadn’t been, you’d be dead by now.” She narrowed her eyes. “How do you know I like coffee?” “I have my spies.” “Now you’re spying on me?!” She sprinted away from him. “This is too creepy for me. All bets are off.” Lazarus caught her arm and swung her around. “There is no going back with me, Eve. You made a promise.” “You’re manipulating the situation.” “I’m a vampire. What did you expect, love? Flowers and valentines?” “No, but I do expect honesty. I kill vampires and I could never fall for one,” Eve pushed at his chest, wanting him to back off. She might as well have been pushing a concrete wall. “Let go.” “I can’t let go of you. I won’t.” He pulled her inexorably closer. She felt like their bodies were being welded together by the heat their bodies generated together. “Why do you want me? You don’t even know me.” Their eyes locked. “But I want to. I can’t quite figure you out.” Eve turned away from him. “I hate vampires.” “Why do you hate us?” Lazarus asked. “Other than the fact that you kill people?’ Lazarus sighed. “Yes, other than that.” “Vampires murdered my parents,” she said fiercely. “Now, do you see why we don’t belong together?”

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“I never said that we belonged together, sweet Eve. I’m not the white knight come to rescue you. I want you. This isn’t about love, this is about desire. Let me show you.” His mouth took hers again, fierce and possessive. Eve felt the familiar onslaught of emotion. For some reason, when she was near Lazarus, she lost all ability to reason. She wrapped her arms around him, desperate for more contact. When he’d kissed her thoroughly, he brought his hands to the collar of her tshirt and ripped it. This one said Fangs for the Memories. “I simply must buy you a new wardrobe,” he muttered. “No, you’re going to buy me a new shirt,” she said shakily. Lazarus was only focused on the beauty before him. “I was hoping for satin or at least some lace.” Lazarus undid the catch on her cotton bra and her breasts sprang free into his greedy hands. Eve gasped at the sensation of his big hands and slightly rough touch. “I think you should learn to live with disappointment,” she said with a catch in her voice. “These,” he said, fondling her ripe breasts with their pink puckered tips, “are far from disappointing.” Eve was having trouble keeping her eyes open. Part of her wanted to just lie down and let him have at it. She summoned her strength. “Stop that!” She tried to wriggle out of his grasp but it was useless, his arms might as well have been steel bands. “Do you really wish me to stop?” He pinched a nipple. Eve met his eyes. Her confusion was plain to see. She was caught somewhere between moral outrage and pleasure. Her gaze skittered away. “I shall take that as a no.” Lazarus said lazily.

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“I--” “Let me see” He ran his hand across her hip, pushing between her legs. He simply had to know. Eve couldn’t help but open for him. She felt so achy and hollow there. His hand insinuated itself between her legs. Lazarus could feel her beneath the cloth of her jeans. She was wet and willing to welcome him. “Your body tells the truth.” “Ohhh!” Eve moaned, unable to help the sensations he’d created. He stroked her through the fabric, effortlessly finding where she liked to be touched the most. Lazarus pressed hard, creating friction with the stiff fabric of her jeans. Eve’s knees started to give way and he caught her before she went down, easing her body to the ground. Lazarus covered her, still bringing her pleasure. She bucked and writhed under his hand eagerly. “Do you want me?” He asked roughly, voice passion-strained. “Yes!” Lazarus pressed in just the right spot, holding still and waiting. Then, it came over her. A wave of pleasure flooded her body, causing her to wail. He captured the sound with his mouth as he helped her ride out the wave of her orgasm. When she was still beneath him, drowsy with released passion, he kissed her mouth softly before he melted back into the night. “I will have you.” **** The next evening, Eve was on the hunt for the zombie master. She wisely avoided entering the cemeteries, but she did scan the perimeters. Eve felt like she was falling apart. The situation with Lazarus was rapidly spiraling out of control. She was appalled by her own action. Eve needed to put

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them back on the familiar territory of vampire and vampire hunter. She intended to test his patience by killing a few fledglings tonight. As she crossed White St., she noted a halting movement out of the corner of her eye. Sure enough, a zombie was weaving up the sidewalk. “Bingo,” she whispered. She trailed behind it, being careful not to let the zombie know she was there. Eventually, it would lead her back to Le Grande. After following it for twenty minutes, the zombie finally approached a gate at the back of the house. She noticed that there were several protection symbols painted on the entranceway. Feeling proud of herself, she walked up the cement stairs and pressed her ear against the back door. There was no movement inside. Eve tried the door and it was unlocked. Cocky. Unfortunately, Le Grande was ready for her and he blew a white cloud in her face. Eve could feel it slither up her skin, entering her ear, and then into her mind. She felt dizzy and a little disoriented. Something hit her on the back of the head and Eve fell to the ground. As she tried to get to her feet, two groaning zombies shuffled towards her with their terrible, empty open eyes. Mercifully, she blacked out **** Eve awoke slowly. She heard the rhythmic noise of a drum pounding in her skull, adding to her headache. Someone was chanting something low and insidious. Eve tried to get away from the sound, tried to turn over but found that she was tied to a wooden table. The room was damp, cold, and smelled faintly musty, like a basement. That’s when she remembered what had happened. She was instantly awake and filled with panic. Her eyes focused on Le Grande, who was dressed in a tuxedo, white gloves, and shiny black shoes. He was swaying to the beat of a pre-

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recorded song on the stereo by the wall. Le Grande seemed to dance with the shadows cast by a collection of candles on a nearby table. He was moving swiftly, unaided by his cane. “Hey, Lord of the Evil Dance, let me up. You should at least make this a fair fight!” Le Grande ignored her, so Eve studied her surroundings, searching for a weapon. The old brick walls of the basement had been whitewashed and painted with several symbols called veve. Eve had seen them in a book she’d read. She knew the veve was a way of communicating with the loa, or the voodoo spirit the practitioner wanted to reach. On the floor, there was another veve laid out in cornmeal. Le Grande hadn’t entered the veve yet, but when he did, his connection to his god would be complete. The entity would completely fill his body and move around in it. In the center of the veve was an altar table that was low to the ground. It was filled with some animal jawbones and blood in a silver ewer. In the center was a platter that contained a pack of Gauloise cigarettes, a shot of rum with a chili pepper suspended in it and a bowl of chicken gumbo. Eve fought to sit up but her wrists were bound together tightly over her head. Her ankles were spread apart on either side of the table and tied to the legs. Some of her clothing had been removed as well. Her boots, jeans and leather jacket were gone. She was only wearing her t-shirt and panties. She struggled with her bonds but the rope was thick. Le Grande’s movements became more graceful, somehow, and more deliberate as he swept through the veve. He stopped suddenly, a smile on his face. Contact. His eyes opened and, instead of the blue she’d seen before, they were an oily black. “Baron Samedi?”

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“In the flesh,” the loa answered. Baron Samedi laughed at his own joke. His voice was a rumbling, unearthly baritone. He ran his hands down Le Grande’s body. “So very good to feel again.” He continued to dance to the music, finding joy in his temporary corporeal body as he watched her. His expression was filled with a foul mixture of lust for both blood and sex. “Oooh! Will you look at that? You are a sight, girl.” Eve pulled at the ropes again, but it was useless. “What kind of a god has to have his sacrifice tied down? If you were truly powerful, you wouldn’t need help.” Baron Samedi bared his teeth in a parody of a smile. It was more like a hungry predator baring his sharp teeth. “You sassin’ me, child?” “Yeah, I’m fun like that.” Eve was hoping he’d take the bait and untie her. She didn’t want to die trussed up on a table. The demonic god swaggered over to his altar, removed a cigarette and lit it on a nearby candle. He inhaled the smoke deep into Le Grande’s lungs and blew it out in a smoky swirl. “We’ll see how brazen you are when I slice you open and hold your still beating heart in my hands.” He downed the shot of the peppery rum. “Heart blood is always the sweetest.” Baron Samedi licked his lips. Eve shuddered, but she kept her voice study. “Blah. Blah. Blah. You are one chatty little god.” The deity inhaled deeply. “Mmm. Smell that fear! Delicious.” Baron Samedi pulled a pocketknife from inside his coat pocket. “I think I want a taste of you now, child.” She flinched. “Don’t worry. We have all night. I ain’t going to kill you yet. I want to savor the moment.” He ran one of Le Grande’s long fingertips from her ankle to the cotton

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panties she had on. Unlike Lazarus’s touch, this creature only produced fear in her. Eve didn’t think she’d ever been this scared. She flinched when he brought the knife to her hip and grazed the soft flesh there. He easily sliced the panties off of her and tossed them aside. The loa leaned over and inhaled her scent. “One hundred percent virgin.” Baron Samedi cupped her sex in his hand and squeezed, causing her to cry out. “I’m going to rip your cherry open.” Then, he brought his knife to the bottom of her t-shirt and sliced it open, all the way to the neck. Only her bra remained. It had a front catch and Baron Samedi sliced it open. “I’m going to fuck you so hard that, if you lived, you wouldn’t be able to walk for a week.” Eve screamed. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.” On the stairway, stood Lazarus. He was brushing dust off of his clothes. “By the way, you may want to rethink having zombie guards. They’re quite fragile.” Baron Samedi removed his hands from her and faced the vampire. “Leave this place. She’s mine!” “On the contrary, I own her,” Lazarus insisted, stepping down into the room. He looked around at the candles, blood and bones with disgust. “I’ve already claimed her.” Eve was disgusted by the word claim and what it implied, but was absurdly pleased to see Lazarus. Better the devil that wants to screw you than the one who wants to screw you and kill you. “She is mine, bloodsucker. Given to me as a tribute. I am a god.” “No, you are a demon on a power trip. Baron Samedi isn’t a killer. And gods aren’t interested in human flesh. The baron is a deity that celebrates life and death. So, I’m guessing you are some second rate demon with a little bit of power. How

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you managed to get foolish humans to worship you, I’ll never know.” Lazarus squared his jaw. “I am taking her with me and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.” In frustration, Baron Samedi threw the knife at Lazarus. It stuck in the vampires’ chest but it didn’t even faze Lazarus. “Leave this place!” “You know, this is a very expensive shirt. I don’t fancy mending a lot of holes in it.” “Stay away from her.” The two of them faced each other down. Lazarus was shorter, but just barely. Le Grande’s body was thinner than Lazarus. The vampire growled low in his throat and opened his mouth slightly to reveal his fangs. The demon made a grab for the vampire, but Lazarus tossed him aside and sent him flying into the brick wall. Le Grande slumped to the floor, his neck lolling to the side. A large shadowy cloud slipped from his mouth. It poured from his body like hot steam and then loomed over both Lazarus and Eve. The demon’s essence roiled in the air, churning in a furious motion before it smashed through one of the small basement windows and out into the cool night. Lazarus appeared to relax. He turned to Eve. “You realize that I only killed his host. The demon is much harder to kill than that.” “I know, but I’m glad,” Eve said, closing her eyes briefly. “I’m glad Le Grande is dead.” Lazarus looked down into her eyes, which were bewildered and pained. “Are you all right, pet?” He stroked her cheek in an almost tender gesture. She nodded. She was embarrassed by her nudity and her apparent vulnerability--especially in front of Lazarus. “Yes, he didn’t get the chance to ... hurt me. I’m fine.”

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Lazarus didn’t comment. He calmly pulled the knife out of his chest, hissing slightly at the small pain. Blood trickled from the wound, staining his white dress shirt. He wiped the knife off on his black jeans and bent to cut the bonds on her feet. Eve pulled her legs up, trying to hide herself from him. Eve had never been comfortable letting other people see her body. She was grateful that Lazarus was all business and didn’t even look. He cut the bonds holding her arms above her head and she brought her arms across her chest when he was finished. “You’ll be better once we leave. This basement reeks of death.” He deftly unbuttoned his shirt, exposing the well-defined planes of his chest. There was just a fine line of hair that disappeared below his belt. He offered the shirt to her. “Here, put this on.” “Thank you,” Eve murmured as she gratefully took the shirt. Lazarus turned his back to give her privacy. It smelled of him-- a peculiar mix of blood, smoke, mint, and woodsy cologne. The shirt fit pretty well, it was too long in the arms but it did cover her up. She cleared her throat, trying to hide her discomfort. “What did you mean by calling him a demon? I thought he was god.” It felt good to talk about it, as though it were work. “Baron Samedi is a god. But, that was a demon masquerading as a god. There’s nothing evil about voodoo.” “So, he’s a demon with the power to grant longevity? Because Le Grande said he was much older than he appears.” “Perhaps. But at least the demon didn’t give him immortality.” Lazarus made sure to focus on her words, not her nearly naked body. But, it was proving to be very difficult. “That’s true.” Eve took a breath. “Do you see my pants anywhere? When I

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woke up, they were gone.” Lazarus located her boots, her jeans, her jacket, and her weapons piled in a heap in the far corner behind her. He placed the clothing on the table next to her and turned his attention to the other items. “I think I’ll keep these for now,” he said, carefully pocketing her weapons. Eve had managed to put the remains of her clothing on with as much dignity as she could muster. She didn’t know quite how to react to Lazarus. He’d saved her life and had been the perfect gentleman so far. Not like a vampire at all. But that didn’t mean she wanted to be unarmed around him. “Those are my weapons.” “I know and you shall have them all back,” Lazarus promised. “But not at this moment. I don’t want to fend you off while I’m rescuing you.” “I promise not to hurt you.” Eve held out her hands for her belongings. Once she was dressed and free of her bonds, she was feeling much more like herself. “Give them to me.” Lazarus shook his head. “I’m not afraid of you hurting me.” He indicated that she go up the stairs with a sweep of his hand. “What? You think you’d accidentally hurt me?” Eve said, putting her hands on her hips. Her anger was building at his audacity. Or maybe she needed to strike out at someone. “Maybe, you’re not very good at being a vigilante. You seem to have a knack for being the damsel in distress. I rescued you tonight, and last night a zombie saved you from me.” “I saved myself from you! I’m hardly a damsel in distress.” Eve stomped up the stairs and into the large kitchen. It was spacious with an expansive island in the center. “I save people all the time!”

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Lazarus was right behind her, fuming. He tossed her sword to the ground, spoiling for a fight. “Oh, really? Is that what you were doing down there? I thought it looked an awful lot like being kidnapped.” Eve poked him in the chest with her finger. “You try standing up to things that go bump in the night when you don’t have any experience or special powers. I’m doing the best I can.” “It isn’t good enough.” Lazarus’s eyes were blazing. There was a hint of red beneath the bright blue. “You are a very silly little girl who’s playing at being a hero. One of these nights, you’re going to get yourself killed.” “I’m trying to protect people!” “You aren’t doing a very good job of it!” Eve got closer so that they were chest to chest. “Why the hell do you care?” “Because you are mine!” Eve decked him. Unfortunately, it hurt her fist, far more than his face. “Ow! You’ve got steel cheekbones or something.” Eve could already see a bruise forming. She shook her hand. Lazarus rubbed his jaw. There wasn’t a mark on it. “Feel better now?” “No! I still don’t like you only now my hand hurts. What are you doing here anyway?” she griped. “Were you following me again?” “What if I was?” “That isn’t an answer.” “I wasn’t following you. I was going to give you time to cool down but I picked up your scent, laced with fear.” “I wasn’t that afraid and I would have eventually gotten away from him. Eve’s lips twitched. “So, you’re like a bloodhound?” “No, I’m a tracker and that bloody pathetic demon had no way to shield

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himself from me.” “Lucky for me.” Eve doubted she would have gotten the upper hand. Lazarus had saved her life, but she was still wary of him. Now that she was safe and no longer angry, it was awkward. The sexual tension wasn’t helping either. “Well, I think I’m going home. I’ve had a big night. Uh, thanks for ... you know. Um ... .bye.” She backed away from the vampire. “That’s it? You’re going to walk away from me and pretend like there is nothing between us.” He snatched her off her feet and wrapped his arms tightly around her, imprisoning her against his body. His mouth seized hers in a rough kiss that had little to do with love and everything to do with possession. She moaned into his mouth and he swallowed the sound. Lazarus scraped his fangs lightly against her velvety tongue, eager for his first taste of her blood. She writhed against him, seeking more. She pulled back, struggling for breath while he nipped and nuzzled her neck. “No, I can’t do this. This is crazy.” Lazarus reluctantly pulled back from her beautiful, bloodied mouth. “I want you,” he rasped. “And you want me.” “No, I don’t!” She stopped herself and took a long, deep breath. “Okay, that was a lie. Yes, I do, but this could never work.” “I think it would. Your body begs for me.” “Shouldn’t you be twirling a mustache and threatening to throw me on some train tracks when you say that?” she flung back at him. “I want to do more than throw you on some train tracks. I want to master you. I have this need to bend both your body and your will to mine. I want to own you.” “The constitution says that’s no longer an option.” Was she sick to get a little

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shiver when he said that? “Give in. I’ll make damn sure you’re not sorry.” Lazarus’s voice became gravelly, blistering in its intensity. “I want to fuck you. Hard. Fast. Endlessly.” He closed his eyes briefly, as though trying to retain control was difficult. “I think I’m becoming a little obsessed with you.” Eve gulped. His words should have repulsed her, but she found them strangely arousing. “I hate you.” “I hate you, too.” Lazarus licked his lips. “You might be the heroine of this little town, but I’m the villain. I’ve never wanted anyone like this.” “It’s wrong,” Eve protested weakly. “I don’t care. And I’m not going to let you deny us both because of stupid human morality.” Eve’s eyes closed at the sensations coursing through her. Already, she could feel herself readying for him. She felt hot, half-crazed. Eve didn’t want to think anymore. She couldn’t think about this anymore. She just needed to quench the terrible hunger. She swayed against him and that was answer enough. He sat her down on the counter. “Thank the devil. I was about to burn into a cinder,” Lazarus whispered. He sampled the delicate line of her white throat, sliding his tongue over the throbbing temptation of her jugular vein. He was eager to bite down but he could wait. There were other territories to be claimed. Lazarus kissed a path down her throat to the deep valley of her beautiful breasts. They were barely hidden beneath his thin white shirt. With a sigh of satisfaction, he ripped it in half, popping buttons free. They were rounded and large, like two exotic fruits. Each breast was tipped with pert pink nipples that stood at attention. Perfect for sucking. Lazarus bent his head and took one rosy nipple in his mouth. He drew on it strongly, enjoying the small distressed pleasure

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noises she made. The other nipple he grasped in his fingers, pinching it. It was just enough pain to compliment the exquisite pleasure his mouth bestowed on her. Lazarus was going to enjoy teaching her the wonders of rough sex. When Lazarus needed more, he pressed her further back on the counter. He unsnapped her jeans and drew down the zipper. Then, he hastily pushed the fabric down her legs. He ran his hands over the smooth white flesh. Then Lazarus laid her down, leaving her bare on the kitchen counter. “Spread your legs,” he ordered. Eve was quaking with need and a little bit of fear but she was more afraid that he would stop. She complied, opening herself. She wanted him to see every aspect of her. “So sweet and warm.” He stroked the soft nest of hair between her legs, teasing. His fingers traced the warm lips but he didn’t enter. “Please!” Eve wailed. “Please what?” “Please, touch me. Inside.” Lazarus laughed softly. He teased the wet lips open, playing with her. He slipped a finger into her tight passage and stopped with a groan. “You’re a virgin?” “Yes.” “Damn.” “But--” ”Shh, pet.” he soothed. Lazarus continued to stroke her, focusing on the sweet bud of her clitoris. Eve squirmed, her body pressed with urgency like she’d never felt before. She moved in time with him, eager for his touch. Eve could feel it roll over her, the nameless release she’d been seeking for so long. “Lazarus!” she cried out before his mouth clamped down on hers. She rode

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out the waves or her orgasm. She felt like something had broken inside her. Something that could only be filled by him. When it was over, she lay shivering beneath his hands. Eve had never felt anything like his touch and she was terrified of the power he might have over her. Even now, Eve wanted him fiercely, was aching for him to take full possession of her. Eve couldn’t believe that she’d let him touch her like this. She swore she’d never become entangled with a vampire. She needed to do something before it was too late. With a cry, she shoved his hands away and got up off the counter. “Pet? Are you--” Eve hastily pulled her clothes on and shot the vampire a venomous look ”Just stay away from me.” Lazarus tried to speak but she silenced him by the fierce look in her eyes. And then Eve ran into the night with the taste of Lazarus still on her lips

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Chapter Three

Eve slammed the front door to her apartment behind her. She was furious with the imposter voodoo god, Lazarus, and with herself for her serious lapse in judgment. Nothing had gone right tonight. She’d foolishly stumbled into the Le Grande’s trap, allowed herself to be captured, and then needed the help of a vampire to get free. She’d allowed Lazarus to touch her in the most intimate of places and she hadn’t even tried to protest. Eve pretty much let him touch her wherever he wanted and had enjoyed the whole thing. She had no business having any sort of romantic or sexual entanglements with Lazarus. He was a vampire and she was human. He killed her kind for food and she killed his kind for vengeance. Barring any unforeseen accidents, he was immortal and she was all too mortal. He was ancient and she was young. It was completely wrong in every way, but maybe that’s why it was so delicious. There was something seductive about being wanted in an animal way by someone. It was primal and exhilarating. Eve had never felt anything like it. There was also the additional thrill of doing something wrong, and it was nearly irresistible. Eve had never been very appealing to the opposite sex. There had been the occasional date and above the waist action along the way but nothing substantial. Eve’s longest relationship had only lasted for a few months. The men she knew seemed to be interested in skinny girls with limited brainpower. Eve had

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a voluptuous figure, a good head on her shoulders and a sassy attitude, which probably intimidated men. But she’d come to accept it. It would take a special man to see past society’s rules and appreciate her. Of course, Lazarus hadn’t been intimidated by her in the least. She vaguely heard him mention something about admiring her shape. She supposed he appreciated voluptuous beauty because he’d been alive when her body type was considered the ideal. Those must have been the days! It was hard to imagine a society where she wouldn’t have to feel ashamed because of her size or population of men who would think she was the ancient equivalent of Angelina Jolie. It made Lazarus all the more appealing. Eve slumped down on the leather couch. Even now she could taste his mouth, feel his hands on her. He’d been incredible. Lazarus knew exactly where to touch her and what type of touch to use. It was uncanny. It was almost as if he could read her mind. Actually, he could read her mind. “Son of a bitch--” **** Eve sat down next to Nicholas. They were on his couch. He had an assortment of junk food laid out for both of them to drown their sorrows in. She’d called him up to get some advice, only to find out that he was depressed as she was. “So, why are you depressed?” Eve asked. “My hottie is married and has two kids.” Nicholas ate a bite of cookie dough ice cream. “Oh, no! He’s a closeted married man. I’m so sorry, honey.” She patted his hand. “I know! And he hasn’t even told her and doesn’t want to end his sham of a marriage. The guy just had way too much baggage for me.”

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“Did you sleep with him?” “Yes, he used me for sex! Rude!” “Was it good at least?” “It was the best, which makes it also the worst. Stupid married man.” He switched to mocha fudge ripple. “Well, I have bad morals, too. The vampire is stalking me and I let him get to practically third base. I’m turning into a vampire slut.” “Honey, if you’re a slut, then I’m a professional.” “I’m not even sure I like him. I just want to jump on his bones.” “Don’t you mean jump his bones?” He asked with a frown. “No, I’m not sure whether or I want to beat him up or kiss him.” “Are you sure you don’t like him? Just a little bit? And maybe that’s why you’re fighting this so much.” He turned to face her, taking her hands in his. “Honey, other than me, no one hasn’t gotten close to you after your parents died.” Eve looked away. “You’ve got to let someone get close sooner or later.” “That doesn’t mean I should be shacking up with a vampire.” “You got me there.” He threw his arm around her. “We’re quite a pair, aren’t we?” “I’m dating married men and you’re dating the undead.” “Want to take a shot at making me straight?” She smacked him. “Don’t sexually harass me or my stalker will bite you.” **** ”You have a filthy mouth, pet.” Eve whirled around, but Lazarus wasn’t in her small studio apartment with her. He had spoken in her mind again.

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“How dare you?” Eve shouted. She was aware of how ridiculous she looked, shouting at an empty room. She knew she didn’t have to speak for Lazarus to hear her but it felt good so she went with it. “I didn’t give you permission to rifle through my thoughts and my feelings! Especially when I was--” “Writhing beneath me in ecstasy? Begging me for more? And I’m quite cross with you. It was very inconsiderate to run off before I had any release.” “Serves you right, you arrogant vampire!” “Calm down. I was merely reading your emotions. I’m not quite certain if I should share this with you, but I figure I’ll have a better shot at getting into your knickers if I come clean. I can’t read thoughts unless they are strong. I can just glimpse the surface, the emotions behind things.” Eve was somewhat mollified by that statement. After all, her emotions were probably all too easy to read. She’d never be a poker player. It wasn’t like she could hide the fact that she wanted to sleep with him. She’d been eager and willing. “How did you get that ability? I’ve never read anything about vampires being able to read emotions.” “It’s a rare gift, but it’s been known to happen. Do you want me to tell you what you’re feeling right now?” “I’m so glad we’re sharing,” she said sarcastically. “I could suggest another activity we could share.” “Is that all you think about?” “Of course. I’m a vampire. Go to the window.” Beneath her window stood Lazarus, her very own wicked Romeo, come to tell her of his lust. He wasn’t here to give protestations of unending love, but he was here to woo her just the same. He was making this really hard. Bad choice of

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words. She pulled open the window and leaned on the ledge. Eve took a deep, calming breath before she spoke. “Go home, Lazarus.” “Don’t be churlish. I came here to sweep you off your feet. Invite me up.” “Not a chance in hell. I will never give a vampire an invitation to my home.” Of course, she’d also promised not to get intimate with one either. Her promises might not be worth much when it came to him. “And there’s nothing even remotely romantic about this twisted little sexual fascination thing we have.” “Then you’d admit there is something there.” “Yes, it’s called lust. It’s ordinary, everyday sexual need. There’s nothing special about it.” “I beg to differ. This is all about romance. Seduction. Submission. The predator and the prey.” “The question is ... which one of is the predator and which is the prey?” “Let me in and we’ll discuss it. I’ve come with all sorts of wicked sweet nothings to whisper in your ear.” “No,” Eve said, but even she wasn’t convinced by her refusal. She was already thinking about all the decadent things he would say and do to her. “If you won’t invite me up, come home with me. We’ll lose ourselves in each other until dawn,” Lazarus offered, refusing to admit defeat. Damn, he did have a way with words. “I’m not having sex in a coffin.” “Do you believe everything you see on television?” Lazarus asked with disgust. “I sleep in a king-sized bed with freshly laundered satin sheets, thank you very little.” “I don’t care. You could sleep on designer sheets and I wouldn’t go home with you. This is wrong, Lazarus. I want to kill you, not kiss you!” “Actually, you want to do both and one far more than the other.”

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“Right now, I’d say kill is what I want to do most.” “Liar.” He sighed. “If you won’t budge, I’m going to have to take matters into my own hands.” Lazarus stepped out of sight and she could hear the sound of a window breaking. “Well, hello kitty.” “Magic!” Eve cried, running. She was furious. If Lazarus so much as hurt one of the cat’s whiskers, she’d use him for target practice. She snapped a couple of the store’s lights on so she wouldn’t break her neck and ran down the interior stairs. She paused in the doorway when she saw the vampire standing in the murky shadows of the bookstore with Magic purring in his arms. “That worked nicely. Good kitty.” Giving the cat one last affectionate stroke, Lazarus set him down. The feline arched his back and yawned. Then, he slowly padded on over to his bed, lying down with a satisfied air. Magic closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. “Traitor,” Eve said, scowling at the feline. “He likes my touch, just like his owner.” He cocked his head to one side. “Did you actually imagine I’d hurt him?” Eve’s eyes skittered away from his. “No.” “I’m a master vampire, Eve. I don’t terrorize kitties.” “How were you able to get in here without an invitation?” Eve assumed that because she lived upstairs, the entire place would be protected. “This is public space, pet. Anyone is welcome to enter.” Lazarus walked over to the doorway and laid his hand against it. “But this....” The air shimmered between them, outlining the barrier in place. “This is your space and I want in.” He wasn’t just talking about her apartment. Eve blew out a breath, relieved that the undead didn’t have a backstage pass to her apartment. However, she was more than a little disturbed by the naked sensuality in his gaze. Perhaps disturbed

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wasn’t the right word, but tempted worked nicely. She backed away from him. “Well, this has been fun. Let’s not do it again sometime.” “I didn’t get what I came for,” Lazarus reminded her, leaning up against the doorway. His eyes were hot and hungry for her. His hand skimmed the sketchy barrier between them, causing it to ripple and she remembered just how good those hands really felt on her. “Invite me in.” Eve hesitated. She’d never seen a man look at her like that before. Lustful. Needful. Lazarus looked desperate to have her. It was as flattering as it was frightening. “No.” “You know you want to.” She found herself pressing up against the force field between them. “Is this the part where you tell me that you’re going to be gentle with me?” “Not a chance, pet. I intend to be a little rough but you’ll enjoy it.” She was trying to pick a fight. It was hard to see him as the enemy when he was being so seductive. “You are so arrogant.” “You would be, too, if you had centuries of practice. I know how good I am. What I want to find out is how good you are. Come on, pet, invite me in.” His hand stroked the barrier. “Do you want me to tell you what I’m going to do to you? Maybe I should prepare you, so you won’t be frightened.” “Don’t be ridiculous! I’m not afraid of you.” “Liar. You are, too. Just a little bit. And you should be. If you only knew the things I wanted to do to you ... ” His voice broke off as he gazed at her with a predatory hunger. Lazarus had stung her pride. “I’m not afraid and I’m going to prove it to you.” Eve calmly unbuttoned his soft shirt she’d borrowed earlier and let it slide to the floor. She could almost feel Lazarus’s eyes on the creamy skin she’d revealed

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only a demure white bra that barely covered her breasts. With a teasing glance, she undid it and her breasts sprang free. Lazarus licked his lips. Eve ran her hands over her breasts and down the curve of her belly. She undid the button and zipper on her jeans and slid them down her hips, revealing her long legs. She kicked the heap of denim aside. That left her in a pair of white cotton panties. “Take them off,” Lazarus ordered. “You’re not in charge here, I am. And just because I’m letting you look, don’t think I’m going to let you touch.” “You’re in charge, are you?” Lazarus smirked at her. His scorching gaze settled on the obviously soaked crotch of her panties. “You are aching for me. Tell me you don’t want me there. Deep inside.” Eve stared down at the bulge straining in his jeans. “No, you are aching for me.” “Let’s have a truce, pet. We both need each other. No one wins this go around.” “Says you.” Eve couldn’t believe her brazen behavior. Yet, it seemed impossible to stop. There was something about Lazarus that made her feel sensual. She undulated against the barrier, swaying her hips and cupping her breasts in her hands. “For the love of ... invite me in!” Lazarus groaned. Eve pressed herself against the barrier, her bare skin inches away from him. “Why should I?” Lazarus was being driven mad. He could see her, feel the heat of her skin but couldn’t get his hands on her. Her breasts were very near, the edge, the nipples straying beyond the barrier. He seized on the opportunity and pinched a nipple.

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“Oh!” Unable to stop, she let herself slip further through the barrier. “This is why.” Gratefully, Lazarus took her breasts in his hands and kneaded them. At last, he bent and suckled her strongly, drawing on her breasts with rough abandon. Unable to withstand the sensation, she gave in and crossed through the rest of the way. She’d probably regret it tomorrow, but not tonight. He stopped the delicious suction to gloat. “I knew you’d come to me.” Lazarus snatched her up into his arms. He held her effortlessly. Then again, he could pick up a car and not break a sweat. “Do you have a bed?” “Not down here.” “We’ll have to rectify that, pet. But for now, we’ll have to rely on a bit of vampire magic to get us to my home.” “I don’t want to come home with you. Your place must be crawling with vampires,” Eve said, even to her own ears, the protest sounded unconvincing. “Don’t tease the lion, pet, if you don’t want to visit his den.” “That was profound, but I--” Eve’s sarcasm died on her tongue as she started feeling dizzy. She had the odd sensation that the room was turning and twisting around her. When she was a little girl, she used to shut her eyes, hold her arms out and spin. It felt a little like that, only far more disorienting. When she could open her eyes, again, Eve was still in Lazarus’s arms and he was the only stable thing in her universe. “Sorry about that. Vampires use this sort of spell to travel quickly. Humans don’t have a strong enough constitution for it.” Eve hung limply in his arms, trying to reorient herself. When she looked around, she found that they were in what she assumed was his bedroom. “I hope I don’t embarrass myself by upchucking in your room.”

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“Irreverent as ever.” Lazarus sat down with her on the bed. He held her against his chest. “Are you all right, pet?” He rubbed her back; it was difficult to keep his touch caring and not lustful. Lazarus was very aware that she was nearly naked and that she lay so submissively in his arms. Eve took in a deep breath and opened her eyes. “Yes, I feel better.” She looked around, noting the large fireplace and the massive armoires that flanked the room. The room had an Asian theme. The walls were painted red and the floor was hardwood, covered with oriental rugs. The bed was massive and hung with red curtains. Beneath Lazarus, the sheets and comforter were satin. “Wow. This place really screams ‘I’m a vampire’, doesn’t it?” “No point in trying to disguise the obvious.” Lazarus caught her jaw in his big hand, holding her in place. “Now, where were we?” His mouth seized hers in a dominating kiss. Eve shoved at his chest. “Wait a minute! I don’t want to be here. Take me back.” “We’ve already established you won’t invite me in.” “That doesn’t give you the right to bring me to the creepy vampire lair.” “You aren’t getting away from me.” She couldn’t get away from him if she tried. Not that she anticipated any violence from him. But, it added a little spice to their lovemaking. It lovemaking was even the proper word. It felt more like an invasion or a possession. After he’d kissed her breathless, Lazarus licked his way down her bare throat, nipping as he went. He lapped at her neck. “I want you helpless beneath me.” “I’m not helpless.” “Tonight you will be.” Lazarus stood up, still cradling her in his arms and then he tossed her on the

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bed, enjoying the way her breasts bounced as she settled on the bed. “I’m going to be make you beg for it.” “Promises. Promises.” Lazarus gave her a cocky grin as he pulled two leather cords from his bedside stand. “I know how much you like leather.” Eve gulped. “Bondage? That’s a little ambitious for my first time, don’t you think?” Of course, she felt a traitorous warm build between her legs. The idea of submitting to this big, hungry vampire had a wicked appeal. “Not at all. You’re the scary vampire hunter, right? I’m sure you can handle it.” “That’s right. So, maybe I shouldn’t trust a vampire to tie me up.” Lazarus smirked. “You don’t have to protect your neck from me, pet. I promise not to bite–for tonight, anyway. “ He leaned down on the edge of the bed and it dipped at his weight. He leaned over her body as he did, enjoying her near nakedness. “I think the rest of you might be in danger, though.” He attached one wrist to the bedpost with the leather cord. “Don’t struggle too much, I don’t want you to hurt yourself.” He fastened the other wrist, too, and stepped back to view his handiwork. “Well, aren’t you a pretty picture? There’s only one thing in the way.” He reached over and grabbed the front of her panties. Lazarus yanked and the material shredded in his hands. He tossed the remnants over his shoulder. “Mmmm ... much better.” Eve shivered. She’d never felt so vulnerable or so aroused. “Tell me you want me.” “I want you.” It was the simple truth. “I want you, too.” Lazarus straddled her on the bed. He traced the small freckle on the side of her left breast. “And I’m going to have you. All of you. Right

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now.” He leaned down and licked the little spot. Then, he took her breast back in his mouth. His other hand teased her nipple and he pinched it tight. Lazarus left her breasts, to explore the sensitive plane of her stomach. He inserted his tongue into her belly button in sharp, darting movements. Then, he moved on to her exposed pussy. Lazarus inserted one finger, finding a wealth of warmth within. She was weeping for him. He teased the small kernel of her clitoris and she undulated beneath him. Lazarus unbuckled his belt and tossed it aside. Then he unsnapped his pants and hurriedly undid the zipper. His erection popped free, eager and erect. His manhood was glistening and the tip was pulsing and engorged. The blue veins stood out starkly against the angry red skin. “I need you.” Lazarus touched her inner core. “Do you know that you belong to me?” “Yes,” Eve moaned, squirming against his fingers. “Please!” “You want me, pet?” “Yes! I want you, Lazarus!” “Are quite certain?” “I want you inside me, Lazarus. Now is the not the time to have a chat,” she bit out, pulling him down on her. Lazarus eased himself inside. “Mine!” he crowed as he crushed the fragile barrier within. “Only mine.” Eve moaned at the unexpected pain. She’d never felt so close to another person. It was overwhelming. Lazarus filled up her vision. She was completely overtaken by him. He hadn’t just entered her body. He pierced her mind and Eve was absurdly pleased by it. The pain began to recede and Eve shifted beneath him a fraction.

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Lazarus took this as a sign that she was ready. He lunged into her, plundering her body with his thick cock. Eve groaned and moved against him. Lazarus held onto her hips, guiding her in the motions that pleased them both. Soon, she found herself on the edge again. The edge he’d pushed her over last time “Please!” Lazarus smiled, contented by her surrender. “Yes, pet?” “I’m almost ... almost....” “I know what you need.” He inserted a hand between their bodies and touched her just the way she needed. Eve exploded around him, carrying him with her. When it was over, he expected anger or regret. Instead, she was completely silent. The poor thing had passed out from the intensity. Lazarus smiled a very male smile and released her bonds. He pulled her in close to his body and put his palm firmly between her dimpled thighs. Eve was proving to be a delightful challenge and he wasn’t just thinking about the physical aspect of their relationship. She challenged him in ways no vampire ever had and certainly has no human had. Who knew a slip of a girl would dare to take on the vampire community? Or that she’d catch the fancy of a centuries old vampire?

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Chapter Four

Eve’s eyes snapped open. She had an awful feeling that it wasn’t an energetic sex dream that had kept her up all night. What had transpired between her and Lazarus had been far too tangible. She knew that she was not alone and she was not in her apartment. Eve willed her self back in her safe, sexless bed but it didn’t work. Vampire magic sucks. She looked at her bed companion. Sure enough, there was Lazarus. His hair was sleep tousled and his face was peaceful. The covers were down around his waist and his wide chest was exposed. It took a great deal of effort not to crawl back into bed and snuggle up against his big body. But, she didn’t want to spend the day with Rip Van Vampire. Eve knew that he’d sleep until dusk. Vampires were unable to resist the pull of dawn. It made them too sleepy to function, like small children. Well, like small children with super strength and pointy teeth. Unlike the movie vampires, real ones weren’t corpses during the daytime. No, they were just in a comatose state until the sun went down. Eve looked at the clock on the wall and was dismayed to see that it was nearly eleven in the morning--so much for keeping to her early morning routine. She eased herself out of his bed; Lazarus didn’t even stir during his slumber. She pulled her clothes on; wincing at the aches and pains she had in undiscovered areas of her body. Lazarus had been rough with her, but she’d been more than eager for his touch. There was nothing wrong with her body that a hot shower wouldn’t cure.

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With one lingering look at Lazarus, Eve left the room. She carefully made her way down the long corridor. Luckily, all of the rooms were shut. She should have known that Lazarus lived in a mansion. It was beautiful. There was thick, plush carpet beneath her feet and expansive ceilings overhead. A marble staircase led down to the first floor. Eve spied the front door and blew out a relieved breath. She was able to scamper out the door without being detected by any of Lazarus’ vampire companions. Eve walked the half a mile back into town. She felt self-conscious, as though anyone could tell that she spent the night in the arms of a supposedly mythical creature. And yet, she felt sated. Not just in the physical sense of the word. It felt good to share her body and her mind with another being. Eve hadn’t been that emotionally intimate with anyone. Lazarus had literally shared her feelings. She crossed the town’s square to find a very angry Nicholas waiting for her outside of the bookstore. “Where have you been?” “Well, I fell asleep and then I couldn’t-” “Stop right there, honey. First of all, I know that your apartment’s upstairs. Second of all, you are doing the morning after, walk of shame.” “How did you know that?!” “Because I’ve done it before, too.” His lips curved. “Was it Mr. Dead and Sexy?” Eve couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, it was. And, Nicholas? It was pretty incredible. Like, toe-curling incredible.” She leaned forward. “He was amazing.” Nicholas grinned. “I’m so happy for you! I want to hear all about it. Get your sweet self inside and make some coffee. I’m going to get us some chocolate with thousands of calories from the donut shop and then you’re going to dish!” While Eve didn’t share all of the details, she gave enough to satisfy

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Nicholas. She somehow managed to get through the rest of the day. Everything seemed small in comparison to seeing Lazarus again. Eve was left with some very big questions about her feelings for Lazarus. She hated vampires, but she could honestly say that she didn’t hate Lazarus. She was wary around him, but she didn’t despise him. Eve was infatuated with him. There was no other way to explain it. She knew it wasn’t love. Love was far too nice a term to explain what she felt for the man. Obsession covered it nicely, though. She was in sexual thrall to Lazarus. The day passed with excruciating slowness. She even tried to do some research on the net, but she couldn’t concentrate. Images from last night kept flashing through her mind. She felt as though her body was oversensitive, overheating due to the mere memory of his touch. Lazarus had a hold on her now and she wasn’t sure she ever wanted him to break it. Rationally, Eve knew that this could never last. A vampire and a vampire hunter were destined for trouble, but it somehow seemed inconsequential. Everything seemed small in comparison to seeing Lazarus again. She tried to rationalize her attraction to him. If she continued to see him, was she betraying her values? If she didn’t, was she hiding from her emotions? A part of her died the night her parents did. He was the first one to completely shatter that barrier she had. Eve didn’t want to lose herself but morals didn’t keep you warm at night. **** As soon as it was full dark, she hurriedly gathered her weapons and set out to patrol the cemeteries. Ostensibly, she was looking for the demon, but in reality she was hoping to see Lazarus. She would have made fun of the girly notion, if it weren’t so true. Nothing like sex to induce clinginess.

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Eve was still worried about the demon trying to pass himself off as Baron Samedi. She had taken his human host and she had no doubt that he would come after her. Demons weren’t notorious for being magnanimous. Her worries turned out to be valid. At Shady Acres, she felt an awful sense of foreboding. There was something wicked in the air. Sure enough, Eve turned around to see an angry black cloud billowing behind her. Without thinking, Eve put her fist through the mass, but she only hit air. Chilly, brimstone-scented air, but air just the same. “Baron?” She asked. The growling cloud rolled angrily, whipping itself into a frenzy. “Don’t worry. I’ll find a spell and get rid of you soon enough,” Eve said with a pleased smile as she bounded out of the graveyard. With any luck, Baron Samedi or whoever the demon was would be gone that night. Maybe Lazarus could help; he had a flair for magic. Eve didn’t notice the slow fog that followed her home. **** She found the vampire in question lurking outside of her building. She’d been waiting to see him all day, yet no words came when she finally saw him. “Don’t be shy, pet.” He walked with an easy grace, like the predator he was. “You weren’t shy last night.” “I wasn’t a lot of things last night.” “Please spare me the self-imposed guilt and morality.” Lazarus set down a garment bag he was carrying and eyed her t-shirt with disdain. It said Witches do it With a Broom. “Charming, but I’ve bought you something more appropriate.” Eve shook off the unreasonable anger that had crept out. It wasn’t his fault she was having a moral crisis. “For killing things?” She gestured to her jeans,

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boots, and t-shirt. “Did you bring me army fatigues?” she asked excitedly. “Not quite.” He unzipped the black case and pulled out a wine colored dress, in a flowing satin design. It had a plunging neckline and was beveled, so it would swing when she walked. There was also a bag with matching shoes and undergarments. “I brought you a proper outfit for a ball.” “We’re going to a ball?” For a moment, she was filled with childlike delight. She’d never gone to her high school prom. She hadn’t been asked. She hadn’t really had the occasion to wear something as fancy as the dress in several years. A ball would be a real treat ... until she thought about whom else would be attending. Vampires. “Is this a vampire ball?” “Of course. It’s tonight at midnight. I would have given you more notice but things changed last night. You will accompany me to the ball as my date. ” It wasn’t an invitation. It was an order. “I’m not going to a vampire party! They know who I am and what I’ve been doing.” She took a step backwards. “Are you trying to get me killed? “ She pulled out her blade. “Or offer me up as entertainment?” “You do have an imagination, don’t you? You think I seduced you as a prelude to killing you? That’s so unlikely. No, pet, I want you to be my date. I wish to introduce you to my vampires.” The thought made her a little sick. “Isn’t it a bit too soon to meet the family?” She didn’t want to enter a room full of vampires. “No, because I fully intend to be in your life for some time.” Lazarus had never been in love with a human and didn’t believe he felt that way about Eve, he knew that he wanted to explore their relationship in greater depth. He hoped to make her his Consort for now, but his ultimate goal was turning

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her; she would make a beautiful and deadly master vampire. An excellent second in command, as well. “I’m not going to a vampire party.” She clutched her blade. “You will do as I say.” “Or what? You’ll bite me?” Lazarus moved so fast she didn’t see him coming. He held her by the throat, but his hold was gentle, almost loving. His lips brushed hers. “For you, my bite will only bring pleasure, not pain but you haven’t earned that, yet.” He nipped her lower lip. “Be there at midnight. Wear the dress.” And with that, he was gone. “Why do you do that? It’s so rude.” Eve took a deep breath. Oh, she’d wear the dress all right, and show up to his little party. She was looking forward to showing him what she’d earned. **** The mansion was decorated in shades of black and white. Very appropriate for a vampire party. There were huge black vases filled to the brim with lilies. A string quartet played classical music. There were easily a hundred people at the party, all dressed in tuxedoes and ball gowns. Who knew the undead could clean up so well? She’d been amazed how easy it was to get in. She’d simply given her name to the attendant who stood outside. The vampire smiled slyly when he discovered who she was and ushered her quickly into the event. She wasn’t sure if that was a good or a bad thing. The plan was get in, get a little of her dignity back, and get gone. This wasn’t her scene. Eve carefully made her way across the throng of vampires. Eve was heavily armed. There were blades strapped to her legs and holy

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bombs tucked in a pocket she’d made in the dress. She had a silver cross on, but it was tucked in her bodice, so it didn’t leave a line. Eve couldn’t possibly defend herself against all of them, though. She was trying to not to show the disdain she felt. The food left a lot to be desired. There were blood fountains on several tables. Tiny placards next to them detailed the blood type and freshness of each selection. Eww. The choice of waiters may have clinched it, though. Several zombies were walking around with glasses of blood for the guests. They could follow simple commands but they were slow and awkward. However, the supernatural community used them as slave labor, because they were low-priced and could be ordered around. Simply call up the local zombie master and for a small fee, cheap labor was yours. They had been ordered not to chomp on the human guests. Eve had walked right by one and it hadn’t gone after her, although it watched her walk away with longing. She had no delusions that it was for her benefit. She bet it was because many vampires had their little human pets in the room. “Hello there.” Eve turned to see Lazarus. She hadn’t seen him approach. “Hi.” “And how are you?” “Fine, and you?” she said quickly. He leaned in to kiss her, but she backed away. Eve tilted her head. Something seemed ... off about him. Lazarus laughed and it came out as a wheezing dark sound. Eve had a bad feeling. “Baron? Or whatever the hell your name is?” “Sassy as ever. I’ll beat it out of you soon enough.” He rolled his shoulders, enjoying the feel of Lazarus’ strength.

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Oh, shit. Samedi was in Lazarus. “Are you afraid, girl?” Yes. “You’re becoming a real pain in the ass, you know that?” “I could say the same about you. Come with me.” The imposter Lazarus seized her arm. “Let me go, this instant,” she hissed. “Hush now, child. You don’t want to make a scene and call all those vampires over here, do you?” With that, he dragged her out onto the terrace, pushing her hard. She landed against the balcony ledge and had her trusted blade out before he got any closer. “I’m going to evict you from his body, and then its spell time.” “Last time I checked you weren’t a witch, child. You couldn’t even kill Le Grande, the night walker did,” he reminded her. He leaned closer and sniffed. “You smell like him. He’s all over you, and in you. I would have made a tasty sacrifice out of you. You don’t even no how much power you possess, do you? Pity. Now, you’re only fit to kill.” Eve was grateful for small favors. “How did you take him over? You have to be invited, don’t you?” “We had a little talk this evening. He didn’t know what he getting into, I bespelled one of those dumb as a brick vamps to draw a little veve on the floor. He’d already fed so there was plenty of blood on him and ... hot damn! I was in business.” “Why do you use voodoo symbols?” “Because I am a voodoo god, child. Or was. I have the limitations of a demon, unable to manifest. But I was a god, despite the silly conclusions you and your lover man came to. Maybe I’m not Samedi, that glory hound, but I am one.

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No one prays to me anymore, or offers me treats. Who can blame me for taking what I need?” “I can.” Eve balled up her fist, she didn’t want to harm Lazarus but she needed to weaken the vampire, until the little voodoo god loosened his hold. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to know how to use Lazarus’ body yet. She hit him with a right cross and then followed up with a spin kick, doubling him over. She got the impression the he probably had the people he possessed do all the heavy lifting, he just showed up to collect his gifts. She hit him across the back and stomped on one of his feet, no easy task in a dress. Finally, he caught on and flipped her off her feet where she slammed into floor. Then, he was on top of her. The baron seized her face and bared his newfound fangs. “I’ll have a taste of that sweet blood after all,” he growled. “I’m going to enjoy ripping your throat out. With that, he sank his fangs deep into her neck. Eve ineffectually slapped at his back, desperate to be free of him, but she was no match. Suddenly, she heard Lazarus in her mind. “Eve? Can you hear me, pet? We need to get him out of my body. I need you to repeat after me.” “Lazarus, am I dying?” she whispered. “Not if you help me, pet. Now repeat what I say. What is dark, be bathed in light. Banish this spirit back into the night. Say it, pet.” “What is dark, be bathed in light. Banish this spirit back into the night.” The voodoo god stopped drinking her, and let go. Her head fell against the marble. She was nearly lifeless. “No,” Eve moaned. “Again, pet. What is dark, be bathed in light. Banish this spirit into the night.” “What is dark, be bathed in light. Banish this spirit into the night,” she

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murmured. Lazarus’ mouth fell open and once more a big black cloud was being expelled. Only this time, it was disintegrating, being absorbed by some unknown light source. “You’re doing so well, love. Again.” “What is dark, be bathed in light. Banish this spirit into the night,” she whispered. Lazarus coughed up the last of the black smoke. He was himself again. “Eve? Pet?” She was lying on the terrace, her hair spread around her like a dark cloud. Her skin was disturbingly pale, marred only by the two deep puncture marks on her throat and the line of blood that welled from them. “Oh, no.” Lazarus ripped off his coat and pulled his shirt off, shredding it to make a bandage. He pressed it to her throat. She took a shaking breath. “I always knew a vampire would get me one day. Never expected it to be a demonic vamp.” “Shh,” Lazarus murmured. “I’m not letting you die.” “You don’t have a choice,” Eve said hoarsely. “Oh, yes, I do.” Lazarus brought his mouth to his wrist and sliced it open. “No!” she moaned, trying to push him away with weakened arms. “I don’t want to be a vampire.” “Hush, I’m not making you one. But, there’s no other choice. You must become my Consort. We’ll be connected that way. You will share in my life force.” He pushed it against her unwilling lips and offered her his blood. Ripe and rich, it slid over her tongue. Eve coughed and choked. “No!” With each swallow, she became less and less human until it seemed natural.

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Lazarus smoothed her hair. “There’s my girl.” Eve drank deeply. **** Tucked in by his side, Eve looked as though she were meant to be there. She’d gone to sleep in his arms after he made sure she’d accepted enough blood. She’d probably sleep the night away. She’d come perilously close to death. Lazarus smoothed her hair away from his face, exposing the lily-white line of her throat. Already, the bite marks had healed. She was part of him now. He could feel his fangs ache as he traced the blue line of her jugular. The temptation to bite was nearly overwhelming. Yet, he knew he had to bide his time. Eventually, he would bring her completely over, but not before she could accept it and accept him. For now, he was content to have her as his Consort. He knew she would fight this new role and he would have to be patient. But, after all he had eternity. And, soon, so would she. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, Lazarus left the room. **** The next evening Eve awoke with a start. She felt different somehow. That’s when she remembered what happened. Lazarus had forced his blood on her, but only enough to make her his Consort. She wasn’t a vampire, but she felt stronger. More in tune with the world. She glared at him, where he lay on the bed. He looked content. She was furious that he’d made this decision for her, but also grateful. She hadn’t wanted to die. Maybe being a Consort wasn’t that bad, after all. No one ever said she had to be demure and deferential. The moonlight spilled into the room when she drew back the curtains. Eve had too much to live for. She still had many unanswered questions. She needed to

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know who the vampires were that murdered her parents. She couldn’t give up this lifestyle until she exacted vengeance from them. She wasn’t sure she could give it up even then. One thing was for sure, she had new powers to use. Vampires of the world beware. Lazarus stirred in his sleep. He was exhausted from donating his blood and from his physical exertions. She had the urge to touch him--feel the smoothness of her skin under her fingertips or the soft hair that cradled his face. She was far too tired for more physical activities. Eve had mixed feelings about the relationship ... or association, or whatever it was. She wasn’t sure where it was headed. She didn’t know if it was like or love or lust, but it was important to her. Lazarus was important to her. She curled herself around his body and closed her eyes. And that was enough. For now.