Page 5 of Sweet Inferno

You showing off or did you miscalculate?

Shit, you know me.

Both. I snorted and he flashed a grin before we entered to find the two women huddled together in the corner, arms around each other.

“Come on out. We’ll get you downstairs so the medics can check you out,” I said, extending a hand. They had a clear path to us, so there was no point in entering the room.

As soon as they were on their feet, they shared a look and began raking their fingers through their hair while tugging at their clothes. They were too damn young for me and Gade, so when smiles eased onto their eager brown faces, I groaned internally, already sensing what was about to happen.

“You’re Station 112.”

112 was independently funded and sourced. There was no connection to the city other than our agreement to help keep the residents of Hollow Grove safe. While we took regular calls, the majority of the ones that reached us were situations humans didn’t possess the ability or fortitude to handle. Everyone who worked at 112 was a descendant of the Danakil clan. We were a bloodline of vampires who were strengthened instead of being weakened by fire. Danakil lineage possessed the ability to absorb flames.

When fires raged out of control, we could work them in ways humans could not. Whether it be entering dangerous situations with minimal impact on our lives or absorbing the fires that blazed uncontrollably to the point that senseless lives were lost. Our blood kept victims alive and their blood fed us when necessary. Warm bodies grateful to be living were a prime opportunity to feed.

While it wasn’t a requirement, it was rumored to be. Because everyone wanted to believe vampires could only be predatory, humans assumed that if not allowed to feed, we would shut down our station. The shit was wild because feeding from the bodies we saved wasn’t necessary. Humans and other supernaturals paid money to frequent our feeding houses, eager for the chance of one of us sinking our teeth into their necks. Hence these two lustfully staring at my brother and me.

I nodded as the one with braids stepped in front of me.

“We are.” Her smile expanded.

“You’re saving us, so that means you get to, like, bite us, right?”

Ain’t this some shit, my brother asked as her friend stepped to him.

“Because we would let you.” They shared a look again and I would be tempted to believe they’d started this damn fire just to get us here had I not already known it began from a torch that got too close to one of the hydrogen tanks of a car being worked on. The modifications weren’t standard and the damn thing exploded, setting the garage on fire.

“You sure about that?” I lifted my CBAS and dropped my fangs. The young woman’s pretty brown face shifted into fear as she swallowed, thinking, stumbling back a few steps.

“Um, I mean if you have to…”

I smiled arrogantly. “Lucky for you, I don’t. Let’s go.”

I edged closer and scooped her in my arms, moving through the room to a window already busted out by our guys. They needed the access to send the hose inside. I leapt from the window, landing perfectly on my feet. She squealed and clung to me for dear life. Once I extended to my full height, I gently placed her down.

“You just… We just… Holy fuck, you really do move fast.”

I chuckled. “Yeah. Go see the medic so they can make sure everything’s all good.”

I waited for Gade to follow me to the ground, and as soon as he detached from the young woman he leapt out the building with, he and I joined the other guys to finish packing up the truck. He fell in step with me.

“They really believe that shit about us only saving people if we can feed from them.” He grinned, shaking his head.

“Unfortunately, yes. It makes it easier for them if they assume our intent is selfish rather than accepting we’re simply just saving their fucking lives. Did you feed?”

He smirked and brushed his tongue over his fangs.

“Of course you did,” I muttered, shaking my head.

“I mean shit, she asked. It was civic duty to hook her up.”

When victims realized they were being saved by the vamp station, the reactions were always mixed. Some were afraid, some indifferent, and others were curious. Today curiosity won and my brother took advantage.

“Alright guys, everybody’s out. Four on overhaul and I need two of you to tarp the roof before we get cleaned up so we can head back.”

Overhaul, or the hunt, would move pretty quickly since we had six guys. We spread out and carefully moved through the building, hunting for hotspots or hidden embers. They could be trapped in the walls and overlooked, causing a rekindling or secondary fire. Tech crew would be sweeping with thermal imaging to double check for heat spots.

The six of us were moving while Captain radioed into the station to let them know we would be en route soon. Our shift switched over at seven o’clock today and we would be late getting back. Once he was done, Captain joined us on the overhaul.