don’t you think you should give people more advance notice for the party?”
They looked at one another and Lenorre shook her head. “They will show up in costume either way.”
“The club is open on Halloween,” Eris said. “Most will wear costumes.”
“What about the vampires dressing in masquerade?” Rosalin asked. “They could float into the crowd, and the guests could get a shot at dancing with masked and mysterious vamps?”
Everyone looked at her. A soft blush rose to her cheeks. “Sorry, it was just an idea.”
“No,” Lenorre said. “It’s a very good idea.”
“Lenorre is right,” Eris said. “I like it. A patron doesn’t often get the opportunity to spend an evening dancing with a vampire.”
I was beginning to feel a bit like a fly on the wall. The club scene just didn’t do it for me. Lenorre decided to use Rosalin’s idea. Decked out in mysterious garb, the vampires would each pick a single date for the evening and work their magic. Not literally. Lenorre kept her charges under control. They were not to do anything illegal with their dates. They could present themselves with an air of mystery or use subtle seduction, but they were working. It was a job.
How many people would go home that night swooning or with a pierced vein? And how could Lenorre think about a party some days away when she had stray vampires hunting and turning teenagers in her territory? Tired, I closed my eyes and let my head rest against the back of the couch. I wanted to let go of death for a while—no more dead kids, no more hunting vampires, no more calls from the police saying they had found another body. But my world revolved around all of that. Lucky me.
“Kassandra.”
Their conversation had come to a halt.
I forced my eyes open, having started to doze off while they talked clothes and music.
Lenorre stood in front of me, offering her hand.
I took it, allowing her to help pull me to my feet. Eris stood and inclined her head, and Lenorre mirrored the gesture. In a sort of tired daze I made it to the bedroom. Once the double doors closed behind me, I started stripping, pulled on a pair of shorts and an oversized T-shirt, and went to brush my teeth.
Lenorre entered the bathroom while I was brushing. I met her reflection in the mirror.
“They could use their disguises to their advantage.” I spoke around my toothbrush. “Your place is the only vampire club in the city and, to any other vamp, probably good hunting grounds. We might be able to trap the strays without having to go find them.”
“True,” Lenorre said, propping her shoulder against the cabinet as she began to brush her teeth. “If they are so bold, then yes, my vampires will find them.” She was clearly deep in thought, so I stayed quiet as I finished my nightly routine. I didn’t want to talk about it either. It would be even better if I could get the thoughts to go away too.
We finished getting ready for bed in silence. Lenorre had her moments of unreal quietness, but right now I sensed she had a lot on her mind. I let her have her thoughts without prying. She was a Countess. Lady only knew what kind of good publicity the vampire killing would ruin for her. Not to mention that the public would have a massive freak-out if the news broke that crazy vampires were turning teenagers. It could cause chaos and might blow up into open season on vampires, protective laws or no. I crawled into bed, snuggling into the cool sheets.
Lenorre slid against me and I breathed a sigh of comfort and relief.
“We will find the vampires that hurt Timothy, Kassandra, and when we do, they will pay dearly.”
Her voice sounded lethal, but the arm she draped across my stomach was light and tentative. I took her hand, holding it close to my chest, and sank into the exquisite feel of her against me. “I know.”
I fell asleep before the sun rose and Lenorre died.
----
Chapter Sixteen
The bell chimed softly and June, my secretary, looked up from
They looked at one another and Lenorre shook her head. “They will show up in costume either way.”
“The club is open on Halloween,” Eris said. “Most will wear costumes.”
“What about the vampires dressing in masquerade?” Rosalin asked. “They could float into the crowd, and the guests could get a shot at dancing with masked and mysterious vamps?”
Everyone looked at her. A soft blush rose to her cheeks. “Sorry, it was just an idea.”
“No,” Lenorre said. “It’s a very good idea.”
“Lenorre is right,” Eris said. “I like it. A patron doesn’t often get the opportunity to spend an evening dancing with a vampire.”
I was beginning to feel a bit like a fly on the wall. The club scene just didn’t do it for me. Lenorre decided to use Rosalin’s idea. Decked out in mysterious garb, the vampires would each pick a single date for the evening and work their magic. Not literally. Lenorre kept her charges under control. They were not to do anything illegal with their dates. They could present themselves with an air of mystery or use subtle seduction, but they were working. It was a job.
How many people would go home that night swooning or with a pierced vein? And how could Lenorre think about a party some days away when she had stray vampires hunting and turning teenagers in her territory? Tired, I closed my eyes and let my head rest against the back of the couch. I wanted to let go of death for a while—no more dead kids, no more hunting vampires, no more calls from the police saying they had found another body. But my world revolved around all of that. Lucky me.
“Kassandra.”
Their conversation had come to a halt.
I forced my eyes open, having started to doze off while they talked clothes and music.
Lenorre stood in front of me, offering her hand.
I took it, allowing her to help pull me to my feet. Eris stood and inclined her head, and Lenorre mirrored the gesture. In a sort of tired daze I made it to the bedroom. Once the double doors closed behind me, I started stripping, pulled on a pair of shorts and an oversized T-shirt, and went to brush my teeth.
Lenorre entered the bathroom while I was brushing. I met her reflection in the mirror.
“They could use their disguises to their advantage.” I spoke around my toothbrush. “Your place is the only vampire club in the city and, to any other vamp, probably good hunting grounds. We might be able to trap the strays without having to go find them.”
“True,” Lenorre said, propping her shoulder against the cabinet as she began to brush her teeth. “If they are so bold, then yes, my vampires will find them.” She was clearly deep in thought, so I stayed quiet as I finished my nightly routine. I didn’t want to talk about it either. It would be even better if I could get the thoughts to go away too.
We finished getting ready for bed in silence. Lenorre had her moments of unreal quietness, but right now I sensed she had a lot on her mind. I let her have her thoughts without prying. She was a Countess. Lady only knew what kind of good publicity the vampire killing would ruin for her. Not to mention that the public would have a massive freak-out if the news broke that crazy vampires were turning teenagers. It could cause chaos and might blow up into open season on vampires, protective laws or no. I crawled into bed, snuggling into the cool sheets.
Lenorre slid against me and I breathed a sigh of comfort and relief.
“We will find the vampires that hurt Timothy, Kassandra, and when we do, they will pay dearly.”
Her voice sounded lethal, but the arm she draped across my stomach was light and tentative. I took her hand, holding it close to my chest, and sank into the exquisite feel of her against me. “I know.”
I fell asleep before the sun rose and Lenorre died.
----
Chapter Sixteen
The bell chimed softly and June, my secretary, looked up from
Similar Books
