Waking Dreams (A Soul's Mark Novella) Read Online Free PDF

snapped,
eyeing Mitchell with barely controlled rage.
    Mitchell ignored her, giving Eric another
hard look, and Eric was certain that Mitchell was assessing how much he had
heard of the conversation.  A pinprick of crimson began to spread over
Mitchell’s eyes, and his nostrils flared as he, Eric assumed, tried to get a
fix on his emotions.
    Eric steeled himself, tamping down all the
questions and accusations that he wanted to let pour out of him.  There was
something about the way Mitchell was looking at him that made him sure that
overhearing probably wasn’t something he should admit to, at least not right now.
    Mitchell must have bought his clueless act,
because right then, his eyes faded back to blue, and he cracked a smile. 
“Let’s get this over with.”

CHAPTER 6
     
     
    Luke wasn’t mingling.  Well, he was—kind
of.  He was milling about, talking to people, but when Eric saw his eyes, he
knew Luke was doing more than engaging in small talk with the locals.  His eyes
were milky and cloudy, and he was walking from person to person, reciting the
same speech over and over.  “You will not be frightened, and you will welcome
us.”  That’s it.  Just two simple commands, and then he would slip on to the
next person.
    Luke was a tall man, and bulky like
Mitchell and himself.  But he was the least intimidating of the three of them. 
He had this fatherly look to him, even if he had only been twenty-three when he
had turned.  There was something about him, the way he looked at people with
his inquisitive hazel eyes that made people think he was wise beyond his years,
and it also made people … comfortable.   Yes, Eric figured that was the best
word to use.  Comfortable.  He had his shoulder length light brown hair tied at
the nape of his neck, and he was dressed like the rest of them in black slacks
and a white cotton shirt.   Eric bet that Angelle had handpicked each of their
attire for the meeting.
    “That’s your plan?” Eric hissed, as Mitchell
ushered him to the platform.  “You’re just going to manipulate everyone.”
    “If it means living without hiding, then
yes,” Mitchell replied, casting him a hard look.
    Eric narrowed his eyes, but bit his tongue
on a bunch of nasty things he wanted to say.  Mitchell wasn’t a bad guy, and he
wasn’t usually this testy.  Not that Eric would admit it, but he actually kind
of liked Mitchell.  Aside from the know-it-all, always-right attitude, Mitchell
was a little awe-inspiring, and this little plan was sort of awe-inspiring,
too.  And it all bothered Eric.  It would have been a lot easier to hate the
man that had ended his life if he wasn’t so … so … perfect.
    According to Mitchell, the awe-inspiring,
perfect thoughts thing was normal.  A part of the change.  It was common for
new vampires to become a bit obsessed with their makers.  It had something to
do with them being made from the same blood, or was it that Mitchell was now
his vampire father and family was important?  Eric couldn’t remember, and as he
thought about it, he was pretty sure that Angelle had walked in during that lesson,
and he had spent most of it admiring her silky auburn hair.  But, whatever it
was that made him feel like Mitchell was the most perfect person ever, it was definitely
annoying.
    Angelle and Lola glided into the crowd,
helping Luke with the last few stragglers who had yet to be persuaded.  Eric
watched, amazed, as the two gorgeous creatures made mind control look like a
dance.  They spun gracefully from person to person, batting their eyes, giving
men delicate, flirty touches.  It was mesmerizing to watch.  Before long, the
girls and Luke took their places beside Eric, standing just behind Mitchell at
the podium.
    The meeting went off without a hitch.  Eric
stood behind Mitchell with his mouth hanging open the entire time.  Mitchell
explained to the townspeople how the new “tax” system would work.  Basically,
the humans were to