Part 23 (2/2)

He grabbed me by the throat, throwing me against the wall. My head cracked, opening a gash. Blood trickled down my face. I touched the wound and momentarily dazed collapsed to my knees.

Leisha gasped. ”Ethan, stop! You'll kill her! She's a just a kid, for crissakes!”

”It'll take a h.e.l.l of a lot more to kill this b.i.t.c.h. You want freedom, Mia? Push me enough and you just might get it.”

Leisha convulsed at the sight of me licking my own blood from my hand, covering her face in horror at her own reaction.

I struggled to my feet. ”I've killed and wh.o.r.ed for you for thirty-five years you b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”

His eyes narrowed into cold, blue little slits. ”Go then, I release you from all bonds, but take only what is on your back.”

Leisha held out her hand. ”We'll go together. Please Mia, don't leave me with this monster.”

Her long golden-brown hand clasped mine. I looked up to the amber eyes, desperation, but no empathy. Leisha would help no one but herself.

Ethan gave her a staggering blow. She crumpled to the floor, gasping in pain.

”Don't you understand?” I said. ”We're his slaves you poor fool, neither of us has any rights!”

”c.u.n.t!” Ethan grabbed me around the torso. I struggled, spitting and swearing. Clapping his hand over my mouth, he dragged me out into the alley, and flung me hard to the ground. I leapt up, scratching a b.l.o.o.d.y gash across his face. Whirling around, he dealt me a back handed smack that sent me cras.h.i.+ng into a garbage can. I crouched on the ground, ready to spring again. He just laughed as he lifted me up to his mouth.

I fought hard, weakening fast as he drained me to the point of helplessness. Searing pain overtook me. He threw me down. I struggled against the darkness, trying to raise my bleeding head from the ground and pull myself together, but no matter how hard I tried it wouldn't budge. Ethan's figure loomed in the darkness, his breathing heavy and heartbeat rapid, prodding me with the toe of his shoe. ”Suffer among the vermin, in graveyards and sewers, cut off from your blood, and the protection of our house, a bleeding wound for all to feed on! Perish in pain and despair.”

”Leisha Brookings...” Joe mused, wondering why the name seemed so familiar. Then a blinding light flashed before his eyes. Lee Brooks, No one had ever seen her but Lydia! Joe mused, wondering why the name seemed so familiar. Then a blinding light flashed before his eyes. Lee Brooks, No one had ever seen her but Lydia! Who was Lee Who was Lee Brooks? Brooks? He nearly shouted it, ”Lee Brooks is a He nearly shouted it, ”Lee Brooks is a vampire vampire?”

”She knew what needed to be done. I did my part, and so did Kurt. Together we pulled off this magnificent illusion.”

”Where did you get that kind of money?”

”Kurt kind of borrowed it from Brovik.”

”He stole it stole it? No wonder you're hiding! But why are you withholding data from your own partner? But she's the one who duped you, isn't she? Why Mia? Why is she so dead set on keeping you away from Kurt?”

”Divide and conquer. She and Kurt never really saw eye to eye. She thinks Kurt controls me.”

”s.h.i.+t. How long have the three of you been partners?”

”Not long. For a long time I hated her guts. I might have hated Ethan but I was out on my a.s.s without any support- and you know how that goes.”

FIFTEEN.

I needed cash quick, so I sold my b.u.t.terfly necklace to an antique dealer downtown, and found a sublet searching the ads in the Village Voice. It was very small, a studio, in the bas.e.m.e.nt of a building in Chelsea, but large enough for a creature who'd spend her nights roaming the city streets in search of potential prey. It was mine for as long as I could pay a thousand a month and take care of the plants. The furnis.h.i.+ngs were spa.r.s.e and functional. Except for a few photos and posters on the walls and one black j.a.panese vase on the counter there was no decoration.

At first I wouldn't leave the tiny apartment until hunger got the better of me. As soon as I was sated I'd hurry back to my bas.e.m.e.nt lair and huddle on the futon watching television, reading or listening to music, shocked by the sudden change in my fortunes. Finally boredom won and I took to the streets. Ah, life in Manhattan without my master, a chance to revel in complete anonymity. No one noticed me or saw any reason to run away screaming in horror. Guys would give me a second look or sometimes make an animal sound but no one really cared if I lived or died. After thirty-six years of Ethan breathing down my neck it was a relief.

I'd go to a coffee shop around the corner for a light meal and to read the newspapers. I'd order a decaf cappuccino, wrapping my hands around the warmth and enjoying the aroma. No one gave a d.a.m.n if I drank it or not. Afterward, I'd explore a different part of town. On nights they were open late, I went to museums. After a lucrative kill, I'd splurge on tickets to the theater or opera. I went to a lot of movies.

So far, I hadn't seen any of my own kind, which suited me fine. I spent the rest of that first winter like this.

I saw no Immortyls Immortyls for almost a year. I wasn't sure if I was happy about this or depressed, because I was horribly lonely. I couldn't just strike up a friends.h.i.+p with a mortal or take a mortal lover, after a few weeks he or she would notice my irregularities and there would be problems. for almost a year. I wasn't sure if I was happy about this or depressed, because I was horribly lonely. I couldn't just strike up a friends.h.i.+p with a mortal or take a mortal lover, after a few weeks he or she would notice my irregularities and there would be problems.

Then one night, I polished off a drug dealer and had a little money to burn. A play I wanted to see was set to close, so I went to TKTS to obtain a ticket. I had time to kill before the show, so I went to an upscale bar and ordered a Virgin Mary, sipping at it while I scanned the crowd, scouting for potential danger. The place was packed with the pre-theatre crowd, noisy and convivial, older couples and well-dressed young people engaged in conversation but this was the kind of expensive place a pa.s.sing Immortyl might frequent. A youngish man in wire-rimmed gla.s.ses sauntered up to the bar, striking up a conversation about how dreary the season was and how he hoped next year would bring something other than revivals and overblown London musicals. I half listened to his droning, when the hairs on the back of my neck p.r.i.c.kled. Immortyl scent. Immortyl scent. Male. Male.

I looked around- couldn't see him. I was safe in a crowd but remained wary. Whoever he was, he was coming closer through the crowd of mortals. Then I saw his face. I knew this one.

Philip was dressed in black leather, his dark hair shorter, sporting a neatly trimmed beard and mustache, a diamond stud glittering in his ear. He wrapped his arms about me and kissed me. ”Darling child, what on earth have you gotten yourself into?”

The man I'd been speaking to excused himself sheepishly.

”Who's that?” Philip asked, as he watched him depart.

”Indigestion,” I answered. ”You're a sight for sore eyes.”

”And you're in a pickle, wench.”

I shrugged. ”Been this way a year.”

Philip whisked me over to a booth off to the side, recently vacated. ”Come, we need to talk.” He sat down close to me, keeping his voice low. ”I came as soon as I could. Ethan came to London just last week. He's at his wit's end with Leisha. I fear she'll kill him if she gets the chance.”

”No great loss.”

”You're coming home with me.”

”I'm not going back to him!”

”I'm not suggesting it. I'm I'm taking you in. You can't stay here alone. I don't need to spell it out. Ethan was ready to dump Leisha onto the streets, but she's far too dangerous to us. Brovik is furious. I'm not certain how he'll punish Ethan. Leisha was working very closely with us, and her disappearance caused uncomfortable scrutiny from the authorities. Brovik had no idea Ethan was behind it, until I called Kurt and told him everything. After recovering from the initial shock, Kurt suggested Leisha come to work with him, and for the present you come with me. He'll smooth things over with the old one and meet us in London as soon as he can get away.” taking you in. You can't stay here alone. I don't need to spell it out. Ethan was ready to dump Leisha onto the streets, but she's far too dangerous to us. Brovik is furious. I'm not certain how he'll punish Ethan. Leisha was working very closely with us, and her disappearance caused uncomfortable scrutiny from the authorities. Brovik had no idea Ethan was behind it, until I called Kurt and told him everything. After recovering from the initial shock, Kurt suggested Leisha come to work with him, and for the present you come with me. He'll smooth things over with the old one and meet us in London as soon as he can get away.”

”Oh, will he now?”

”Get off of it, Mia. After all these years, Kurt still cares for you.”

Not wanting to re-open that wound, I changed the subject. ”So, what do you think of her?”

”Formidable, amazing looking but well well... It's best the old one keep an eye on her.”

I gave a sarcastic roll of the eyes. ”I'm sure he'll find good use for her.”

Philip took me by the hand. ”C'mon, let's gather up your traps.”

I refused to budge. ”I'm not going. This is where I belong. For what it's worth, I'm free. Even you won't put a leash on me again.”

”Mia, we're blood kin. I pledge my protection as a brother. I place no bonds on you. Listen to me, if I take you in the stigma of outcast is removed.”

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