The Dead Girls Dance Page 0,49

see that Michael had Eve in a bear hug, pressing her against him so tight that she nearly disappeared. He looked at Claire in total misery over Eves shoulder. What the hell is going on? Wheres Shane?

Oh God, he didnt know. Why didnt he know? What happened? she blurted. Why did you let him leave?

Shane? I didnt let him do anything. Any more than I let you go running off unprotected in the middle of the dayhis dad called. He justleft. It was still daylight. There wasnt anything I could do. Michael pushed Eve back a little and looked at her. What happened?

Brandons dead, Eve said. She didnt try to soften it, and her voice was as hard as an iron bar. Theyve got Shane in a cage on Founders Square for his murder.

Michael sagged back against the wall as if shed punched him in the stomach. Oh, he whispered. Oh my God.

Theyre going to kill him, Claire said. Theyre going to burn him alive.

Michael closed his eyes. I know. I remember. Oh, crap, hed seen it done before. So had Eve. She remembered them saying so before, though theyd spared her the details. Michael just breathed for a few seconds, and then said, We have to get him out.

Yeah, Eve agreed. I know. But by we, you mean me and Claire, right? Because youre of no damn use at all.

She might as well have punched him again, Claire thought; Michaels mouth dropped open, and she saw the agony in his eyes. Eve must not have seen it. She turned and clomped away, brisk and efficient.

Claire! she called back. Come on! Move it!

Claire looked miserably at Michael. Im sorry, she said. She didnt mean that.

No, she did, he said faintly. And shes right. Im no use to you. Or to Shane. What good am I? I might as well be dead.

He turned and slammed his hand into the wall, hard enough to break bones. Claire yelped, scrambled backward, and ran after Eve. When Michael went all avenging-angel, well, it was definitely scary. And he didnt look like he wanted witnesses to whatever was happening inside.

Eve was already going up the stairs. Wait! Claire said. Michaelshouldnt we?

Forget about Michael. Are you in or out?

In. She guessed. Claire cast another look back at the hallway, where the sound of flesh hitting wood continued, and winced.

Michael couldnt hurt himself, not permanently, but it sounded painful.

Probably not as painful as what he was feeling.

When Claire reached the doorway, Eve was yanking open drawers, pulling out frilly stuff, and throwing it aside. Black lace. Netting. Fishnet hose. Ah! she said, and brought out a big, black box. It must have been heavy. It made a hollow thunk as she slammed it down on top of the dresser, rattling her collection of Evil Bobbleheads, which all started nodding uneasily. Come here.

Claire went, worried; this was a brand-new Eve, one she wasnt sure she liked. She liked the vulnerable Eve, the one who cried at the drop of a hat. This one was harsh and hard and liked to order people around.

Hold out your hand, Eve said. Claire did, tentatively. Eve slapped something round and wooden into it.

Pointed on one end.

A home made stake.

Vampire killers best friend, Eve said. I made a bunch when Brandon was bothering me. I let him know, the next time he came sniffing around me he was going to get a woody. A real one.

Arent theseillegal?

Theyll get you thrown under the jail. Or killed and dumped in some empty lot somewhere. So dont get caught holding.

She pulled out more stakes, and set them on the top of the dresser. Then some crude homemade crosses, extra large. She passed one to Claire, who gripped it in numbed fingers. ButEve, what are we doing?

Saving Shane. What, you dont want to?

Of course I do! But

Look. Eve pulled out some more stuff and dumped it on the pile of stakeslighter fluid, a Zippo lighter. The time for playing nice is over. If we want to get Shane out of there, vampires have to die. That means we start a war nobody wants, but tough. Im not watching Shane burn. I wont do that. They want this. Oliver wants it. Fine, he can have it. He can choke on it.

Eve! Claire dropped the cross and stake, grabbed her shoulders, and shook her. You cant! You know its suicideyouve told me that before! You cant justkill vampires! Youll end up in a cage right next to

Oh,