Free Other Worldly Ways (Anthology 1) by Connie Suttle

otherwise. We just didn't have a heartbeat. When I'd first been turned, I had no idea how much I'd miss it, but only after it was no longer present. Xavier, who turned me, told me long ago that the organ was still present in our bodies and not shriveled and black, like some might imagine. He said it looked like a normal heart would look, as did our liver and other major organs. We just didn't need them any longer. I wasn't sure how he'd come by this information, and after thinking about it for a while, decided I didn't want to know.
    "We'll go to New York tomorrow," I informed Joey. "Meet me at the airport at eight." I was ready to leave when Joey jerked on my sleeve.
    Adam, over there . He nodded slightly to our left.
    I saw, through the window of the coffee shop, another vampire scraping his fangs across a young woman's neck. My body stilled. Did he see us?
    I don't think so.
    I had Joey up and out the door of that coffee shop so fast, we weren't even a blur. Only a paper napkin fluttering to the floor off a table near the doorway marked our passage. Do not alert him to our presence , I warned Joey. My Enforcers have been looking for this one. He is responsible for those murders in Madrid and Barcelona . I was holding Joey against the side of the building, which held the coffee shop and two other businesses.
    Adam, calm down. I won't give us away.
    Good. We need to follow him. If he holds to his normal pattern, he'll walk along with her, sipping her blood occasionally while she's under his compulsion. He'll take her into an alley eventually and sate himself, then slice her throat open and allow her to bleed to death. He can't drink her dry by himself.
    Sick , Joey sent.
    Come, he's moving , I returned. We followed our target for three blocks while a plan formed in my mind. Joey, I need you to carry me .
    What? His sending was incredulous.
    Just do it. I have to be stationary to become mist .
    Joey started muttering "Ohmygodohmygodohmygod," even as he was lifting me into his arms.
    Quiet, Joey. Do you want him to hear? Keep following him. We'll see if our little mind trick works while I'm mist .
    How long will this take? Joey asked mentally. He was doing his best to keep from bouncing me around while he carried me. Vampires are all strong, no matter how tall or short they are. Joey carried me easily.
    Three to five minutes . I was already beginning to fade.
    Perfect. Just wonderful . I ignored him and concentrated on altering my body.
    By the time our quarry turned his victim down a deserted alley between buildings, I was mist and had floated away from Joey's grasp. Can you hear me? I sent.
    Yes.
    Wait here at the corner, Joey. I will approach and observe. When I call you, you must come in and kill him.
    What? Joey was backing up, preparing to break into a run.
    Joey get back here! It will take another five minutes to change back, and the girl will be dead by then. Is that what you want?
    No.
    Then get back to the corner, and when I say move, you move, understand me? You need your claws and fangs out, in case he hears you. I want his back turned, so you'll surprise him instead. I want his head off cleanly, Joey, before he even knows you're there.
    I think Joey gulped nervously. I imagined that he'd be sweating if he were still human. But he was no longer human. Vampires can experience fear, and he was definitely afraid. Joey, this is our chance—we've been tracking this one for months; he's killed at least thirty women that we know of. You need to do this, Joey.
    Joey got himself under control and nodded. I misted into the alley. The vamp was already drinking, and he'd get enough in only a matter of seconds; he'd already had sex with the girl. His back was conveniently turned to the street to keep any stray humans from seeing what he was doing. I called out to Joey.
    Now, Joey!
    Joey whipped around the corner, claws and fangs out just as I'd requested, and he was faster than even I thought possible. He slashed through the