Free Out of the Night by Robin T. Popp

maliciously—reacting merely to their circumstances. She and Mac had been in the wrong place at the wrong time last night, and she felt bad for injuring it when perhaps it had been as frightened as she and Mac had been. She didn't make the mistake of feeling too sorry, however. After all, it had killed her father and Burton—and almost killed Mac.
    "What the hell…"
    She'd almost forgotten about Davis. "That's the creature that attacked us last night. No, wait!" She put up a hand to stop Davis from shooting it. "Don't kill it."
    "What is it?"
    "El Chupacabra," she replied, returning her gaze to the creature. She wished Mac were there with her. It would be hard for him to argue against cold, hard fact. "Lieutenant Davis? Would you please radio someone inside the facility and ask them to send Mac out here?"
    Davis didn't reply.
    A
thunk
, followed by a soft ruffling of leaves, was her only indication that something was wrong. She turned and spotted Davis, crumpled at the base of a nearby tree.
    Beside his body stood her father and Burton.

----
Chapter 5

     
    "Dad?"
    Lanie couldn't believe her eyes. Was it really him? Her heart leaped with sudden joy.
    Both men stood at the forest's edge, peering at her from the shadowy depths beneath the canopy of tree limbs, their eyes glowing reddish in the dark. At the sound of her voice, her father took a step closer and she saw that he looked wan and pale; his skin almost translucent where errant beams of moonlight touched it. Yet a happy smile touched his lips as he gazed at her.
    "Lanie, my child, I never thought I'd see you again—and here you are."
    "They said you were dead." Her voice cracked with the strain of her emotions. She wanted to throw herself into his arms, but hesitated as images from the security recording flashed through her mind.
    "No, don't come closer." His voice caught and he paused to collect himself. "I fed earlier, but still, the temptation is hard to resist."
    "What?" She felt confused, and her eyes darted from his face to Burton's, which looked predatory. She didn't think her father would harm her, but she wasn't so sure about this man.
    She shook her head. "I don't understand. What happened?"
    "I died." Instead of sounding sorrowful, Lanie caught a hint of excitement in his voice. "It's incredible, isn't it? Two myths put to rest. Of course, no one must ever know."
    "So, you really are—?"
    Burton took a step closer and Lanie stopped talking, distracted by the sensation of his eyes traveling over her. Sheer willpower kept her standing in place, but fear swamped her senses. Burton's lips curled in a mockery of a grin, and she saw fangs where the canine teeth once had been. She couldn't suppress the shudder that ran through her as an unnatural silence fell.
    As if playing with her, Burton crossed one arm in front of him and rested the elbow of his other arm against it so he could stroke his chin in thoughtful repose. The image was made more surreal by the talon-sharp nails that now tipped each finger.
    Across the way, she heard Davis stir and gasp.
    "Don't move," she warned him.
    "Who are they?"
    Burton chuckled. "The
who
is not as important as the
what
, I'm afraid."
    "Our worst nightmare?" Lanie suggested.
    Burton's laugh was more genuine this time. "I suppose that was a bit cliche. Such wit. So, Weber, this is your daughter? Maybe we should take her with us. What do you think?"
    "Leave her alone," her father growled. "Or I won't help you."
    Burton walked up to her, stopping inches away. He ran one sharpened nail lightly down the side of her cheek, and the light in his eyes turned to molten lava. "I wonder if her blood tastes as sweet as the smell of her fear?"
    "You can't do this without my help, Lance, and I promise you, if you harm my daughter—"
    Burton held up a hand to silence her father, his expression turning cold and hard. With a last long look at Lanie, he walked to the cage door. Lanie's heart lurched when she realized what he was about to