The Rest Falls Away Read Online Free PDF

bloodthirsty in his own way. He chose the path of Venator.
    â€œWhat is Lilith doing now? Do you know her plan?” Victoria asked. Her hazel eyes were not worried or fearful, as Eustacia had feared. No, they were sharp and calculating. And intense. By God, the Legacy had chosen well.
    For the first time in years, Eustacia felt a glimmer of hope. With Victoria as her protege, and, eventually, successor as the leader of the Venators, perhaps Eustacia would soon be able to rest easy.
    â€œIn order to succeed, Lilith must destroy your aunt,” Max said. “At the same time, she has sent hordes of vampires and demons throughout the world to turn as many to their way as possible. In order to feed on their blood, they bite the neck of their victim—not the chest, as is commonly believed—”
    â€œBut they leave a marking, don’t they?” Victoria interrupted, comprehension dawning in her face. “Three Xs on the bosom of the victim, as found on the corpse of those men near the wharf. That was a vampire, wasn’t it?”
    â€œYou are very well-informed for a young girl,” Max commented.
    Eustacia hastened to step in before for the flare in her niece’s eyes turned to sharp words. “Indeed, you are correct, Victoria; although I can’t imagine how you would know that. Three Xs represent the thirty pieces of silver Judas was paid for betraying Jesus.”
    â€œWhich explains their fear of anything made from silver. That fool Quentworth was most definitely a victim of one of Lilith’s vampires, and we have worked very diligently to keep any hint of vampirism from being attached to his death. It was fortuitous for him that he wasn’t turned. As you likely are aware,” Max said, looking down his long, straight nose at Victoria, “if a vampire feeds on a mortal, it is often deadly…but if he—or she—chooses, he may partake of the human’s blood, and offer his own blood back to the human in a kind of mating ritual. If that occurs, the human is sired, or turned into a vampire. So a vampire bite may kill a mortal, or may turn one to an undead. And there are occasions when neither happens, when the bite is not deep enough to kill. Our job—”
    Eustacia interrupted. “Our job is to destroy as many of them as possible while attempting to learn what Lilith is planning to do to seize power. We know she has moved the bulk of her court to London; where she is hiding I do not know, and Max has not yet been able to ascertain. She is here not only because I am here, but because she seeks something called the Book of Anwarth, about which we know little as yet.”
    â€œWe Venators have always stopped her in the past. Although in the past, we have not been forced to rely upon young girls newly out of strings,” Max said with uncharacteristic nastiness. “I do hope you will find time between filling your dance card and selecting your ball gowns to help us.”
    Her niece had risen from her seat and placed herself in front of Max, who’d refused to move from his lounging position on the settee. “Filling my dance cards? Lord Max, or whatever it is that I must call you, I’ll have you know that I left my debut—I missed a waltz with the Marquess of Rockley!—in order to protect you from a vampire attack. The status of my dance card remained forgotten as I followed you and your companion out-of-doors—”
    â€œProtect me? Yes, indeed, you were protecting me from my own sharp fangs, weren’t you?”
    â€œHow was I to know you were a Venator? You didn’t see fit to divulge that information to me until you could crow with joy at my mistake. But the fact remains I did what had to be done. And I will do what has to be done in the future.” Her eyes flashed.
    â€œVictoria. Max. Please. We cannot allow ourselves to be divided at this time. Victoria, you must understand…before you, there have been