Free Real Vampires Don't Wear Size Six by Gerry Bartlett Page A

managed to turn me into one of her disciples of evil either. So I considered it a victory for the good guys. “You’re wasting your time here. Go back to hell where you belong.”
    “No, not yet. Your weakness is so obvious.” Spyte moved in a blur and returned the same way, a wiggling white rat in his hand. “For example, check out this cute little rodent. Look in her eyes. Recognize anyone?”
    I hate rats, even the obviously pet kind, but I recognized the frantic golden brown eyes. Penny. She sent me hysterical mental messages as Spyte held her, first by the tail, then in his hand, alternately squeezing then petting her.
    “Put her down!” I lunged toward him but he danced back. Caryon slipped his arm around my waist, anchoring me in a death grip that I couldn’t escape.
    “Ah, yes. Glory loves her little and not-so-little friends.” Caryon glanced back at Rafe, whose eyes glowed red. “Some more than others, eh, Rafael?” His laugh was full of innuendo and I felt like he’d watched me in dirty videos. What had Alesa told these bastards? Oh, God. And what was Spyte going to do to Penny?
    He dropped her in his pants pocket and grinned at me, letting me see his real teeth, sharp and horrifying.
    “Morning snack, right, Car?”
    “Chopped up in an omelet?” Caryon smacked his lips. “Garlic or cilantro?”
    “Both. I saw the most wonderful recipe on this cooking show—”
    “Stop it! What do you want?” I jerked against Caryon’s hold, the reek of him this close making me gasp, like I’d been dropped in a vat of boiling sugar. I swallowed bile.
    “We come with a proposition. From the big boss down below.” Caryon frowned at me. “Don’t you dare throw up on my new shoes. Italian leather, custom-made.” He thrust me away from him. “Stay.”
    My feet stuck to the ground but at least I could inhale fresh air again. I saw Spyte’s pants wiggling and he grimaced. Guess Penny had bitten him through the cloth. Good for her. But I sent her a mental message to be still. He could kill her with a hard smack against his thigh.
    “What’s the proposition?” I didn’t want to hear it. Would never do anything for the Devil or Lucifer or whoever was calling the shots down there. But I’d play along for Penny’s sake.
    “Lucifer. Lucifer sent us.” Spyte smiled. “You know we can read your thoughts, don’t you? Your puny vampire mind blocks don’t work on us so don’t even try it.”
    “Whatever. Just spill it.” I feigned a yawn. “Is there anything more boring than carrying on over a lost cause? Just release Rafe from that stupid freeze thing and let Penny go so she can shift back. She’s new and now I’m afraid you’ve traumatized her for the rest of her immortal life.” At least they’d left my arms and head loose from the freeze. I glanced back at Rafe and gave him an encouraging smile. Then I put my hands on my hips to show I still had attitude. “Well?”
    “You’re all about others, aren’t you?” Caryon shook his head. “This may not work, Spyte. If she’s really”—he shuddered—“good, how can she do the job?”
    “There’s only one way to find out. Tell her.” Spyte dragged Penny out of his pocket. “This damned rat is showing potential. She actually gnawed a hole in my pocket and broke skin.” His black eyes twinkled. “She was going for my family jewels.”
    “That’s my girl. She probably thought that ripping them off and tossing them to me would be a nice parting gift.” I nodded at her proudly. “Since you seem to be determined to keep her.”
    Caryon laughed. “Glory, Glory, you are such a hoot. Do you think we’d ever be afraid of you or your little fledgling?”
    “You know, I’m thinking. If Glory won’t do this job, maybe Miss Penny here will. I would like to keep her. You should hear her vocabulary. And she bit me, Car. Me! I’m really impressed.” Spyte’s gruesome mouth was a perfect O of surprise.
    “It’s an idea. A backup plan.”