Page 77 of Don't Bite the Botanist
Ethan gave him a dubious look. “No offense, but of all the things you know about me, what makes you think I’d be good with a weapon? Besides, I don’t think the few days that you spent dropping me on my ass really counts as training considering the situation.” He pulled a small green vial from his pocket. “The best I got is this potion the witch gave to me, and it mostly just smelled like weak tea before she corked it. She wasn’t even clear on what I’m supposed to do with it. Just told me ‘I would know when the time was right.’ Whatever that means.” He shoved it back in his pocket and gave them all an apologetic look.
“Okay, then,” Derrick said, pursing his lips as he glanced at Tressa and Ethan. “So we got two, uh, less than skilled fighters, one total badass, and a Saiden. I still think we can take her.”
Saiden glared at Derrick. “You’re the badass in this scenario? You, who spends more time flirting than fighting? Riiight.” Saiden rolled his eyes. “Regardless of that highly inaccurate assessment, deciding on a plan isn’t getting us anywhere. I say we just go in and play it by ear. If she’s got something up her sleeve, we’ll deal with it as we go. I can guarantee you she knows we’re here, so no point in chatting about it now.”
“I agree.” The voice floated over on the wind, and they all whipped their heads to the rogue who hadn’t moved from her spot on the beach. She cocked her head to the side but kept staring out at the ocean. “There’s something very surreal about listening to a group of people plotting your demise. And while it was amusing at first, I find that I’ve grown quite bored of it.”
Slowly, Renata climbed to her feet and brushed sand off her pleated gray pants, still refusing to even look at them.
“Wait,” Ethan sputtered. “She could hear every word we said even over the waves?”
Tressa arched an eyebrow. “Of course. Vampire, remember?”
Ethan threw up his hands. “I mean, I can’t make out much beyond our small circle, what with that loud crashing filling my ears.” He glanced from Tressa to Saiden. “What the hell, man? Why the fuck were we standing here coming up with a plan if she could hear the whole thing?”
“I don’t know about the rest of you,” Saiden said with a grin. “But I was buying us some time.”
Tressa glanced at him warily. “Time for what?”
“To prep this.”
In a single smooth motion, Saiden jerked the pin from the small metal cylinder that appeared in his hand and lobbed it at Renata. It rocketed toward the vampire, gas spewing from the canister. Time slowed to a standstill as they watched it fly through the air, and…
Renata whirled around at the last second and snapped her hand up. Her palm connected with the cylinder and sent it sailing over her head to splash down harmlessly a dozen yards out to sea.
Even from their far distance, Tressa could see the slight frown that stretched Renata’s mouth for a fraction of a second before she fixed a harsh glare on them.
“Seriously?” Derrick said. “Did you really think that would work?”
“Worth a shot,” Saiden grumbled. “Fuck, she’s fast. I thought that would at least throw her off balance. How ancient did Baylin say she was again?”
“I don’t remember, but she’s definitely old enough that I’m debating calling this off until we have reinforcements,” Tressa said. Sheknew Ethan wanted the rogue dead, but since rationality seemed to have retaken control of his brain, surely he would see the futility in attacking one whose speed and strength far outweighed any of theirs.
“That was quite rude,” Renata said, and between one blink and the next, she went from the edge of the water to standing only a few feet away from them.
“You’re trying to kill my mate,” Tressa snarled. “And we’re the rude ones?”
Renata sighed. “Do you know the damage that canister and those chemicals will do to the local sea life?”
Four jaws dropped consecutively as they all stared at her.
“That’s what you’re mad about?” Derrick asked, barely able to contain his laughter. “Some fucking fish?”
She clucked her tongue at him. “Don’t be disrespectful. Those creatures suffer enough at the hands of humans. They deserve life just as much as any other living”—she paused—“or non-living being.”
Once Tressa managed to shake off the surprise of Renata’s response, she put her hands on her hips and glared. “Then why the hell are you trying to kill Ethan if you’re so pro-life?”
“I told you. His research could mean the end of all vampires. We cannot allow that to happen.”
“Who’s ‘we?’” Ethan interjected. “So far you’re the only one I’ve met with homicidal tendencies.”
Renata glanced up to the sky as if searching for answers. “She’s not ready to meet you yet. But the day will come. Perhaps sooner rather than later.”
“Why are you doing this?” Tressa demanded. “You never gave us an answer last time. Baylin scoured every file in the Coalition archives searching for your motive, but you’ve never so much as harmed a single human or other vampire. What changed?”
“The world is what changed,” Renata replied, tucking a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. “We can no longer hide in the dark as we once did. The humans are becoming… unpredictable. We have a responsibility to maintain balance since they will not.”
“And killing my mate?” Tressa growled. “The one person who means everything to me? That’s what you call balance?”
