The Vampire from Hell Returns - The Vampire from Hell (Part 4) (Sample)

Chapter 1 - Betrayal

"You a nursemaid?" Facing out towards the ocean, I failed to contain my laughter as I temporarily forgot my troubles, and chatted with a good friend. 

"You realize I'd slap you in the back of the head for that remark if I was close by," he said. 

"Absolutely, and I would deserve it," I agreed. "Hey D, promise me you'll take care of her okay. We still don't know where Stephanie is and I fear she may come for Grace at some point. She's already got Lynn and Ashton. If I don't return, will you take care of her?" 

There was a silence on his end of the phone line. I dug one of my shoes into the sand, feeling its grittiness slide into the top of my sneaker. 

"Ray, you're not going to die. We won't allow it." His voice turned serious. "I won't allow it." 

Briefly, I paused when I heard the deep tone in his voice. Death was always rather good-natured with me. Despite our past, he never once talked down to me or threatened me. There really was no reason to. I knew the severity of his tone was not for my benefit, but it still gave me the chills hearing the way he phrased it. Having Death on my side, if I needed him, had never been a consideration I thought I would need. Finally he asked in his friendly manner, "Did I hear Blick right? Did you really call Beelzebub?" 

"I did," I snapped. "He's supposedly looking for Lynn and Ashton now." 

"Lordy, lordy. Why didn't you just call J?" 

"Because I'm an idiot sometimes. Besides, J can't save them if they are in Hell. Now can he? I'll figure out something to bargain with. Don't worry." 

"True. I won't want J to visit Hell anytime soon. For any reason. Even a good one like saving your friends. Would you? Just don't let it be your life you bargained with, Ray." Then in the same breath, his tone changed again. He asked, "Would you like to speak to her?" 

I was about to say that now wasn't a good time when I heard Grace's voice on the phone. She was chuckling into the phone like I had said something funny. "Rayea, are you there? Is this thing on? Demetri, I think I lost the call." 

"Grace, I'm here. How are you?" 

"Oh! There you are! Yes, I'm awesome! I've never felt so good in my life. I wanna go find Nathan and kick his ass. You know what I mean? Does this stuff do that to you? Wow!" 

"Grace?" 

"Yes," she replied. 

"Stay with Demetri for now, okay. When I am done here, I'll visit. We'll find Nathan together. Okay?" I waited for her rapid, chuckling speech to subside. 

"Not a problem, chief. And then can we kill him and go find that snake chic?" 

I laughed despite myself. Since she had been bitten by Stephanie, Grace was not a fan of my sister, which was good because neither was I. 

"It's a deal. Can I talk to Demetri again?" I asked. 

"Sure, let me get tall, blond and handsome. Hold on." In the distance, I heard her calling for Death, who had given her his actual name already. "Where's my hottie nursemaid?" 

"Yeah?" he said quickly into the phone. 

"Sounds like you have your hands full," I replied. 

He chuckled. "I didn't want to bring it up because I know you've got a lot on your mind, but do you remember acting like a three-year-old on energy drinks when you were turned?" 

I thought about it for a few moments, recalling my time in the House of G. "No, actually I was really sick and delirious. Don't you remember? Oh and horny too. I had sex on Blick's couch with Michael. You remember that," I added, making a point to not phrase that as a question. Death was there. He knew what I meant.