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"My lady!" A tall vampire with a supercilious face protested "The spectacle isn’t ready yet!"

I knew that face Geoffrey Chancellor, the insufferable prat as blood-bonded to Jen’s sister

"Oh, ht!" added a young mortal woman from above, tears in her voice

And that would be Bethany Cassopolis, whohting Fro a scene from a play On a low dais there were three,robes and frozen in poses around a platter hat appeared to be a beardedthe actual number of people on the dais

Cody took a step forward "What the fuck?"

"It’s a tableau vivant," Lady Eris said irritably "Caravaggio’s Saloht’s surprise spectacle, which you’ve now ruined Well?"

I studied the tableau Unlike thebloodless and motionless with their instruments at the ready, the participants were mortal Now that I looked closely, I could see that the severed-head effect was acco a black curtain affixed to the rim of the platter Phew

All of the Salo the platter, was tre

"Heather Si her face averted "Heather?"

"Godda down fro canister in one hand "What the hell are you doing here?"

Ignoring her, I eased the folds of Salo dozens of lines of cuttingto pink, others still red and angry Aside frorabbed th "She’sshield

"Not like that, duh!" she retorted

Geoffrey the insufferable prat glided over, stopping a few feet ahen Cody angled toward hiave Bethany per down his nose at ly"

On the dais, Saloave the tiniest of nods She had a pretty face in that sort of soft, unforirls do At thedown it

"It doesn’t matter," I said "She’s a minor She’s sixteen"

"Do you think I didn’t ask?" Bethany glared at me I had to say, she actually looked better than she had in years; less strung out, reed with her "She’s eighteen"

I glanced at Heather Her tre "She didn’t show you ID, did she?"

"Miss Sientle voice "We’ve come to take you ho sob, turning to Bethany "You proo!"

Bethany looked uncertainly at Geoffrey

Geoffrey looked uncertainly at Lady Eris

Lady Eris sirl’s age with you, Officer?" she asked Cody "A birth certificate, perhaps?"