“Your daddy would never hurt us,” Mamma argued.
“Daddy’s a vampire, and Stark is his master,” I said. “He probably didn’t have a choice. Promise me, whatever happens, that you won’t drink any more moonshine. And don’t look them in the eyes. They have some weird voodoo powers or somethin’.”
The two exchanged skeptical glances. They weren’t buying my story, and if my own family wouldn’t believe me, how was I going to convince the world?
“And in other news,” said the voice on the TV, “the Repurposed People Act has unanimously passed the House and is expected to have the full support of the Senate. The law would go into effect immediately, giving full living-human rights to any repurposed individual born in the United States or to those who can show they were in the countrylegally at the time of their death.”
My mouth dropped, and I pointed at the screen. “Are they talking about vampires?”
Maybell nodded. “You mean repurposed people? That’s what they liked to be called now. I kinda like it. Vampire sounds too scary.”
I can’t believe it. They’re trying to rebrand themselves as just recycled people.“They are not gently used jeans, Maybell! They’re monsters. And they want to kill us all!”
“Now that’s just silly, darlin’.” Daddy appeared behind me. Like Uncle Jimmie, he was a tall man with warm brown eyes and a husky build. His brown hair was unkempt as usual, but his beard had been neatly trimmed.
His gaze affectionately locked on Mamma.
Wait.Or was that hunger? She’d confessed that he’d been using her for food.
I looked at him again.Yep, he’s staring at her like she’s a cheeseburger.
Bleh!I took a step back, realizing that if Daddy was here, then the sun had gone down. It wouldn’t be long before Stark caught up with me.
Daddy reached for Mamma’s face and swept his knuckles along her jaw. “Good evening, my little bunny.”
“My wolf.” She giggled.
“Stop touching her.” I smacked his hand away. “I won’t let you kill her and turn us all into a chow line.”
Daddy laughed. “Why would we want to kill the people we love, not to mention our only source of sustenance?”
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll find a way to fatten us up on moonshine and keep us all penned up like piggies,” I spat. “And for the record, this piggy don’t want no Easter dress. You’ll have to look the ugly truth right in the dirty asshole.”
My father arched a brow. “Masie, you know how your mamma feels about cussing. Also, I have no idea what you just said.”
I didn’t have time for this. I had to stop Stark from turning the world into a Snack Shack for vampires.
Uncle Jimmie came out of the kitchen, holding his cell. “Masie, Stark is on the phone. He wants to talk to you.”
“Hang that up!” I squawked.
“Why would I do that? Stark’s my friend,” Jimmie replied robotically. “Just do us all a favor and hear the man out.”
Oh no. Oh no!Stark had gotten to Uncle Jimmie, too.
“Y’all are about as useful as a fork at a soup shop.” I shook my head.
“Stark says you drank too much moonshine, that you’re not thinking straight.” My uncle wiggled the phone. “Just speak with him, and he’ll explain.”
“Yes, darlin’,” said Daddy in a deep, commanding voice. “Just listen to the man.”
I can’t believe this. Daddy’s trying to put ideas in my head. He thinks I’m still on moonshine.It instantly became clear that I was on my own. There would be no family by my side, helping me figure out how to stop these evil creatures. They’d all been pod-peopled.
I snatched the cell from my uncle’s hand and pressed it to my ear. “Stark, you disgustin’, dirty SOB. You are not getting away with this.”
“Masie,” said that deep, menacing voice, “if you wish your family to survive, you will listen and do as I—”
“Don’t you dare threaten them,” I growled. “You hear me? You so much as lay a fang on—”
