Part 6 (2/2)
Its pile of black clothing simmered, bodiless, at the base of the tree as Kiko kept his gun and crucifix at the ready. Soon, the material burned to nothing.
”Breisi's pet ran away,” he said, sounding slightly pained as he favored his left shoulder. Still, he was incredibly nonplussed, even with a stream of blood drying on his face. ”And, d.a.m.n, you did some b.i.t.c.hin' good work when you locked eyes with one earlier.
No wonder the boss let you come with us. You might have some kind of resistance to mind tricks, Dawn, and he obviously knew that. I mean, jeez, making eye contact is a no-no because they can compel you if they so choose. I thought you were a goner.”
In spite of the compliment, Dawn couldn't move from her spot on the ground. Literally. It was like she was in the midst of a quiet panic attack, just like when you hear a sound while you're trying to sleep, alone in the house, at midnight. A footstep down the hall, a shuffle of movement under your bed. A thud that makes you hope nothing has crept into your room.
It was at times like this that a body couldn't do anything but wait, wish, as if not moving will make whatever it is go away.
Dawn couldn't even ask Kiko if he thought Breisi's creature might come back for them, because from the way he was holding his weapons, the answer was obvious.
Moments later, Breisi joined them, all business with her first-aid kit taking the place of that crossbow.
She must've gone to the car, Dawn thought, careful not to move, careful not to disturb this fragile reprieve.
Straightaway, Breisi went to work, snapping on latex gloves, taking a sample of burned skin from Dawn's arm, depositing it in a container and capping it. Before she slathered some kind of stinking gel where the creature's spit had fizzed into flesh, then on the calf that'd been sliced by its tail, Breisi lingered near Dawn's silver arm bracelet. There were black char marks where the spit had hit it but, otherwise, the jewelry was unscathed.
As the older woman wrapped Dawn's leg in gauze, she noted, ”Lucky. It didn't get you deep enough to need st.i.tches.”
Dawn didn't answer. She'd started trembling, low in her stomach. If she didn't want to find Frank so badly, she'd have burned rubber at the sight of that first crucifix.
But she did want to find him.Hadto find her dad-the only realistic part of this whole freak show right now.
Through a slow haze, Dawn watched Breisi sit back on her haunches and inspect her. She had a streak of dirt on one cheek, but that was it. Unruffled. A new sense of respect washed over Dawn, a sort of reluctant awe of Breisi and Kiko. A grudging thankfulness.
Kiko, limping slightly, came over to join the proceedings. In addition to the blood on his face, his pants were torn. ”Think she'll be okay? She ain't looking so hot.”
”She won't turn, if that's what you're asking, fool. That thing spit at her and...check it out...the stuffburns.”
”I got hit by its blood and it doesn't hurt.” Kiko dabbed at the red on his forehead. ”I just hope it doesn't contaminate me in any way.”
”Boss says you need an exchange of blood for the change, so don't worry your pretty head about it.”
”Thanks for explaining, Van Helsing. I knewthat.”
Breisi went back to fussing, plucking at a glove. And why not-it'd been a whole few minutes since she'd gotten to whirl around like a hurricane.
”Besides,” she added, ”you're the one who had that vision about Dawn being 'key.'Youtellmeif she'll be okay.”
Kiko nodded, already convinced. ”Well, I suppose being key means she'll man up and stop being in shock pretty soon.”
Breisi stopped fidgeting and glanced at him. ”We went through the same thing at our first sighting, Kik. And we never had this level of confrontation with a vamp before.”
They were talking like Dawn wasn't even there. And maybe she wasn't. Maybe she'd checked out of her mind and all that was left was for her to lay here just staring straight ahead, hearing the conversation like it was being held in an echo chamber.
She saw the psychic poke at Breisi. Back to Happy Kiko. ”Did you see me in action? My kill disappeared, just like steam.
Sweet, huh?”
”Mine did the same thing after decapitation.”
Breisi kept watching Dawn, who merely watched back.
”Oh.” Kiko went quiet. ”h.e.l.l, just because you lop the head off them doesn't make you any more creative, you know.” Something flickered inside Dawn. Annoyance at Kiko. Shewasokay, thank G.o.d.
”Jeez, Kik, let's not be jealous of my saw-bow.” Breisi was also irritated. ”And don't make this into a monster slaying contest, because you'll lose.”
”Silver bullet to the heart,” Kiko said. ”Tell me that's an everyday headline. I'm so good at this.”
Breisi was still watching, but Dawn didn't have the strength to physically react just yet. Instead, her eyes started to close, just for a blessed second....
A smack to Dawn's cheek made her start to attention.
Breisi was staring at her, still gauging.
Skin stinging, Dawn lightly smacked Breisi right back by using her good arm. t.i.t for tat.
”Ooo, girlfight,” Kiko said.
But Breisi didn't seem too put out about it. In fact, she smiled a little, then stood. ”Get your booty up, Dawn. We've got a lot to do.”
p.i.s.sed at being challenged, Dawn slowly rose to her feet, touching her arm as Breisi went about tending to Kiko's minor injuries.
The gel was tingling on her wounds, reminding her of how close she'd come to being cut into Dawn McNuggets.
”Thank you,” she said softly. ”I...”
Words failed her. She wasn't so great at this, even if she was grateful.
As if agreeing, Breisi paused, then obviously decided to go easy on her, nodding toward Dawn's arm. ”Let me know if there's pain. I've used a new balm on you, my own concoction made with a lot of advice from the boss. I just hope it works like it's supposed to. I'll check on it later.”
”Vampires,” Dawn shook her head. ”Vampires, you guys.”
Currently under Breisi's ministrations, Kiko shrugged. ”You're going to get to know more than you ever wanted about vamps, ghosts, ghouls, or whatever hides in every little kid's closet. If you stick with this, that is.”
Dawn managed to look offended, partly because Kiko had taken a jab at her pride. ”I'm not going to quit.”
Turning her back, Breisi bent down and started to pack her first-aid kit.
Kiko gave Dawn another once-over, then motioned toward the lip of the tree stand. They started to walk toward civilization, knowing Breisi would catch up.
”Now that you're a believer...” he said, giving her an I-told-you-so glance.
She just blew out a breath.
”...there're a million things to know, Dawn, starting with the fact that there're all kinds of vamps. All kinds of ghouls. Night to night, we're never sure what we'll be dealing with, and some of them are even good eggs, believe it or not.”
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