On the Edge of Humanity

I SAT IN THE BACKSEAT OF the van. Webb was driving and Dr. Vieira sat next to me, behind my dad who commanded the front seat. The van was set up to accommodate a patient in much the same way as an ambulance. The stretcher was in the back along with compartments filled with gauze, Band-Aids, needles, and other medical items needed to take care of someone on the road. A cooler sat in-between Dr. Vieira's legs and I hated to even ask what was in it. I suspected it was my father's blood for me since I had to give Sam my own blood. At this point, I didn't even know how I was going to do that.

I took several deep breaths and gazed out the windshield, trying to keep my mind off Sam. Cars passed and humans went about their day like any other I had imagined. If humans knew a person like me, a vampire, lived among them... I thought about Ben. How was he going to react to my new physical status? Hell, how was I going to react to it? Could I still go to school? Could I still be friends with Darcy? I let out a breath. I had forgotten all about her. I wondered, as the van zipped through the streets of Fall River, what Darcy was doing at this moment. Given her fiery temper, she was probably pulling out her hair trying to find Ben and me. I prayed I would see her again.

Webb pumped the brakes as he slowed down for the red light ahead. I couldn't see much of my surroundings since the van didn't have any back windows.

"Jo, remember to stay in the van," my father said.

Right, the last time someone told me to stay in the car, I was attacked. Webb glanced at me in the rearview mirror, waiting for my response. Then my father turned, pulled down his sunglasses and peered at me above the rims.

"What?" I asked.

"She'll stay with me," Dr. Vieira said.

I snapped my head in his direction. What was he going to do, tie me down?

"Yeah, what he said." I flicked my finger at Dr. Vieira.

"I warned you about your attitude," my father said as he pulled his sword from his belt.

Was he trying to scare me with his stupid sword?

As I rolled my eyes, my gaze locked with Webb's who was still staring at me through the rearview mirror. I didn't cower as his blue eyes pierced through me.

I broke eye contact when the first blade of my father's sword ejected.

Whoa! Didn't look so stupid anymore. Why did he do that? The shiny blade had a blue hue surrounding the outer edges.

"Just testing it," he said as he ran a finger lightly over the blade. "Don't worry. I'm not testing the second blade."

I eyed Dr. Vieira's waist. He didn't have a sword strapped to his belt. I sensed Webb had his, as he never left the compound without it. In fact, all the Sentinels wore their swords unless they were sleeping. I made a mental note to ask Kate about the swords since she seemed to be more open with me than the others.

Webb pulled into an alleyway and came to a stop behind a large building. I bent over and glanced up at the back entrance of Highland Memorial Hospital. Then I remembered seeing the hospital on the command center TV screen.

"Is this where they're keeping Sam?" I asked.

"There's an empty wing in the basement," Webb said.

A car door slammed then someone knocked on the window.

"We have all sides covered," Tripp informed.

"Aren't people going to see you walking in with your weapons?" I asked, frowning as my father wiped down his sword.

"No. The Sentinels standing at the main entrance are in civilian clothes. We're going in through the boiler room anyway," Tripp said.

"Dr. Vieira, you know what to do," my father said, then slid out.

Webb pulled out a pair of black gloves and slid them over his hands. Olivia appeared in front of the van. All four of them were armed and ready to take on anyone who got in their way.

As they walked around the corner of the hospital, a shiver skated up my spine. The tang of blood wafted in through the crack in the window and it smelled like a pile of decomposing trash. A plenitude of sounds rang around me from car doors slamming shut, horns blowing, dogs barking and sirens wailing.

"Did you hear that?"

Dr. Vieira nodded as he raised a finger to his lips.

"I want you to close your eyes," he whispered.

Huh? Was I sitting in a psychotherapist chair? I glared at him.

"Just do it."

I let out of huff then closed my eyes.

"Now, try and clear out all the background noise you hear and focus on your immediate surroundings. As a vampire you should have impeccable hearing, as good as or better than the canine species. The sooner you master this, the better it will be for you."

How the hell was I supposed to do that? I took in a deep breath.

By the time I master this Sam will be dead.

I did as he instructed, clearing my head and trying to erase all the sounds. The sirens were gone, the faint sound of cars was still there, but the barking dog was ruining my concentration. I shook my head, breathing slowly in and out.

Dr. Vieira placed his hand on mine. "Center on any noise in the van," he whispered.

The only thing in the van I could hear was his heart beating. I counted the beats as blood pumped in and out of his heart. As I counted, the other noises dissipated.

"Okay, now what?" I asked.

"Do the same with smell. Open up your olfactory senses and concentrate. Try to filter out the weaker scents and bring forth the stronger ones. The strong ones are what will be closer to you."

I inhaled through my nose, smelling trash, some type of rotten egg odor and a pine odor, which was stronger than the rest. The blood I had smelled earlier wasn't in the mix. Was this what dogs did in trying to ferret out their prey?

"Well?" he asked.

"I smell a combination of things, but the strongest is a pine scent, which I think is coming from you. I did smell blood when we drove up but it was tangy and had a bad odor."

"Do you think it was human blood?" he asked.

"You mean, you can tell? How?"

"It's mostly instinct, but vampire blood is not as fragrant as human blood. As you get older, it will be second nature for you to smell the difference."

How the hell was I supposed to tell what was human and not human? I was only a day old in vampire age.

Dr. Vieira removed his hand from mine when a cell phone rang. I didn't have a cell phone. I looked over at Dr. Vieira and he had his fingers to his lips again.

Then all of sudden a metal on metal clank whistled in the distance. The last time I heard that noise was when Webb engaged his Sentinel sword. My eyes popped opened.

"They're behind us," I whispered.

Dr. Vieira pulled up his pant leg and grabbed hold of a dagger.

"Here take this," he said as he handed it to me.

"Uh-uh. I'm not using that." I pushed it away and it fell onto the floorboard. "Can't I just use my fangs and bite?"

Then he reached into a bag at his feet and pulled out a Sentinel sword.

He smirked. "You've got so much to learn. There are two vamps behind us, strong ones. Your fangs aren't going to do anything to them."

"Neither is this dagger if vampires can't die," I added.

"That's not your ordinary dagger and this isn't your ordinary sword. Both of these weapons are double-edged and made from a base metal of cobalt. Aside from chopping a vampire's head off or burning a vampire to death, the only other thing that can kill a vampire is a cobalt infused knife or sword."

"Okay, now I am really confused. You mean I could die today from one of these weapons? And you want me to carry one?"

Just great!

We needed to get the fuck out of here. If I died before we rescued Sam... I didn't want to think about it. I had already died as a human, returned as a vampire and I was now living in hell.

"Pick up the dagger," Dr. Vieira commanded.

"I can't do this," I said, my voice shaking. I bent over and warily retrieved the weapon. The leather handle was soft against my palm. I stared at it, trying to figure out how to use it.

"Here's what we're going to do. I'm going to step out on this side. I will distract them. Then I want you to run into the hospital and hide. We can't have anything happen to you. Do you understand?"

I nodded.

"One more thing." Dr. Vieira looked at me and grabbed hold of my hand. "You're a vampire now. Use your physical strength and your senses to protect yourself. Your father will find you."

"What about you?" I asked.

"I've been a vampire too long. I know how to take care of myself." He grabbed the handle of the door. "As soon as I step out, I want you to run. Don't hesitate or you'll get killed."

Vampire body or human body, it didn't matter, I was scared shitless. I had thought that being a vampire, my predatory instincts would take over, that I wouldn't be afraid. Nope, not me. I was a purple-haired, ugly, scared vampire. My heart raced, my eyes had already shifted and my hands were shaking. I traded my human life for a vampire life-what was I thinking?

Dr. Vieira slid open the door and disappeared toward the back of the van. Then he banged on the outside of it, which was my cue to bolt. I yanked open my door and sprinted around the corner into the boiler room. Now what?

The place was still the same as I had remembered. The boiler hummed loudly or at least louder now that I was a vampire. Steam filtered out from the grates in the floor, blanketing my skin, causing my cheeks to warm. I dodged the pipes jutting out from above and ran to the back of the boiler where an exit sign popped into view.

I bent over, placed the dagger in my boot and prayed it wouldn't stab me. Then I pushed the bar on the door and stepped into a stairwell. I looked up, hesitating for a moment. Maybe the patient floors would be a better place to hide. Maybe it would be the last place the Plutariums would look for me, especially among a crowd of humans.

I stood in the stairwell, trying to decide. Should I go up and hide among humans or go down and find the empty wing where Sam was being held? Dr. Vieira told me to hide, but where? I needed to stay close to the van, so when my father brought Sam out I would be there for him. I decided it was best to find my father and his team.

As I climbed down the stairs, a fruity fragrant smell wafted up, tickling my nose. The farther down I climbed the stronger the smell became. I pulled the handle of a door and stepped into an empty hallway. The fragrance of human blood overtook me, causing my breath to hitch and my fangs to descend. Christ. Dr. Vieira was right. Human blood was definitely distinct.

I looked in both directions. Which way to go? The human smell was stronger to my right and it tugged at me, pulling me in that direction. Slowly, I walked toward the fragrant odor, attempting to resist the seduction of the human scent. But my legs were my enemy. It was like my body was a magnet being drawn to its host, my gums pulsing, aching to sink my fangs into mortal flesh.

As I approached the end of the hallway to turn left, a shadowy figure climbed up the wall. My pulse quickened and my mouth watered, the saliva coating my lips ready for a taste.

I rounded the corner and the shadow disappeared. I jogged up to the first door and stood to the side of it. I peeked in through the window where humans stood behind lab benches with vials of blood in their hands. I tore my gaze away and adjusted my vision to read the sign on the door-Blood Lab.

I'd hit the lottery. I was in vampire heaven. Without another thought, I walked in.

A lady with short black hair looked up from her desk. "May I help you?"

The smell of blood was stronger inside, so much so that I thought I was going to leap across several desks to claim my prize.

"Are you okay, young lady? Are you lost?" She rose from her chair and walked up to me.

She kept asking me questions, but all I could do was restrain myself from attacking her.

"Miss? Should I call upstairs and find you a doctor?"

How could I answer her without showing my fangs?

I covered my mouth and mumbled through my fingers, "No, I don't need a doctor. I'm lost. I was looking for my dad. He works in the boiler room."

"Oh. Well, go out here and turn right. Then follow the hallway to the exit on the left. That should take you up one floor," she explained.

I walked slowly to the door, then turned and mumbled, "Thank you."

Once out in the hall, I sprinted around the corner then stopped. What was I doing? Was I really a crazed vampire, preying on humans? Get a grip.

I waited a second to regain my composure, then walked back to the entrance. Since my first choice ended in my almost draining a mortal, my only other choice was to investigate the other end of the hallway.

I jogged. The human scent grew weaker and my fangs retreated, although I was having a tough time getting the smell out of my mind.

The dim light above me sprayed down, casting a glow, lighting a path that dead-ended at a set of double doors. The room beyond the doors was dark, but my keen vampire vision adjusted and I could see that an empty room lay ahead. I didn't know if I should go in or not. My choices were limited. Either walk through the double doors or go back. While the humans were definitely more appealing and appetizing, I was afraid of myself more than anything else.

I slowly pushed in the door, slipping through a small opening. I hugged the wall to my right as if I were a rat crawling along a perimeter to find food. As I made my way deeper inside, a light illuminated from an area on the far side.

My father's voice cut through, pricking my eardrums. He spoke words in a different language. I stopped, trying to decipher it, when a whistling noise of metal startled me. Then someone grunted, glass shattered and a door slammed. I moved closer to the lighted room and the noise when someone grabbed my arm.

I turned and Fernando stood next to me, his mouth stained red. Of all the damn vampires to run into, it had to be him-the smug and cocky vamp from Ben's house.

"Nice to see you again, Jo, though I'm saddened you're not human anymore," he said as he sniffed the air. "You don't smell as mouth-watering as you did a few days ago."

"What're you? A dog? Get a grip," I countered.

"But I was so looking forward to getting to know you better as a human. In fact, I was hoping when this was all over, we could go out on a date." He stared at me intently, his gaze menacing.

He was asking me out on a date in the middle of a battle between the Sentinels and the Plutariums? I couldn't believe it.

"I'm sorry to disappoint and I can't say the feeling is mutual. You're such a smug asshole, I'd be surprised if you get dates at all."

His lips curled at the edges displaying a perfect white smile that lit up his tan complexion. "I see you're still a feisty one. I so love that about my women."

"And what woman had the pleasure of your fangs?" I asked, pointing to his mouth.

"That's none of your business," he said, squeezing my arm tighter.

I cocked my head to one side. An air of danger poured off him.

I thought about what Dr. Vieira had said. You're a vampire now, use your physical strength. I was still trying to understand what those physical strengths were. When I had pulled out a drawer in my father's bathroom it had flown across the room and I had grabbed Webb by his throat, gasping for breath. But that was all I had.

"You're not afraid of me?" I asked.

Fernando laughed. "Afraid of you? You're a newborn. How can you do any damage to an old sot like me?" He laughed again. "I see it this way. You're coming with me. I need redemption to prove to my master that I can succeed, and two human teenagers can't get keep me down."

Now I wanted to laugh. "You mean you got in trouble because of me? I bet you were laughed at for a human getting away from a strong vampire like you."

He smiled again. No matter what I said, it didn't faze him.

"I'm growing very fond of you, Josephine Mason," he said.

I cringed at the sound of my name and how he said it. "Don't call me that. My name is Jo and only Jo."

He frowned and loosened his grip on my arm. That was my cue to run, but instead, I bent over, and pulled the dagger out of my boot before Fernando could react. I positioned the dagger in my hand the only way I knew how. I had witnessed Jonah holding one, so I mimicked the way he held it. I wrapped my palm around the leather handle with my knuckles facing up, my palm down with my forearm parallel to the floor in front of me.

In a swift move, I jabbed it toward Fernando, but he bent backwards, laughing.

I had no idea what I was doing holding a dagger, let alone thrusting it at someone. With my luck I would hurt myself. A sudden fear rushed through me. My physical being was that of a vampire, but my mind was very human, and still sending me signals of anxiety. Weren't vampires supposed to be fearless?

"So, little Jo wants to play dirty."

His voice infuriated me, especially when he spewed pet names for me. He pulled out his dagger and the memory of what he had tried to do to Ben coursed through me. Rage surfaced and adrenaline pumped into every vein. It was as if someone had injected me with a dose of speed to wake me up. Everything around me became quiet. My vision sharpened. The only thing in front of me was my target and I was focused.

I took three steps forward and he took two back.

"You don't want to do this," Fernando said. "You're young and don't know what you're doing. I'm afraid I'm going to hurt you, then I won't be able to ask you out on a date."

I laughed. "Do you think I would go out with you?"

"A guy can hope, can't he?"

I shook my head. He was still trying to pick me up and at the same time trying to kill me. Without thinking I said, "Okay, I'll go out with you. You name the place and the time."

He stopped moving and dropped his arms, dagger pointing toward the floor.

I attacked driving the blade into his left shoulder, just above his heart.

He dropped to the floor.

I gasped. Did I just kill him?

I had been stabbed before, so I knew the pain associated with it. Did it feel any different as a vampire? The blood rushed to my feet. I didn't want to kill him; all I wanted to do was stop him. Dr. Vieira said that the cobalt blade would kill a vampire, but I assumed it would if driven through the heart, not the shoulder.

I bent over to examine my enemy when Fernando pulled the dagger out of his shoulder and grabbed me.

"You can't kill me like that. It burns, but you missed my heart." His smirk turned dark, replaced by hard eyes and a murderous expression. "Now you're going to pay." He jumped up and threw me against the wall.

My head hit the wall first, then my back, knocking the wind out of me. I slumped to the floor. He bent down, grabbed me by my throat and threw me again. This time I landed on a counter, sliding off the slick surface, falling behind it to the floor. I tried to stand up, but a pain crept up my spine. Did I break my back? I placed my hands on the floor, pushing myself up. As I uncurled my spine, trying to stretch it out, Fernando drove the dagger into my stomach.

I bent over, grabbed the dagger and pulled it out. A burning sensation trickled around the wound. Was this what it felt like to be stabbed as a vampire? The fall to the floor hurt more than the dagger.

"Have you had enough, Jo?" he asked.

"No, please, hit me some more."

I'd had enough of this asshole. I stood still, waiting for him to approach. As he stomped toward me, I slid to the side, closer to the lighted room in the distance.

"Where're you going?" he asked.

He stood two feet away from me when I lunged at him, driving the dagger into his abdomen. I held it there, twisting it, watching as his eyes grew wide, pools of black liquid looking down at me.

He blew out a breath and smiled. With his right hand he reached down, but before he could do anything, I pulled out the dagger and stabbed him again. I repeated this several times, stabbing him until he dropped to the floor.

I stood over him, deciding what I should do. It would be so easy to kill him now.

Suddenly, my father's voice startled me. I snapped up my head, glancing around, trying to decide where he was. I ran toward the back, following the light. I stopped several feet away from a set of windowed double doors when an object flew through the air on the other side of it. Webb stepped into view, two hands wrapped around his sword, blade slanted in the air. He lunged at his opponent, plunging the sword forward. I slid to the side at an angle, peering through the glass to see who he was fighting. Then his ponytailed avenger waved his sword down to his left, turning his wrists over then up again with the tip of the sword pointing at Webb. It was as if I was watching Zorro. Each fighter was light on his feet, skills mastered as they wielded their thirty-six inches of steel at one another.

"Open it now," my father growled.

I slid to the other glass pane, looking for my father. As I placed my hand on the door, a set of hands gripped my ankles. I peered down and Fernando had his arms stretched out holding onto my ankles for dear life as the rest of his body inched forward as if he were a snake.

I bent my right knee, pulling my ankle upward. His grip was tight. I tried again. Still he hung onto me. I tried the same thing on my left ankle. This time it came loose and I stepped on his hand.

"Let go or I'll crush your hand," I growled.

He pulled my right leg toward him and I fell, crashing through the doors, sliding across the tile, stopping when my head hit the marble panel of a lab bench. I raised my hand, grabbing the back of my head. As I looked up, a sword sliced down through the air toward my foot. I rolled out of the way, but Fernando dove for me and the sword caught the back of his calf. He screamed out in pain, falling on top of me, crushing my windpipe. I unleashed my vampire strength and pushed him off me. He went flying back through the double doors. My eyes widened. Did I have that much strength?

Before I could stand, a hand grabbed me by my hair and pulled me upright. I stood face to face with a red-eyed vampire. His irises were solid red and I could've sworn I was looking into the eyes of the devil.

Now what? He looked young, but his eyes told me otherwise. Even though I was a vampire and that meant I shouldn't be afraid of anything or anyone, my Spidey sense told me to run. I inched backwards, watching the creepy vampire in front me.

"Jo, get out of here," my father commanded.

I twisted my neck to the left. My father was standing in front of a glass room with his right hand clamped around a man's neck. My gaze traveled upwards, resting on the man's face. He had short brown hair and I recognized him from the photo Webb had showed us in the war room. The man my father had pinned against the glass was my Uncle Patrick.

I turned on my heel and ran to my father. I stopped and glimpsed beyond the two men into the glass room, gasping for air as my gaze fell on Sam. His lifeless body was lying in front of me with a sheath of glass separating us. My throat tightened, tears clouding my vision as anger rose, snaking its way through me.

He looked worse than he did in the picture. His arms were hanging off the sides of the metal table. His cheeks were hollow, his skin pale. I bent over, the room spinning, the light around me fading. I placed my hands on my knees, taking deep breaths, trying not to pass out.

"Jo, get up," my father commanded. "Tripp, get over here, now!"

With my hands on my knees, I turned my head, glancing at the red-eyed vampire who stalked toward me. I should run, but I stood frozen in place. Some vampire I was, standing in the middle of an otherworldly battle with swords, daggers, vampires and now the devil. Panic crept up my spine. Shouldn't I be brave, fighting the bastards that did this to my brother? Nope, instead, I was bent over, willing myself not to pass out.

As the red-eyed vamp approached, sword in hand, Tripp came running up behind him.

"Edmund, over here," Tripp called out.

Edmund spun around, pointing his sword at Tripp.

"Patrick, open the door. I'm not going to ask you again," my father said.

"That will be the last thing I do, Steven. Do you think I'm going to let your son live? After everything you've done to me since we were kids? Go ahead. Kill me," Patrick barked.

A seed of hatred propelled me upright at the sound of my Uncle Patrick's voice.

"Just break the damn glass," I shouted. "Do it now. You have to save Sam."

"Look. Your daughter is desperate. And for what? You forced her to change for this, to save Sam's life. You don't really think that's going to work, do you?"

"What's he talking about?" I asked.

"Tell her, Steven. Tell her what she did was all for nothing. Tell her that her immortality was just to satisfy you, so you could make up for all those lost years after you left the twins with your psycho sister-in-law."

How did he know all this? Did my father really know where I was all these years?

"Don't listen to him, Jo. He's just trying to get into your head."

"You still didn't answer me," I shouted. "What's Patrick talking about? I want to know."

"We don't have time for a family discussion," my father said.

I looked at Patrick whose face had turned red, his eyes closed as he hung in midair while my father choked him.

I ran up to my father. "Get Sam out of there."

I inspected the door to the glass room. A keypad illuminated next to it with a dark, square panel just above it.

"You need the combination and his hand print," my father said.

"Just break the glass."

"I can't. It's six inches thick. It would take more than my vampire strength to crack it."

I scanned the room for something to throw at the glass, but I couldn't find anything in the chaos. Webb fought with his ponytailed opponent in one corner of the room. Tripp and Edmund were tangled together. Edmund had Tripp in a headlock not far from where I stood. In the opposite corner to my left, Olivia danced around with another vampire. Karate kicks and punches whipped through the air.

This whole scene was insane. Everyone was fighting and no one was saving Sam. Behind Olivia in the far corner of the room, I spied an electrical box. Would shutting off the power unlock the door?

I ran over to the corner, dodging Olivia's dance moves, and opened the panel. I flipped off the main switch and the entire room went dark. Machines beeped. The humming of other instruments stopped, including the sound of the swords clanging. Even the vampires stopped in their tracks, their heavy breathing the only sound in the room. Then a small glow of lights turned on. I imagined the emergency power had kicked in.

I sprinted back to the glass room. The door was ajar and the panel blinked frantically. I wrapped my hands around the edge of the door and pulled, grunting in the process. It was like trying to move a glacier. I managed to move it several inches before someone pushed me from behind, knocking me to the floor. My body became wedged in the doorway.

I raised my head to look at my attacker. Edmund had a sword pointing at me as he leapt over me, making his way into the glass room. I tried to sit up, but the tip of the sword was pointed at my chest. I froze.

"You don't want to move, little one," he said.

No shit! I wasn't planning on moving just yet. I looked around, examining my options. The good news-I was in Sam's room. The bad news-I had to get away from this red-eyed devil and get Sam off the table, but I didn't how.

Then as if God granted me a wish, my father appeared at my feet. He grabbed the edge of the six-inch glass door and tore it from its hinges. The door fell to the floor, but it didn't shatter, it just cracked. He towered over me, his eyes a sterling silver and his fangs smeared with blood.

I shook my head. Was this my father? It was the first time I had seen his fangs, but it was also weird to see his eyes silver. I had thought all the vampires had black eyes when they changed colors. I made a mental note to ask about that later. Right now, we needed to get Sam out of here.

"Let her go, Edmund. She is of no use to you," my father said. He placed his left hand on his waist, moving it around.

I imagined he was searching for his sword, which was now in the hands of this Edmund dude, primed and ready to slit my jugular.

Death by my father's sword. What a way to die.

"Steven, my friend. We go back a long way. You know that I wouldn't dream of bringing your daughter into this mess. You know deep down she doesn't belong in our world." He cocked his head to one side and peered down at me. "My, my, you already turned her. For what? To save your son?" He pointed to Sam. "He's gone. He's not coming back."

Why did everyone keep saying that? I didn't believe it. I couldn't believe it. I became a vampire for one sole reason and something within me told me this jerk was lying. Nevertheless, I certainly wasn't going to disrupt the conversation, not with a sword at my throat.

My father stared at the man, not taking his eyes off him. "How dare you lie to me? You know damn well his heart is still beating. Do you think I'm an idiot? I expected more from you, Edmund."

I shifted my gaze slowly between them, trying to figure out how this was going to end. It seemed we were at a standstill, at least until Fernando came stalking up with a dagger aimed at my father's back.

"Watch out!" I shouted.

My father bent down and pulled me toward him. In an instant, he turned, grabbed Fernando and threw him across the room. A loud bang was followed by a thud. Then my father jumped over me, and lunged at Edmund, both vamps falling to the floor. The sword Edmund was holding flew into the air, tumbling out of control toward me. I rolled out of the direct line of the falling sword and kept rolling until a large foot stopped me and pulled me to an upright position. I buried my face into his chest, before he released me from his grip.

I looked up and into the eyes of my estranged Uncle Patrick. Anger, hate and disgust surfaced, each emotion fighting to rise above the other. He tilted his head to one side, then studied me like I was one of his lab rats. I closed my eyes and inhaled, trying to unleash my young vampire senses. Then I exhaled sharply and opened my eyes.

"You're still human," I said as I stood in front of him, studying the wannabe vampire.

"Not for long," he replied with an evil grin on his face.

My vision blurred for a second as I rushed him, throwing my body head first into Patrick. My anger won out over the hate and disgust that coursed through me. I wanted to tear him to pieces. My fangs descended and without thinking, I bit into his wrist, my canines breaking through his skin. His heart beat loudly, his pulse throbbing between my lips as I clamped down on his vein. A spurt of blood filled my mouth then slithered down my throat. It tasted bitter, almost acid-like. There was nothing good about the taste of his blood.

He screamed and threw back his head.

Arms wrapped around my stomach. Someone was trying to pull me away. I growled then kicked. It was my turn to drain my prey dry; I wasn't letting go.

"Jo, release him." Webb pulled at me again. "His blood is poison. He wanted you to bite him. Now release your grip."

I couldn't stop. I hated this man, my kin, more than anything in this world. He was evil for what he had done to Sam. His blood coated my stomach and my body started to warm. The world tilted and a rush of pain clenched my insides. What was happening to me? Suddenly, my fangs retreated and my mouth slid off his wrist. Webb, who still had his arms around me, tripped backwards as I fell on top of him. I rolled off and white foam dripped down from my lips onto the black tile floor. What the heck was that? I looked at Webb with my eyebrows pinched together.

"I don't know what it is," Webb said.

I staggered to my feet. Whatever was in Patrick's blood wasn't agreeing with me. I grabbed hold of a chair and sat down. The room began spinning. My lips curled and I smiled at Webb.

"Oh no," he said.

"What?" I asked.

"He drugged you," Webb said as he ran his hands through his hair.

"I'm fine. How're you?" I laughed as I sat there.

Tripp walked up. "What's wrong with her?"

"She drank some of Patrick's blood," Webb replied.

"Shit. Drugged?" Tripp asked.

"It appears so," Webb replied.

"Sir, the Plutariums are shackled and ready for transport. The commander is taking Sam back to headquarters," Tripp said.

"Sam? Ish...he...okay?" I asked, my words slurred. I shook my head. What was I saying? Sam wasn't okay. "Where ish Sam?" I asked as my body swayed.

Webb placed his arm around me. "Sam is with your father. We need to get you back to headquarters ASAP."

"Why? He'll be dead before Steven has a chance to save him," Patrick blurted out.

His words catapulted me out of the fog I was in. As if someone had touched me with a lighted match, I spun around with superhuman speed and lunged at the mortal monster. Killing Patrick would be a vampire blessing.

He sat still as my body blanketed his, tackling him backwards, his head hitting the floor. Without another thought, my fangs clamped down on his throat. I began to pull, ripping his skin.

"Get off him, Jo," Tripp growled as his hands grabbed me from behind, pulling me toward him.

"Tripp, she'll rip his throat," Webb intoned.

Now the vamp boys were getting the idea. I wanted to mangle the asshole.

Webb bent down and whispered, "You'll have your moment, Jo. This isn't it. Let him go. He's a human. We don't kill humans."

In my world Patrick wasn't human. He was a beast from the depths of hell.

"Think of Sam," Tripp said in a soft tone. "We need to get back to him. Time is critical."

Wow, that wasn't fair, but he was right. I was wasting precious moments.

I released my bite and looked down at Patrick as Tripp pulled me off him. As he lay there with his feet shackled and hands cuffed, he stared at me with a smirk on his face. I wanted to unleash my rage and go another round, but Sam needed me more right now.

"What are you going to do with him?" I asked. My tongue seemed to be cooperating now.

"We'll lock all of them up in our prison wing and we'll deal with them accordingly."

I drew my eyebrows together and said, "What does that mean?"

"It means, Jo, that I will be seeing you again," Patrick said.

"Shut up. I didn't ask you," I barked. "The only time I'll see you is when we're lowering you into your grave." My fangs hadn't retracted yet and I desperately wanted to rip out his heart, no matter how much of his drug-laden blood I drank.

He laughed. "So young and so naive," he said as he glared at me.

"What does that mean?" I asked, squirming for Tripp to release me.

"He's not worth it. Besides, we have laws that protect him," Tripp said.

"I don't care about the stupid-"

"Get her out of here. Dr. Vieira is waiting," Webb commanded. "Head back to the compound ASAP. Olivia and I will stay here and clean this up. We'll meet you back at headquarters in an hour."

I didn't need to hold on to Tripp. His grip around me was so tight I couldn't breathe.

"Can you loosen your arm a bit?" I pleaded.

"Not until we are out of here."

"I can't breathe."

"You're vampire now, you'll be fine," he said as he carried me through the basement of the hospital.

What was that suppose to mean? I might be a vampire, but I still needed to breathe to live-or did I? Boy, I have a ton to learn about all this vamp stuff.

Once outside, Tripp released me. My legs were like rubber, my knees shaking. He walked behind me as I staggered, making our way to the van. I took in a deep breath. The fresh air was a welcoming relief from the odors and smells that had me in a tizzy since I had first walked into the hospital.

I was anxious to see Dr. Vieira. I'd had my doubts when I ran from the van. He said he had been a vampire for a long time, but with two Plutariums against one Sentinel I wasn't convinced Dr. Vieira would win.

When we reached the front of the van, Dr. Vieira wasn't in view. The area around it seemed eerily quiet. The other car that Tripp and Olivia drove was gone.

"What happened?" Dr. Vieira said as he walked around from the back of the van. He studied me as he pulled my arms to him examining my wrists. Then he wiped my mouth with his fingers. "Whose blood is this?" His expression went from concerned to a deer-in-the-headlights look.

"Patrick's," Tripp said as he stood behind me, keeping me sandwiched between him and Dr. Vieira. "His blood was laced with some type of drug."

I craned my neck and glared at him. "Thanks," I said. The fog from whatever was in Patrick's blood returned as the adrenaline in me seemed to disappear. My head began to hurt and with my legs on the verge of turning into Gumby, I was thankful that Tripp was at least behind me in the event I fell backwards.

"I told you to stay hidden. What have you done?" Dr. Vieira dropped his hands from my wrists. "Didn't your father tell you that the only blood you could drink was his for the next few months?" He stood in front of me with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Yeah, but...never mind. Can we just go? Sam needs me."

Dr. Vieira nodded. "I need to get her back so I can somehow figure out how to cleanse her system," he said. "And the others?"

"The commander rushed Sam back to headquarters about fifteen minutes ago. Webb and Olivia will secure the premises. Viking II has taken control of the Plutariums and is taking them back to headquarters as we speak. Patrick is secured and with Webb who will escort him back," Tripp replied.

"We need to hurry then. Between Sam and now Jo, I have my work cut out for me," Dr. Vieira said.

I slid out from between them, praying I could at least walk to the passenger side of the van. When I reached the open door, I fell in. A few seconds later Dr. Vieira slid in and helped me into my seat. Within seconds, the van was moving. I settled in my seat and surveyed my stomach where Fernando had stabbed me. My shirt was stained with blood, but that was it. My stomach showed no signs of Fernando using me as a voodoo doll. I looked at Dr. Vieira, then back at my stomach. I shook my head a few times. I remembered the pain I went through when Cliff had stabbed me, and how my body took forever to heal. Today-not even a scratch. I didn't know whether to be excited or shocked.

As if Dr. Vieira knew what I was thinking, he said, "It takes some getting used to. I'm surprised though, that you healed so quickly. New vampires usually take a little bit longer for the skin to heal due to their nutrient levels. But I guess I shouldn't be too surprised since you are a Mason."

I had no idea what he meant by his last statement, but with my new vampire life I had time to tailor that thought for now.

I sat back and tried to relax as Tripp drove back, but all I kept thinking about was Sam. Could this car go any faster? I was tapping my foot when Dr. Vieira cleared his throat.

"Jo." His nostrils flared and he looked like he was about to explode.

What now?

"I know that all this is very hard for you. But in the future, if you don't listen to me, if you don't heed my words or warning when I speak, you will not last long as a vampire. In addition, when I tell you what to do when we're back in my medical facility, you will listen. Your teenage petulance will not get in the way of my job and saving your brother. Do you understand me?"

All I could do was nod. His words were sharp, his tone unyielding. Sam was the most important person to me. For the moment, I understood what he was saying and would listen to him, but I couldn't promise anything more after he helped save my brother's life.