Memories of Envy by Barb Hendee

Author:Barb Hendee
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 2010-09-01T16:00:00+00:00

The next ten years passed quickly.

Simone decided not to stay in the chorus at the Triple Door. She still loved to perform sometimes, but by using her gift, it was easy enough for her to land short engagements at any club or theater in the city. She soon stopped dancing and began to sing exclusively—it suited her new existence better.

Maggie’s mortal social circle was small, but the people she chose tended to be interesting, artists and actors and even a few members of Seattle’s financial elite. Simone was content to go to parties and nightclubs with these friends. They all liked her and often told her how lovely she was.

“You can’t feed on anyone with whom we have a social connection—ever,” Maggie warned. “If someone in our circle went missing, the police would investigate.”

Maggie also occasionally took a mortal lover, but she was careful to never let him meet any of their other friends. As time slipped by, Simone understood that this was often where most of Maggie’s real money came from. She would seduce a wealthy man, and when he wanted to show his appreciation, she would express a preference for gifts like diamonds or sapphires.

Sometimes the men just vanished, and sometimes, Maggie simply broke it off with a tearful good-bye. Then she’d take the jewels, leave town for a few nights, and come back with a large amount of cash.

She shared everything with Simone. There was no jealousy between them and no competition. Maggie made her feel loved.

Of course, men were always vying for Simone’s attention, and she did try to play Maggie’s game a few times—letting a man romance her for a while—but it never felt right and certainly offered her no satisfaction. She’d never been able to heal the wound left by Pierce McCarthy, and the thought of merely dating or taking a lover didn’t interest her. However, she smiled and laughed and said clever things to inspire admiration.

Adoration fed her more life force than blood.

Several times a month, she and Maggie would go off alone to some shabby, bleak place where the homeless had migrated, and they would feed together. Their routine was nearly always the same.

After the first year with Maggie, Simone stopped writing to Pug, as that too felt wrong. After several further attempts at contact, Pug stopped writing, too.

Simone tried to forget Pug and everything about her previous life.

This routine was only briefly shattered in 1944 when a letter arrived one early evening with Pug’s familiar handwriting. The return address was different from the one Pug had used before. This one was from Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

Simone took the letter home from the post office without opening it. She considered throwing it on the fire. But she opened it, finding a folded sheet of stationery, with the words Read this first written in large letters on the outside and a folded newspaper clipping tucked behind it.

She opened the letter.

Simone,

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