The Vampire Gene

"I never thought it was, brother," said Angus dryly. "Is everyone OK?"

" We're all alive, but Fergus has lost a hand, and I've just had to replace some of Oliver's small bowel in his abdomen. They're both going to be fine in a couple of days," he said reassuringly when he saw my dismayed expression.

"I have Jack," Angus told him. An evil grin spread across Marcus' face. For a moment I felt sorry for Jack, but then I remembered how he had cold-bloodedly shot me. And how Angus had said that what he had done to Julia was much, much worse. I stopped feeling sorry for him.

Angus led Marcus to the back of the van while I walked up the steps to the front door of the house. Julia met me at the door with a huge bear hug.

"I'm so glad you're safe," she said as she patted my back. "We're all fine. I've reassured Fergus that the hand will grow back in just over a week. He's annoyed that it's going to take so long, of course, but there's no pleasing some people," she chuckled.

"We have Jack," I told her.

Her expression hardened. "Good," was all she said, but I sensed that this was a very significant moment for her. "They're all in the front sitting room. Come through and I'll show you."

I followed her into the house, and down a short passage to the sitting room. Fergus lounged in a large leather armchair by the fireplace, a thick dressing encasing the stump of his left arm, and a grumpy look on his face, which disappeared as soon as he saw me.

"Little sister!" he exclaimed, and stood up to hug me. I hugged him right back - I was so grateful that he and Marcus and the others were OK. Oliver lay on a three seater sofa, his naked torso and abdomen wrapped in bloodstained bandages. A nasty gash poked out above the bandages just below his collar bone. It was already in the healing stage, but it looked like it hurt. He must have sensed my sympathy, because he looked up at me and grinned and winked. I pulled a face and rolled my eyes, and he laughed.

"They've got Jack," Julia spoke now. Oliver watched her face closely.

"Put him in the old dining room," he suggested. "Blood won't stain those old stone floors."

She nodded once and then left to find Marcus and Angus. We all trailed along behind her, Oliver slightly hunched and holding his abdomen. I briefly considered suggesting to him that he lie down again, but dismissed the idea very quickly. He was a vampire, and if experience had taught me anything - he wouldn't listen.