The Undead Next Door Read Online Free PDF Page B

be too late.” He charged.
    Jean-Luc leaped to the side, grabbed a nearby mannequin, and swung it hard to deflect the first attack.
    Lui’s sword sliced through, decapitating the male mannequin. “Ah, that brings back sweet memories of the Reign of Terror.” He swung again and shattered the mannequin’s torso.
    Jean-Luc was left defending himself with a mannequin leg. At least it had a metal bar through it. And Robby would be here any second with a real sword.
    Jean-Luc ducked, feeling the whir above him as Lui’s foil sliced the air. He ran to the right, planted the mannequin leg on the floor, and used it to pole vault onto a cutting table.
    Lui swung at his legs, but Jean-Luc jumped and landed on the floor on the far side of the table. When Lui circled to the right to catch him, he moved to the right, too. He could keep Lui dancing around the table until Robby arrived with a sword.
    Jean-Luc had completed one circle when he spotted movement behind Lui. He froze. Heather was sneaking up behind Lui with nothing but a handful of belts. What was she thinking? He didn’t dare yell at her to stop. That would alert Lui to her presence, and he’d stab her with his sword. Merde! He made a face at her and motioned with his head for her to get the hell out of there.
    She ignored him, her eyes focused on Lui.
    The only thing Jean-Luc could do was draw Lui away from her. He ran to the center of the room and engaged in battle with the mannequin leg. Bits of plaster flew through the air as Lui hacked at Jean-Luc’s inferior weapon.
    “Stop it!” Heather swung her belts at Lui.
    Lui stiffened as silver metal struck the back of his head. A coil of smoke curled up. He turned toward her, his face contorted with pain. “You vicious bitch.” He raised his sword.
    “Heather, run!” Jean-Luc leaped forward and clobbered Lui on the head with the mannequin leg.
    The metal rod sent Lui stumbling to the side. His foil clattered to the floor. Jean-Luc ducked to retrieve the sword, then jumped out of the way when Heather took another swing at Lui.
    “Take that, you creep!” Her eyes glittered with excitement.
    Lui raised his hands to protect his head, and the silver hissed across his palms, sizzling the exposed flesh.
    The front door burst open, and Angus and Robby ran inside, their claymores drawn. Robby tossed a foil across the room to Jean-Luc.
    He caught the foil, then turned to face Lui. The bastard had retreated, hiding among the racks of clothing. From the corner of his eye, Jean-Luc spotted Angus slipping between two racks. No doubt the Scotsman intended to catch the bastard from behind.
    Jean-Luc handed Lui’s foil to Heather. “If he comes after you, do not hesitate to use it.”
    She nodded, her eyes meeting his. His heart stuttered. Mon Dieu, what had he gotten her into?
    “I will return for you, Echarpe,” Lui announced. “But first I will kill your woman. Just like old times, non?”
    “She is not my woman! Leave her out of this.”
    “Ah, but I can see that you care for her. I wonder if she will be as accommodating as your last mistress?”
    “Damn you.” Jean-Luc strode toward the racks. “Watch her,” he yelled at Robby; then he ran down an aisle. He spotted Angus coming from the opposite direction.
    Jean-Luc shoved clothes aside, hunting for Lui.
    “Bugger,” Angus muttered. “He must have teleported away. I’ll keep searching.” He dashed away at vampire speed.
    “Did you get him?” Heather called.
    “No. He…escaped.” Jean-Luc stalked back to the center of the workroom. Seething with frustration, he whipped his foil through the air. Heather’s eyes widened.
    Robby paced around her, his claymore clenched in a tight fist. “I need to search the grounds. Now.”
    Jean-Luc nodded. “Go.”
    Robby sprinted toward the French doors along the back wall and let himself out.
    Jean-Luc took a deep breath. “Are you all right?”
    “I guess.” Heather dropped the belts and Lui’s foil onto a cutting