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in.
Minutes later they were roaring up the coast in Sebastian s dark
green Maserati, following the curve of the sea. Salty night air blasted
their faces through the open windows. Ruby was deep in thought as
she watched the scenery flash by: long lines of dingy vacation cabins,
boarded-up tourist attractions, and rows of fishing boats bobbing in
the darkened bay. After a while, she turned to him.
I ve been meaning to ask you. Why are you letting those humans
move in on us?
He feigned confusion. What humans?
Please. That woman, and her brother.
Ah, the Dempseys. Simple. We need the work done. Edgar left
the house in a shameful state. It s likely to crumble around our heads
if we don t do something.
Her amusement faded to incredulity. Now you ve really lost your
mind. You preach and carry on about discretion and safety, and you
invite humans to poke through our house to hang around us all
evening? It s just a matter of time before they see or hear too much!
I intend to stay and supervise them. You re free to go out.
Supervise, huh? She made the word sound dirty. You want to
feed on her, don t you?
Of course not. His hands tightened on the steering wheel. The
Maserati already traveled at breakneck speed, but he edged it up
another notch. The road seemed to consume his attention.
You say that now. In time, you ll admit the truth. You hunger as
much as I do. Probably more. How long have you gone without real
blood? A couple of years?
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46 Cassandra Pierce
Sebastian sighed. Two years, six months, four days& and seven
hours, he confessed miserably.
That s insane. Ruby opened her mouth wide and licked the
sharp points of her teeth as if to taunt him. Don t think I m upset to
see you come to your senses. Quite the opposite. The man looks
delicious to me, too. B negative, I d guess. Not my favorite, but he ll
do.
Ruby! How often must I remind you to be cautious? This is our
home now. We must do our best to fit in. We don t want a repeat of
Amsterdam.
Oh, who cares? Ruby squirmed. I wanted to leave anyway. All
those nasty canals and stupid bicycles everywhere. You got bored,
too. Don t bother to lie.
Sebastian let the matter drop. He wasn t ready to ask himself how
close Ruby had come to the truth. He had no intention of debating his
emotional or nutritional needs with her.
Where is this place, anyway? she griped.
I suggest you pace yourself. One day, your impatience will get
you into trouble.
So what else is new?
At the very end of the beach the hushed darkness gave way to the
hazy glow of tiki torches and the callous beat of industrial dance
music. The club itself came into view as they crested the hill. Jutting
halfway over the cliffs, its open deck functioned as a dance floor,
strung with festive party lights and vibrant with activity.
Ruby s enthusiasm increased by the minute. Now we re talking!
she chirped as Sebastian pulled into the gravel parking lot.
We ve driven almost a hundred miles, he said. No one here
will recognize us. We must also be sure they don t remember us.
Therefore, I ask you to comport yourself with discretion.
You can trust me.
Sebastian laughed to himself as Ruby bounded past him, pushed
through the double glass doors, and charged into the club. As he
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Heirs to Darkisle 47
followed her inside, he saw several pairs of male eyes turn to her with
interest. She would enjoy herself here.
The space, so modern and loud like everything these days, dazzled
him. Neon-blue strobe lighting flashed across a crowded, circular bar,
while a wall-sized video screen blazed a kaleidoscope of random
images. The music blared loud and fast, and the patrons were on the
move, dancing or slipping from one shadowy part of the room to the
next. Some huddled in pairs or groups. Some partied alone.
A young blond man in a midriff shirt and white jeans paused to tilt
his head at Ruby, exposing his slender neck. His skin glowed purple
in the artificial light. She stared back at him with obvious lust.
Sebastian caught up to her and leaned over to whisper in her ear.
Go, he told her. He didn t have to repeat himself. She plunged into
the crowd without so much as a backward glance.. He took a seat at a
small table near the bar.
Sebastian had to admire her style. Back when he still hunted, it
often took him the better part of an evening to interest a mark unless
he offered cash, a ploy he used only if desperation gnawed at his
empty stomach. Tonight he intended simply to observe.
Care for something?
A young woman had stopped at his side, holding a tray of colorful
drinks toward him. She was scantily attired, even by twenty-first
century standards, with shoulder-length dark hair that reminded him
of Briana Dempsey. His senses twitched as her enchanting scent
reached his nose.
No thank you.
Smiling, she bent close to him. Her almost-bare breasts hovered
inches from his face. Are you sure? I can mix something special for
you. Just ask.
Sebastian struggled against the emotion that squeezed his throat
and the raw physical need that swelled his dried-out veins. Most of
all, he fought back the image that blossomed in his mind at the sight
of those soft, upturned lips as they spoke to him. His own lips could
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48 Cassandra Pierce
capture them so easily and then drift lower, toward the throbbing vein
that creased her milky throat. He could see it, trembling just beneath
the surface.
Averting his face from her, he shook his head sadly. I think not.
Okay, then. Suit yourself.
His entire body slumped in relief when she shrugged and finally
walked away. The smell of her hormone-laden blood thankfully
faded, along with the pounding in his lifeless guts.
But an image of Briana remained.
Ruby, as usual, had guessed the truth before he did. Years ago he
not only would have wanted to feed on her, he probably would have
done so by now.
But times had changed. He had changed. Coming to places like
this reminded him how much.
Soon he spotted another woman eyeing him, this time from across
the bar. Long ago, she would have seemed a desirable prospect:
brunette, late twenties, wearing a sleeveless dress that revealed an
intricate tribal tattoo slithering up her right bicep. Her florid
complexion suggested a sugary flavor and a strong constitution. He d
always preferred donors who could handle a more aggressive session.
Somehow it lessened the guilt he felt even when the woman
participated willingly. This one obviously would.
She rolled the edge of her highball glass over her coy smile.
Sebastian stood, trembling, and ventured farther into the club to
find Ruby. He saw no sign of her, nor the man in the white jeans, but
several women turned to look at him as he passed. He recognized
their interest as an overture to much more.
He continued his search outside the club. A few people milled
about, some of them carrying drinks. One couple leaned against the
side of the building. The woman s hand was boldly roving over the
front of the man s pants. The sight startled him, and he looked up and
away. The sky had begun to change: dawn would come in a few [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]