@m_rave – wow i’m a new reason to wake up in the morning?! you mean i’m better than coffee? that is high praise indeed… although i’m comparing myself to an addictive beverage now… hmmm… and i just have to say this… i am totally loving your fic… wow… just wow!
@amazed – wooohooo… shane always gets what she wants… well she does when i’m writing it cause i’m all for that… if only my life was like that… you know whoever is writing the fic that is my life isn’t doing all that well haha
@bvhall – if you thought shane’s abilities could get her all the ladies before… you’re in for a surprise because shane is getting better and better…
@trysian – those are some killer ideas… and i like all of them!!! especially the intervention by alice and shane fighting belle morte and shane watching anita kill a vamp and carmen and shane… oh wait that’s all of them already haha… i’m definitely gonna try and put some or all of them in the fic… thanks for the brainwave… it’s exactly what i needed… in the meantime while i was writing this chapter i got a completely wicked idea… dana just joined Shane on the creepy train…
@cfone – thanks!!! i aim to please… well most of the time anyway… when i’m not being selfish and all those other nasty things haha…

Previouslies

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Whos that? Anita asked looking at Shane with a mixture of annoyance and impatience. It seemed more and more people were finding their way to her house. The last thing she needed was another vampire to add to her list of people to keep out of trouble. Especially not a vampire who seemed to have defected.

Carmen. She helped me escape.

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You made her help you? Now it was Anitas turn to sound incredulous. Shane looked up meeting Anitas gaze and for a moment she thought she saw something familiar in Anitas eyes. But when she blinked it was gone.

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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You need to go, Anita just said and pushed past her into her bedroom. Shane followed her worried that she might have done something she shouldnt have.

I swear I didnt mean to get into your head its just hard for me to control it. This time Anita did turn to Shane.

Just go to bed, Shane. Shane looked at Anita sadly and followed her to the door leading to the hallway.

I really am sorry, Anita, she said turning back one more time.

Dont be Shane you werent in my head at least not the way you think, Anita replied before closing the door. Closing her eyes she leaned against the closed door. She had never felt this confused before.

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BLOOD HEIR

Chapter 9 – Reading Minds

Anita woke up from a heavy feeling on her chest. She slowly opened her eyes to the sight of Nathaniel curled up against. Carefully she slid his arm to the side and got up out of bed. She pulled on her robe and walked to the bathroom. She saw her own reflection in the mirror and her mind drifted off to what had happened the night before. She shook her head and walked out of the bedroom in search of Shane. They had a lot of ground to cover. In order to fight Belle Morte they would need to know exactly what Shane was capable of. After searching the house three times Anita had to admit Shane wasnt there anymore. The missing car in the driveway sort of confirmed her suspicions that her bird had flown the coupe. Now she would have to chase her down.

*****

Shane was absentmindedly listening to her friends as she was twirling her cup of espresso. She had left shortly after Anita had kicked her out of her room. Shed tried to get some sleep, but for some reason sleep wouldnt come so she had just decided to meet her friends at the Planet. Shane shook her head trying to clear it of all the cobwebs and started paying attention to what Dana was saying.

Look, if Tina wants to cry, let her. Its good to get things out in the open.

I was not going to cry. Who said I was going to cry? Tina asked.

Well, you were getting a bit serious, honey, Alice said patting Tinas hand.

Im just having a hard time thats all. Havent you ever had a lousy break up, Al?

Of course I have, T, Alice said chewing on her pen. In fact all of my break ups have been lousy. Ive had Alice started counting on her fingers, seven lousy break ups from relationships. And almost every single time I was the dumpee. But why bother crying? Alice said bravely not divulging the fact that she had cried nearly every time she had been dumped, but this was Tina and she needed cheering up. And she needed to stop tearing up and start moving on because it seemed Bette was most definitely moving on.

I mean why bother bitching and moaning over someone who dumps you. Someone who treats you like dirt. Someone who says Lets just be friends like we werent friends to start with. Or someone who cheats on you, Alice had blurted it out before she could stop herself. They all saw Tinas face fall and Alice felt someone kicking her under the table. She stifled her yelp.

She didnt mean it like that, T, Shane said before Alice could stick her other foot in her mouth.

I know, Shane. Alice has a tendency to talk before she thinks, Tina said shooting Alice a glance. Its just hard. Ive only had three relationships in my life. And one of them was a one night stand.

Oh, well, I didnt count those. If I did Alice let her voice trail of and started counting on her fingers.

***** Al, how many people have you slept with? Dana let out.

Well, I can tell you how many relationships Ive had, but how many people Ive slept with is a different matter Alice held up ten fingers.

Oh well, then youve slept with seventeen people, Dana mused. Alice groaned and sunk her head in her hands.

Unh try thirty-seven she mumbled her head still in her hands.

Thirty-seven?! Youve slept with thirty-seven people? Tina exclaimed.

You know Al, that would be ok if you were like a senior citizen and lost your cherry at fourteen, Dana said rather loudly.

Cherry? both Shane and Tina said exchanging an amused glance.

Face it, Al, youre a *****, Shane said laughing as she winked at Alice.

I am not a *****! Alice said loud enough for other people to turn their heads. Besides dont you think thats the pot calling the kettle black? Alice shrugged her shoulders.

I guess I just dont like sleeping alone. Besides how are you supposed to find true love without looking around.

Love is not the same as *****, Tina said the voice of romance as ever even if she was sporting a broken heart.

You tell them Tina, Dana said slapping the table.

You cant have love without good ***** Alice said sagely.

So tell us, Alice Mistress of the Matress, Shane said leaning forward with a wicked grin on her face, how many of the people you have slept with, did you love?

Thats none of your business. Shane let out a bark of laughter. She was enjoying this. Normally she was the one getting a lot of ribbing from their friends over all her playmates. Things seemed back to normal, that is until Alice put her foot in her mouth again in an ill-thought-through attempt to divert attention away from her sexual escapades.

So, Shane, how are things with the Executioner? Find any more bodies? Shanes face instantly changed back to serious and she got a detached look on her face. Before she could say anything she felt a hand on her shoulder. When she looked up she was looking in the slightly flustered face of Anita.

Hey, can I talk to you?

Hi, Im Alice Pieszecki, a friend of Shanes, Alice said quickly not wanting to miss the opportunity to miss introducing herself to the Executioner.

Hi, Anita, she said taking Alices hand. She took in the perky blonde. The eager gaze in her eyes. It wasnt the first time shed come across someone who was fascinated by who she was. *****, half of the time she was fascinated by who she was. She nodded at the other women at the table. When her eyes reached Danas and looked into hers, she felt her beast stir inside her. She could feel it trying to reach out and touch Danas beast. Dana felt it too and she quickly broke eye contact with Anita. She didnt think the woman was part of a pack. At least not Richards pack, because she had never seen her. She got a feeling her friends had no idea what she was. That once a month she got furry. She wondered how the woman survived not being part of a pack. Before she could ponder the issue further, Shane got up and pulled Anita towards a free table.

*****

So that was the Executioner? Alice muttered. Shes hot. I wonder if Shanes working her magic yet?

Alice! Tina said admonishing her.

Dana remained silent. She looked at Shane and Anita and wondered what they were talking about. She just hoped that Anita wouldnt reveal what she had felt in those few seconds. She had tried so hard to hide who she was. She couldnt afford anyone finding out now. Her tennis career was finally taking off. If people found out about what she was she couldnt even bare to think about it.

*****

So whats up?

Well, you were gone pretty quick. Shane nodded.

Yeah, I couldnt sleep, Shane said lowering her eyes so she didnt have to meet Anitas eyes.

Me neither, Anita said softly.

Listen I know we need to talk, but there are more important things we need to deal with first. Shane looked up at this. More important things than what had happened in Anitas bathroom?

We need to find exactly what you can do, Shane. And why it is that you can do these things.

So how do you intend to do that?

*****

For the past two hours they had been sitting in Jean Claudes room at the Circus of the Damned trying to find out the extent of her powers. Since dusk had been a few hours away when they had reached the Circus, Anita had suggested to see if Shane had any control over wereleopards or werewolves. Nathaniel had of course been there. And Jason had gallantly volunteered. But then again Jason always wanted to be part of the party, especially when it involved someone hot of the female persuasion.

Well, Anita asked looking at Nathaniel. For the past five minutes Shane had been gazing intently into Nathaniels violet eyes trying to will his beast to respond. It had taken her a while to understand that a persons beast was the spirit of the wolf or leopard or any other animal inside them. She knew about wolves and leopards, but had been surprised to find out that there were also wererats and other creatures. The story of the weresnake had been particularly impressing and also slightly disturbing. But she had pushed her fears away knowing the Executioner wouldnt let anything happen to her. After all, that would be bad for business.

After nothing happened the first hour, Shane had asked what it was exactly that was supposed to happen. It turned out that Anita carried the spirits of both beasts through various metaphysical ties she had. Meaning that she could not only sense the beast of others similar. She could also make their beasts rise to the surface with her own. What she couldnt do was turn into something furry herself. For some reason Shane had felt relief at hearing this.

Nathaniel shook his head. Nothing. But then again if she could bring out my beast, she would have also brought out yours. Anita was quiet at this for a moment.

So I guess its safe to say that your powers are vampiric, Anita said turning to Shane. Shane just nodded. She was feeling exhausted by now. Trying to make your mind do something it couldnt had really worn her out. Not to mention the fact that shed hardly had any sleep.

Lets see so far we know that you can roll not only humans, but also vampires and wereanimals, Anita started. Theyd found out that Shanes powers extended to wereanimals when she had Jason hit himself when hed made a very inappropriate remark pissing her off more than he would have if she hadnt been so tired and freaked.

And she can communicate with Belle Morte, Jean Claude spoke from the doorway. Shane looked at her watch and realized it was much later than she had thought. Apparently it was already dark outside. Jean Claude walked towards them with Asher at his heels.

She can also cast Belle out, Asher added, I dont think she was too pleased with that.

Thats an understatement if ever I heard one, Jason piped in.

We need to find out what Belle wants with her. I will need to contact Musette and find out why shes here, Jean Claude silently communicated with Anita. She simply nodded.

And we need to find out why it is that she possesses these powers, ma petite, before Belle does.

wonder if shes ever been bitten or whether

Ive never been bitten, Shane said before Anita could finish her thought. The whole room turned towards her. Nathaniel, Jason and Asher were merely wondering where that remark had come from. Anita and Jean Claude however stared at her in shock.

You heard that? Anita said her face clearly showing her shock.

Yeah, of course, didnt everyone? Shane said a little confused looking at the others gathered in the room.


Hear what? Jason asked.

What they were saying? Shane responded pointing at Anita and Jean Claude.

Have you ever before read anyones mind? Jean Claude asked directing his question to Shane this time. Shane shook her head.

Whats going on? Asher asked noticing a change in Jean Claudes face.

It seems our friend has one other ability we were not aware of. She can read minds.

But how come she didnt hear what we were saying before? Anita asked.

Perhaps, ma petite, because she wasnt paying attention before. Everyone in the room fell silent.

Can she read anyones thoughts? Nathaniel asked breaking the silence.

I guess we should try it, Jason said looking at Shane as a wicked smile spread across his face.

Jeez dude, youre a real pervert, you know that? Shane let out suddenly.

Yep, she can read everyones mind. Damn Im going to have to watch what I think around her, Jason quipped but he wasnt able to lighten the mood as everyone was thinking of what ramifications this would have.

We need to find out where these powers come from, Anita said. The determined look made place for a puzzled one because she was pretty much stumped as to how they were going to do that.