Krasue (Vampin Book Series XIX) Read online

  Chapter 2

  Her health was deteriorating, for a vampire anyway. She had many things to get to that day. So that morning, Starr decided to try and be better, and took blood in her coffee before Shane got a chance to harass her.

  Upon her first sip, every pore in her body came alive.

  “Already looking better,” said Blakely as he walked by.

  That day, Starr managed to get much work done. She reviewed over a dozen cases, signed off on financial business, and even made small talk with Zigfreid, a vampire who worked in the library, and who’d managed to keep his sense of humor even after death – which was why Starr liked him. Seeing as they, two, were the only ones capable of sharing amusement, they spent infrequent time together.

  But by noon, she got tired. Keeping up the charade was sometimes draining. And in the meeting where they discussed whether they were to acquire a vampire territory or not, Starr literally fell asleep.

  Shane kicked one of her shins under the table.

  That night, however, she still couldn’t sleep. The only thing she could think of was sweat and fear. She tried to put it out of her mind, but the harder she tried, the more she wanted it.

  Finally, she kicked back her covers, got dressed and flew to Sibiu where she walked the streets until she found a dangerous man. It didn’t take long, either. In the pent house of the Grand Prix, he slept in bed with his wife, the daughter of the man he shot in order to take his money and marry his child. The wife didn’t know, though she suspected these things a long while.

  She levitated to the window, and once again, commanded it to open.

  Inside was even more lavish than any of her homes or castles. Fine antique furniture, crystal vases, smooth hardwood floors, and expensive artwork; the place was immaculate.

  Starr walked into their daughter’s bedroom. She was deep asleep, in a silk nightgown, no more than twelve years old. On her face wasn’t contentedness, but the signs of being spoilt at an early age.

  Starr perused the ball jointed dolls that lined the room, sitting or hanging from hooks; one was enclosed in a glass case. In her closet were shoes that were hand sewn, and they were so pretty.

  Gently, she closed the door and went to her dad’s room.

  It was the size of a department store. There were couches, televisions, desks and a small library lined the furthest wall.

  In bed, they both snored like pigs. The scent of her was all over him, mingled with the scent of another woman. The wife hadn’t a clue.

  Starr walked over to his side of the bed and crouched.

  A moment later, he opened his eyes, but unlike others she’d hunted in this fashion, he didn’t yell, flinch or scream. Instead, he slowly reached into his pillow and pulled out a small six shooter.

  Put that away, Jacques, she whispered into his mind.

  Slowly, he pulled back the covers and sat up.

  Tonight, you die, but you have a choice: It can be just you, or we can bring your wife and daughter into this. I’ll meet you in the living room.

  Then she stood up and walked out of the room.

  Strangely, this sort of thing usually scared men silly, even though they seldom reacted. Not this gangster, though, it’s almost as if he knew his time would come, sooner or later. Unlike others, he fully accepted that this was his fate. And fear death, he did not.

  From the bedroom, as Starr waited, he ran through all the preparations he’d made long ago. He hoped that he hadn’t forgotten to take care of everyone in his family, employees as well as friends, in his will and trust.

  Then he ran through possible scenarios, in order to get out of his nearing death. But a picture of his wife and kid came to mind. He wanted them spared at any cost. This was the sacrifice for getting things the devil’s way, he told himself. Next he was overcome with remorse for various things he’d done, and was about to do, like the little girl on the other side of town who would get nothing from his estate.

  Still, he couldn’t go down without one attempt at getting her first, which could save his life. At the very least, he had to try, he reasoned with himself. So he tucked the revolver in the back of his pajamas and walked into the living room.

  No fear, no scent, and no pheromone: A disappointment because she needed and wanted it bad.

  Take care of your affairs, Jacques, and I mean the little illegitimate girl, too. I’ll be back in a week to claim you. Don’t think you can run because I’ll find you no matter what country. Think that gun behind your back will save you from me?

  She laughed out loud.

  Then she levitated out of the window and flew toward the horizon.

  Fortunately, she found a homeless backpacker fifteen minutes later. She hated to kill one so young, but he was a real bastard. He’d stolen and killed, and raped. Yet, just like many other predators, he cried like a little boy when she pulled him into her and sunk her fangs in his neck.

  At once, relief came over her, like she could finally sleep.

  His body fell to the ground with a thud.

  “Haaa…” she exhaled and breathed in and out deeply. For a moment, that happy feeling came, like catnip to a feline. Her whole body tingled and blood that was stilled in her veins rushed to her brain.

  In Romania, it was against the Council to leave kills anywhere in the cities. People were wise to the vampire.

  She grabbed the backpacker by the wrist and flew to the dump, to the incinerator where they burned trash. Into the trash man’s hand she stuffed a wad of cash and he walked off.

  The body was reduced to cinders in all of five minutes.

  Then she walked the city streets until sunrise.

  Just as she climbed into bed, Shane knocked on her bedroom door.

  Starr, immediately, leapt out of the window. She just didn’t have it in her to fight.

  Shane despised those who fed on humans, though she, herself, was tempted to do so. The kill still fresh in her blood, Shane would definitely know. Plus, Starr didn’t want her to realize how much her killing had increased lately. She’d never hear the end of it.

  On the good side, her skin filled out nicely, and life appeared in her eyes again.