[03] The Vampire's Kiss by Raven Hart

Author:Raven Hart
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780345502247
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2007-01-06T07:00:00+00:00

Jack

“So you need to talk to both of them? The one who’s in heaven and the one who’s in hell?”

“That’s right.”

“Do you mind telling me who these people are?”

“I’d rather not.”

“How do you expect me to help you find them if you won’t tell me who they are?”

“I have this…this feeling that once I get there they’ll find me. Don’t ask me how I know. I just do.”

“Don’t ask, huh?” I said. “It seems to me that this telling-the-truth business should go both ways. How come I have to spill all my secrets and you get to keep yours?” Now, I thought this was a reasonable question, but I’m a man. And every now and then I get reminded that what seems right and reasonable to a man seems like flat-out crazy talk to a woman. Connie looked at me like I’d just escaped an asylum.

She started to say something sharp, I could tell. But she must have remembered she was trying to get a favor out of me, so she bit back whatever it was. Finally, she said, “I don’t want to go into that. I just need you to do this for me. I can’t tell you how important it is.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“Jack, don’t make me talk about why I have to do this. I can’t handle it. Just trust me.”

“Like you trust me?”

She thrust out her chin and her eyes blazed. I felt like a fool then, opening up the way I did when it was clear that she didn’t think enough of me to do the same. During the few tense moments of silence that followed, I begged her silently to say something, anything, to signal me that she would let me into her mind and her heart. But she said nothing, and the silence hurt more than any insult she might hurl my way.

Finally, I took a deep breath and said what Mel told me to say. “It’s too dangerous. Melaphia forbids it.”

“Dammit, Jack, are you going to let her tell you what to do?”

“Don’t even start,” I said. “You can’t drive a wedge between me and Mel. She’s just about the only family I have.”

“That’s more family than I have,” Connie said, her eyes glistening. She got up and went to the door. Holding it open, she said, “Go home, Jack. And tell Seth that I will be at the fight.”

I went to the door and walked out before I could say anything I’d regret. But I hadn’t taken two steps when she spoke again. I turned back as she said, “Tell Seth this, too—tell him that whatever happens, I’ll never consider him to be a monster.”

What about me? I wanted to yell as she closed the door in my face. Sometimes it just doesn’t pay to sober up.

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