Claudy Conn [Shadow 02] ShadowHeart Slayer (pdf)

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chin.
Nikki glanced and laughed. I expect so. Well, I am so grateful.
Nonsense, Mrs. Todd said, getting to her feet and snatching another cookie on her
way, giggling. Sustenance.
Nikki laughed and rose as well and watched the woman s departure before she turned
to the stack of manuscripts. What she hoped to find was like a needle in a haystack, but
anything about Dracula s first vampires might help lead her to Deadly Moon.
* * *
Clara stood in her Gothic styled black clothing in a corner of WB s large chamber.
WB watched her from narrowed eyes and dropped the human woman he had just been
feeding on. She wasn t quite dead yet; he would save what was left of her for later.
Clara meandered over, gave the unconscious woman a sniff, and stood back to stare at
her. WB grimaced and snapped, Leave her alone & she isn t here for you.
She is too old & not your usual type. Clara eyed him speculatively.
Never mind that. WB turned to the four militant-looking vampires standing around
his desk. Did you bring the plans with you?
As an answer one of them dropped a set of blueprints on the huge, highly polished
desk standing between them and WB.
Clara inched towards the group. WB glanced at her one final time and returned his
attention to the vamps gathered around the desk.
Clara stared at the unconscious woman before whispering to her, You are going to
die & do you know that?
The woman looked at her through blank eyes, and Clara sighed and sidled up to one of
the militant vamps. He grinned at her because he had always found her amusing. She
blew him a kiss.
WB reprimanded him to pay attention, and Clara moved only slightly away and then
returned to the woman. Where do you come from & who are your people?
I & I don t know & The woman s voice was hoarse with the sound of death. Her
faded gray eyes were still blank as she glanced at Clara and then down at the marbled
floor at her feet.
You don t know? But I think you do. Clara s pursued. Don t worry & I won t go
looking for your people that isn t my style. I am not a stalker. I take my food as it
presents itself.
The woman closed her eyes. Clara came in close again and took another whiff before
saying, There is something familiar about your scent, and your face &
WB frowned as he watched her and called out, Clara & leave her alone she isn t
for you.
Why not I m the one who got those buffoons into the courthouse. I m the one who
deserves a reward. You re done with her give her to me.
And why would you want her?
Because I do, she said softly and eyed the woman again.
Why? WB was momentarily diverted. The woman had come in to clean and had
taken her job too seriously and stayed past dark to get the job done. Now, WB couldn t
let her leave.
I like the scent of her blood & Clara answered off-handedly.
WB made an impatient sound and thought if it would get Clara out of his war room
and busy with something other than his men then fine. He didn t quite trust Clara. She
was part of his clan by her choice, but she was whimsical. She was always cutting her
own road, coming and going whenever she wanted, and she knew too much for him to
allow her to live much longer.
He hadn t meant to feed on the woman anyway. He was going to give her to & he
smiled to himself, what did Clara call them, one of his buffoons. Go on then, take her
and get out.
Thanks, WB & so I shall & And with her vampire strength, Clara picked up the
older woman and walked out of WB s war room. WB glanced out the window and saw
Clara still holding the woman cradle-like as she picked up her pace and hurried into the
night.
He shook his head. That little piece of gothic fluff was an odd one.
* * *
Damon stepped back into the shadows cast by the building and watched as Clara came
hurrying out of the townhouse WB and his clan had taken over in Dublin. He was
surprised to hear Clara s voice sound concerned as she spoke to the woman she was
holding. What was she doing? Clara wasn t the sort to feed on women.
Don t worry & I am going to heal you, she whispered to the woman.
Damon s eyebrows went up. Heal her? Since when did Clara ever care about humans?
She didn t. She just didn t. He made up his mind and followed at a distance, waiting as
she rounded the corner of the dimly lit street.
Then he heard Clara set the woman down and prop her up. Damon took a quick look
before getting out of sight. Clara went across the street to a food store, vanished within,
and returned with meat and fruit and started feeding the woman.
Damon watched in utter shock. This was beyond anything he had ever expected of
Clara. What had gotten into her?
Clara ordered, More & go on & that s it, eat the meat &
He had to stay out of the breeze, or Clara would pick up on his scent; so far, he had
been lucky.
Clara demanded, Now, I want the truth, your family name.
The woman eyed her warily. Why & ?
Speak, you what is your family name?
Stout & my name is Sarah Stout.
Damon heard Clara s intake of breath before she said, By marriage or blood?
Blood & when I got my divorce I took back my maiden name.
What is the name of your town & the town your people come from?
Limerick.
Damn by damn. Clara breathed the words and then took the woman s shoulders,
Sarah, do you know any of your family history & do you know anything about Martha
Stout? She would be your great-grandmother.
Why sure it is I do.
Did she & was she & [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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