Reborn to Bite (Vampire Shadows Book 1) by Mark Gronwald Page B

sure it was a year ago today. Although getting buried may have messed with my internal clock."
    "Thank you dear. I have some phone calls to make. Rest up. I have a feeling you'll have a busy night."
    Sabine was going to thank the nice young woman, but she was already gone. She felt sleep tug at her again until she realized that she had gone to bed with the door locked and Esmerelda wasn't really young-
    Sabine snapped up awake, and looked at the door. Locked.
    Sorry for intruding on your dreams, Sabine. I didn't think you'd want anyone to hear that conversation, and the werewolves have extremely keen ears.
    Sabine shook her head, realizing with shock that Esmerelda was communicating telepathically. You came into my dream?
    We have a link now. You could probably block me out, but it would take some effort.
    Sabine started to panic. She did not want someone – especially a witch – rooting around in her mind and confusing her reality. Especially when that reality had just started to get good again after a year. She imagined the young Esmerelda out in a field, looking up at a growing stone wall.
    I'm going to block you out now Esmerelda.
    Sabine imagined the wall growing around her mind, and felt the link with Esmerelda sever.
    Blessed silence filled her thoughts. The barest whisper of noise came from downstairs as the denizens of the house quietly went about their daily regimen. She heard Tiana laugh outside.
    Sabine rested her head back on her pillow just as her phone beeped. She let out a curse and grabbed the foul device.
    A message on the forum had triggered an alert email. She tapped the screen on the annoying little bundle of technology and opened the message. It was from VanHelsing451:
    "Hi MourningGirl; I just heard that some witches and vamps are planning a ceremony tonight. A few friends are getting together before dark to hunt for them. We're hoping to get lucky. We're meeting at the Stinking Rose at 5pm if you're interested. We'll be the ones dressed like famous vampire hunters from movies and such."
    Oh. God. Was she being invited to a gathering of vampire hunters during the day at a restaurant that specialized in garlic dishes? Would they want her to eat? Would they recognize her? Could she face them?
    Sabine checked her watch: two in the afternoon. It would take her an hour to get across town to the restaurant if she took the bus or got a ride. She wondered who the friends were. Could they be the four she had bitten that night? Were they going out hunting vampires after dinner?
    She groaned and got up, sitting on the side of the bed. She decided that this was too good to pass up. If she chickened out, she could always wait outside and just stalk them.
    She wrote a short but sweet reply: "I'll be there."
    Maybe she could postpone sleep until night time. It was worth a shot, since fate apparently didn't want her sleeping today.
    But what about Doug and Tiana? She'd be missing out on a chance to see Halloween through Tiana's eyes. She'd be passing up time with Doug. She had to go clean up her past though, and that meant going to a garlic restaurant and facing the people she had wronged.
    Now she just had to convince the werewolves to let her leave.

CHAPTER 6
     
     
    "No."
    Sabine stared at Trent, wondering why he'd object. Charlie had said he would drive her if Trent let him use the Cadillac. They stood in the living room, Sabine dressed in her all-leather vampire hunting gear.
    Trent shook his head.
    She thought about compelling Trent to let her go, but Esmerelda would know what was going on and probably wouldn't approve. Besides, even if Trent was a jerk, these were the good guys. She wouldn't use her powers on them anymore. "I can take care of myself."
    Trent moved between her and the door. "We took on the responsibility to protect you, so you can't just go traipsing around the city."
    Sabine walked up to Trent, poking him in the chest. "For one thing, I'm only here because Doug is here. I don't need your