Blood Moon (A Louisiana Demontale): Book 1 of the Crescent Crown Saga by Schuyler Windham

Author:Schuyler Windham [Windham, Schuyler]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fox Hollow Publishing
Published: 2020-10-31T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

June approached as a warm breeze from the gulf, and they were no closer to discovering the whereabouts of Lilith’s crown. Saint-Germain stayed holed up in his study, trying to decipher the ancient Sumerian texts to no avail. Every few weeks, he sent Arachne to recruit more vampires across the city to her cause.

The farmer’s market crowds bustled about on the walkway overlooking the Mississippi river. Leo thumped his upright bass and crooned an old jazz tune. A few onlookers clapped and tossed dollar bills into his case as he finished another song. Leo spotted Arachne as she weaved through the throngs of people. He spun his bass flamboyantly and plucked a fancy riff. Then he tipped his hat to her.

“Good morning ma’am,” he winked.

She blushed and giggled. “Morning!” Then she hesitated. “I do feel awful; you’re here every weekend and every other day, it seems.”

“I’ve got to take advantage of busking with the warmer weather.” He shrugged. “It was either stay employed at a dingy bar, or help you. I’d rather play music than work at that bar anyway.”

“But you should be playing in venues . . .”

“Alas,” he sighed and then took a swig from his water bottle. “What can I do you for?”

“Want to go on a date?”

“Of course!” He grinned, then his smile faltered. “It’s not really a date, is it?” Arachne shook her head. “It’s another Saint-Germain assignment, isn’t it?” Arachne nodded.

“Oof, Arachne,” Leo signed. “Can we have just one evening to ourselves? Not since your birthday . . .”

“Doubtful.”

“All right, where do you want me and when?”

“We’ll leave the apartment at six p.m. We need to head out of town to a winery.”

“You should really get yourself a cell phone,” Leo pointed out. “Eshe got a smart phone . . .”

“To get addicted to weird phone games and have them track my position? No thanks!” Arachne reached up to peck him on the cheek.

“Who’s ‘them’?” Leo squinted.

“Have fun!” She beamed and then sauntered back into the crowd. Leo took another pensive swig from his water bottle and then picked up with another tune. A few more passersby dropped some one-dollar bills into his case. Every little bit counts, he thought as he grinned and sang another upbeat jazz standard. For a few minutes he was at peace, thumping his bass and belting out his favorite classics. Arachne was right; it wasn’t ideal to play out in the midday summer heat for scraps. But it wasn’t the worst, either. The humid sun on his neck wasn’t so bad with a song on his lips. After a few more songs, he had a distinct feeling of being watched.

Of course you’re being watched. You’re playing music in a public place, he chided himself. No, no, he debated. Listen to yourself. You know better . . .

He looked up and gazed around at the small throng of farmer’s market patrons. No one seemed familiar at first . . . but then he met evergreen eyes.

Nathan! Leo gasped, and his heart nearly jumped from his chest.

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