Kissed by Darkness Read Online Free PDF Page B

it back.
    “Oh, hey,” said the head. “Didn’t hear anyone come in. Cordy sent you, huh? Haven’t seen her in a while. Crystal ball must be working a treat. Be right down.” The head disappeared before being replaced by a pair of feet, followed by legs, and then the rest of what I presumed was Eddie Mulligan.
    He dropped to the floor and turned to face me, dusting his hands off on his trouser legs. He was short. A good five inches shorter than me, and I wasn’t exactly tall. A fringe of curly gray hair surrounded a cherubic face, set off with a burgundy bow tie at his throat, which unfortunately clashed with his mustard yellow vest and olive green pants. He was either color blind, or he liked to make an impression.
    “Mr. Eddie Mulligan?”
    “Yep, that’s me,” he said, holding out his hand.
    I took it. His grip was firm but not hard. The grip of a man secure in himself and at one with the world. Cordelia was right. I could sense the gift in him as surely as I’d sensed it in her.
    Eddie Mulligan was no ordinary human. “So, how can I help you? If Cordy sent you, it must be important,” he said, leading me out to the front of the shop.
    “It is,” I assured him. “I’m looking for … well, a Sunwalker.” I was embarrassed to even say it out loud.
    He went utterly still for a moment then let out a little laugh. “Good one. Sunwalkers are extinct.”
    “So, they did exist then?” I was on the right track, from the sound of things.
    “Oh, yes indeed. Once upon a time.” He waved me to the front counter before ducking behind it.
    “Can you tell me about them?”
    His gaze was sharp on me, measuring me, judging me. Then with a little nod, he lifted a package wrapped in silk from behind the counter. He carefully unwrapped it to reveal an ancient book complete with leather cover and brass fittings. It was kind of what I always imagined the Doomsday book would have looked like.
    “All right,” he said with a gentle smile, opening the cover, “let’s see what this little baby has to say about your Sunwalkers.”
    He flipped through the pages, sending dust flying everywhere. I sneezed. “Oh, sorry,” he gave me an apologetic smile. “I don’t consult the book too often. Most people are more worried about your average, run of the mill vampires, werewolves, that sort of thing. Not much call for Sunwalker info.” I wondered just exactly what sort of clientele Eddie Mulligan catered to. It was very rare that I ran across a civilian who knew such creatures were real. One who wasn’t bat shit crazy, anyway.
    “Okay.” He stopped at a page with a sketch of a handsome, muscular man. He looked human, but it was obvious he wasn’t. The fangs sort of gave it away.
    “That’s a Sunwalker?” He looked suspiciously like the guy I’d dreamed about last night, the knight with the ocean eyes.
    “Yes, indeed,” he grinned up at me. I noticed his eyes were a slight almond shape. Might explain the huge section of books on Chinese folklore and dragons. I really hoped I wouldn’t need his help with any dragons.
    “What does it say?”
    His fingers ran down the page. “All right, according to legend, the Sunwalker is essentially a vampire that is able to withstand daylight.”
    Great. I knew that much.
    He continued, “It also says they are descendants of an ancient race that was destroyed long ago.”
    “Does it say who they were? The ancient race, I mean.”
    He shook his head. “No, it says nothing about this ancient race. Very interesting. I wonder … In any case, it says the last of the Sunwalkers was killed during the 1300s when the King of France slaughtered the Knights Templar.”
    I blinked. That was not something I’d expected. “Excuse me? Did you say Knights Templar?” I swallowed hard. Surely my dream about the knight was just a coincidence.
    “Yes, apparently the Knights were in league with the Sunwalkers. Protected them, something like that. The gods only know. In any case, when the