Thanks to light streaming from the kitchen and some end table lamps, Ruby had no problem seeing Bennett lying across the sofa. She also had no problem seeing there was blood everywhere, and Bennett’s coat was in shreds. “Oh, my God,” Ruby said in a breath. “What the hell happened to you?”

Bennett opened her eyes, and swallowing the blood in her mouth, she snarled, “Get out of here.”

“You’re hurt. I’m not leaving you like this.”

“I said, get the fuck out!” Bennett bellowed, blood flying off her hand as she pointed to the door.

Ruby fumbled for the phone in her pocket. “I’m calling the police.”

Suddenly, Ruby found herself being slammed against the door. Bennett ripped the phone from her hand and hurling it across the room, the high-tech mobile shattered against the brick fireplace.

Bennett grabbed Ruby by the throat and held her in place. “You shouldn’t have come in here,” she said through clenched teeth. “And you’re not calling anyone.”

Ruby’s eyes widened to their extreme. There was a yawning gash down Bennett’s face, and blood flowed freely from the wound. Such a sight would have caused anyone to be shocked, except Ruby’s reaction had nothing to do with the injury. Bennett’s canine teeth had doubled in length, and her eyes had changed from brown to blue, a phosphorescent, fierce, flaming blue.

“Oh, my God. Doreen…Doreen was right,” Ruby said in a rush of air. “You’re a…you’re a…you’re a vamp—”

Bennett tightened her grip, and suddenly Ruby was fighting for her life. Tears welled in her eyes as she struggled to take a breath, and she began pounding on Bennett’s outstretched arm, trying to break the woman’s vise-like grip. But it was pointless, and as darkness closed in on Ruby, just as quickly as it had started, it ended. Bennett released her, and as Ruby doubled over gasping for air, Bennett staggered back to the sofa.

Ruby coughed and sputtered until her lungs finally filled freely, and when she stood straight, her mouth dropped open. Even the most ebony of fabrics couldn’t hide the amount of blood staining Bennett Archer’s clothing, and under her tattered coat, her shirt and trousers had fared no better. Ruby could see gashes and punctures through the ripped fabric, and blood oozed from all the wounds, spreading the carmine onto the leather cushions of the couch like a slow-moving plague.

Even standing several feet away, Ruby could hear Bennett’s breathing. It was ragged and shallow, and while her piercing stare was menacing, the woman’s face was ghostly white. When she heard Bennett struggle to take another raspy breath, Ruby knew she couldn’t leave without at least trying to help the woman. “What can I do?”