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don’t need a pep talk,” she snapped back. That was her. She’d always rather be angry than scared.
                “Do you think the diner’s defenses are working?” Jake asked.
                Kevin thought. They’d had holy water sprinklers and more there before, for the last attack. Would those be ready again?
                “We can’t take the chance,” he said. “Just remember to keep out of the way of any holy water that does come your way, Jake.”
                “I’ll be fine,” the boy promised. “What I want to know is where Pietre’s vampires are. I can smell them, but they aren’t here.”
                Kevin nodded. Here on the street, he could smell them too. Yet the only vampire he saw in the next few seconds was George, the diner’s grey haired, fifty something owner, who stepped out onto the street with a questioning look. He was a well-built man who had spent some time in the military, and still had that sense of crisp neatness about him, even wearing casual slacks, a shirt with its sleeves rolled up and a cook’s apron over the top.
                “What’s going on here, Kevin?” he asked. “You aren’t all here for lunch, I guess?”
                “We heard that Pietre was causing trouble in town,” Kevin said. “We heard he was heading here. Wait, why don’t you know that?”
                There was something wrong there. Something very wrong. That’s when the first howl of pain went up from the end of their defensive line. Another quickly followed.
                “Someone stabbed Chris,” Carol said, looking down the line. “Where are they coming from?”
                Kevin didn’t know. He looked around, trying to figure it out. “Everybody watch your backs. No, better than that, every second person turn around. I don’t want anyone sneaking up on us.”
                “This close to the diner?” one of the werewolves asked.
                “Just do it,” Kevin ordered. There wasn’t enough time to stand there and debate it. Not with his werewolves getting hurt. Three of those who had come were on the ground. He didn’t know how badly injured they were. But how could vampires get close to them without being seen…
                Kevin found himself remembering Pietre’s trick of appearing and disappearing, wrapping the shadows around himself so it seemed like he was invisible. Could he have somehow taught that trick to other vampires? Would he have, since it was something they could just as easily use against him? There was only one way to find out.
    Kevin looked down the line, checking the end of it where the three werewolves had been hurt. There was a wall casting a long shadow there. Kevin walked towards it, trying to look like he was just checking on the injured wolves, but actually straining his senses.
    That was why, when a vampire appeared in the shadow of the diner halfway there, he was ready. He caught the arm holding the knife that swung towards him, breaking it effortlessly and catching the silver blade as it dropped. He stabbed the vampire once, then again, striking the heart. He had a brief instant to look at the vampire, which seemed to be no more than a high school kid in a t-shirt and cut of jeans, before it died and blue fire leapt up to consume it.
    That wasn’t the only thing that leapt up. Vampires appeared from the shadows, charging forward at the wolves. One leapt at Jake, and the smaller wolf dealt with it easily, but when a second tried to join in, Kevin jumped forward to intercept it. Her. It was a girl maybe Briony’s age, with cheerleader good looks and blonde hair tied back in pigtails like she was deliberately trying to be cute. Maybe that was what made Kevin pause just long enough for fangs to sink into his neck.
    With a roar of pain, he shoved the vampire back. He leapt forward, transforming into a