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"Anna," Antoine said, his Cajun accent thickening as the power he wore like a second skin gathered and tightened about him "Good, you coh the shadows to lock the side door The three disappeared into the gloom down a short hallway A door opened Voices filtered out The door closed The place ell built--hurricane proof--and soundproofed I couldn’tdown and eavesdropping, but from the way the sounds had echoed when they entered the rooht be no exit fro at the door I dropped down, landing lightly on the bar along with a scattering of dust bunnies, which I swept to the floor on my way to the keys Silently I thanked the nice person who had carefully labeled each, and I made off with one of three for the side door I hoped no one would notice it was gone

It was only after I was out on the street, the stolen key in my pocket, that I considered the possible presence of cameras in the restaurant Cae Not a totally hu in the Royal Mojo Blues Company was secret Unlikely that ca or leaving I was pretty sure I was safe

I was halfway home when I remembered where I had seen Anna In the Times-Picayune Anna was thesituation Rick and the ue all with the saue’s stink?

CHAPTER 14

Beast was born

By dusk, I made it back to my freebie house, stripped off jewelry and sweaty, dusty clothes, and took four steaks and the necklace of panther claws into the yard Though it was only ry Ate dead cow Stretched High on sun-war Purring, as sunset painted skypelt Scents strong in shower Mold, river, fish, cow blood, dogs, cats Prey

Mouse ca tracks instones Eyes slit, lazy, content Had eaten or would play with th on mouse No ish A distant bell tolled Ti joints, arden Prowled it Marked it My den Leaped to wall, slipped into shadow Padded along alleys and side streets, full of s hu her scent back Food/alcohol/ht with sound Crowd sain

Slow, steady rain returned, keeping hu dark place on side street Cars parked Sniffed out big one, owned by vamp Leo

She co at swift trot When street empty, crept near front door Made self sether, close Pulled in scents, mouth open, lips pulled back Found Anna’s and Rick’s trail, covered by ood hunter Could tell they had left within short ti same route Rick’s trail overlay Anna’s Perused her Prey Followed down Royal Street, away fro Anna Hunched low, creeping, keeping to shadows Cars passed,

Found their scent hanging on air Mixed with se A private balcony with an open door--her thoughts A hotel, an expensive one Room beside theirs contained only faint people scents E, tail spinning for balance Table, two chairs took up floor Dropped between thee Rose fast Caught in front paws, held still Released pot, which settled Crouching in dark, I/we listened

"You have to go soon?" Rick asked, his voice lazy

"Why? You miss me already?"

"Always" Lies in tone of words Hu Licking better But the sound ry I hacked softly Take him Hunt him She fell silent

Bed creaked Scents of sex spilled into night: sweat, semen, hot breath, scent of flowers Cheent, fabric softeners Also, faint, was part of mad one’s scent and blood Anna-huh to hide rot scent froh Anna-human water-washed, I still sht, excited It only sry That’s one reason the scent signature is so coood hunter I ue, over scent sacs in roof ofhue Had new, different parts Stillout of season Sound and sht, Soooo It eats flesh to hide whatever is happening to it that ? You said it was sick

"I still don’t understand why you want to talk to hih to take you away from him" Smell of lies on words "You heard what my friends said today We need to know about those land purchases"

She sighed, pouting "I’ll try to get you in to see hi sounds Stinks on wind Sex withoutis always lies Hu drive into the country," she said "Unless you have energy for" More kissing Low laughter S