Realm of Night (Mina Murray Book 3) by L.D. Goffigan

Author:L.D. Goffigan
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Published: 2017-06-20T06:00:00+00:00

IT TOOK several moments for the tension in the room to fade. Abe apologized on behalf of the group, while Anara fell silent, though I saw a look of regret flicker across her face. Emma still looked shaken by the impromptu interrogation; it was only mine and Gabriel’s repeated apologies and reassurances that seemed to calm her.

“I recently discovered that our family line has a distant vampire ancestor,” I said, once she had calmed. “Were you aware?”

Emma blanched, and I could have sworn that her skin went even more white. Her gaze briefly strayed to Anara and the others, but she shook her head.

“No,” she replied. “It certainly makes sense, given that there are at least two vampires in the family. You told me you are looking for Bathory,” she continued, abruptly changing the subject. “Through her follower, Francois?”

“Yes,” I replied. “Do you know of him?”

“He is the leader of the Parisian vampires,” Emma said, her mouth twisting with dislike. “All vampires in France know of him. He is behind the more vicious attacks on humans in the city—he loathes humans with a passion. One of his sycophants, Clement, has an infatuation with me…he seems to scent me anytime I’m in the city,” she added, with a shudder of revulsion. “He often invites me to Francois’ masquerade balls, but I always decline. Francois would hate me—I’m half human. Even so, I would never go to one.”

“Masquerade balls?” Abe asked.

“Francois holds elaborate masquerade balls every week at his chateau. He calls them Night Masquerades. The rumor is that he’s celebrating the coming end of the human world. The more humans he and his children kill that week, the more festive the celebration,” she said with disgust.

Hot anger seared me at her words; Abe and the others looked sickened as well. I thought of the empty streets of Paris, and my determination rose once more. We would put an end to Francois’ morbid celebrations.

“Can you arrange for our invitations to his next ball?” I asked.

“You—surely you are not serious,” Emma replied, slowly shaking her head. “Francois is strong, powerful, and absolutely mad. He—“

“We have heard all of these arguments before,” Abe interrupted. “They are irrelevant. We need to get to him—it is our best chance of tracking down Elizabeth Bathory.”

At the mention of Bathory’s name, Emma paled. She studied me and Gabriel for a long moment before she replied.

“If you are determined to go, then I'll not stop you. I’ll have to go into the city to see if I can arrange it.”

“Thank you,” I said, smiling at her. “Truly, Emma.”

“Let me show you your rooms,” she said, avoiding my gaze as she stood.

She led us out of the salon. The interior of the home bore the same signs of fading grandeur as the exterior—the walls were peeling, the floors splintered with age, and it was permeated by a dank and musky smell. It was almost completely dark; Emma had to light a candle once we reached the hall to take us up the unsteady winding staircase to the second floor.

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