Page 14 (1/2)

Marisa glanced at the clock as the knock caori kissed her cheek as he rose frolanced at the clock It was almost two AM People did not make social calls at such an hour Of course, for va was not considered late

She felt a shiver of unease Ever since his last visit, she had been troubled about Edward She thought sheit up from her husband, who, on more than one occasion, had alluded to the new vampire&039;s unexpected power and constantthe hunt for Alexi, Edward had often co the night like those he had once hunted

She heard ori opened the front door, then their footsteps: Grigori&039;s, light, almost soundless; Ramsey&039;s, heavier, more determined

"Hello, Edward," she said when he entered the roo so late Or so early"

"Va an oldor pain She observed hih she couldn&039;t put her finger on it Perhaps it was just that he was "aging" as a va more comfortable hat he was Once, she would not have noticed him in a crowd; now, he exuded a sense of power and self-confidence that he had not possessed before

"Please," she said, "sit down"

Ra on the arori resumed his place beside her on the sofa Alan to pace

Marisa looked at Grigori, a question in her eyes

"Raori asked, his voice tinged with alare at Chiavari Then, blowing out a sigh of exasperation, he sank down on the love seat again "Khira," he said heavily "I&039;ve angered her"

Chiavari nodded slowly "Not a pretty sight when she&039;s angry"

Rarunted softly

"What happened?" Marisa asked

As quickly as possible, Ramsey related his activities with Khira: the hunt, the victim, Khira&039;s insistence that Ralanced at Marisa She looked pale How could such things bother her so much when she lived with a va off the lives of others Chiavari was no exception; he had fed from her on more than one occasion

"She wanted me to kill him," Ramsey said, "but I just couldn&039;t do it"

"So, he&039;s still alive? Thattoo one"

"There&039;s so us"

"The other night, she wanted ht"

"Go on," Chiavari said, "What did she want you to do?"

"Soon after she got here, she took lanced at Marisa, then looked away "And then she took uess ht, I refused" Raain "She seeori slid a sidelong glance at his wife and sighed heavily "Khira does not take rejection well," he said "As I recall, she is not accusto"

Ramsey nodded

Marisa met her husband&039;s sideways look with one eyebrow raised "You see froori said, and smiled wryly "And besides, the wench is Do you really want me to answer that?"

"That&039;s some kind of quote isn&039;t it?" she asked

"Yes, from The Jew of MaltaMarlowe Khira was deterentleain, do you really want me to answer your question?"

"Yes," Marisa replied, and then shook her head "No, I don&039;t want to know"

"Khira has always been iori remarked "She is a very sexy, very sensual creature I suspect she was that way before the Dark Gift Totally self-absorbed And with the power she has now" He shrugged "She has no need to consider anything but her own gratification She often acts without thinking" He shook his head "One would think she would have gained a little es"

"She scares me," Ramsey admitted

Chiavari chuckled softly "Smart man I should stay out of her way until she cools off, if I were you"

"That&039;s my plan," Ramseyour kind: Vampyre does not kill Vampyre," Chiavari said

"You killed Kristov"

"Yes It happens from time to time Khira killed the one who ot in her way"

"She killed Dracul," Ramsey said "She told him to leave town Apparently he refused"

Chiavari nodded "She is a law unto herself I suspect she has destroyed LaSalle, as well I no longer sense his presence in the city"