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At six o’clock, Nyx flipped on the flat screen in the sitting area; she alanted to find out as happening in the low country Me? Too depressing, so I avoided it Until today, when the desperate plea of a woman’s voice blasted across the shop I crossed the room and watched with Nyx, and ainst a man--I assumed her husband "If anyone has seen Jared, please--Ijust want my son back" The camera flashed to the reporter, who described Jared Porter as sixteen years old, five feet seven inches, approximately one hundred and forty pounds, with short blond hair and brown eyes A picture of him flashed across the Crime Stoppers screen, andnow for al River Street with his friends

"That poorher head "It must be so awful"

I had no doubt that Jared Porter had joined Seth and the others Itthose bastards down

Nyx helped ton Island to have dinner with her parents Luc and Josie had come in just as Phin and I headed upstairs I quickly showered and dressed--this tih ive it to the kid--she had rockin’ taste She pulled out a pair of ripped skinny jeans and a black tank with a spiderweb tattoo design on the back

"Sweet," she said, and handed the She pulled my hair into a funky half-up, half-down sort of do, withand free "But Papa said I should just let the boys go with you for now" She looked at lanced at my chest, then back to ed me" She looked down at herself "I’ll never have boobs like you I’m flat chested forever It sucks"

I smiled "I know it seems like it sucks," I said, and then flushed when I remembered Eli’s words I inclined my head "But boobs are more trouble than they’re worth so into clothes sorinned "Tell ya what Why don’t you pick out a choker? I’ve got a hundred of them"

"Cool, thanks!" she said, and dove back into the plundering "Any of therabbedroo near thelooking out They turned, and I gotta say--it’s one thing when you get a reaction froular dude that they think you look hot It’s another experience altogether when it’s a pair of century-plus-old va boosted a little

"Da more like a wolf than a varinned at o into detail I didn’t have to I’hts I could so tell

I shook o And I’lanced at them both appreciatively Luc had on a pair of frayed jeans and a black for tee with black boots Phin wore a pair of black sli fro-sleeved mesh shirt "Pretty hot yourselves, by the way," I said, and headed to the door I scrubbed Chaz on the head--Josie had taken him out earlier--and the Duprés followed me out

We dropped Josie off in front of the Dupré House andThe plan was to hit the Panic Rooue--another dark alternative club If there was tione to any of those in quite a while But Seth and the others would be hanging around the darker clubs for--I hated to say it--victims So I had to put iving theoing to get clean and straighten ood life, then I needed to cut clean of all things that would be a temptation to me Now, some people, like Mullet? They went for the sheer fun of loud, head-bangin’ music, dance, and drink I’d started out that way, but I beca legal age, who couldn’t assert self-control I didn’t even have the desire to go anyhand turned down Williamson I parked a street over, closer to the River Street side, and we got out Much to the surprise of both Duprés, I tucked soave Luc and Phin a heads-up on Zetty

Just before we got to the entrance, Phin stopped rave "Preacher told us about, you knohen you were young If it gets too ave Phin a smile He really was one considerate vampire "No prob That habit left my body once the Gullah washed it out of reeted reeted Luc and Phin with his hand resting on his trusty traditional Tibetan blade His eyes followed us all the way inside

Luc and Phin sied

The er Death Punch was pounding through the surround sound, and the faed with body sweat and pot hit us in the face I knew Kelter would find me It was like he could smell me, which really freaked me out Luc went to the bar to orderof people dancing--or doing whatever it was they were doing

I moved to the ood hed While he see with a crazy chick, I kne serious he was taking this issue with the Arcoses While he laughed, his gaze raked the crowds, searching for any of the boys with Riggs and Seth Every once in a while I caught a glihtening I’d seen it in Eli’s eyes, too They were not to be underestimated That much I knew

We danced for a fewto leave you alone, but we’ll be close," Phin said "All you have to do is think me to you, and I’ll come" I nodded, and he and Luc hts made the inside of the Panic Room surreal and dreamlike, and to me it was no surprise how so many people lost themselves It wasn’t the club’s fault--the et screwed up It was the fault of scu thatcos

After als, Seth, or any of the other boys, and Kelter hadn’t shown up I decided to take a walk to the back of the club to see whether I noticed anything unusual I eased away from the bar and moved into the crowd

If I’d had a buck for every stray hand that felt et to the horseshoe, I’d be filthy rich But to find the body those hands belonged to would have taken a CSI teauilty, male and female alike So I squelched rabber and hurried through the crowd Once in the horseshoe, I h a line at the woainst the wall I tried the doors, found theirl stood directly behind me Almost as tall as me, with platinu to her waist, and dressed head to toe in black leather, she glared at hteen

"If you’re looking for Kelter, he’s not here," she said sharply, and inspected me critically froust crossed her face "I saw you here the other night with hiarette to her lips and pulled She blew smoke in my face and leaned close "Back off, whore," she whispered, and her breath sarettes "Kelter’s mine"

I nearly choked Not on the smoke but because I couldn’t believe that anyone would purposely want Kelter Phillips It was freaking hilarious I gave her a slight grin, although I really felt sorry for her "Don’t worry--I don’t want him anyway" I pushed past her and left, and I found I couldn’t get out of the Panic Rooers atoff uided ave h, and closed it firains there tonight On to our next destination"

Outside, the air had grown heavy, ier than earlier, and very, very still We cliue," I supplied, and within fifteen e on Drayton and walking down the narrow alleyway to the entrance Again--this wasn’t the sort of place listed under "Nightlife" in the travel brochures for Savannah Inside, the Morgue was hos that liked to call themselves Vamp-Goths dominated the club, male and female alike, and only the nonsqueamish, extremely confident--or crazy--dared make an entrance I knew so cool--I had probably inkedthe part and et attention I couldn’t help but wonder whether any of them really believed vampires truly existed Or was it just the idea? The portrayal? If they did, I’d betlike the Duprés