Death's Excellent Vacation - By Charlaine Harris & Toni L. P. Kelner Page 0,35

knives, cursing as I tried to dodge another hail of blades aimed at me. Some of them found their mark, but none in my chest, thank God. Still, that silver burned where it landed, making me fight the urge to yank it out. I flung some of my weapons instead, adding more silver to the barrage Bones had just sent. Then I rolled behind one of the cars for cover, finally getting the chance to snatch out the silver embedded in my shoulders and legs.

Tammy screamed as some of the vampires took to the air. I took two of the knives I’d pulled from my body and sent them winging at the vampire closest to where she was crouched. The blades found their mark, and he crashed into a car instead of Tammy and my mother, who was crouched over her.

The rest of the vampires seemed more concerned with taking on Bones than dealing with Tammy or my mother. I rolled under a truck to get to Bones—and then screamed as my shirt went up in flames.

Goddammit! There must have been oil drops pooled underneath the truck I’d rolled under, and the useless sparks from my hands ignited it.

“Kitten, you all right?” Bones called out.

“Fine!” I yelled back, afraid he’d get killed rushing to check on me.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, I lashed myself. Oil plus sparks equals fire, dumbass!

I’d just ripped my burning shirt off when a car slammed into me, pinning me to the vehicle behind me. I gasped at the unbelievable pain, paralyzing in its intensity. Tammy screamed. Over that, I heard Bones hoarsely call my name.

Something thudded on the mangled car pinning me. The redheaded vampire. He smiled as he pulled out a silver blade, knowing as I did that I couldn’t shove the car off in time to save myself.

But there was something I could do. Oil plus sparks equals fire, I thought savagely, and I rammed my fist through the car’s fuel tank.

A terrific boom went off, combined with the agonizing sensation of being thrown backward, burning, across the parking lot. For a stunned second, I didn’t know if I was still alive. Then I realized I wouldn’t hurt this much if I were dead.

Move, I told myself, fighting back the lethargy that made me want to curl up wherever I’d landed. Keep blinking, your vision will come back.

After a few more blinks, the parking lot was in a double outline, but I could see. Check for incoming. Do you have any knives left? Two, right, make them count.

“I’m okay,” I called out, my voice almost unrecognizable. I hated giving away my position, but I was more worried about Bones losing it if he was too distracted to feel our connection and thought I’d been blown to bits.

“Christ almighty, Kitten,” I heard him mutter, and smiled even though it felt like it cracked my face. I was afraid to look at my skin. Burnt bacon could pass for my twin right now. You’ll heal, I reminded myself. Quit worrying about your looks and get back to worrying about your ass.

I flexed my fingers, relieved that the horrible splitting sensation was gone. Now I could grasp my knives with purpose, and my vision was clearing by the moment. Through the dirty car window in front of me, I saw Bones fighting off four vampires. He whirled and struck in a dizzying display of violence, slicing and hacking whenever they came too close. Now, where were Tammy and my mother?

I’d sneaked around a few dead vampires—one of them crispy, I noticed with satisfaction—and was tiptoeing around a Benz when X sprang out of nowhere. He shoved me, slamming me into yet another car—God, I was so sick of feeling my bones crunch against metal!—but instead of springing forward, I let myself slump as if dazed. X was on me in the next second, knees pinning my torso to the concrete, glowing green gaze victorious as he raised his knife.

My hand shot out, the silver knife clenched in it going straight into his chest. I smiled as I gave it a hard twist. That’s it for you, X.

But he didn’t slump forward like he should have. Instead, the knife he’d raised slammed into my chest without an instant’s hesitation.

Pain erupted in me, so hot and fierce it rivaled what I’d felt when the car exploded on me. That pain grew until I wanted to scream, but I didn’t have the energy. Everything seemed to fade out of view except