This Blackened Night Read Online Free PDF Page A

hand clutched a small bottle.
    She blinked and the vision fled. Just what had it meant? That she’d known Terrence in a past life?
    Terrence recoiled with a hiss, yanking his hand out of hers. If she touched him again, would the vision return? The sudden clench of her stomach warned that something ominous was about to happen–either in the vision, or in the bar. But Terrence had backed too far out of reach for her to determine what.
    Her skin was still warm from the heat of his hand. He’d been more than warm–scalding, in fact. Could vampires get fevers?
    “I’ll stay outside,” he said. His voice was sharp. It brooked no argument.
    She balled her fists at her side. “Fine,” she spat. If he didn’t want to help, she would work better without his interference. Without another word, she marched into the bar.
     

 
    Chapter 5
     
    Terrence lingered by the door when Lori exited less than an hour later with no results. No one had seen someone of the Spenta Michos’s description. But then, she hadn’t expected the search to be easy. Why would the kidnapper–be it Terrence or someone else–let the Spenta Michos wander unrestricted?
    As she walked, Terrence fell into step behind her. She didn’t speak to him. Midway down the street, her frustration got the better of her. She’d wasted enough time for any open restaurants to have closed for the evening. This late, she had nowhere left to search. She sighed.
    “We might as well go back to the roo–” She turned, but Terrence’s familiar form was nowhere in sight. “–oom. Fan-fucking-tastic. He left me here.” She rubbed her forehead. At least she was familiar enough with the labyrinth layout of a city to find her way back to the motel in this small a town.
    She didn’t see a soul on the way back. Terrence had the key, but she picked the lock and let herself in, anyway. He stood inside their room, arms crossed and a fierce scowl curling his lips.
    “You’re late.”
    “What?” She shut the door behind her, shaking her head. He’d gone insane.
    “We agreed to meet back at midnight. It’s twelve-thirty.”
    And he’d been with her the whole damn time, so what did it matter? She shoved the pins into her pocket, determined to ignore him.
    “Lori–”
    “What?” she snapped.
    He cupped her shoulders, drawing her closer. Oh, suddenly he craved her touch? Then what had he been so wary about on the street? Unless he’d suspected she’d had another vision. Well, she would keep this one to herself. At least until she knew what it meant.
    She yanked away, but he tightened his hold. He smelled warm and sturdy, like well-aged scotch. “You have to trust me. If we’re going to make any progress at all, we have to share what we’ve discovered.”
    You’d know if you’d come into the bar with me . Lori swallowed down the thought. “Nothing,” she spat. “I found nothing.”
    With a sigh, Terrence released her. He threaded a hand through his hair. “Same,” he said, voice defeated. Then, squaring his shoulders, he said, “We’ll make more progress tomorrow.”
    He sounded as though he genuinely believed that.
    * * * *
    Lori woke and left the room while Terrence was still passed out on the floor.
    The sun shone, blinding her as she stepped outside. In the light of day, the shabby houses stood in stark relief, wedged up against one another. Some likely wouldn’t be able to stand without the support of others on either side. Lori walked quickly to the nearby diner.
    The “diner” was little more than a fish and chip stand. Lori ordered the chips, sans fish, thank you very much. She sat at the counter and nursed a coffee, thinking.
    The waitress, a weathered woman, set the plate of fries down without a word.
    Lori sprinkled the plate with salt and waited as the woman refilled her black coffee.
    “I’m looking for someone,” she said finally. “A man.”
    “Aren’t we all?” the woman muttered under her breath.
    Lori cracked a smile. “This one