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PREVIOUSLIES

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I dont love you anymore, Bette, Tina said without turning around wanting to hurt her and she just walked out.

TINA!!! Bette yelled the tears running down her cheeks freely now.

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Easy just pretend it NEVER happened, Alice said looking at Dana as if she were dumber than a brick. Dana shook her head vigorously. She was trying very hard not to strangle Alice right now.

Alice you kissed me. THAT happened. As if a switch had been flicked Alice moved from nonchalance to anger.

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Im not interested, she said abruptly and got up and left. Alice looked at Shanes back in surprise. She exchanged a glance with Dana. This was so unShane The girl looked equally taken aback and she slowly started making her way back to her friends still with a confused look on her face.

What the *****, Alice let out. Dana looked at her and just shrugged and took another sip of her drink.

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Suddenly Shane stopped breathing altogether. Oh my god did this mean she could never pick up a woman again? There had to be a way to turn it off whatever it was or she was never going to have ***** again. She was going to die of sexual frustration. Before Shane could ponder the issue further she felt strong hands wrap around both her arms.

Ello darling you dont struggle and we wont hurt you. Shane was about to struggle but she let them willingly lead her to the waiting black sedan when she saw the moonlight glistening off their fangs.
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BLOOD HEIR

Chapter 7 – Controlling Her Enemies

Shane let the two vampires lead her to the parked sedan. The woman got into the backseat with Shane. The guy sat down in the passenger seat and the car took off. Shane looked at the two vampires in front of her. They were both men. One blonde. One dark. And they both looked like they could bench press a car. Considering they were vampires they probably could. She glanced at the woman beside her. The first thing she noticed were her dark brown eyes. It looked as if they had little gold specks in them. Her mouth was full and looked to be in a perpetual pout. Dark brown curls framed her face. Her skin was slightly tanned. Shane guessed she was a latina. Shanes eyes traveled down and rested on her ***** for a moment before they turned back on her face. The vampire turned her head and looked Shane in the eyes. I wonder what her name is, Shane thought.

Carmen, the woman spoke suddenly. Then her face turned into a frown. Her colleague turned around and gave her an angry glare.

We are not to talk to our guest, he said. The woman shrugged. Shane looked at the exchange between the two. The wheels in her head were turning furiously now. She looked at the latina again. When they locked eyes again, Shane held her gaze. Where are we going?

To see Belle Morte, the latina spoke. The moment the words left her mouth, she slapped her hand against it. Her colleague turned around again more angry this time.

What the ***** did you tell her that for? The latina looked at Shane uncomfortably.

I dont know, she said confused. For some reason she had felt compelled to tell the young woman where they were going. But she couldnt figure out why. It was as if there was some force driving her. Unlike the latina Shane was starting to figure out what was going on. Anita and Jean Claude had explained to her that vampires and apparently she also could roll human beings. By using mind control they could get them to do and say things they normally wouldnt. They could also be made to enjoy for instance a vampire sinking his fangs into them.

According to Jean Claude this gift, or curse whichever way you looked at it, needed to be developed. It took a lot of practice, but somehow Shane had honed her talents over the years. What Jean Claude and Anita, however, had failed to mention was that this power could also be used on vampires. She had simply thought the questions and the latina had had to answer them because Shane was making her. Perhaps neither Jean Claude nor Anita knew that vampires could also be rolled. She would have to ask them that. Wait a minute she didnt want anything to do with any of them ever again.

Then she looked back at the two vampires in front of her and the latina beside her. She guessed it was too late to stay out of things. She was about to meet the bervamp and it seemed there was nothing she could do about it. Or was there?

*****

Marina yelled after Shane, but it was too late. The black sedan disappeared around the corner. Marina pulled out her phone. She wasnt sure what to tell them. There was of course the possibility that they were her friends and shed gone willingly. But Marina doubted that. She dialed the number and heard the phone ring.

911 How may I help you?

Hello, Id like to report a kidnapping, Marina said her voice worried but determined.

*****

It was well after three when the phone in Anitas kitchen rang. She sighed and got up from the kitchen table to get it. Her back was aching. Shed been working too hard, or so she had been told by Nathaniel and Micah and half a dozen other concerned friends. Shed just gotten back from another raising about half an hour ago. It hadnt gone as smoothly as shed hoped.

Besides her work as a Federal Marshal and holding the hands of some of the creepy crawlies Anita also had a daytime job. Or in her case it was actually a nighttime job. She was one of the partners of Animators Inc. The company had been founded by their manager Bert who used to be their boss. Unfortunately over the years Bert and his employees had realized that without animators there was no Animators Inc. So now Bert was the manager who still got a sizeable chunk of the pie, but the animators were now partners and got a slightly bigger piece than they did as mere employees.

Animators Inc. was doing great and Anita was their most popular animator, or as the common public liked to call them zombie raisers. In truth Anita was a necromancer. Someone with a special gift to raise the dead. Most people thought that that meant she could bring people back to life. But that was not her gift. She could bring back the dead but they would never be the same again. They would still be dead, and whether she wanted to or not she would have to put them back into their grave.

Because Anita was so popular, she was never short of work. Some nights she had three or even four raisings. Tonight had gone rather well until her last appointment. She had been hired by a Mrs. Crowley to raise her dead father. She and her siblings were having a dispute over his estate, because Mr. Harrison, her father, had neglected to make a will. Anita had arrived at the graveyard spot on time. Mrs. Crowley and her two sisters and one brother had already been there waiting for her. Shed walked over to them and explained the procedure. Then shed drawn a circle around the grave with salt and standing inside the circle had made a small cut on her left arm. The moment the blood had dripped on the ground, the dirt had receded and out had come Mr. Harrison.

Anita used to use chickens as a sacrifice, but her mentor Marianne, a Wiccan, objected to such barbaric practices. So Anita had been forced to use her own blood to bring back the dead. As a result the corpses didnt look as good as they could if she used more blood, and she also ended up with lots of cuts on her arms. Mr. Harrison had turned out to be a right old *****. Like most dead people he wasnt aware of the fact that he was dead. When Anita had informed him of this, he had kicked up quite a fuss. After which he had proceeded to insult anyone in his vicinity. Finally just to shut the old man up the four siblings had decided to split everything four ways and theyd asked Anita to put him back. Anita was used to being verbally abused by a varied number of people. She just preferred her corpses to keep schtumm.

Anita sighed before answering the phone. If it was Bert she was going to simply hang up on him.

Anita Blake.

Anita, its Zerbrowski, she heard the familiar voice on the other end of the line. Anita closed her eyes. Thered been another flaying. She would have to go out again now. She couldnt say she was thrilled at the prospect of looking at another crime scene. It turned out she didnt have to. What Zerbrowski told her was potentially worse. After hanging up with Zerbrowski Anita immediately called Jean Claude and told him what was going on.

*****

Shane closed her eyes and leaned back in the seat as she tried to collect her thoughts. This was going to be tricky considering she had no idea what the ***** she was doing. But she had to try. Something told her that meeting the bervamp would not be a good thing. She opened her eyes and saw the latina looking at her. She couldnt tell whether it was a good look or a bad look.

The two vampires in the front were talking with each other softly. Shane tried to catch the eye of the driver in the rearview mirror. Finally he glanced at the two women in the back. Shane smiled. Pull over, she thought. Immediately the vampire pulled the car over to the curb. The other vampire looked at him puzzled.

What are you doing? he asked when the blonde one didnt say or do anything. He didnt respond. He just sat there frozen. Shane realized she still had him under her control.

Step out of the car and open the door for me. The blonde vampire opened his door and got out. He walked to Shanes side of the car and opened her door for her. Both the brunette vampire and the latina were now on guard. They smelled a rat. They just werent sure exactly where the rat was. Shane started getting out of the car but the latina caught her by the hand. Shane looked at her.

Let me go. Instantly the latina let go of Shanes hand. Shane smiled at this. She was starting to get used to this. Maybe rolling people wasnt such a bad thing after all. Shed be able to get into any club in town. Cut to the front of the line at the grocers. Get a raise from her boss. She turned around to get out of the car and bumped right into her next problem. The blonde vampire was no longer looking a little puzzled but downright furious.

Uh oh, Shane thought, this is not good. It turned out she could only roll one person at a time. Or one vampire at a time in this case. She looked around her for help but there was no one around. She even considered hitting the guy, but she didnt think it would do her much good.

The brunette vampire got out from the passengers side. And she felt the latina stand behind her. The blonde vampire reached out for her. Suddenly Shane had a thought. She looked at the brunette vampire.

Dont let your friend touch me. Before the blonde could touch her, the other vampire had grabbed him by the arm.

What the ***** are you doing? Both Shane and the latina were watching the exchange between the two. The blonde vampire shook the brunettes hand off of him and reached for Shane again. This time the brunette didnt just grab his hand but he hit him square in the chin causing the blonde vampire to stumble back.

What are you two doing? the latina yelled her face a little angry now. Her pout had been replaced by an angry glare. Both men ignored her. The blonde vampire lunged at the brunette and hit him in the face and then the groin. The brunette vampire buckled over grabbing his stomach. The blonde looked at him smugly but that look was swiftly wiped off his face as the brunette charged forward and tackled him. Both men fell to the ground. The latina stepped forward to break them up, but before she had a chance Shane grabbed her by the arm and turned her to face her.

Lets go. The latina simply nodded. Shane wasnt quite sure why she wanted the woman to come with her. She guessed it wouldnt hurt to have a bodyguard. Plus this girl was hot, Shane grinned unable to help herself. The two of them got in the car. The moment they pulled away, Shane heard the two vampires behind them yell. She grinned again. Who would have thought? Carmen was behind the wheel just driving waiting for Shane to tell her where to go. Shane reached into her pocket and pulled out a small card. She guessed it was time to go to the only place she knew they would be able to help her. And the two women set on their way.

Theyd been driving a while and slowly Shane saw the scenery outside change. It was dark but the moonlight cast an eerie glow over the forest. Shane finally felt the last few days catch up to her. Slowly she nodded off. The moment her eyes closed she felt the car jerk to a stop. Her eyes flew open only to find and enraged latina staring her in the face. The spell seemed to be broken the moment Shane broke her concentration.

What the ***** was that? Shane looked at her uncomfortably. How do you tell someone you crawled into their head?

Uhm, Shane stammered not quite knowing what to say.

What are you? They told me you were just a human but the only other person whos been able to that to me, is Belle Morte. And you are not Belle, she spoke her voice thick with a Latin accent. The accent seemed to become more pronounced the angrier she was. Shane shrank back and just shrugged.

Are you going to take me back? Carmen looked thoughtful at this. Under orders of Belle she had set out to kidnap one of Jean Claudes mortals or so she assumed. The Master of the City had something to do with the shaggy brunette next to her. Only instead of kidnapping her shed helped her escape. Granted it was not her fault, but she doubted Belle would share her point of view. Shed had vampires drawn and quartered for far less than that. Carmen shivered at the thought. Drawn and quartered isnt even that bad that is if you can actually die. Either she threw herself at the mercy of Belle or she sought refuge with Jean Claude who wasnt exactly a pussycat either. Why couldnt things ever be simple?

*****

Anita had just finished explaining everything Zerbrowski had told her to Jean Claude and Asher. Neither of them looked pleased. Anita wasnt too pleased either. She should have listened to Asher when he told her that Belle wouldnt let this go. She should have provided the young woman with some sort of protection. And now shed been kidnapped. Zerbrowski hadnt been able to tell her who did the kidnapping but it didnt take a rocket scientist to figure out they were Belle Mortes people. Hed told her that the police were doing everything they could to find her assistant. Anita grimaced at this. One more problem on her list.

We will have to negotiate with Belle for her freedom, ma petite, Jean Claude finally spoke. Asher placed his hand on his shoulder.

If there is anything left to negotiate for. Anita didnt like the sound of this. At that moment the doorbell rang. Nathaniel got up to get it.

We have to get her back soon. Seeing the resigned looks on the faces of the men in front of her she got a determined look on her face. I am not giving up on Shane.

Thats good to hear, sounded a voice from the doorway.

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PREVIEWS

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She looked at Shane as she stood framed in the doorway by the lights shining behind her. Her gaze traveled over her disheveled appearance and flashes of her earlier daydream started coming back to her. Was Nathaniel right? Could she be developing more than just respect for this woman?

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Yeah, dude, it just kinda happened. When no one seemed to say anything to this, Shane added, I rolled her.

Impossible! Asher let out. Jean Claude was also shaking his head at this statement.

Its true ask her, Shane said rather defensively.

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Im really scared, Anita. I dont want to die, she said almost in tears.

Dont worry. Youre not gonna die, Anita said softly and she pulled Shane into a hug. When the sobs died down she pulled away a little and held Shanes face between her hands.

I know youre scared but were going to figure this out. Anita looked deeply into those green eyes and for a moment she felt herself drowning in them. Her eyes swept over Shanes face from her eyes to her tear streaked cheeks to those beautiful full lips.

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