Page 48 of Bitten Vampire

If you are going vampire-hunting… you will need a stake.

“A stake? Really? Stabbing vampires is a myth. Humans don’t have the strength to drive wood through a chest.” As if I’m going to stab anybody.

Ah,House replies smoothly,but you don’t go through the ribs, you go up, underneath.

I stare at the ceiling or wherever she’s speaking from. “You have spent too long alone. I’m not sliding a sharp stick under anyone’s ribs. I was thinking… a sticky spell, a binding charm, like the one they used on me when I was arrested. Something non-lethal that says, ‘I’m brave and resourceful but also a decent human being.’”

You are no fun. Just touch it.

With a sigh I grasp the stake and concentrate. It’s warm. Not room temperature, warm.

“Why is it warm?”

Magic. Slayer magic. A little soul-binding, too?—

“Nope. Creepy.” I let go and wave it away.

You live in a housepowered by soul magic,House points out, voice softer now.

Oh no, now I’ve gone and hurt her feelings. “Oh no. I didn’t mean you. You are not creepy, House. You’re—you are brilliant. You are amazing. Just… wielding a dead vampire hunter’s stick is a bit creep-flavoured.”

It won’t hurt you. It will guide you. Help you.

“And when I turn vampire, will it try to stab me?”

Don’t be silly. Takeher, just in case.

I wrinkle my nose at the thing. “Fine. But if it starts whispering in my pocket, I’m setting it on fire.”

Deal.

I tuck the stake gingerly under my arm.

You said he had hisback to you?

“Yes, but that might not be the case tonight. In the vision I wasn’t physically there. My presence could change things. He will be able to scent me, hear me.”

Things fly through the air and land with soft thuds on the long workbench in the centre of the room. I step closer and duck as one more thing sails over my head.

These,House says,ought to knock a vampire out.A handful of blue glass vials wiggle in place.Throwing spells, non-lethal, enough to scramble his senses and drop him like a sack of potatoes.And this one—a little spray bottle filled with something that looks like black goo—will mask your scent and muffle your sound.It won’t makeyou invisible, but it will makeyouhard to track.

I grin. “Now, this is more like it. Thank you.”

You are welcome. And you are still taking the stake.

“Of course I am,” I mutter, though I have no intention of using it.

A satchel appears on the table, and everything drifts neatly inside.

There. Sorted,House says with satisfaction.

As I buckle the flap, House hums thoughtfully.You should knowthat stake has a name.

“A name?” I blink at it like it might blink back.

Beryl.

“Beryl?” I pause. “You are telling me this ancient vampire stabbing stick…”