Max just wanted to have a night out with her cousin and go home. As a plus sized lass, she didn't fit in amongst the tiny blonde gazelles, but protecting her cousin from a perv in the alley changed her fate. In a moment of self-preservation when a man started chewing on her neck, she bit the hand over her mouth, setting a paranormal chemical reaction into play. Now that she is infected with his blood, he either needs to turn her or destroy her. The vampire tribunal chips in with an option for Max. She can rescue their kidnapped Guild Master, and he will decide her fate. Sounds like the best deal of the evening.
The wild sounds and sights of the nightclub were lost to Max as she followed Tabby and the stranger out of the rear fire door. The darkness of the alley blinded her for a moment until her rapidly blinking eyes adjusted to the lack of light.
There. In the shadows behind a dumpster, she heard a breathy giggle from Tabby followed by a harsh squeak. It was the squeak that demanded action.
Max looked around and grabbed a chunk of wood from the alleyway. "Oy, jackass, get your face off my cousin!"
The stranger had his mouth on Tabby's neck and the whites of her eyes were showing with pain. He didn't move and Tabby whined softly.
With her hands clenched on the wood, she swung at his shoulder and knocked him three feet away from Tabby.
"What do you think you are doing, cow?" His snarl displayed bloody lips and teeth that glowed eerily in the darkness.
"Getting you away from her, ass hat." She was holding the wood like a broadsword.
"You don't want to do that." His eyes glowed a creepy green and she felt a tugging, like she didn't actually want to do whatever she was thinking about.
Before she could track his movement, he grabbed her and shoved her up against the wall, his fangs gleaming in the darkness. Fangs? What the hell? His hand covered her mouth as he swooped in to bite her neck and she did what came naturally.
With all her power, she closed her teeth on his hand and tore a chunk of skin off his palm. Blood spilled into Max's mouth and her jaw was held so tightly she couldn't spit. He was gnawing at her neck, but he couldn't do more than scratch the surface, her choker prevented him from getting a solid grip.
Strength born from fear and fury helped her push him off, but the damage was done. He had tasted her blood and she had gulped his. With a snarl, he ran down the alley, leaving Max bent over trying to wretch, her cousin sitting nearby with her hand pressed to her neck.
"Tabby, are you all right?"
"He bit me. He really bit me."
Max groaned and helped her cousin to her feet. The club exit was not accessible from the alley, so Max walked them to her car. Tucking her cousin into the passenger seat, she winced at the mess of blood and torn flesh that was her neck.
With her mouth tight, she got behind the wheel and started her car.
Tabby's voice was soft, helpless. "He bit me, Max."
She gunned the engine and announced grimly, "Don't worry, Tabby. I bit him back."
