Page 42 (1/1)

But he had not expected to find Redgrave … or Charity

They stood together, side by side Behind them was Constantia, as beautiful and deadly as ever Her dress was silk, deep red, the color of blood Her dark eyes narrowed as she recognized hi desire as they glimpsed each other--or was that only what he felt himself? Lorenzo, too, remained with the tribe; he was clothed in the latest fashions for men, plaid trousers and stovepipe hat, and he would have looked ridiculous but for the crazed, feral glea Charity--even rave’s side She wore one of the hoop-skirted dresses that were all the rage, lavender and ivory, all frills and lace except for the ragged, dirty hem and sleeves His little sister’s wide, dark eyes took hier would have been so to Instead there was only rave said, his sloom Not a speck of ash or dust marred the black sheen of his suit "Hoe’ve missed you, dear boy"

"I haven’tthe false bravado in his voice but not knowing how else to answer "Move along Nobody wants you here"

"Nobody wants us anywhere" It was Constantia who answered hi through hio where ant"

Redgrave cocked his head His profile ht have been carved of ivory, perfect and cold "Shouldn’t you be on the battlefields?"

"Shouldn’t you?" Balthazar shot back

"We have been, of course This is a fine war for wounded Minié balls shatter the bones so brutally, and yet leave the soldiers gasping there for hours Delicious Don’t pretend you haven’t sampled We saw your tracks at Second Manassas, you know"

"Bull Run," Balthazar corrected, but bickering between Union and Confederate names for battles was a puny attempt at distraction Yes, he’d drunk his fill of hu this war It was a mercy, he told hi men he killed welcomed a swifter, less painful death But he did not do it as an act of mercy He drank because he wanted blood When he had left the war to return to New York City last year, he had done so pri

"Balthazar?" Charity whispered "Is it really you?"

How the childlike sound of her voice broke hiht of his little sister standing a her captors as soiled and ineffectual as a broken doll "Yes It’s rave put his hand out to stop Charity, his palesture of indecent ownership Charity stopped in place, her eyes rave’s as if they knehere else to turn "Balthazar Who is it you’re hiding in there? Should we investigate?"

The chill that swept through Balthazar’s bones nearly paralyzed him His own fate--what did it matter, damned as he surely was? But the people inside this warehouse still owned their own lives and their own souls They had to be protected … no matter the cost

Balthazar sed hard "Do you want me to come with you?" Every syllable was bitter in his mouth "I will"

Charity’s childlike face lit up For a , as Charity’s companion and brother only in silence--and Balthazar forced himself to accept it If that were the price of innocent lives, it would be paid

"How good it would be to have you with us again" Redgrave stepped closer The nearby gaslightsdarkness His golden eyes glittered as he brought his black-gloved hand to Balthazar’s chin and grasped it, turning his head fro a horse he hoped to buy The leather was cool and soft against his skin "But you turned on us once What guarantee would we have that you wouldn’t do so again?"

"You have a hostage," Balthazar said, his voice as low as a growl "As you well know"

"But I’ll never hurt little Charity Not in any way she doesn’t enjoy being hurt She rerave’s hand dropped, and Balthazar sensed the increasing danger "We can’t trust you again, I fear I know you won’t hunt us, for baby sister’s sake, but beyond that--no one could say what you ht be capable of Least of all yourself" That bloodless smile leered too close to Balthazar’s face "If you ever awoke to your full potential, you rieving for what you lost Too busy pitying the weak and wishing to be hu sound echoed through the streets, as well as a fresh wave of screae behind the outlines of buildings This heat, this riot, this horrible moment--they seemed as if they could never end

Balthazar tried to catch Charity’s eyes, hoping she rave--they weren’t strong enough to beat hiet away if they worked in tande with a strip of lace that had cohtless and unconcerned as a child