"What the h.e.l.l happened?" I asked.

He shouted over the noise of the burning car, "They tried to make a run past the portal. They started shooting and we returned fire. Then they blew themselves up."

I looked at the black skeleton of the vehicle and could see the charred figures of men inside. "Better them than us," I said without compa.s.sion.

J nodded. "Yeah, but we're running out of options. Those men you captured aren't talking. Maybe they will at some point, but not soon enough. Look, get back up there and find the remaining group. Track them to the container. Don't stop them. It's our last chance."

I flexed my legs and stretched my wings, preparing to take off into the downpour. "I'll do my best," I said grimly, and I was about to lift off when J touched my shoulder, stopping me.

He stepped close to me and said into my ear, "Miss Urban, your friend Darius Bella CHI's is here." Even the mention of Darius's name cut into me like a sliver of gla.s.s, but I gave a small nod and tried to keep my face emotionless as J added, "He's a loose cannon. Watch your back."

"Thanks," I said, and meant it. I looked over at Cormac, who, if I read the grin on his face correctly, was having the time of his life. I signaled to him to take off, and we soared upward once more.

I might make derisive remarks about Cormac, but he had stayed alive as long as I had. If he acted like a twit and a flake, it was just that-an act. I had seen him be selfish, narcissistic, and a dilettante, but above all else he was a vampire, part of a brotherhood that united us with unbreakable bonds. It also meant he had to be smart, tough-and d.a.m.ned lucky. When the dice were tossed for either of us, they came up lucky sevens, not c.r.a.ps. Together we made a nearly invincible team, and that's the truth.

Cormac squeaked at me now with great excitement. He spotted the remaining group of terrorists, and they were on the move, running from cover to cover down a row of containers. They had guns drawn. We stayed behind them, following them in swooping flight. Both of us spotted the lone soldier coming down a cross street toward them unseen, his rifle drawn and ready. He didn't know the terrorists were there. They didn't know he was there either, but in seconds they'd meet. There would be a fire-fight. At best-and it was a lousy option-the melee would stop them from reaching the container, and we might never find it. At worst, they'd detonate the weapon and end everything, for us and millions of people.

Before I could stop him, Cormac, like a bat out of h.e.l.l, flew at the soldier. With the claws of his feet he grabbed Darius from behind, sending him sailing through the air. Darius. .h.i.t the ground hard and slid across the asphalt until the rifle in his hand banged the side of a container and discharged. The noise was deafening. Struggling to his feet, Darius whirled around, ready to fire at Cormac. I swooped down and brushed him with my wing, knocking him to his knees. But it was too late. The gang of terrorists must have heard the shot and rounded the corner, firing their weapons. I charged at them with Cormac pulling up my rear, and we flew like screaming eagles at the men.

Fortunately they carried only pistols, not semiautomatics, and hitting a target with a short-nosed gun at a distance was pure chance and usually a ricochet. Our luck held, and they missed us by a mile as bullets pinged off the sides of the metal containers. The terrorists began retreating, running back the way they had come. I yelled into the radio for J. He answered, and I screamed at him to get over here fast. I told him that I'd go airborne where he could see me. He said, "Just give me the number."

"What?" I didn't know what he meant.

"The location, d.a.m.n it. Look on the containers. There's a number painted on the asphalt where they're parked. Quick!"

I glanced over and told him it was AB2021. "We're on our way," he barked.

Cormac and I pursued the fleeing terrorists, catching them easily and batting them around with our feet and wings. The five of them went down like bowling pins. Crawling for cover behind containers, some of them kept firing, so we had to go airborne quickly. Others were running down the street between the rows. Like B-2 bombers, Cormac and I circled and got set for our second run.

At that moment J and his squad came screeching up in a jeep. They jumped out with their rifles drawn, with J yelling at the terrorists to get their hands up. One terrorist opened fire. J threw himself out of the way, and a few squad members quickly cut the aggressor down. Blood mixed with the puddles on the asphalt, wet and black. Two other terrorists fired and fell. Finally the last two, who were hiding behind a container, tossed out their pistols and yelled that they were surrendering. They put their hands over their heads and marched into the open. J and his men grabbed them and handcuffed them. They were facedown in the back of the jeep before they knew what happened, and the driver was speeding off.

That was when I heard the moans. I flew over to Darius, who had been left stunned near a container. He lay face up in the rain, his rifle still clutched in his hand. I didn't see much blood, just a small round entry wound in his chest. I felt as if a branding iron were searing my lungs; every breath hurt. Realizing how much my bat form would distress him, I landed and transformed quickly. I stood there in the pouring rain, naked except for my sodden leather purse. I pulled it off over my head and put it down on the ground.

I bent over Darius, taking his head and cradling it in my arms against my b.r.e.a.s.t.s. I was crying. My sobs wouldn't stop coming. He looked up at me, turned his head away, and closed his eyes, not wanting to see me even then, when he was dying. I reached down to feel the pulse in his neck. He flinched at my touch. His pulse was thready and weak. The wound looked close to his heart. I had no doubt he had only minutes left to live. Darius had gone down in battle, and he'd die a hero. Karma would catch up to him on the other side, or maybe it already had: a life for a life, his for Benny's. So why did I feel so rotten?

A bat shadow crossed over us. I figured it was Cormac returning. I turned to tell him to get me somebody's jacket to put on. A bat landed next to me. It was blonde, not dark. It was Benny.

"What are you doing here? You're dead!" I said in wonderment, and stared at her.

"I'm undead, sugar, but I sure as h.e.l.l ain't dead dead dead yet. I'm just late. Long story. Did I worry you?" she said, but her attention was riveted on Darius, whose life was ebbing away before our eyes. "Honey, what's going on here? That's your guy." dead yet. I'm just late. Long story. Did I worry you?" she said, but her attention was riveted on Darius, whose life was ebbing away before our eyes. "Honey, what's going on here? That's your guy."

I nodded and choked back a sob.

"Why are you sitting there doing nothing? Save him!"

I just looked at her, uncomprehending.

"Bite him! You don't have much time. Don't let him die!"

I tried to get my mind around her words. It never occurred to me to turn him into a vampire. He'd become the very thing he hated most. It would be the perfect revenge, but it would be a terrible thing to do. I started to explain that, when Benny broke in.

"You think too d.a.m.n much. How do you know what he wants? Follow your heart! For G.o.d's sake, you love him. Don't let him die. If you don't bite him, I will!"

I stopped thinking and started feeling. Naked, I knelt on the cold, hard ground and put my lips to his neck. Something began to burn into my flesh. It was his crucifix. I unclasped it and threw it as far as I could. Then I leaned down once more, tenderly, gently finding his carotid artery with my lips. Then I bit him and began to drink the blood of my beloved. With his remaining strength he tried to push me away. I embraced him firmly and continued to drink. The sensation was exquisite. I was filled with him and possessed him, body and soul. It was better than s.e.x; it was an experience that joined the human and the immortal in a union that was both d.a.m.ned... and divine. Darius went limp in my arms, but he did not die. I felt his body stir with life beneath my hands. I broke the kiss. He turned his face toward me and slowly opened his eyes. In a voice barely more than a whisper he said, "Why? Do you hate me that much?" I looked at him, and I had never before felt such a mixture of sadness and joy. He'd live now, but he might never forgive me for turning him into what he hated most. "Please believe me; I don't hate you, Darius. I bit you because I love you." His body was heavy against me. I hoped I'd always remember how he felt beneath my lips. I laid him down softly onto the ground and stood up.

J came running down the street. Keeping his eyes level with mine, he never looked at my naked body. He thrust a paper bag and a dry towel at me. "Here," he said. "The commander said you might need this." Then he was screaming into his radio for a medic. I don't think he had seen what I did to Darius.

I looked into the bag. c.r.a.p c.r.a.p. It was the clothes my mother had brought to Brooklyn. I thought she did this on purpose; I really did. As a soldier came running up to him with a medical kit, I left Darius's side. I walked over to the shelter of a container and quickly wiped myself down. I got the clothes out of the bag, put them on, and felt like a refugee from Woodstock. My mother had even placed a collapsible umbrella in the bottom of the bag-the Mary Poppins touch. I opened it and looked at Benny. She was biting her bat lip, trying not to laugh at me.

Another jeep drove up, its tires squealing. Men jumped out and lifted Darius by his armpits and feet. They put him in the back of the jeep and took off. I watched him go, knowing he would live, not knowing if he'd be glad that he did or if I'd ever see him again. I wanted to cry my eyes out.

J walked over and barked at Benny. "Miss Polycarp. Where the h.e.l.l have you been?"

"Sir, I'm so sorry. I was in the sauna. The cell phone got all messed up from the heat, so I rushed down to an all-night place to get a new one, but having the number switched over took absolutely forever and-"

"Never mind!" J boomed. "Miss Urban, get your b.u.t.t over here! Mr. O'Reilly!" he yelled. Cormac came swooping down. Two huge vampires, one p.i.s.sed-off captain, and a Mary Poppins wannabe huddled in the rain for a conference. "Look, we have a desperate situation here. We've stopped all the terrorists, but others may be involved. They may know where the container is and just waltz in here at any time, and either remove the weapon or detonate it. We need to find it now. Sealing off the port will cost millions in lost revenue and disrupt the economy. It would give the terrorists a victory. We need to find that weapon ASAP. Any ideas?" He was clearly grasping at straws. How the h.e.l.l would we we have any ideas if he didn't? have any ideas if he didn't?

Just then a small, slim figure appeared at his side. Mar-Mar had arrived. "Thank you, Captain," she said, her authority unmistakable, even though she looked like a teenager dressed up for a paintball contest. "Let me handle this."

"Daphne," she said, looking at me. "When you were at Bonaventure's or at Bockerie's earlier tonight, did you find anything that might give the location of the container? Think! Was there any paper with a number-and-letter combination on it? It might not have meant anything to you then. Was there anything?"

"Yes!" I said. "In Bockerie's wallet. A Post-it note."

"Do you remember the number?" she queried.

"Of course I remember." I ran over to my purse. "But better than that. I have the note." I rushed back to the group while pulling out my wallet. "Here," I said, handing the paper to her.

"R-five-three-oh," she read it out loud so everyone could hear. "Captain, alert the bomb squad. Get them over there! Let's roll 'em!" she yelled.

Cormac and Benny took off flying. I jumped into a jeep with J and Mar-Mar. We tore h.e.l.lbent for leather down rows of containers looking for R530. As we pulled up, dozens of trucks and jeeps converged on the scene. Men rushed over to the container's door and started applying detecting devices, looking for a safe way to access the s.p.a.ce. I guessed Darkwing's job was done here.

Benny and Cormac had landed behind a nearby container, out of sight. The fewer people who knew of their existence the better. As I walked over, Cormac said, "Girlfriends, I'm outta here. I have a date waiting, believe it or not, and he's such a sweetie. He's cooking dinner for me. I just gave him a jingle and told him to warm up the pot roast. But it's been a hoot! I'll give you guys a call. This has really been a blast. I can't remember when I've had such fun. 'Byeee." he yelled as he leaped skyward into the night.

I turned to Benny. "I thought you were dead. My ring..."

"Oh, sugar! Your ring. I didn't have a chance to tell you. That creep Louis. He stole it from me! I'm all apologies. I just know he took it. Me and him, we're history, sugar, that's all I have to say. When a boyfriend starts stealing from you, why, there's just no trust. And with no trust, there's no relationship, I always say."

I'd heard that line before. She sounded as if she'd been talking to my mother.

"After that little incident in Jersey City-and honey, I know you didn't like it, but oh, that was a hot night; I admit I'm just not a lady about some things-I thought me and Louis really had something. I knew he could get a little out of control, but, no man is perfect, you know? We went back to my place, and I really did think he was going to move in. We had some incredible night, I tell you."

"So what went wrong?"

"He left while I was sleeping! The creep! I woke up with the bed empty, the apartment empty, and Louis gone. So was your ring. I tried to find him, I really did. I looked the whole d.a.m.ned night last night. Even his mother hasn't heard from him. What a jerk!

"All he cared about was money, you know. He kept talking about the plantation his family once had. and some vampire named Lestat. He kept asking me about Bonaventure's diamonds and all. Then he left without a word. He didn't even give me that old sorry Sine, you know, 'It's me, not you.' I'm sorry, sugar, I really am, about your ring and all."

I decided right then and there not to tell her Louis had been staked. Let her be left righteously angry. If I told her he was dead, he'd become a martyr or a hero. He probably went to Bonaventure's knowing the place was empty and was looking for stuff to steal. I still think it was Darius who staked him. but maybe I'll never know what really happened.

I gave her furry form a hug. "'Benny, don't worry about it. I got my ring back. He returned it to me."

"He did?" she said, astonished. "What did he say?"

I crossed my fingers behind my back because I was about to tell some whopping lies. "We didn't talk. He just left it where I could find it." Well, that was the truth, just not all of the truth.

She stood up straighter and her fur bristled. "That makes me feel a little better about him, but it's still over. He walked out on me once, and no one gets to do that to me twice."

I nodded in commiseration, all the while biting my lip, trying not to smile at her. She was fired up, and since she was in vampire form, her wings kept flapping in agitation. It looked pretty funny to me. "You're right," I said, "I think he's gone for good. Maybe he just wasn't ready for a commitment and didn't know how to tell you."

"The h.e.l.l with him, sugar. I don't wait for anyone. You know what my mama always said: 'Weight is what broke the wagon down.' And you know something else? Men are-"

I broke in and we finished in unison. "... just like streetcars. Another one will be along in a minute."

"You bet," she said, and giggled. And with that she began to transform. In the twinkling of an eye she stood beside me naked as a jaybird. Christ, she'd cause a riot if she walked out in the open looking like that. She crowded under the umbrella with me. "Let's see if we can get something for me to put on," she said. "I'm colder than a well digger's b.u.t.t."

We peeked out from the side of the container to see who was around. A young soldier stood by a jeep. Hurrying through the driving wind and rain, we ran up behind him. He turned around and gave us a stunned look. Cute as a bug and young, maybe twenty or twenty-one years old, he had dark hair, round cheeks, and green eyes that were about to pop out of his head when he was suddenly face to face with two young women, one of them starkers.

"Can you all do a lady a favor?" Benny drawled.

"Yes, ma'am," he drawled right back at her, and tried not to stare at her 34 DDs.

"Do y'all have a blanket or a jacket in the back of that there jeep?"

"Yes, ma'am, I have both of them," he said, and immediately began rummaging around. He pulled out a green army-issue rain poncho and handed it to her.

She slipped it on, and it covered her down to her knees. She turned to the young soldier and flashed him a brilliant smile. "Thank you for being such a gentleman," she said.

"Any old time," he said, and grinned back, showing two deep dimples and lots of country charm.

"Now, I can't help but notice you're not a Yankee." she said as she hopped up into the seat of the jeep, sat facing the young GI and made a show of crossing her legs.

"No, ma'am, I'm not," the soldier said as he watched her. Then he reached into the back of the jeep again and pulled out a blanket. He opened it up. "May I tuck this around you, ma'am'? You look a mite chilled."

"You are a fine Southern gentleman." She twinkled. "Where all are you from, Rebel boy?"

"Belfry, Kentucky," he said, looking at her and forgetting I even existed.

"Why, I'm from Branson, Missouri. Now isn't that just a coincidence? What's your name, if I'm not being too bold in asking?" She laid her well-manicured hand on his sleeve.

"Larry D. Lee," he said, tipping his hat as he told her.

"Why, what's the D stand for?" she said, shamelessly flirting.

"d.a.m.n you," he answered with a straight face.

"d.a.m.n you? Why ever so?" she said, her big brown eyes wider than wide.

"It's 'd.a.m.n you' 'cause every time my daddy called me, he said, 'Larry, d.a.m.n you, get over here!' So my Mama said 'd.a.m.n you' was my middle name, and it just stuck." He made the word stuck stuck into two syllables. into two syllables.

I figured I was a fifth wheel and excused myself. They were talking a mile a minute and never seemed to notice I was leaving, I walked toward J, smiling to myself. Benny wasn't going to sit around carrying a torch for Louis. I don't know if Larry D. knew what he was getting himself into, but I could see right behind that innocent act. Those country boys can handle themselves. Benny had found a match made in heaven... at least for a couple of weeks.

Now I had some things of my own to face.

Chapter 16.

Everything is determined, the beginning as well as the end, by forces over which we have no control. It is determined for the insect as well as for the star. Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible piper.

-Albert Einstein

I crossed the wet, dark asphalt, my old snow boots splashing through the puddles, the long velvet skirt sodden at the hem and tangling around my feet. I didn't see Mar-Mar anywhere and figured she was off reporting to the president or something. As I walked over to J I was almost fainting with fatigue. My head was pounding, my lips were quivering, and I knew my face must be blue with cold.

J could see I was shaken. "You look like you can use some hot coffee, Miss Urban," he said. Taking my arm, he marched me over to a jeep, opened the door, and took the umbrella from my cold hand. He lowered it, shook off the water, and stuck it behind the seat. Then he helped me in before he went and got in the driver's side. After he slammed the door, he pulled a thermos out from a bag on the floor and poured coffee into its red plastic thermos top. I took it gratefully, and the first sip told me it was hot, creamy, and very sweet. I usually drink my coffee black, and made a face.

"The sugar helps stop you from going into shock," he said, guessing what I was thinking. He was studying me intently.

"What?" I said to him. looking at him over the cup of the thermos top.

"Miss Urban, you did good. You did real good. I just wanted to say that. And I wanted to tell you I was wrong. About a lot of things. But especially about you."

I didn't know what to say. My emotions were all jumbled up inside. He didn't know how badly I f.u.c.ked up, in so many ways. But I kept silent.

J looked away from me then and stared at the windshield, where droplets of rain ran down in rivulets, like the tears that I still needed to shed. "I got a call from the medics," he said. "It looks like Darius Bella CHI's is going to make it. They don't know how he lived. The bullet nicked his heart. He lost a lot of blood. He's in surgery, but the outlook is optimistic. I thought you'd want to know."

"Yes, thanks, I appreciate your telling me. But it's over between him and me. You were right, you know: he is a vampire hunter," I said, trying not to cry. I looked over at J and gave a killer smile. "Things ended badly with us. And he thinks I hate him."

J was silent for a moment before he said anything. "It's none of my affair, Miss Urban, but if you have unfinished business with him, maybe you need to go talk to him. As Yogi Berra said, it ain't over till it's over..."

"I don't think he'll see me. Once he found out what I was-and I found out what he was-well, we're just too far apart. And I can never accept that he killed vampires, exterminated them out of pure vengeance, without understanding or compa.s.sion, without knowing what he was really doing."

"Miss Urban," J said with a funny sound in his voice. "I don't like Darius Bella CHI's, but I respect him. He's a good soldier. As for him hating vampires, I did too. If I changed my mind, maybe he can. After what I've seen... well, vampires, I figure, are just another level of beings, somewhere between humans and the angels, I guess. I didn't know that before... before you changed that day..."

"Oh, sorry about that." G.o.d, this was getting embarra.s.sing. I remembered the kiss I had given him. I remembered how he bent his head in submission and how I could have taken him right then.