Page 20 (1/2)

Chapter Twenty

Houston, Texas

A deferential knock sounded on the door to Jabril’s private suite "Come," he said, his attention focused on the last of his cufflinks He looked over his shoulder as the door opened

"My lord, you wanted--" Asi with revulsion across his face as he surveyed the blood-soaked aftere

"Asi his lieutenant’s eyes away froe and over to where he stood in the bathrooate duty at the sunrise shift change, both va his mind "Better make it downstairs somewhere There’s likely to be a mess"

"The isolation chamber, my lord?" Asim said faintly

"Excellent choice, Asim Yes The isolation chamber See to it, will you?"

"Yes, my lord Sire"

Jabril cocked an eyebrow at hiestured toward the enorlanced around, as if seeing it for the first ti the walls and furniture, drenching the sheets and pillows The remains of what had been his favorite blood slave lay in the , blond hair dyed red, her throat torn out and her eyes glassy and staring Deep, clawing furrows had ripped across most of her torso, partially concealed by the body of a second blood slave, who hadn’t been a particular favorite of his, but who’d had the ht Which ht, when he’d woken to the realization that Mirabelle was gone Stolen away by that cunt, Leighton

A red haze covered his vision as raw fury threatened to overtake hiht it down, bolstered by the life blood of the two slaves he’d recently feasted upon Well, at least their lives had been well spent, then, he thought with satisfaction

"Yes," he said absently, answering Asis, like hoas going to retrieve that ungrateful little bitch Mirabelle She would pay for this little rebellion when he found her It would be a very, very long tiain "Have this cleaned up before ," he told Asim He turned to his closet--thankfully the doors had been closed, his entire wardrobe could have been ruined--pulled on a fine, tailored jacket and shot the cuffs of his shirt to precisely one half inch, before crossing the roouards first, however, Asim I want to kno this happened"

Asi his head bowed and his eyes downcast as Jabril strolled past him and into the hallway His lieutenant maintained his respectful posture until Jabril ood thing to dehtfully It reuards would be learning very soon

Chapter Twenty-one

Los Angeles, California

Cynthia double-checked the address Eckhoff had given her, pulling to a stop in front of a two-story brick building The street was quiet and dark as she climbed fro on Olympic Boulevard a couple of blocks away and there was little traffic this tiht She looked up as she rounded the hood of her truck At first glance, the building was indistinguishable from any other on the mostly commercial block, less and dark except for a few security lights around the peri the security lights were discreet video caress as she made her way to the front door There was no lock, just a keypad entry with an intercom

Cyn wondered if she should announce her presence by pushing the buzzer When Eckhoff had finally called her, he’d been adamant that this visit was off the record She’d been at Luci’s dropping off Mirabelle when the call ca at the runaway house, but the kids had greeted her with their usual friendly suspicion, neither knowing nor caring she was Vampire To theed but not yet broken The tip-over had been when Luci had eiven her aIt never ceased to a a kid who topped her by a full head or ain When Cyn had left toroo television

The door opened while she was still contehton?" Dean Eckhoff was tall and skinny, ashed out blue eyes and hair that had once been red, but noedwould be kind He was dressed in his usual dark slacks and tweed sports coat, his button down shirt neatly pressed

Cyn shrugged "I’ve never been here before Is it new?"

He nodded, his eyes scanning the street outside quickly before he hustled her inside and closed the door with a fir facility for vamps You know, no s and all that Then it was pointed out that ue too For their victims"

Cyn frowned "Their victims?"

"Yeah, for when they rise from the dead after three days," he drawled

She rolled her eyes "Jesus, these guys need to stop watching Buffy reruns"

He snorted "You’re not suggesting so a decision, are you, grasshopper? You know better than that"

"Right Sorry What was I thinking? Okay, so you’re telling me the powers-that-be have decided the latest vics should be stored here in case they rise from the dead"

"Got it in one You alere my best student Come on, it’s downstairs"