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"A fe voice carried farther than its volu every corner of the smooth stone room that formed his private chamber

Lash did his best to appear unconcerned as he lounged against one of the black walls "I need her to service me for blood"

"Do you"

"It&039;s biology"

In his white robing, the Oure as he circulated around the space With his hood up in place, his ar sleeves, he resea down here

The evil&039;s receiving area was about the size of a ballroom and decked out like one, with plenty of black chandeliers and stanchions that supported legions of black candles It was far fro red fla were made of the le it was black, froiven that the source of illuot both colors at once all around you

It wasn&039;t hard to figure out the why of the decor Given the Oa&039;s wardrobe, which was lis, he was the pri that stood out The restdressing

He ran his world like that, too

"And would this be a a asked from way across the room

"No," Lash lied "Just a blood source"

You did not give the Oa more information than you had to: Lash ell aware of how fickle his father could be and off-the-radar was key

"Have I not given you enough strength?"

"My vaa turned and faced Lash After a pause, that distorted voice whispered, "Indeed I find that to be true"

"I&039;ll bring her to you," Lash said, straightening froht You turn her and I&039;ll have what I need"

"And I cannot provide that to you?"

"You would be providing it to ive me power"

"So you say that you are weak?"

Daa could sense things and surely it had been apparent for soa drifted forward until they were eye to eye "I have never inducted a female"

"She wouldn&039;t have to be in the Lessening Society She would just be for me"

"For you"

"No reason to have her out there fighting"

"And this female You have chosen her already"

"I have" Lash laughed shortly, thinking of Xhex and the dae she was capable of "I&039;m sure you&039;ll approve of her"

"You are so certain"

"I have very good taste"

All around, the red flames trembled on their wicks as if a breeze had ruffled thea&039;s hood lifted, revealing the shadowy, translucent face that had angles just like Lash&039;s flesh-and-blood version did

"Return froa pronounced as his dark, smoky hand rose up With a stroke down Lash&039;s cheek, the evil turned away "Return frohtfall," Lash said "At the farht Fall"

"You want it later? How about one We&039;ll see each other then"

"You shall see me, indeed"

"Thank you, Father"

As the Oa drifted across the floor, that hood settled back into place of its own volition, and a panel slid open across the way Aa deep breath, he rubbed his face and looked around at all the red flames and the spectacular walls The place was kind of like a womb

With a flash of will, he shot himself out of Dhunhd and back to the nasty little ranch house he&039;d had to use as a launching pad As he came awake in his corporeal form, he hated the fact that he was stretched out on a couch that had cheesy autumnal leaves on its slipcover And God, the nap of the fabric was like a buzz cut on a dog and sed fucker had rolled in a da his head up, he pulled his shirt to his neck Still there The lesions were still there and getting larger And he felt like ass

His hands shook as he got hi from anybody No voicein Both h his second in command so if the SOB had bit it, the Society couldn&039;t find Lash

Maybe the little Texan had been too good as a PA

With hunger spurring hierator door E soda that should have been used on that couch

Slaidaire shut, he absolutely despised the world and everyone in it--although that was s and bacon already waiting for hiuy The ranch house was a new acquisition and one he&039;d been to only once before--hell, not even Mr D knew the Society owned it The thing was, Lash had bought it out of foreclosure because they were going to need places tothat whoever had owned it hadn&039;t been able to cover the e cost The bitch was one step up from an outhouse

Maybe half a step

He headed out into the garage and it was a frickin&039; relief to be back in the Mercedes although it galled hi McMuffin and a coffee He&039;d even had to wait in line along with a bunch of guys in trucks and moms in minivans

As he went back to his brownstone, his attitude sank further into Man- son territory--and then shot coe The door was still up, but the Lexus was gone

Parking the Mercedes under cover, he shut the thing in with the rearden in the back was relatively undisturbed, but he could s on the terrace, his eyes shot to the second floor Oh, God

Energized by panic, Lash started to run full tilt and he took the back steps on a oner, bursting through the door--

His loafers skidded to a halt as he saw the carnage Jesus

Christ his kitchen

The place looked like it had been hit with an oil shower And duh, there wasn&039;t much left of Mr D The slayer&039;s torso was in the s were scattered all around and his digestive tract was likefrom the pulls on the cupboards

By souy&039;s head was still attached and his eyes opened wide, his uttural plea caealed black blood

"You fucking pussy," Lash spat "Look at you For fuck&039;s sake!"

And goddaetting shredded He leaped over theroo into the bedroo but a whole lot of empty and a ith a hole in it

"Motherfucker!"

Wheeling around, he looked through the open door and saw theover, he pressed his nose against the silk wallpaper and inhaled Her scent was in the fibers of the weave

She had broken out physically

Yet she&039;d still been in the room after Mr D had been attacked Had the Brothers coet out?

A quick run through the house and Lash&039;s one Cell phones

Motherfucker

Down in the kitchen, he headed into the pantry to get the--