Vampire Revolution by Phil Tucker

Author:Phil Tucker [Tucker, Phil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-01-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

A hand shook her shoulder. Selah batted it away and blinked her eyes. The shades were down, but enough morning sunlight was working through the cracks that she could make out Lee standing over her. She propped herself up on one elbow and rubbed her face.

"What's wrong?"

Lee snorted. "Nothing's wrong. You've got a call coming in five minutes."

"So wake me in five minutes." She flopped back and down and pressed her face into the pillow. When had sleep become the most precious thing in the world?

"You're going to want to prepare. Howards is ready to help."

"Fine." The pillow muffled her voice. She didn't turn around. "Who's calling?"

"Vice President Sheffield."

Selah sighed, rolled back onto her side and stared up at Lee. "How weird have things gotten when getting a call from the vice president is a drag?"

This time Lee laughed. "Look, don't blame me you're the most popular girl on the planet."

"Popular, shmopular." Selah sat up. "Tell Howards I'm going to have another shower and will take the call when it comes in. Any chance there's some coffee ready?"

"I think we can rustle some up." Lee checked his watch. "Four minutes."

Selah swung her legs over the side of the bed. "Fine, fine. I'll be right out." She stood, stretched, and then regretted doing so when she winced. Her body felt like somebody had used it as a welcome mat. Grumbling, she stalked into the bathroom, switched on the light and squinted against the glare.

The mirror over the sinks was almost wall-to-wall, and, feeling a sense of morbid curiosity, Selah pulled her shirt over her head, stepped out of her underwear, and inspected her injuries. Bruises dappled her ribs, were daubed over her thighs. She'd lost weight. Her cheeks were almost hollow, her eyes ringed by purple. Her hair needed serious attention. She smiled ruefully as she rubbed it with one hand. All of her needed attention.

An image came to her: another bathroom, another time and place. LA. Theo had fed her his heart, his love, and departed a beast. The city had been burning. She'd bent her head over the sink and buzzed her hair off. Like a snake sloughing off its skin, she'd shed her old self and rose from the ashes of her own damnation like some knock-off phoenix.

Selah shivered. Looking at her naked reflection, she didn't feel powerful, didn't feel in control. Instead, she felt small, vulnerable, tired, and alone. She stepped into the large shower and tried to wash away the bad memories.

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