Page 51 of How to Stake a Vampire

Bean Me Up’s windows were dark when we pulled up outside the building. The Open sign was switched off and the door was locked.

I tried the handle anyway before knocking and calling out Virgil’s name.

I could smell the vampire somewhere inside.

The door opened so fast I nearly fell forward.

Virgil’s pale face appeared in the gap, his pupils aglow with a red light and his normally placid expression replaced by something that looked distinctly unhinged.

“Thank God,” he breathed, opening the door wider. “She’s in the back room.” He swallowed convulsively. “I didn’t know who else to call.”

We crowded inside. Virgil stiffened a little at the sight of Barney.

Barney frowned at the younger vampire, like he was seeing something new. So could my wolf, but I was too worried about Ellie to give this more thought.

The coffee shop looked like a tornado had hit it. The tables were overturned, the espresso machine was leaking, and there were claw marks scored deep into the wooden counter.

My stomach twisted.

“What happened?” Samuel asked in a hard voice while Didi and Detective Johnson started examining the premises.

Virgil ran a shaky hand through his hair. “Like I told Abby, Ellie was practicing with the coffee machine after closing hours. It was around seven, maybe seven-fifteen?” His words came out in a rush. “I’d gone out to pick up some groceries. When I came back, there was this guy in the shop.”

Barney lowered his brows. “Describe him.”

“Tall, pale, expensive Victorian suit.” Virgil’s voice took on a bitter edge. “Ellie said he was asking about me. He wanted to know where I was and when I’d be back. Ellie told him I wasn’t available.”

A low growl escaped my throat.

Samuel put a restraining hand on my arm.

“Then what?” my alpha prompted.

“He said he could wait. Ordered a Type-O latte.” Virgil’s laugh was hollow. “Ellie made him regular coffee with food coloring, like she always does. He took one sip of it and attacked her. That’s when I walked in.” He shuddered. “I’ve never seen a vampire move that fast. He’d grabbed her by the throat and was telling her she was an insult to proper vampiric society.”

My vision started turning red around the edges. “Where is she?”

“Back room. But Abby?—”

I was already moving. The others followed close behind as I pushed through the swinging doors that led to Bean Me Up’s storage area.

Ellie was huddled in the corner between two large coffee bean sacks, her knees drawn up to her chest. She looked fine at first glance. Then she turned her head toward us and I saw the two puncture wounds on her neck, dark and ugly against her pale skin.

My breath locked in my throat. I felt like I’d been punched in the gut.

“Abby?” My best friend’s voice was small and scared. “I think I’m in trouble.”

I made myself move and was across the room in two strides and kneeling beside her. Up close, I could see she was shaking badly and her pupils were dilated.

“It’s okay,” I said quietly, even though nothing about this was okay. “I’m here now.” I hugged her gently.

“He bit me,” she whispered against my chest, as if she couldn’t quite believe it. Her hands flexed reflexively in my dress. “I tried to explain that the coffee wasn’t supposed to taste like actual blood, but he just kept getting madder. He said I was an affront to sacred traditions and needed to be punished.”

Despite everything, I almost smiled.

Only Ellie would try to rationalize with an enraged vampire.

Bo came over and inserted his head between us with a whine. Ellie clutched his neck like a lifeline.