NightFall: Book One: Bloodlust Is the Cure for the Immortal Soul Read Online Free PDF Page B

those soldiers were. I’m not sorry to say that they have been long dead . They probably met a tragic end.”
    Van nodded but kept silent. He wanted to hear the rest of Saldivar’s enchanting, yet sorrowful story.
    Saldivar cleared his throat and went on:
    “Well, this evil torture went on for a couple of months. It felt like a life time has passed me. I almost forgot who I was or why I was there. I was losing myself.
    “That is, until one rainy night. I heard muffled voices. They grew louder. Angrier. I heard a desperate scream. Then…….nothing. Only silence creeping about me.
    “I heard the dungeon’s door slowly creak open, so I huddled up in the very dark recesses of the dungeon, trying to make myself unseen.
    “‘It is no use,’ the dark figure had said. ‘I can see you, so do not try to conceal yourself to me.’”
    Van’s eyes widened in temblor but, nevertheless, sat mute. Though he was never put into a dungeon or debauched, he knew he was in his own prison on the streets of Paris. He had more in common with Saldivar than he first judged.
    “Yes, we do, mon ami .” Sal div ar grinned. It faded quickly as he knew he had to continue.
    “You see, I did not know how this mysterious intruder could see me. There were no windows in my prison. Only dark, dank walls surrounded me with strange creatures that sat in every corner.
    “I sat there, scared to the marrow. He had lit a candle so that I could observe him. He was a big man. Tall. Well defined and intimidating. I thought he was going to use me at the guards had done. It was not uncommon for this to happen. I did not know how I was going to fight off this one. I could not even fight off the guards and they were wicked enough as it was. But they were mere boys in comparison to him.
    “Since there were no guards listening at the door, I presumed he must have paid them for time with me. It had to be a hefty sum because he was allowed in pretty quickly. Money makes pe ople do strange things,” he said almost as a philosophical afterthought.
    Van grimaced at the thought of being unable to fight off a man like this. And the disgustful way of being paid for and used against your will. Van couldn’t conceive of something this horrendous touching his life.
    “Au contraire, Van,” Saldivar told him. “He was, in all senses, very different from the other males. I though t so at the time any way.
    “The first time he had spoken, surprised me. His voice may have been composed and genteel, but it had a forcefulness that demanded the utmost attention. I was certain he had no trouble commanding a room fu ll of the most glamorous people; p eople who usu ally would not otherwise look your way . He stood out in a way that was revered, if you will.
    “‘Please. Do not be frightened of me, Saldivar,’ he had spoken ever so calmly.
    “And like you, mon ami , I was perplexed as to how he knew my name and where I was hiding. I thought I was hiding perfectly. Oh, but he saw. He saw everything
    “‘What do you want from me?’ I had asked him with trembling in my voice.
    “When he answered my question and proceeded to explain, you cou ld have imagined my disbelief a s you have had the same feelings of me. It’s safe for me to assume that you still do,” he said with a slight smile .
    “And, of course, I did not put my faith in his answer or his explanations. Moreover, I could not grasp at what he was telling me.
    “So he began to grow angry and intolerant of me. I just knew he was about to kill me.
    “‘Do I need to prov e my strength to you, mortal?’ he had asked raucously.
    “It was then I saw his teeth. Ferocious. Gleaming. Sharp.
    “I began to panic, ranting and raving like a mad man to escape whatever doom lay before me.
    “But just as suddenly did I know the truth and calmed down. Why I had changed my mind so quickly, I did not understand. It was as if he was in my head. My thoughts. And……he was.”
    Van gave Saldivar a discerning nod. Did Van