Immortal War by Justin Somper

Author:Justin Somper [Somper, Justin]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: JUV001000, cookie429, Kat, Extratorrents
ISBN: 0316033251
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2012-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

26

AFTER MIDNIGHT

Lilith, mistress of the Blood Tavern, sat inside her glass booth carefully applying a fresh coat of emerald polish to the nails of one hand. A young male Vampirate entered the reception area. At the sight of new customer, Lilith lifted the hand with wet nails. A half-smoked cigarette burned low between two nicotine-stained fingers. No one could say Lilith wasn’t a proficient multitasker.

“You again?” she said as the young man approached her booth. “My, you’re a thirsty lad! Not that I’m complaining, mind. It’s customers like you have made my business what it is today. Allowed for all my extensive franchising and whatnot.” She took a pull on her cigarette, thinking how cleverly she had surfed the wave of the Vampirates’ rise to power. It paid to have connections, and little Lilith’s went right to the very top of the Vampirate command. Exhaling leisurely, she thought of Sidorio. She’d always known he was destined for greatness.

The customer pushed his money across the counter. “I’d like a pint, please,” he said, matter-of-factly but with a familiar undertone of urgency. They were always in a hurry, these immortals, when it came to blood.

Lilith’s dry hand clamped down on the notes.

Connor glanced around the vestibule, grateful to see that it was empty, save for a woman in huge fashion glasses too intent upon reading a magazine to even notice him. Perhaps she was waiting for her companion to finish up. Connor remembered waiting on that same ratty sofa during his first visit here with Jez. That had been many months ago, and the magazines were still no more current. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the woman over on the sofa turn the page of her magazine, oblivious.

“Which room?” Connor said, anxious to be on his way.

“Number Six,” Lilith said, her lips raised in a wry smile. “Off you pop, Mr. Smith.”

“Thanks.”

After he had disappeared through the velvet-covered doorway, Lilith finished up her cigarette and twisted the cap back onto the bottle of nail polish. She slipped down from her stool and pushed open the door at the back of her booth, padding over to the sofa area. Whistling a rather saucy old shanty—it quite made her blush to think of the lyrics—she began sorting through the magazines. She made neat piles of them, watching the glamorous young woman on the sofa all the while.

The woman, still wearing her oversize sunglasses, continued to read her magazine article. At last, she closed the journal and placed it carefully on the coffee table. Standing up, she smoothed down her jacket, lifted her purse, and nodded at Lilith. “Thank you,” she said. “You’ve been very helpful.” She removed a crisp roll of notes from her purse and held them out toward Lilith.

Lilith’s eyes were wide, but her hands closed over the notes as tightly as a clam. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like a drink yourself while you’re here?” she offered. “On the house, of course.”

The glamorous visitor shook her head. “It’s sweet of you to offer, but I’m going back to my ship now.

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