Misty by M. Garnet Page A

way, especially a mortal. But that raised the question, was she mortal? Now he saw the three men. They were walking and he knew they were also stalking. He let one of them see a woman down one alley and suggested he did not want to share. The Vampire looked slyly at his master and slowly dropped back. When there was enough distance, he went back to the alley to enter it.
    Rad took him quickly. From the dust, Rad took his billfold and a ring, putting them into his pocket. He placed all the rest of the items into a dumpster. He moved as a shadow, catching up with the pair and was awarded with the sight that Bathromo and his other servant had parted company. Bathromo had sent him after a prostitute that he was bringing back so that Bathromo could feed.
    Rad moved as a shadow around Bathromo. Rad appeared behind the servant and with one quick stroke drove the silver knife through his heart. The woman started to scream but Rad entered her mind, stopping her thoughts, then sent her away with no memory of what had happened. He picked up the wallet out of the limp pants, grabbing the ring that was rolling on the sidewalk.
    He walked back to Bathromo and looked at the Vampire in the eye. No one, even one as old as Bathromo, could meet the stare of an enforcer for very long. Bathromo finally looked away. Rad took his hand and put the two rings into it. “You will need to find your own meal. Do not repeat the mistake you made this day and push me or the Council — there will be repercussions you won’t enjoy.” Rad was gone.
    * * * *
    She had taken the suitcases into the bedroom she had chosen and when she opened them, they did contain her clothes. So she spent an hour putting the clothes away. She got dressed in jeans and a loose tee, putting her feet into flats. She took a scarf and after brushing her hair until it had a nice shine she pulled it back at the neck, tied with the scarf. She did not know what else to do. She went back out and sat in one of the chairs in the main room. There was a low table and she finally noticed a remote laying on it. She picked it up and found it had a lot more buttons than the usual remote. She looked at it closely, pushed the first one that said Access . Across the room a cabinet had doors that slid open and revealed a huge flat screen TV. Great. She surfed and at last settled on the national news.
    This time he returned by the elevator. He walked out of the sliding doors into the room with that strange grace that was also forceful. He looked at her as he passed into one of the bedrooms. She heard the shower running and chalked up some more information about Vampires. They needed to clean up and take baths. Was there still some human in the dead?
    When he came out after about a half hour later, he had on tan colored pants that were tight over his muscular legs with the gold amulet on his chest, and that was all. He had a towel in his hand that he was using on his long dark hair. He walked behind her to the kitchen. She heard him pouring some liquid and did not want to see if it was blood, but when he came back he went to the long couch that was on an angle to her chair and set a glass down that looked like whiskey. He stretched out on the couch and looked at the TV.
    She waited a minute, trying not to look at the broad chest, the strong stomach and the dark line of hair below his belly button, disappearing into his pants. Okay, she knew Vampires were supposed to be appealing. Get the mind on something else. “Can I ask you some questions?”
    He looked over at her. “Take the scarf out of your hair.” He looked back at the TV.
    She let out a long sigh. “If I take it out, will you answer my questions? Shit, I can’t play this game. I am no good at it. I don’t understand the rules.”
    She heard him let out a sigh that almost matched hers. “Fuck, I’m sorry, I guess I am making it harder on you. It is my way, it is how I do things.” Again she heard a deep sigh. “I will answer your