Blood Debt

Chapter 8

After reassurances from Dean, Sam ate the fruit and drank the water Eli had left. The brother's exchanged small talk, Sam keeping the conversation away from anything that might give Dean insight into the plan of escape, though he did have to reassure him he did have a plan. Dean's opinion of Pastor Jim's spaghetti stopped midsentence when he stiffened and turned toward the front of the cage, every nerve in him electrified. Sam watched him, concerned, but stayed where he was.

"She's coming," Dean whispered to him.

"Kate?" Sam whispered back.

"Yes," Dean hissed, his eyes anxiously searching the shadows for his sire. He felt his will leave him when he caught her scent. His hunger, already strong, turned ravenous. He moved to the front of the cage, wincing as his stomach cramped with hunger. When he saw her step into the nearby light, he sank to his knees at the front of the cage.

"Mistress Kate," he moaned, reaching his hand through the bars toward her.

Kate smiled, pleased by his reaction, and walked up to the cage. "How's my little doggie," she asked. She slapped his hand back.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he said. He stared at her, his eyes filled with desperation, making her smile broaden.

"Ready to eat?" she asked as she brought out a knife to open her wrist for him.

"Yes," Dean said breathlessly, hopefully. He stared at her white wrist as a starving dog offered a feast.

She paused, her nostrils flaring, and her gaze shot to Sam. "You!"

"Hi, Bitch," Sam said pleasantly.

She saw the shackle on his wrist and the chain that led to the front of the cage. A smile snaked to her lips. "Oh, this is just too perfect."

"Better talk to my vampires before you get any ideas. I think they have first dibs on gutting me," Sam said, shifting to the back of the cage and sliding his arm around a bar.

"Oh, but we always share our food," Kate said, letting her fangs descend. She gripped the chain running to his shackle and began to try to pull him toward her.

The crook of his elbow pulled against the cold metal bar. He knew vampires were strong and he wasn't sure how long he'd be able to stay away from her. He wondered if he should call for Lenore, though surely Kate wouldn't be stupid enough to kill him. "So they'll get a piece of Dean?" he asked. "I didn't think you wanted to share your toy."

Annoyance clouded her face, and he heard her growl as she pulled harder on the chain.

The shackle was biting painfully into his wrist. He gave her a strained smile. "Now what would my vampires say, you trying to take me for your own? Gee, lucky me, there's one now," Sam said, privately relieved to see Shelly, but he let fear creep into his eyes all the same.

"And just what are you doing with my family's food, Kate?" Shelly asked mildly. She'd never liked Kate, not from the get-go. Kate was a pathetic mini-me wannabe of Thompson and Suzanne. She didn't have a backbone and when it came right down to it she'd fold the moment any real stress was put on her.

Kate let the chain slide through her palm, but still held its end, toying with it. "So you brought him in?" she asked.

"Yes," Shelly said.

"Thompson has offered you additional food, hasn't he?"

"Of course."

Kate's lips pursed as she fingered the steel chain. "I'd like this one. Name your price."

Shelly walked up to her and took the chain from her. "He's not up for barter. He killed my mate." She looked in at Sam, fury in her eyes. "He killed most of my family. He's ours to kill."