The Niki Slobodian Omnibus (NS 1-3) by J. L. Murray

Author:J. L. Murray [Murray, J. L.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Urban, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Paranormal, Fantasy, Paranormal & Urban, Literature & Fiction
Publisher: Hellzapoppin Press
Published: 2012-12-23T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

I let Gage continue to sleep in the backseat as I got out of the car. It was late and the sky was clear, my breath turning to mist against the frigid air. The vial in my pocket seemed to be getting hotter. I could feel it burning my skin through my jacket. I let it. It was the only place I felt warm, though I didn't think it had anything to do with the weather. I pushed aside police tape surrounding the front of the building. I tried not to look at the brown stains splattered all up and down the white stone of the building. Dorrance did this.

Eliza met me at the front door and let me in without a word. She led the way up to her office, the silence so heavy it almost felt aggressive. Eliza pursed her lips when she sat down at her desk. I shut the door behind me and took a deep breath. "What kind of game are you playing?" I said.

Eliza raised her eyebrows. "Would you like to sit down, Miss Slobodian?" she said.

"No, I don't want to goddamn sit down," I said. I walked to the desk and leaned over until our faces were close. "I want to know why you really sent me on that wild goose chase. That was my sister."

Her expression didn't change, but she leaned back in her chair. "I've no idea what you're on about, Niki."

"Your angel," I said in a whisper, "is dead."

She swallowed. I saw her eyes change. It wasn't sadness or grief or anything I would have expected. It was more resignation. Acceptance. Then she was back to steely indifference. "How did it happen?" she said.

"The Blood had him hooked up to a child," I said, trying not to let my own emotions show through. "A child they've been feeding angelwine since she was a baby."

"The Morrigan?" she said, unable to contain her surprise. Either she was a damn fine actress, or she really was shocked.

"Yeah," I said. "Do you know who she was?"

"There have been rumors," she said. "It is said she's part angel and part demon."

"No," I said. "She was human. Once."

"Fed on angelwine?" she said. "What would that do to a child?"

"You didn't know she was my sister?" I said. My voice came out harsh and ragged. My heart was beating fast. My hands braced on the desk were clenched and I could barely feel my nails digging into my own flesh.

"Your sister?" she said. She shook her head in wonder. "Good god, no. How could I know?"

"My father's child," I said. I closed my eyes. I opened them and stood up slowly, suddenly very tired. I sat down wearily. "You didn't know," I said, pushing my hair back from my face. "The Blood took her as payment from her mother. You know Nora Delaney?"

"The mayor. Your father killed her."

"Yeah. I thought my father was getting his revenge on everybody who helped put him in jail. I stopped him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.