Stormrage by Skye Knizley Page A

people to mix, package and distribute. Electric safety lights glowed in bright rows along the ceiling, stainless steel counters covered in various equipment stretched into the distance beneath them and a handful of scruffy, unhappy-looking people moved back and forth mixing powders and carrying the result to the glass furnace where portions were sealed in glass tubes.
    None of the workers looked up as Raven and Levac entered, one just pointed toward a door at the far end of the room.
    " We're not here for Thirst," Raven said. "I'm Detective Storm and this is Detective Levac of the Chicago police. We're shutting this place down and you're free to go."
    The small group of workers looked up at that, their faces dejected and frightened. One of them, the apparent leader, gestured toward a surveillance camera high in the far wall.
    "They'll see and kill us if we try to escape," he said.
    "Not if they are behind bars," Levac said. "Come on, you people get out of here or I will have to arrest you for the manufacturing of narcotics. Either way, you're leaving. I suggest you make your way to the Sisters of Mercy outside Old Town."
    Seeing that Levac wasn't kidding , the small group of workers hurriedly left. Within seconds there was only the hush of the small torch they used to seal the Thirst vials and the tink-tink of cooling metal.
    Once the room was clear, Raven closed the door and locked it behind her. She picked up a vial of Thirst and turned it in her fingers; as far as she could tell it was identical to the ones they'd collected at Shevlin's home. She pocketed one of the vials and then turned to the camera and blew a kiss toward the lens, hoping it annoyed whoever was watching.
    Levac moved ahead and checked the door into the next room. He nodded at Raven and drew the Automag she'd given him while she covered the door. When they were both ready, Levac opened the door and Raven stepped through, automatically checking corners and behind the door for any hint of hidden danger.
    The detectives found themselves in a well-appointed office area two stories high. Black leather sofas surrounded a white steel fireplace, the glass side-tables covered in issues of Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Handgun magazine. Beyond the sitting area was a caged in security office, the door hanging ajar as if someone had just left. Next to this was a metal staircase leading up to the second floor. There was no sign of anyone.
    Raven nodded toward the stairs and Levac nodded back. The tall redhead went first, scanning the corners of the room. She reached the bottom of the stairs and checked the top. She could still see no one, though a catwalk led deeper into the plant and branched off into a room with tinted windows. Raven was about to head up the stairs when a leather-clad woman dropped from the rafters and landed on Levac, dragging him to the floor in a heap of leather and tan trench coat.
    "Chicago police!" Raven yelled. "Let him go or I will use deadly force!"
    The woman looked up at Raven and snarled , showing white fangs. Raven didn't hesitate; Her Automag barked twice, both rounds punching through the vampire's face in quick succession. The vampire exploded in a cloud of flame that left Levac covered in fine grey ash and scraps of charred leather. He coughed from within the cloud and Raven helped him to his feet.
    "What was that?" he asked, gasping for breath.
    "I promise I will tell you later," Raven replied. "Just remember, use the Automag and aim for the heart or head."
    Levac nodded and followed Raven up the stairs. They were halfway to the catwalk when another vampire appeared from the scaffolding above.
    "Freeze!" Levac ordered. "Chicago Police!"
    "She knows that, Rupert," Raven said, watching the vampire scamper from beam to beam. The vampire was dressed in a leather catsuit tight enough to show a pimple, a leather collar with a ring on the front and boots so high they made Raven's feet ache in sympathy yet still she moved with catlike grace, a