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usual about me。
I can almost read their thoughts。
This strikes me as strange。
I have always been able to sense emotions。 Now； can I read thoughts； too？
What power has Yaksha's blood given me？
〃Alisa；〃 Joel says； calling me by my modern name。 〃Even you cannot break free of this circle。〃 He notices I'm lost in thought。 〃Alisa？〃
〃They think there is a monster in here；〃 I whisper。 〃I hear their minds。〃 I grip Joel。 〃What did you tell them about me？〃
He shakes his head。 〃Some things。〃
〃Did you tell them I was powerful？ Fast？〃
He hesitates； then sighs。 〃I told them too much。 But they don't know you're a vampire。〃 He； too； peers through the curtains。 〃They were getting suspicious about how the others died； torn to pieces。 They had my file on Eddie Fender； including where his mother lived。 They must have tracked us here that way。〃
I shake my head。 〃I cannot surrender。 It is against my nature。〃
He takes my hands。 〃You can't fight them all。 You'll die。〃
I have to smile。 〃More of them would die。〃 I lose my smile。 〃But if I do make a stand here； you will die also。〃 I am indecisive。 His advice is logical。 Yet my heart betrays me。 I feel doom closing in。 I speak reluctantly。 〃Talk to them。 Say what you think best。 But I tell you…I will not leave this house without setting it ablaze。 There will be no more Eddie Fenders。〃
〃I understand。〃 He turns for the door； then stops。 He speaks with his back to me。 〃I understand why you did it。〃
〃Do you forgive me？〃
〃Would I have died？〃 he asks。
〃Yes。〃
He smiles gently； not turning to look at me。 I feel the smile。 〃Then I must forgive you；〃 he says。 He raises his hands above his head and reaches for the doorknob。 〃I hope my boss is out there。〃
Through a crack in the curtains I follow his progress。 Joel calls out his identity and a group of FBI agents step forward。 I can tell they're FBI by their suits。 Joel is one of them。 He looks the same as he did yesterday。 Yet they don't greet him as a friend。 In an instant I grasp the full extent of their suspicions。 They know that whatever plague of death has been sweep…
ing L。A。 is municable。 Eddie and I left too many bodies behind。 Also； I remember the cop I freed。 The one whose blood I sampled。 The one I told I was a vampire。 The authorities may not have believed that man； but they will think I am some kind of demon from hell。
Joel is handcuffed and dragged into an armored vehicle。 He casts me a despairing glance before he vanishes。 I curse the fact that I listened to him。 Now I； too； must be taken into the vehicle。 Above all； I must stay close to Joel。 I don't know what he'll tell them。 I don't know what they'll do with his blood。
Many of them are going to die； I realize。
The SWAT team cocks their weapons。
They call again for me to surrender。
I twirl the striker on the lighter and touch it to the wood I have gathered around Eddie's body。 I say goodbye to his ugly head。 Hope the Popsicles you suck in hell cool your cracked and bleeding lips。 Casually； while the inferno spreads behind me； I step out the front door。
They are on me in an instant。 Before I can reach the curb； my arms are pulled behind me and I am handcuffed。 They don't even read me my rights。 You have the right to a pint of blood。 If you cannot afford one； the court will bleed a little for you。 Yeah； I think sarcastically as they shove me into the back of the armored vehicle where they threw Joel； I will be given all my rights as an American citizen。 Behind me I see them trying to put out the fire。 Too bad they brought the firepower but forgot the fire engines。 The house is a funeral pyre。 Eddie Fender will leave no legacy to haunt mankind。
But what about me？ Joel？
Our legs are chained to the floor of the vehicle。 Three men with automatic weapons and ghostly faces lit from a single overhead light sit on a metal bench across from us； weapons trained on us。 No one speaks。 Another two armed men sit up front； beside the driver。 One carries a shotgun； the other a machine gun。 They are separated from us by what I know is bulletproof glass。 It also acts as soundproofing。 I can break it with my little finger。
But what about the miniature army around us？ They won't break so easily。 As the door is closed and we roll forward； I hear a dozen cars move into position around us。 The chopper follows overhead； a spotlight aimed down on our car。 Their precautions border on the fanatical。 They know I am capable of extraordinary feats of strength。 This realization sinks deep into my consciousness。 For five thousand years； except for a few isolated incidents； I have moved unknown through human history。 Now I am exposed。 Now I am the enemy。 No matter what happens； whether we escape or die trying； my life will never be the same。
I'll have to tear up my credit cards。
〃Where are you taking us？〃 I ask。
〃You are to remain silent；〃 the middle one says。 He has the face of a drill sergeant； leathery skin； deeply etched lines cut in from years of barking mands。 Like his partners； he wears a flak jacket。 I think I would look nice in one。 I catch his eye and smile faintly。
〃What's the matter？〃 I ask。 〃Are you afraid of a young woman？〃
〃Silence；〃 he snaps； shaking his weapon； shifting unfortably。 My stare is strong medicine。 It can burn holes in brain neurons。 My voice is hypnotic； when I wish it to be。 I could sing a grizzly to sleep。 I let my smile widen。
〃May I have a cigarette？〃 I ask。
〃No；〃 he says flatly。
I lean forward as far as I can。 These men； for all their plans； have not e as well prepared as Slim's people did。 Yaksha had them bring cuffs made of a special alloy that 1 could not break。 I can snap these like paper。 Yet they are seated close together； these SWAT experts； and they have three separate weapons leveled directly at me。 They could conceivably kill me before I could take out all of them。 For that reason I have to take a subtle approach。
Relatively speaking。
〃I don't know what you've been told about me〃 I continue。 〃But I think it's way out of line。 I have done nothing wrong。 Also； my friend here is an FBI agent。 He shouldn't be treated this way。 You should let him go。〃 I stare deep into the man's eyes； and I know all he sees is my widening black pupils； growing as large as the dark sides of twin moons。 I speak softly； 〃You should let him go now。〃
The man reaches for his keys； then hesitates。 The hesitation is a problem。 Pushing a person's will is always a hit…or…miss proposition。 His partners are watching him now； afraid to look at me。 The youngest one rises half off his bench。 He is suddenly scared and threatens me with his weapon。
〃You shut your goddamn mouth！〃 he yells。
I lean back and chuckle。 As I do； I catch his eye。 Fear has made him vulnerable； he is an easy mark。 〃What are you afraid of？〃 I ask。 〃That your mander will let me go？ Or that you'll turn around and shoot him？〃 I bore my gaze into his head。 〃Yeah； you could shoot him。 Yeah； that might be fun。〃
〃Alisa；〃 Joel whispers； not enjoying my game。
The young man and the mander exchange worried glances。 The third guy has sat up； panting