The New Night Novels (Book 1): Rippers: A New Night Novel by Ashlei D. Hawley Page B

wrapped around each other and smoke belched from under the hood of the more damaged vehicle. There were people inside. Elise didn’t look too closely at them as she passed.
         “What do you mean when you say ‘the humans’? Aren’t you human?” Though she chuckled at her own words, the way Jameson had spoken perplexed her.
         “He’s a vampire,” Leland said as he turned back around. At Elise’s puzzled, disbelieving expression, Leland gestured around to the world outside the van. “You think that’s any weirder than this?”
         Elise blinked hard a few times. She didn’t quite have a response to that.
         Jameson didn’t have to check the pulse beneath Phoebe’s jaw. He could hear the strong, steady beat of her heart even over Elise and Leland’s discussion and the sound of the vehicle moving.
         “Phoebe, I’m sorry,” Jameson whispered. “You were fine without us until this point. We teamed up and I injured you…twice. Sorry, kiddo. You have to wake up. The longer you sleep, the worse the damage. So please wake up.”
         Phoebe didn’t move or awaken. With a sigh, Jameson leaned back against the wall of the van. The space was cramped, but he wasn’t bothered by it. He drew his long legs up and crossed his arms over them as he watched the world roll by out of the tinted back windows.
         Dawn would be coming soon. Elise had a blanket rolled up and tucked against the backseat, which Jameson pulled toward him and unfolded. He placed it over Phoebe for the time being, but would have to take it for himself when the sun rose if he didn’t have a better option. With the sun would come the threat of death for him. If he wasn’t under cover, he would burn.
         Though being a vampire had likely saved him from the Rippers thus far, Jameson hated the weakness that came from his vampiric form. He couldn’t be out in the sun. How would he be able to be a part of this group of humans if he couldn’t even function with them in the daytime?
         Elise drove, Phoebe slept, and Jameson worried. What would happen to them when the next day came?
    Chapter Sixteen – The Wrong Side of Town
         Shortly before the sun rose, Jameson curled under the blanket. He made sure every part of his body was covered and huddled against the threat of what the sun would do to him.
         “Jameson, we’ll try to find a tarp or something for you when we can,” Leland assured the vampire from the front seat.
         “I can’t drive anymore,” Elise announced. Her dark eyes were bleary with exhaustion. “We need to stop so someone can switch in or I can get some sleep. Where would we be safe to stop?”
         Leland looked out the passenger window and said, “Look.”
         Throughout the night, Rippers had thrown themselves against the van, sometimes rocking it, sometimes bouncing off with furious howls. They hadn’t encountered a single one who didn’t try to get at them in some way.
         With the sunlight spilling down on them, the Rippers moved more lethargically. They stumbled into each other and didn’t try to attack the van at all.
         “I think they’re different in the daytime,” Leland theorized. “Unless they’re right near people, they seem less likely to attack, don’t they?”
         Elise squinted out the windshield. The van passed within feet of a Ripper wandering in the middle of the street. Though the mirror almost clipped what was once a pretty young woman, the creature ignored the van completely.
         “I think you’re right,” Elise agreed with wonderment in her voice. “They aren’t interested in us at all right now.”
         “When the night comes again, it might be different,” Leland guessed. “But for now, if we stay out of their sight and keep quiet…” His suggestion trailed off. He didn’t want to be the one to say for sure that they could stop and stretch, or eat, or pee. He really