Lord of Misrule

“Yeah, that’s Gramma.” Ha

“Speaking of that,” Lisa said, “y’all need to stay here, if you want to stay safe.”

Eve exchanged a quick glance with Claire. “Yeah, well, we can’t, really. But thanks.”

“You sure?” Lisa’s eyes were very bright, very focused. “Because we’re thinking maybe these vamps will kill each other off this time, and maybe we should all stick together. All the humans. Never mind the bracelets and the contracts.”

Eve blinked. “Seriously? Just let them fight it out on their own?”

“Why not? What’s it to us, anyway, who wins?” Lisa’s smile was bitter and brief. “We get screwed no matter what. Maybe it’s time to put a human in charge of this town, and let the vampires find someplace else to live.”

Dangerous, Claire thought. Really dangerous. Ha

“We’re being real damn careful,” Lisa said. “You’ll see.”

They came to the end of the hallway, where the area opened up into the big living room, and Eve and Claire both stopped cold.

“Oh, shit,” Eve muttered.

The humans were all armed—guns, knives, stakes, blunt objects. The vampires who’d been assigned to guard the house were all sitting tied to chairs with so many turns of rope it reminded Claire of hangman’s loops. She supposed if you were going to restrain vamps, it made sense, but—

“What the hell are you doing?” Eve blurted. At least some of the vampires sitting there, tied and gagged, were ones who’d been at Michael’s house, or who’d fought on Amelie’s side at the banquet. Some of them were struggling, but most seemed quiet.

Some looked unconscious.

“They’re not hurt,” Lisa said. “I just want ’em out of the way, in case things go bad.”

“You’re making one hell of a move, Lisa,” Ha

“I’m about protecting my own. You ought to be, too.”

Ha

“What about—”

“No,” Ha

Lisa moved into their path, a shotgun cradled in her arms. “Going so soon?”

Claire forgot to breathe. There was a feeling here, a darkness in the air. The vampires, those who were still awake, were staring at them. Expecting rescue, maybe?

“You don’t want to do this,” Ha

“You’re standing with the vamps, aren’t you?”

There it was, out in the open. Claire swallowed hard. “We’re trying to get everybody out of this alive,” she said. “Humans and vampires.”

Lisa didn’t look away from her cousin’s face. “Not going to happen,” she said. “So you’d better pick a side.”

Ha

Outside in the car, they all sat in silence for a few seconds. Ha

Eve finally said, “You’d better tell Oliver. He needs to know about this.”

Claire plugged in the code and tried. “Oliver, come in. Oliver, it’s Claire. I have an update. Oliver!”

Static hissed. There was no response.

“Maybe he’s ignoring you,” Eve said. “He seemed pretty a

“You try.” Claire handed it over, but it was no use. Oliver wasn’t responding. They tried calling for anyone at Common Grounds instead, and got another voice, one Claire didn’t recognize.

“Hello?”

Eve squeezed her eyes shut in relief. “Excellent. Who’s this?”

“Quentin Barnes.”

“Tin-Tin! Hey man, how are you?”

“Ah—good, I guess.” Tin-Tin, whoever he was, sounded nervous. “Oliver’s kind of busy right now. He’s trying to keep some people from taking off.”

“Taking off?” Eve’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

“Some of the vamps, they’re just trying to leave. It’s too close to dawn. He’s had to lock some of them up.”

Things were getting weird all over. Eve keyed the mike and said, “There’s trouble at the Day House. Lisa’s tied up the vamps. She’s going to sit this thing out. I think—I think maybe she’s working with some other people, trying to put together a third side. All humans.”

“Dude,” Tin-Tin sighed, “that’s just what we need, getting the vampire slayers all in the mix. Okay, I’ll tell Oliver. Anything else?”

“More empty vampire cars. You think they’re like those guys who were trying to leave? Maybe, I don’t know, getting drawn off somewhere?”

“Probably. Look, just watch yourself, okay?”

“Will do. Eve out.”

Ha

“I’m sorry,” Claire said. “I know they’re your family and all.”

“Lisa always was preaching about how we could take the town if we stuck together. Maybe she’s thinking it’s the right time to make a move.” Ha

Claire was no general, but she knew that fighting a war on two fronts and dividing their forces wasn’t a great idea. “We have to find Amelie.”

“Wherever she’s gotten herself off to,” Eve snorted. “If she’s even still—”

“Don’t,” Claire whispered. She restlessly rubbed the gold bracelet on her wrist until it dug into her skin. “We need her.”

More than ever, she was guessing.

By the time they’d dropped off the next to last radio, at their own home, which was currently inhabited by a bunch of freaked-out humans and a few vampires who hadn’t yet felt whatever was pulling some of them off, the dawn was starting to really set in. The horizon was Caribbean blue, with touches of gold and red just flaring up like footlights at a show. Claire delivered the radio, the code, and a warning to the humans and vampires alike. “You have to watch the vamps,” she pleaded. “Don’t let them leave. Not in the daylight.”

Monica Morrell, who was clutching the walkie-talkie in her red-taloned fingers, frowned at her. “How are we supposed to do that, freak? Give them a written warning and scold them really hard? Come on!”

“If you let them go, they may not get wherever it is they’re being called before sunrise,” Ha

Monica kept on frowning, but she didn’t seem inclined to argue with Ha

“Great,” Monica finally said. “Wonderful. Like I needed another problem. By the way, Claire, your house really sucks ass. I hate it here.”

It was Claire’s turn to smile this time. “It probably hates you right back. I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” she said. “You’re a natural leader, right?”

“Oh, bite it. Someday, your boyfriend won’t be around to—” Monica widened her eyes. “Oh, snap! He’s isn’t around, is he? Won’t be back, ever. Remind me to send flowers for the funeral.”

Eve grabbed the back of Claire’s shirt. “Whoa, Mini-Me, chill out. We’ve got to get moving. Much as I’d like to see the cage match, we’re kind of on a schedule.”

The hot crimson haze disappeared from Claire’s eyes, and she took in a breath and nodded. Her muscles were aching. She realized she’d managed to clench just about every muscle, iron-hard, and tried to relax. Her hands twinged when she stretched them out of fists.

“See you soon,” Monica said, and shut the door on them. “Wait, probably not, loser. And your clothes are pathetic, by the way!”

That last part came muffled, but clear—as clear as the sound of the locks snapping into place.