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Cautiously, I slid the stake into my boot.
Sassy answered the door—also usual y Janet’s duty. But if Janet was bedridden, then perhaps Sassy hadn’t bothered to find someone to step in for her. I slipped inside, glancing around automatical y. The foyer was as tidy as ever . . . wel , no. Not quite. There were spots on the floor that looked like dried blood—smal ones, drips. And the console table was dusty; the plants looked like they were drooping from lack of water.
I gazed at Sassy. She’d dyed her hair jet black, and a little stream of the dye had stained her temple. That wouldn’t come off—dye a vamp’s skin with permanent hair dye and it stayed that way. Her clothing was stil designer but was stained with blood and what looked like lipstick. The smel of unwashed silk and linen rose to envelop her. But most tel ing were her eyes—the intensity was too bright, too glittering. And her fangs were down. She looked hungry, ready to hunt.
I hadn’t seen her for a couple of months, and now was shocked to see just how far she’d slipped. I could see it in her eyes, in her movements, in the way she licked her lips when she looked at me.
“Where’s Janet?” I motioned for Sassy to fol ow me into the parlor. She did, no longer graceful in her movements.
My question seemed to bring her back to herself, for a couple of minutes at least. “She’s upstairs,” she said, her eyes blurring with bloody tears. “Fol ow me.”
I didn’t ask, just fol owed her up the stairs to the second floor, where she led me into a large bedroom. There, in a cushioned bed under a flowered comforter, rested Janet. Her eyes were wandering, but when she saw me she startled and tried to sit up.
Glancing at Sassy, I mouthed, The tumor?
Sassy nodded, then, pressing her hand to her mouth, left the room. I turned back to Janet.
Inoperable, the brain tumor had been diagnosed six months ago. Erin was right. Time had final y caught up with Janet and was rapidly running out.
Gently, I sat on the side of the bed and took one of Janet’s hands. “Hey, Janet . . . so . . .”
She focused on me, though I could tel it was taking her some work to do so. “Miss Menol y. I’m sorry I couldn’t be downstairs to greet you . . .”
“Hush.” I patted her hand. “Don’t worry about that. Erin told me you were sick.” As I sought for something comforting to say, Janet clutched my fingers.
“Promise me something . . .”
“If I can, of course. What is it?”
She held tight to my hand and in a fevered plea, she begged, “Don’t let her turn me. She’s been in here the past few nights, talking about bringing me over. I don’t want that. I’m an old, sick woman and I’ve lived a good life. I don’t want to become . . .” Her voice trailed off and she winced.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be one of you.”
I let out a smal laugh. “Oh, Janet—I didn’t want to be a vampire, either. I don’t think many of us choose the life. But yes, I promise you—I won’t let her turn you. You say she’s been talking about it?”
“Too much. She always promised me she wouldn’t, but Miss Menol y, Miss Sassy’s not herself.
I’m afraid of her now. I don’t want to die in fear.” Janet was weeping, and I noticed one eye dilated larger than the other. The tumor real y had caught up to her.
“Did you drink any of her blood?”
“No,” Janet said. “She offered, but I refused.”
“Then you wil go to your ancestors unharmed. Rest, now. I’m here to make things better. I can’t save you, Janet, but I’l save you from becoming one of the undead. And I’l make sure Sassy’s taken care of. I promised her six months ago that I would. And now . . . I’ve come to fulfil that promise.”
As she slowly let go of my hand, Janet shuddered. “Thank you. You’re one of the good ones, Miss Menol y. You’re one of the rare ones.” And then she let out a long breath, shuddered, and her head fel to the side. I closed her eyes, gently, and examined her for bite marks to make sure Sassy hadn’t already started the process. I was furious when I found numerous punctures—al fresh—on Janet’s chest and wrists, but if she hadn’t drunk Sassy’s blood, she wouldn’t turn into a vampire.
“Poor woman, you were betrayed in the end by the one you cared for al of your life. Sassy, how could you . . .” Whispering, I rearranged Janet’s covers and pul ed out a couple coins from my pocket, laying them on her eyes, and then kissed her forehead. “For the boatman. Easy journeys, Janet. Go to your ancestors and be at peace.”
As I left the room, I glanced back at Janet’s body one last time. Another reason why I had to complete my promise. Another sign that Sassy Branson had freed her inner predator and was losing al sense of reason. She’d loved Janet, had promised time and again she’d never sire another vampire, and yet Janet bore the scars of Sassy’s fangs. Yet, she had not given in. In the face of death, she’d chosen to sleep. As I headed down the stairs, I steeled myself for the coming battle.
CHAPTER 10
Sassy was waiting for me in the foyer. She gave me a curious look.
“Janet’s dead. She’s with her ancestors now, at peace.”
“Damn you! You let her die without cal ing me. You didn’t give me a chance.” Sassy let out a snarl.
