into the burning building to get the last person in there.
“I’m right with you,” Maya said, catching up.
By this time the flames had spread to walls adjacent to the back wall and they were quickly blazing their presence across the night. What was once confined to one section of the back wall was now a panorama of flames. Although the smoke was thickening, the roaring sunset colors were vivid through the haze.
I fully admit I was scared. No, terrified. I wanted to go for the guy and then get the hell out. And most of all, I wanted to find Michel.
The smoke was making it difficult to see the guy, but I remembered where we’d left him. Once we found him, we quickly maneuvered him so we could hoist him out in the fireman carry.
“Got him?” I asked.
“Got him,” Maya answered. “Let’s go.”
I heard sirens come closer. “’Bout time,” I muttered.
The firefighters arrived just as we had the guy out near the two women. I was grateful my firehouse was in another town so I hopefully wouldn’t be recognized in my current outfit.
“An explosion took out most of the back wall. The flames started there, but they’re spreading toward the front. I think we have everyone off the main floor.”
“Check the bathrooms,” Maya added.
“And there might be some other rooms upstairs,” I added.
“We got it,” one said, and they ran into the club. Michel’s club. Or what was left of it.
Michel. I ran around the back to find him. If he was still there. And if he was still okay.
I ran to the back of the building where the wall had been blown out, but I didn’t see anyone. On the ground, I saw dark drops of what I presumed was blood. Swallowing the panic I felt rising in my throat, I looked around for any more blood.
I saw more drops, spread randomly, but if I looked at the whole picture I could see which way they led. Following them down the block and down a side street, I found them.
When I saw the three men locked in battle, fists pounding hard blow upon one another, I screamed, “Stop!” Michel looked up at me, his eyes red and blood dripping from fangs.
Fangs? The only thing I knew had fangs were vampires. But vampires weren’t real; they were a myth, a scary tale to explain mysterious occurrences. I didn’t believe in the supernatural; I was a rational woman. Most of the mysterious fires I’d come across in my line of work ended up being explained by a logical chain of events.
But what other explanation was there in this case? What other creature had fangs? What else could he be? I couldn’t think about it now.
“Nike, get away from here,” Michel said. “Now!”
The large man with long, dirty-blond, wavy hair let go of Michel and turned toward me.
“Nike, is it?” he said, sneering. “So you’re the one who has Michel all riled up? I wouldn’t believe he’d have feelings for a human if I couldn’t sense it myself.”
I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand. The smaller, darker of the two men, or whatever they were, had turned toward me too. His red eyes glared and a hungry, beastlike presence emanated from him. This one didn’t say anything. Could he even talk?
“Let’s see what this little human has that has Michel all wound up. Let’s find out what she feels like.” He took a sniff in the air. “And find out what she tastes like.”
I turned back and ran as fast as I could in the direction I had just come from. I heard a laugh and a roar and could hear their feet pounding on the pavement behind me.
“Leave her. Your quarrel is with me,” Michel yelled, and I heard a thump.
Despite the terror I felt, I turned back to see what happened with Michel. He had jumped on the blond one and they were rolling on the ground. The dark one joined in.
I ran toward my car, parked on Spring Street. I thought about Maya back at the club. The acrid smell of smoke and fire permeated the air around me. More fire trucks had arrived. Maya would be all right, I figured, she was