creatures, if you really think about it.â
This time the entire team just stared at J.L. for a moment, stunned.
âWhat?!â
âHear me out, Rider,â J.L. argued. âThink about it. What makes a vampire so deadly is they have the ability to blend in with humans. They can transform into bats, wolves, mist, smoke, leave no real odor trail, can invade dreams, and feed without detection. Leave the body drained with only two puncture woundsâbut most of the time they cover up the kill and make it look like an accident to keep authorities at bay. As an entity, they are extremely effective.â
âSmooth, like I said,â Shabazz muttered. âMost times theyâre cool, donât cause a lot of static. They stay on the down low to keep the public unaware.â
âSexy, too,â Big Mike said in a distant voice. âCan make you wanna slap your momma.â
âI told you, we were not going to get into that discussion,â Rider said with a scowl. âAlmost got yourself bitten that time.â
âYeah . . . I did, didnât I?â Mike chuckled. âGuess I been cooped up too long.â
âPeople, can we stay focused?â Damali walked in a tight circle. âWhat brought this Amanthra thing up from Hell?â
âThis demon is one that has province over revenge.â
âAll right, Mar, but thatâs another difference. Vampires arenât just bent on revenge. Theyâre about power and feeding.â
All eyes were on Marlene as she spoke.
âThereâs a South American legend, and another similar one from ancient Kemet . . . the three creaturesâ aspects of the demon are found in those respective regions. Hence why it has to be released using incantations from those cultures.â
When the group looked like their understanding had glazed over, Marlene pressed on. âBig snakes like anacondas and cobras, and jaguarsâa cousin to panthersâare found in South America, and the Kemetians were always partial to the big cats. Spiders, I can only assume, had the South American influence. No matter. Someone conjured up that particular revenge demon, or made it, or whatever, in some dark-arts ritual long ago. We thought weâd dealt with it years ago, and now it appears to be back. Thatâs what I need to research. So, while you guys are drinking and carousing, I will be in the occult bookstore and scanning the shelves at the Botanica to get answers.â
âBut the eyes,â Damali persisted. âThese things had vamp eyes, and from all the police accounts and the stuff in the papers, they said the bodies were drained of blood. Thatâs vamp action. Plus, a wooden stake wouldnât do a revenge demon. Would it? Thatâs a vampire weakness.â
âI know,â Marlene murmured. âThatâs what concerns me. Itâs almost like a hybrid.â
âYou have
got
to be kidding me!â Rider leaned against the back of the sofa and closed his eyes. âNow I
know
I need a drink.â
âThink Iâll skip the ribs and the fine sister and join you, brother,â Big Mike said.
âJazz ainât calling me like Riderâs bottle of Jack Daniels, right through here,â Shabazz agreed.
âHow about if I just make a package-store run and we open up old Jack right here in the compound, dudes?â J.L. glanced at his monitors. âIf Mar is breaking out the dusty black books, Iâll need a shot. Hell, Iâll even stop off and pick up some chips for Damali, too.â
For a moment, no one said a word. Damali began pacing, as the group remained silent. Revenge?
âOh, God . . .â she finally muttered. âWe have to figure out how these things multiply, how to kill them at the sourceâdid you see the jaws on those things? And theyâre strong as shit!â
âYeah,â Rider agreed. âNot to mention the smell. Vamp breath
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