| PART FIVE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I showered and dressed in new black jeans, red polo shirt, and black Nikes with black swooshes. I armed myself as per usual with the Browning, Firestar, both knives, and the big knife down my back. I heard voices in the bedroom so I put on my jacket to cover up the arsenal so as not to startle the new comers. I walked out of the bathroom to find Edward and who I assumed were Ranger and the nameless girl. I stopped a few feet out of the bathroom as the guy stood up and faced me. He was dark haired, dark skinned, and damn sexy. Shit! Here I was getting laid regularly, and still other men affect me. I was beginning to think I had gained other things from Jean-Claude that just what he was telling me. Edward, who had risen at the same time as Mr. Sexy, came towards me. He leaned into me and whispered “Breathe, Anita.” “Fuck you,” I whispered back. “I don’t think it’s me that you really mean that to,” he said smiling. “Asshole,” I gritted out and started towards the two newcomers, leaving Edward to play catch-up. I extended my hand towards Ranger, “Hi, I’m Anita Blake – I assume you are Ranger.” We shook hands. His grip was delicate, as if he were afraid he would break me. I increased pressure. He seemed surprised. Good, perhaps he wouldn’t underestimate me in the future. He remembered himself and spoke. “Yes, I’m Ranger. This is my partner Stephanie Plum, she’s a bounty hunter, human’s only though.” Stephanie and I shook hands – she shook like a girl. “And what do you do?” I asked looking back at Ranger. “I have diverse business interests.” He replied. “I hate to interrupt Mousekateer roll call” Edward said, “but I could use some help getting some bags out of my car. Ranger you wanna give me a hand? We’ll leave the girls to get better acquainted.” They left the room, the door closing heavily behind them. I glanced at Stephanie who was looking around the room "I'm sorry but you do what again? Or do you just stand around and try to look cute? …..I’d be willing to bet you’re not even armed.” Damn, I just don’t know when to keep my mouth shut sometimes. "Oh yeah," she said defensively. "Well which one do you want me to demonstrate on you first? The gun, the pepper spray, or the stun gun?" "What kind of gun?" I asked. "A Smith and Wesson 38." I had to laugh which only made her more angry. "Here, let me disarm myself before you attack me." I took the browning out of my shoulder holster and laid it on the table. Her eyes followed the movement. I could tell I had already bested her with just that, but I felt like having some fun. I reached behind my back and pulled out the Firestar. I don't usually keep it there but it tends to frighten people when I wear it in the front. I laid it beside the Browning. "So you have two guns to my one, so what?" I held up my hand in a "wait" gesture. I took my jacket off which covered the knife sheaths on my forearms. I unfastened the sheaths and laid them next to my guns, and looked up at her giving her a false sense of my being finished. "So you're multitalented. Ranger’s been trying to teach me how to use knives," she squeaked out. "Oh wait, I almost forgot...." she truly looked afraid now. She was probably wondering where else I could be hiding something, and just what that something was. The straps of the knife sheath for my back blended nicely with the Browning's holster straps. I reached under my hair and grabbed the knife's hilt. Her eyes got wider as more of the knife came into view. She swallowed loud enough for me to hear. "What do you use that one for?" she asked. "Beheading chickens mostly," I said matter-of-factly. She paled and for a second I thought she was going to pass out. Edward and Ranger came back into the room then. Ranger's eyes widened when he saw my arsenal on the table. Edward just gave me a knowing look. "You weren't kidding about her were you?" Ranger asked Edward. "I mean I've heard the stories, I guess I just didn't want to believe them." Edward laughed his good ol' boy laugh, "No I wasn't kidding." Stephanie finally found her voice, "What ARE you?" "I'm the legal vampire executioner for our tri-state area." "But why would an executioner need to behead a chicken?" I smiled. At least she had been paying attention. "I'm an animator. I use the blood from the chicken or goat, or whatever, to raise the dead." "Actually our girl here is a necromancer. She has an affinity for all dead things," Edward interjected. "So you can........ What does that mean actually?" she stammered. "I have control over all dead things: zombies, vampires, I can see ghosts and sense spirits, not sure if I can control ghouls or not though, they tend to have a mind of their own." "And at times she even has control over their local werewolf pack leader." Edward said smiling. "Shut up Edward." He turned to Ranger and Stephanie, "Well, let's get down to business shall we?" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PART SIX |