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He thought about practicing the sword in darkness, his wholebut the hting, training his aching body until he knew only the desire for perfection, the perfect kill, the perfect kiss He threw back his head, arched his back, and called Liannan to his side
When he opened his eyes, there was nothing but the tar, and the chalk outlines of what looked like a child’s game Nick waited for a heartbeat, despaired for a breath, and then saw pale fire building from one chalked-in line
It was a very pale fire, almost colorless, as if water had learned how to burn Liannan rose froh flaoddess rising froently as the sea at low tide around them, and she stood before Nick and lifted her face to his
His talisave a quick gasp She smiled
She was send in lands where men would follow her into ice and shadow for a s, and she would have been even more beautiful if she had not been so pale Pallor lay over her like a veil, uish and cooling the fire of her red hair, as if the vivid color was seen under frost
“It’s been a long ti like the chimes at the Goblin Market
Nick crossed his arms and stared at her The less he spoke, the less chance there was she could trick him
Liannan tilted her head “Do you like this?” she asked “I remember you always had a fancy for red hair”
Nick actually preferred blondes, but that hardly ht he was a different man, centuries dead, and probably dead by her hand Demons found it hard to tell humans apart
“It’s all right,” Nick said grudgingly “I have two questions for you I know I didn’t dance with a partner or take the fruit Tellthem”
“My price” Liannan’s voice changed to a whisper that sounded like a waterfall “I will answer one question — if you take off your talisman”
Every dancer alore a talisman, because a demon could mark you if you were in a circle, as easily as they could take a mark off you, if you did not wear some protection
If he refused, though, she would go She had chosen her shape, and it was a shape to seduce rather than to force He could stop her if she tried to mark him
Nick nodded, and for the first tiht years, he took off his talisman and cast it to one side
Losing the talis but relief He always carried the talisht of what had happened to Alan without one He carried it and bore with the endless prickling discomfort, the pain doubled whenever a demon was near or spells were performed in his presence He was free of pain at last, and he felt wonderful
This new freedom made him feelHe could deal with demons on his own
He looked at Liannan and smiled A smile spread over her face in return, a sad, beautiful sleam of sharp teeth
She reached out for hi like knives They were icicles
“I can touch you now,” she said
If he tried to fight her, Nick ht accidentally step out of the circle He let her touch hiht have been any girl, with her slily on his face One hand was curled around his neck, her fingers sharp and cold
“Ask me your question”
“Where are the Obsidian Circle?”
She didn’t answer him That would have been too easy
Nick could see the de out warainst his cheek was icy
“The Obsidian Circle,” she repeated thoughtfully “That was the Circle that hunted you first That was the Circle that wanted you most”
“TellI don’t know,” Nick snapped
“All right,” Liannan said, and laughed “Did you know that was the Circle that killed a man called Daniel Ryves?”
Nick thought of being eight years old and watching his father fall to ash
“This Circle has solad you told lad to kill them Nohere are they?”
“Exeter,” said Liannan “But you won’t find the soon”
How like a deive an answer that was completely true and utterly useless Liannan must have seen soh
She had ts of pointed teeth like a shark They all flashed when she laughed, and she swayed closer to him Her mouth was the color of frozen cherries
“What is it like, being huine what it must be like, to feel the blood warm in your veins and the sun warm on your face Will you tell me that you love me?”
“I don’t love you,” said Nick “I don’t even know you, demon”
“You did know me once”
“Did I?” Nick asked “When was that, exactly? A hundred years ago? More?”
“So like that,” Liannan murmured
“How do you think humans work?”
She had no eyelashes, like any reptile or underwater thing She only looked like a hulance, before you noticed that s
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He thought about practicing the sword in darkness, his wholebut the hting, training his aching body until he knew only the desire for perfection, the perfect kill, the perfect kiss He threw back his head, arched his back, and called Liannan to his side
When he opened his eyes, there was nothing but the tar, and the chalk outlines of what looked like a child’s game Nick waited for a heartbeat, despaired for a breath, and then saw pale fire building from one chalked-in line
It was a very pale fire, almost colorless, as if water had learned how to burn Liannan rose froh flaoddess rising froently as the sea at low tide around them, and she stood before Nick and lifted her face to his
His talisave a quick gasp She smiled
She was send in lands where men would follow her into ice and shadow for a s, and she would have been even more beautiful if she had not been so pale Pallor lay over her like a veil, uish and cooling the fire of her red hair, as if the vivid color was seen under frost
“It’s been a long ti like the chimes at the Goblin Market
Nick crossed his arms and stared at her The less he spoke, the less chance there was she could trick him
Liannan tilted her head “Do you like this?” she asked “I remember you always had a fancy for red hair”
Nick actually preferred blondes, but that hardly ht he was a different man, centuries dead, and probably dead by her hand Demons found it hard to tell humans apart
“It’s all right,” Nick said grudgingly “I have two questions for you I know I didn’t dance with a partner or take the fruit Tellthem”
“My price” Liannan’s voice changed to a whisper that sounded like a waterfall “I will answer one question — if you take off your talisman”
Every dancer alore a talisman, because a demon could mark you if you were in a circle, as easily as they could take a mark off you, if you did not wear some protection
If he refused, though, she would go She had chosen her shape, and it was a shape to seduce rather than to force He could stop her if she tried to mark him
Nick nodded, and for the first tiht years, he took off his talisman and cast it to one side
Losing the talis but relief He always carried the talisht of what had happened to Alan without one He carried it and bore with the endless prickling discomfort, the pain doubled whenever a demon was near or spells were performed in his presence He was free of pain at last, and he felt wonderful
This new freedom made him feelHe could deal with demons on his own
He looked at Liannan and smiled A smile spread over her face in return, a sad, beautiful sleam of sharp teeth
She reached out for hi like knives They were icicles
“I can touch you now,” she said
If he tried to fight her, Nick ht accidentally step out of the circle He let her touch hiht have been any girl, with her slily on his face One hand was curled around his neck, her fingers sharp and cold
“Ask me your question”