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could tell my insides shook like barren branches in the winter wind. You re
not toast. I get to pick who the Soul Eater takes. Cyrus will turn Dahlia, and
then he ll throw you to the crowd. It s all very simple.
Right. Ziggystretched the word out. Thrown on the mercy of hungry vampires.
And yet I m somehow missing the part where I m not toast.
You know how to fight, and Nathan will get here in time. Don t worry about
it. I m not. I was, but there was no point letting him know that.
What about the secret service down there? Ziggy pointed toward the guards
below. Nate and those guys can t touch them. They re human.
Then they ll be easier to subdue, I pointed out. Besides, there aren t
many of them here tonight. It was a protective measure, Clarence had told me
before he d left for the guardhouse earlier in the evening. Fewer humans meant
less chance of a feeding frenzy. Most of the guards had been dismissed
already. The mansion now ran with a skeleton crew on hazard pay.
It seemed a little strange that Cyrus would leave the party so vulnerable. Of
course, there was the Soul Eater s own security team. They were apparently
scary enough that Cyrus felt comfortable entrusting them to guard a house full
of Movement exiles on the most notorious night of the year.
Again, another factZiggy didn t need to worry about. Now, get back to the
room before somebody mistakes you for cattle.
His eyes were fixed on the herd in the foyer. You d think someone would miss
these kids.
I guess he moves the party around every year. He said he can t stay in one
place for long without people getting suspicious. Then the sadness inZiggy s
words made me realize he wasn t referring to the teenagers below us. Nathan
does miss you. He loves you.
Yeah, well. I guess we ll find out tonight, huh? With a grimace, he shoved
off the banister and headed toward the hallway.
I wanted to follow him, to go into my room, lock the door and sleep wherever
I fell. I d spent the day with a pillow over my head, trying to drown out the
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sound of Cyrus cursing and shouting in his room as he agonized over every new
development, from parking to table decorations, until I was as stressed about
the party as he was.
If he thought things were going badly now, I couldn t wait to see how he
reacted when his uninvited guests showed up.
There was no telling how events would turn out. In just a few hours I could
be safely away from this house and all the temptation inside. Or I could be
dead.Ziggy could be dead. Cyrus could be dead. Hell, we could all be dead at
the same time from some freak accident. I wasn t ruling anything out.
To get my mind off such grim meditations, and because guests had begun to
arrive, I went to my room to dress in the new gown Cyrus had bought me for the
occasion. When Clarence had delivered the garment, all my bad feelings about
the night had multiplied. It was a floor-length, red-and-black ball gown with
thin shoulder straps and a tiered tulle skirt. I d quickly zipped up the
garment bag and assured myself it wasn t so bad.
I was wrong. In fact, it was much worse on second observation.
I m going to look like a ballerina from hell, I whined out loud as I picked
at the sequined bodice.
Not to mention the fact that running hell, even standing in the shoes he d
bought to match would be impossible, at best.
I pulled the offending footwear from the box with a frown. I slipped the
patent leatherpointe slippers onto my feet and wrapped the deep red ribbons
around my calves. They would have been comfortable if it weren t for the tall
spiked heel that ensured I stood on perfect tiptoe.
I teetered into the sitting room whereZiggy stood like a real gentleman, an
expression of pure disbelief on his face. You look really good.
Thanks. I touched my hair self-consciously, checking to make sure the long,
blond strands remained in the French braid I d put them in. I feel like a
clown.
You look like a Goth boy s wet dream. Hell, I d go straight if you made an
offer right now.
For a moment, his wicked smile reminded me so much of Nathan it seemed
impossible they weren t blood related. I ll take that as a compliment. And
I ll pass.
There was a soft knock at the door. I called out permission to enter,
expecting Clarence.
One of the guards opened the door instead. The Master wants you in the
foyer, so you can greet his father.
I wiped my suddenly sweaty palms on my skirt. The Soul Eater is here?
MasterSeymour is in transit, the man corrected me in a warning tone.
Fine, I replied with an equally stony glare. I ll be down in a minute.
The door closed, but I knew the guard waited outside. I motionedZiggy closer.
When they bring you down for the party, stay close to me, because
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Because I m your life insurance policy.I know, I know. He blew out a long
breath. You re not going to change your mind at the last minute and let them
eat me, right?
I wasn t planning on it. My heart felt like a solid mass of lead in my
chest, and I reached out impulsively to hug him.
His back tensed beneath my arms as his breath hitched. The little boy that
still lived in some deeply buried part of him appreciated the comfort. But I
wouldn t offer him empty reassurances. I had no idea what would happen, and I
wouldn t pretend to. I ve got to go downstairs.
I wouldn t allow myself to look back as I went to the door. The guard waited
to escort me, as though I didn t know the way on my own. He walked fast and
didn t offer me his arm, so I kept up as best as I could without spraining my
ankles.
Teetering precariously down the stairs, I caught a glimpse of the guests that
were gathered in the foyer. Vampires of various ages chattered among
themselves in excitement. Everywhere I looked I saw expensive fur and jewels
in exotic styles. Even the Fangs seemed to have dressed for the occasion,
though they probably would still be kicked out of higher-end truck stops for
breaching the dress code.
Cyrus stood at the front doors. I couldn t see his face, but I felt his
excitement at the prospect of reuniting with his father, and the nagging fear
that something seemed out of place, that something wouldn t go right. I pushed
through the crowd with an air of confidence. It wouldn t do any good to let
him sense my own anxiousness and have all of Nathan s planninggo down the
drain at the eleventh hour.
I wobbled on my spiky heels and fell against a slender vampire with a bald
head. Two small horns protruded from his forehead, and his thin black mustache
quirked in annoyance. He looked like the cartoon devil on a package of RedHots
. Excuse me, I said, struggling to right myself and not stare.
When I finally reached his side, Cyrus slipped his arm around my waist. He
pulled me close and kissed my cheek. You look lovely.
Thanks. But maybe next time you could let me pick the footwear. I peeked
distractedly at the vampires around us. Who are all these people?
He waved dismissively. Friends of Father s, friends of mine.Allies,
acquaintances.The Fangs.
I smiled at the disgust in his voice. Aw, but they re wearing their Sunday
best. Are they all vampires?
Yes, but some are mutts.
Mutts? I looked back at the horned man. As in mixed with something else?
Mmm.The vampire you just collided with has some demon ancestry. There are
somelupins here, as well. He wrinkled his nose. Do take care aroundthem,
they re liable to hump your leg.
Lupins? I remembered something Nathan had told me. You mean werewolves?
Cyrus shushed me. Werewolf-vampire hybrids. But that s not the politically
Page 149
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zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl szamanka888.keep.pl
could tell my insides shook like barren branches in the winter wind. You re
not toast. I get to pick who the Soul Eater takes. Cyrus will turn Dahlia, and
then he ll throw you to the crowd. It s all very simple.
Right. Ziggystretched the word out. Thrown on the mercy of hungry vampires.
And yet I m somehow missing the part where I m not toast.
You know how to fight, and Nathan will get here in time. Don t worry about
it. I m not. I was, but there was no point letting him know that.
What about the secret service down there? Ziggy pointed toward the guards
below. Nate and those guys can t touch them. They re human.
Then they ll be easier to subdue, I pointed out. Besides, there aren t
many of them here tonight. It was a protective measure, Clarence had told me
before he d left for the guardhouse earlier in the evening. Fewer humans meant
less chance of a feeding frenzy. Most of the guards had been dismissed
already. The mansion now ran with a skeleton crew on hazard pay.
It seemed a little strange that Cyrus would leave the party so vulnerable. Of
course, there was the Soul Eater s own security team. They were apparently
scary enough that Cyrus felt comfortable entrusting them to guard a house full
of Movement exiles on the most notorious night of the year.
Again, another factZiggy didn t need to worry about. Now, get back to the
room before somebody mistakes you for cattle.
His eyes were fixed on the herd in the foyer. You d think someone would miss
these kids.
I guess he moves the party around every year. He said he can t stay in one
place for long without people getting suspicious. Then the sadness inZiggy s
words made me realize he wasn t referring to the teenagers below us. Nathan
does miss you. He loves you.
Yeah, well. I guess we ll find out tonight, huh? With a grimace, he shoved
off the banister and headed toward the hallway.
I wanted to follow him, to go into my room, lock the door and sleep wherever
I fell. I d spent the day with a pillow over my head, trying to drown out the
Page 147
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
sound of Cyrus cursing and shouting in his room as he agonized over every new
development, from parking to table decorations, until I was as stressed about
the party as he was.
If he thought things were going badly now, I couldn t wait to see how he
reacted when his uninvited guests showed up.
There was no telling how events would turn out. In just a few hours I could
be safely away from this house and all the temptation inside. Or I could be
dead.Ziggy could be dead. Cyrus could be dead. Hell, we could all be dead at
the same time from some freak accident. I wasn t ruling anything out.
To get my mind off such grim meditations, and because guests had begun to
arrive, I went to my room to dress in the new gown Cyrus had bought me for the
occasion. When Clarence had delivered the garment, all my bad feelings about
the night had multiplied. It was a floor-length, red-and-black ball gown with
thin shoulder straps and a tiered tulle skirt. I d quickly zipped up the
garment bag and assured myself it wasn t so bad.
I was wrong. In fact, it was much worse on second observation.
I m going to look like a ballerina from hell, I whined out loud as I picked
at the sequined bodice.
Not to mention the fact that running hell, even standing in the shoes he d
bought to match would be impossible, at best.
I pulled the offending footwear from the box with a frown. I slipped the
patent leatherpointe slippers onto my feet and wrapped the deep red ribbons
around my calves. They would have been comfortable if it weren t for the tall
spiked heel that ensured I stood on perfect tiptoe.
I teetered into the sitting room whereZiggy stood like a real gentleman, an
expression of pure disbelief on his face. You look really good.
Thanks. I touched my hair self-consciously, checking to make sure the long,
blond strands remained in the French braid I d put them in. I feel like a
clown.
You look like a Goth boy s wet dream. Hell, I d go straight if you made an
offer right now.
For a moment, his wicked smile reminded me so much of Nathan it seemed
impossible they weren t blood related. I ll take that as a compliment. And
I ll pass.
There was a soft knock at the door. I called out permission to enter,
expecting Clarence.
One of the guards opened the door instead. The Master wants you in the
foyer, so you can greet his father.
I wiped my suddenly sweaty palms on my skirt. The Soul Eater is here?
MasterSeymour is in transit, the man corrected me in a warning tone.
Fine, I replied with an equally stony glare. I ll be down in a minute.
The door closed, but I knew the guard waited outside. I motionedZiggy closer.
When they bring you down for the party, stay close to me, because
Page 148
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Because I m your life insurance policy.I know, I know. He blew out a long
breath. You re not going to change your mind at the last minute and let them
eat me, right?
I wasn t planning on it. My heart felt like a solid mass of lead in my
chest, and I reached out impulsively to hug him.
His back tensed beneath my arms as his breath hitched. The little boy that
still lived in some deeply buried part of him appreciated the comfort. But I
wouldn t offer him empty reassurances. I had no idea what would happen, and I
wouldn t pretend to. I ve got to go downstairs.
I wouldn t allow myself to look back as I went to the door. The guard waited
to escort me, as though I didn t know the way on my own. He walked fast and
didn t offer me his arm, so I kept up as best as I could without spraining my
ankles.
Teetering precariously down the stairs, I caught a glimpse of the guests that
were gathered in the foyer. Vampires of various ages chattered among
themselves in excitement. Everywhere I looked I saw expensive fur and jewels
in exotic styles. Even the Fangs seemed to have dressed for the occasion,
though they probably would still be kicked out of higher-end truck stops for
breaching the dress code.
Cyrus stood at the front doors. I couldn t see his face, but I felt his
excitement at the prospect of reuniting with his father, and the nagging fear
that something seemed out of place, that something wouldn t go right. I pushed
through the crowd with an air of confidence. It wouldn t do any good to let
him sense my own anxiousness and have all of Nathan s planninggo down the
drain at the eleventh hour.
I wobbled on my spiky heels and fell against a slender vampire with a bald
head. Two small horns protruded from his forehead, and his thin black mustache
quirked in annoyance. He looked like the cartoon devil on a package of RedHots
. Excuse me, I said, struggling to right myself and not stare.
When I finally reached his side, Cyrus slipped his arm around my waist. He
pulled me close and kissed my cheek. You look lovely.
Thanks. But maybe next time you could let me pick the footwear. I peeked
distractedly at the vampires around us. Who are all these people?
He waved dismissively. Friends of Father s, friends of mine.Allies,
acquaintances.The Fangs.
I smiled at the disgust in his voice. Aw, but they re wearing their Sunday
best. Are they all vampires?
Yes, but some are mutts.
Mutts? I looked back at the horned man. As in mixed with something else?
Mmm.The vampire you just collided with has some demon ancestry. There are
somelupins here, as well. He wrinkled his nose. Do take care aroundthem,
they re liable to hump your leg.
Lupins? I remembered something Nathan had told me. You mean werewolves?
Cyrus shushed me. Werewolf-vampire hybrids. But that s not the politically
Page 149
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