Day Shift: Civilized Vampires, #1

By Missy Jane

I'm Zaria Stonewell, a human living in a vampire-run society. I used to think being stuck on Day Shift was the worst life could throw at me, but man was I wrong. Vampires are the most popular celebrities, run the government, walk side-by-side with humans every day, but past trauma means I try to stay as far away from them as I can. Only now, I have a vamp police detective knocking on my door looking for my ex-husband Ivan. The detective is kind of hot, and very persistent, but the real kicker is finding out Ivan might be involved in a murder. Detective Parsons wants to know if I'm a potential witness or the next victim. I damn well want to know too.

 

Content warning: contains mentions of violence and threats of non-consensual sexual aggression. There are no sex scenes (consensual or non-consensual) in this book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Missy Jane
• Release date: Mar 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215658307

Missy Jane

Missy Jane is a romance author from Texas who loves all things paranormal. 

Book preview

Dedication

This book is dedicated to all my readers, and lovers of vampires everywhere. Without you, this would all be pointless babbling.

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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

MJHM Enterprises

Day Shift

Copyright © 2023 by Missy Jane

ISBN:

Originally edited by: Sue Ellen Gower

Cover by Syneca

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief

quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Originally published by Samhain Publishing, Ltd. in 2012. The content has not been changed.

Day Shift

Missy Jane

I’m Zaria Stonewell , a human living in a vampire-run society. I used to think being stuck on Day Shift was the worst life could throw at me, but man was I wrong. Vampires are the most popular celebrities, run the government, walk side-by-side with humans every day, but past trauma means I try to stay as far away from them as I can. Only now, I have a vamp police detective knocking on my door looking for my ex-husband Ivan. The detective is kind of hot, and very persistent, but the real kicker is finding out Ivan might be involved in a murder. Detective Parsons wants to know if I’m a potential witness or the next victim. I damn well want to know too.

CONTENT WARNING: CONTAINS mentions of violence and threats of non-consensual sexual aggression. There are no sex scenes (consensual or non-consensual) in this book.

Prologue

Warm breath on my neck caused a shiver of terror to course down my spine as I lay helpless in my bed. Zander chuckled, deep and low in his throat, but I felt no answering amusement for my brother’s familiar laugh. My pulse leapt every time he moved and my muscles refused to obey my brain’s screaming demands to fight. Cold sweat beaded on my forehead and my body trembled uncontrollably. He didn’t seem to notice as he shifted his weight to press me more firmly into the mattress. Fear was a live thing in my belly, acrid on my tongue with the taste of bile. I whimpered but he gave no sign he heard or cared. He seemed too preoccupied with sniffing my neck and pushing his obvious erection into my thigh. His cotton shirt scraped against my bare arm and I cried out. He only chuckled again.

Zaria, he whispered into my ear.

This was it. I’d known for weeks there was a change in him but could never figure out exactly what was wrong. I’d idolized my big brother and he had always been protective of me but those days were done. He’d been drinking the synth stuff his vamp friends had talked him into regardless of what it represented. Human blood. It wasn’t supposed to be bad for humans but here he was, behaving like an animal. He was acting like he craved blood and sex. Two things I would never willingly give my older brother. Tears streaked down my face and I finally found the strength to toss my head back and forth, keeping his mouth off my neck.

I began to pray Dad would come home. I knew he wasn’t due back for a few more days, but if he walked in Zander would stop. I lifted my hands and pressed against his chest, digging my nails into his shirt in the hopes he would come to his senses. It was too dark to see in my bedroom with the lights off. My door was open, but Zander’s big body blocked any illumination from the hallway. He moved away the slightest bit and turned so I could finally see his face.

Where I’d expected to see my big brother, Zander, looking down at me, there was another nightmare in his place. Kurt laughed, his elongated canines dripping blood, and I screamed with every breath left in me. He looked down into my eyes and laughed again.

Now I’ve got you right where I want you, Zee.

I screamed again until I realized it was just a nightmare.

Chapter One

Iwoke with a start and slammed my palm onto the snooze button, knocking my eighth alarm clock of the year to the hardwood floor. A cracking sound warned I might be purchasing alarm clock number nine before leaving work for the night. With a groan I rolled onto my back and stared up at the water stain on the ceiling. Joe had once joked that he saw Jesus in the striations, but I didn’t find that very funny. If Joe had his way, there would be little old ladies lined up in the hallway waiting for a ten-second peek at the religious water stain. With the way my luck usually ran, I’d be kicked to the curb so Joe could make money off the Jesus stain somehow. I expected an eviction notice any day now.

Until then I still had to get up and get ready for work. Crackles and pops made me feel like a bowl of cereal as I slowly rose from the twin mattress sitting on my bedroom floor. A bed frame was just one more thing on the list of luxuries I’d planned to purchase as soon as I won the lottery, or got a raise, since one was as likely as the other. I stretched and grabbed the remote off the overturned milk crate beside my bed. Flipping on the television, I listened to the late newscast as I dressed in jeans and a plain brown T-shirt.

Good morning, Houston! It’s six a.m. and another clear day in the big city. Highs should reach the upper nineties by noon, but we’ll have another clear, cool night. And now for the highlights from last night’s top stories...

Someone famous had died, a politician got caught with his pants down, and the newest blockbuster movie was making the millions everyone expected it to make. Same shit, different night. I groaned and left the room in search of shoes. They were sitting beneath my scuffed-up TV tray, exactly where they had landed when I’d kicked them off just inside the door last night. I was about to pull them on when I realized I hadn’t put on socks yet.

Shit.

Back in my closet-sized bedroom, I found two white socks that didn’t quite match, but no one would be looking at my ankles anyway. They were both clean and that’s really all that mattered. I plopped down on my mattress to dress my feet, throwing an uninterested glance at the tiny TV screen.

...last night’s speech from President Vardin. He addressed the issues plaguing the nation and pledged more resources toward keeping humans safe. Representative Herrera criticized the president’s speech, saying it may be too little too late from the vampire sector.

I rolled my eyes at the familiar sentiment and tied my shoes. Another vampire president making promises he didn’t intend to keep. As a minority, I knew better than to bitch about it. Until a human rose in the ranks and took the oval office from the vampires, there was little hope our voices would truly be heard.

The news droned on, but I paid little attention to it as I stepped into my miniscule kitchen to make toast. I found my brush next to the toaster and made use of it, but the shoulder-length black locks sprang into a frizzy helmet around my head anyway before I tamed them into a ponytail. Not that my appearance mattered where I was going. Working day shift at Langley’s Round the Clock Emporium sucked, but paid well enough to live on. I sighed and tried to remember why I’d thought going to bed late was a good idea. Oh yeah, I’d wanted to see the full moon rise. Same shit, different month.

A knock on the door drew my attention away from the kitchen and I wondered who would be up so late. It was Joe. Wonder of wonders. The cranky, fifty-year-old vampire was my height, five-five, and thin as a stick. His dark blond hair always looked oily even as his skin appeared dry. He turned me off in so many ways, not just the vamp thing either, but I fought not to let it show on my face.

Hey, chica, getting ready for work?

I eyed my landlord warily, noting the coffee stains on his white tank top. His dark jeans were so full of holes it was a wonder he hadn’t been arrested for indecent exposure. A stranger would think he was homeless rather than the owner of several businesses.

Yeah, Joe. You know I work day shift.

He grunted and licked his teeth with a sound that grated on my nerves.

I know, I know. Sucks to be you.

I waited almost a full minute in silence as he seemed to be searching for something else to say. Finally the suspense was too much for me. Did you need something?

He seemed to think it over before raising one bony shoulder in a lazy shrug. Just checking up on one of my favorite humans.

I fought the urge to shiver in disgust and slam the door in his face.

I’m cool, Joe. Just gotta finish getting ready for work.

He straightened, and for a second I thought he meant to take a step into my apartment. I was blocking the doorway, but with his vampire strength he could easily force his way in. I tensed, fighting down my inherent fear. Joe’s nostrils flared and he tilted his head. The overhead light danced across his elongated pupils, causing the inhuman sheen to spark for a second. I never forgot for a single moment he was a predator.

He smiled as if reading my thoughts and took a step back. No problem, chica. Catch you later.

He turned and was gone in a rustle of cloth, the smell of old cigarettes drifting lazily after him. I released a breath I hadn’t meant to hold and closed the door. I rubbed my hands up and down my arms in a vain attempt to dispel goose bumps and returned to my toast.

Fucking vampires.

They ran the show and never let humans forget it. There wasn’t a damn thing anyone could do to change the basic fact that the vampires were politically and financially more powerful. History showed that every generation a human rose in the ranks and tried to better the country for the minority, but not much changed. Very little separated the two races on a molecular level, but we were still worlds apart. President Vardin had done well to enforce anti-discrimination laws. If I wanted to, I could now apply for an evening job. Working day shift sucked on many levels, but at least I had a reason to stay up and see the sun. Even if it was damn near lethal.

I finished my meager breakfast, washing it down with milk, and prepared to leave my apartment for the day. The sun was brightening the sky, chasing most people to their beds and out of its harsh rays. Vampires were inherently more susceptible to skin cancer and other skin-related diseases caused by UV rays, but it was just as bad for humans to be overexposed. I pulled on a lightweight, hooded jacket and grabbed my keys. Since I had to walk to work, every precaution mattered.

Langley’s Round the Clock Emporium stood in a crumbling building five blocks from my apartment. I walked briskly down the trash-infested sidewalk, looking straight ahead and avoiding all eye contact. It was early yet, but it wouldn’t be long before the dregs of society began to roam. If I didn’t dawdle, I’d soon be behind the counter where a shotgun gave me a sense of security. It being Sunday, I wasn’t expecting much business. This would be one of the slowest days of the week. I made it to the store without incident and walked through the glass door with a sigh. It was empty except for the late-night clerk, Janice, who looked up with a smile as I entered.

Hey, girlfriend, how’s it shaking?

I smiled back and gave a small wave. It’s shaking, Jan, it’s shaking.

Her hearty laugh followed me as I walked to the back of the store to clock in. Janice was the only human working a night shift. Apparently, it helped to be the boss’ current fling. I would’ve held it against her if she and Brett weren’t such a perfect match. One look at them together and everyone knew they were stupid for each other. It was hard to argue with that. Besides, I liked Janice. Her friendliness and honest caring helped me get over the fact that her voluptuous body stole every male customer’s attention. She was an inch or two shorter than me with wavy red hair that reached her waist. I looked almost boyish next to her. In my book, exercise is a dirty word and I’ve never been in danger of needing a bigger bra. I was completely plain compared to her womanly curves.

I punched the clock and took off my jacket, hanging it on a nearby peg. As I walked back to the front counter, I looked over the state of the cluttered store. By the time I reached the front, Janice was done counting down her drawer.

It was slow as shit last night, girlfriend. Unless there’s a parade I don’t know about, you’re gonna be bored outta your mind.

I shrugged and sat on a nearby stool. That’s cool. I’ll restock the candy.

Good idea. Those damn cops keep stopping by for the chocolate-flavored synth stuff. That shit just grosses me out. Brett tried to get me to taste it but I said, hell no!

I chuckled and swung my legs back and forth. Because of their metabolism, vamps needed three times as much blood as humans. In the old days they would grab a handy human and chow down. Then a few decades back a vamp scientist created synthetic blood. Now it was packaged in a variety of ways and referred to as synth products. They could have it in liquid or solid form, flavored as a variety of foods. It was a booming industry that made millions of dollars a year. I had once dated a human who worked on the daytime production line. He claimed to eat it all the time, and the idea of kissing him made me gag. We didn’t last long.

Janice finished removing the extra cash and let me take over the register for the day. We gossiped for a few minutes about the night crew before she took her leave. I sighed and looked around the empty store. It wasn’t very big, just four long aisles of basic food and household goods and two freezer cases along the back wall. Brett was always looking for a way to increase sales. He’d stock anything he thought might sell. With a sigh, I walked around the counter and started straightening the Texas souvenirs sitting under a layer of dust.

"Achoo! Ugh." If that was a sign of the day to come, I was in for a long one.

Three hours later I’d straightened up the whole store and dusted the Texas paraphernalia. A total of five customers had come in, all human and a couple completely drunk. Alone and bored out of my mind, I moved my stool closer to the tinted front window to stare out at the empty street. From my vantage point I had a view of the building across the street and the closed theater beside it. An alley ran between them back to the next block and a couple of my favorite restaurants.

I was gazing sightlessly at the mouth of the alley, daydreaming about nothing, when a flash of movement startled me. There had been no one there a heartbeat before, but now two men appeared to be fighting. I stood and grabbed the cordless phone from its base before stepping closer to the glass. They were near enough for me to see each hit land and quickly realize one was much stronger than the other. The weaker one looked vagrant, dressed in rags and a long, dirty trench coat. His dark