Huntress(7)

 

And she would go ... where? What kind of a place was there for a half-human half-vampire freak?

 

Nowhere in the Night World. That was certain. The Night People would have to kill any creature like that.

 

The skinhead made another sound, a little whimper. Jez bunked and looked at him.

 

It couldn't be true, but all of a sudden she didn't care about killing him anymore. In fact, she had a feeling like slow horror creeping over her, as if something in her brain was tallying up all the humans she'd hurt and killed over the years. Something was taking over her legs, making her knees rubbery. Something was crushing her chest, making her feel as if she were going to be sick.

 

"Get out of here," she whispered to the skinhead.

 

He shut his eyes. When he spoke it was in a kind of moan. "You'll just chase me."

 

"No." But she understood his fear. She was a huntress. She'd chased so many people. So many humans ...

 

Jez shuddered violently and shut her eyes. It was as if she had suddenly seen herself in a mirror and the image was unbearable. It wasn't Jez the proud and fierce and beautiful. It was Jez the murderer.

 

I have to stop the others.

 

The telepathic call she sent out was almost a scream. Everybody! This is Jez. Come to me, right now! Drop what you're doing and come!

 

She knew they'd obey-they were her gang, after all. But none of them except Morgead had enough telepathic power to answer across the distance.

 

What's wrong? he said.

 

Jez stood very still. She couldn't tell him the truth. Morgead hated humans. If he even knew what she suspected . . . the way he would look at her . . .

 

He would be sickened. Not to mention that he'd undoubtedly have to kill her.

 

I'll explain later, she told him, feeling numb. I just found out-that it's not safe to feed here.