The Vault (A Farm Novel) by Emily McKay Page A

around scenting trees and pissing in the woods or what?”
    “Nothing that animalistic. There are rules. Laid out in the Accords.” His eyes flicker closed, like he is too weak to even finish.
    Whatever was laid out in the Accords would have to wait because we have bigger things to worry about. Sebastian’s wound has been bandaged up for several minutes now, and frankly, he doesn’t look any better.
    He swears my injuries had been worse. Had I healed this slowly? I don’t think so. Then again, Sebastian had started bringing me cups full of Tick blood to feed on almost immediately.
    I cross back over to the sofa and kneel down in front of him. “I need to get you some food and the Ticks are the only source of blood around.”
    His eyes open. “You could feed me the dog.”
    I recoil back. “Ew!”
    “Easy, Kit. I was joking.” His lips curve into a wry smile. “Besides, that dog is more fur than blood. He’d barely tide me over.”
    “No wonder Chuy doesn’t like you.” I push myself to my feet and go look for weapons to hunt Ticks. When Chuy raises his eyebrows like he’s asking if he can come with me, I nod. If I’m going out to face a horde of Ticks, I don’t want to do it alone.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
    MEL
    I half expect Sebastian to protest. It’s not like going out to hunt Ticks on my own—for him, no less—is exactly safe.
    Instead, he gives a little nod of acceptance and just sits there with his eyes closed. Which must be a sign he’s even worse than I thought.
    With some thirty-plus Ticks out there, my odds aren’t good, but I can improve them a little. Roberto’s library is like a vampire hunter’s museum. There are countless wooden stakes, bows and crossbows, swords, daggers, crosses, vials of holy water. All seemingly collected from assassins that hunted him over the years. And who says vampires don’t have a sense of humor?
    I cross to the wall where the blades are and select a katana, because it’s light and familiar. I’ve lost the katana that Sebastian gave me when he was training me and I miss its easy weight. The one I pick has a scabbard and I strap its ancient leather around my waist. I look at the crossbows next. I run my thumb down their strings. The bow won’t work if it’s too brittle.
    I finally pick out a bow, but when I turn around, I see Sebastian standing in the doorway, leaning against the doorjamb.
    “I thought you were smarter than this.”
    “It’s not stupid if it’s our only chance. Then it’s just desperate.” I sling the bow over my shoulder and move to walk past him with Chuy by my side.
    He holds out a hand to stop me. “No, it’s only stupid if you
assume
it’s your only chance.”
    I stop, frowning. “You know, sometimes your Mr. Miyagi act is great and insightful, but sometimes it’s just annoying as hell. It wouldn’t kill you to give me just a simple, clear answer.”
    He pushes off the door and steps over to a nearby umbrella stand. He carefully selects a cane with a curved ebony handle and a rosewood staff. He holds it up looking at the length for a moment before turning around and leaning heavily on it as he walks back to me. “Think about it, my dear. Would Roberto really have built a fortress with no way of feeding himself once he was locked in?”
    “No, of course not. You think . . .” I trail off, feeling suddenly sick to my stomach. “You think there are people trapped in here somewhere?”
    “Nothing as dramatic as that. And no. We can assume the Ticks already ate up all the live kine. But Roberto wouldn’t rely only on them. He’d have a backup supply.”
    “Refrigerated blood? Like from blood banks?”
    “Ding, ding, ding.” He gives the cane a twirl. “And the girl wins the prize after all.”
    “But if it’s refrigerated blood, then it will be going bad since the electricity has been off for the past day. Except, if Roberto had been planning for the worst-case scenario, he would have assumed the electricity would go