Crossed by Lewis J. F

Author:Lewis, J. F. [Lewis, J. F.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Pocket
Published: 2011-01-24T23:00:00+00:00

28

GRETA:

DEATH OF THE PARTY

An hour later, Grandma’s body, her still-staked heart, and her pinioned necklace were safely ensconced in Fang’s trunk. A dozen new pink “Welcome to the Void” baby-doll T-shirts sat on the back seat next to thirteen new shirts for Dad: ten black, two of the new white ones, and one royal blue, all purchased by Talbot from a lucky vendor. I was wearing one of mine along with a pair of low-rise jeans, decorative chains hanging from either side, a studded black belt, and a pair of pink Skechers. Talbot had sent Magbidion for my clothes when I’d decided I didn’t want to put the dress back on.

Magbidion, Talbot, and I stood in the front row, waiting for Winter’s set to begin. A thousand or more people crowded around the stage, some sitting on the grass, others in lawn chairs. Part of the grassy area at center stage had been cordoned off with blue velvet ropes overseen by a group of bouncers from the Artiste Unknown. Somewhere else in the city, maybe at the Highland Towers, maybe back at the Pollux, Lord Phillip wanted to speak with me again, but I didn’t care.

“Can I eat that guy over there? The one with the nummy looking tats?”

“Not if you want to see the show.” Talbot grabbed Magbidion’s arm and held his exposed forearm in front of my face. “Do you need to take a hit off Mags?”

“Hey. Ow.” Magbidion pulled halfheartedly against Talbot’s grip. “Damn it, Talbot.”

“No,” I said. Talbot released Magbidion’s arm. Mags breathed a quiet sigh of relief. “Not from there.” And then I bit him. Sudden, hard, and fast, my fangs sank into Magbidion’s throat. He started, but didn’t struggle, so I kept things to a quick sip or two, following up with a bloody kiss on the cheek, leaving perfect red lip marks.

“Shit.” A shortish teen with tri-toned highlights and a leash in her hand gave the collared girl next to her a subtle tug. “We’re right next to a fucking vampire and her thralls.” Her taller, thinner girlfriend—the one on the leash—nodded, heart speeding up, part thrill, part fear.

“Do you think she knows Winter?”

“Ladies—” Talbot wanted to warn them away or move them along, but I liked them. They smelled like grassy fields, sweat, sunlight, and the ghost of perfume applied in the early morning hours and worn away by the day’s exertions.

“You like vampires?”

“Greta.” Talbot’s words had no wind to them, so dim they could have been a subvocalization. “I wrote a check for two million dollars to cover the excitement from earlier. Eric had that much liquid, but barely.”

“Shhh.” I hissed at him. “I know.”

Two million dollars is a whole lot of money, but when I told Dad I’d killed Lisette for him, ended her forever, he wouldn’t be mad. It was a great homecoming present.

Worried confusion flittered across the faces of the two foods . . . um, girls . . . young women.

“I asked you a question.”

They looked at each other, then answered together, “Yes.

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