Lost Souls by Sheridan Barbara & Cain Anne

Author:Sheridan, Barbara & Cain, Anne [Sheridan, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Romance
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Published: 2008-07-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Jesse stared wide-eyed at the little ghoul who scowled back at him. “Gobei?”

In several of his stories, Kiyoshi had talked about the ghoul—the Flesh Eater. Aside from Ryuhei and another man named Liu, who Kiyoshi only talked about briefly, and with a different kind of sadness, Gobei was closest to the vampire. They’d been friends for years—centuries, actually. Every once in a while, Gobei would meet up with Kiyoshi and follow the kyuuketsuki like a faithful companion…eating the flesh of those whose blood Kiyoshi had drained.

“I’m not surprised you don’t remember.” Ryuhei sighed and squeezed Jesse’s shoulder. “I’ve been trying to repress my memories of him, too.”

“So cruel.” Gobei gnashed his teeth. “I’m the one who’s been tortured all night with your vile, vile displays. Gah!”

“What do you mean ‘all night’?” Ryuhei’s jaw hung open. He buried his face in his hands. “Oh gods. You’ve been stalking us!”

“Pity me, I’m the one who suffers.” Gobei’s scowl deepened and he made that strangled gagging noise in the back of his throat. He turned his stare back to Jesse and narrowed his amber eyes. The look unsettled Jesse.

Hopping off the bench with a grunt, Gobei sniffed the air. He shuffled forward. He stopped in front of Jesse and sniffed the air again.

“Watch it, he bites.” Ryuhei sucked in his breath and made a show of pulling Jesse back.

“Do you know me?” Gobei’s eyes narrowed into two glowing slits as he eyed Jesse. He rubbed his chin, his look suddenly becoming suspicious.

Jesse shifted uncomfortably under that stare. He nodded and mumbled quietly, “Yeah…”

“But?” Gobei showed his teeth again.

“I remembered you…taller, I guess.” Jesse’s heart pounded.

Ryuhei laughed at the ghoul’s sour expression. “Serves you right for being a horrible little spy, Gobei. What are you doing here, anyway? I haven’t seen you in decades.”

The ghoul scowled. “I’m not here for you but for Kiyoshi-sama.”

“The gods have brought him back to us,” Ryuhei said softly, taking hold of Jesse’s hand. “He has been reborn in this boy.”

“I’m not a boy,” Jesse muttered. He pulled his hand away and stuffed both hands into his trouser pockets. Pressing his lips tightly together, he swallowed hard, wishing now that he hadn’t eaten. The sight of that—creature staring at him so intently was disgusting.

Ryuhei looked hurt, but before Jesse could apologize for snapping, Gobei shuffled closer. He came up to Jesse again and sniffed the air as he had before. “Is that so? This is Kiyoshi-sama?”

Gobei reached out, grabbed a fistful of material at the bottom of Jesse’s shirt and brought it to his miniature, stumpy nose. Jesse pulled away, sucking in his breath.

“Oh, stop that, you little beast.” Ryuhei swatted at Gobei’s hand.

“Your scent is all through him!” Gobei groaned and flailed around. “I can’t pick up anything else!”

“Does he have to make so much noise?” Jesse stepped behind Ryuhei.

“He’s always been like this,” Ryuhei said, exasperated. “Gobei—enough! Now go back to whatever rock you crawled out from under this time.”

“You have to listen to me, Ryu-san.”

“Leave us.

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