Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 116618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
I sigh, sinking into the couch. My thoughts feel sharper than ever, but unfortunately my emotions do too.
“I’ve been trying to find her killer,” I tell them. “You know. Like I’m in a Raymond Chandler novel or something. But I think…I think I’m in a little over my head.”
“How so?” Ezra asks.
I start by telling them about what Betty said to me the night before she went missing, the diary she left. I talk about the Europeans she mentioned, then meeting Callahan, Marco, the stalker, everything that’s happened since January eighth.
“Callahan,” Valtu muses. “That’s who you were thinking of earlier. The one who has your heart and soul.”
I give Dracula the dirtiest look I can muster, enough that he flinches slightly. “You weren’t meant to hear that thought.”
“Have you slept with him?” Abe asks.
I balk at that, my mouth dropping open. “What kind of question is that?”
“Just want to know how involved with this human you are,” Abe says. “See if there’s a chance to stop you before it’s too late.”
“Stop me?”
He gives me a tired look. “Lena. It’s bad enough that you’re with one of Cohen’s enforcers. Don’t make things more complicated by falling for a PI. You know how it should be. Vampires stay with vampires. Humans are too fallible. Fragile. Mortal. There’s never a happy ending, is there?”
Though Valtu doesn’t say anything, I find myself looking at him, drawn by a change in his energy. It’s like a darkness swirls around him while he stares down into his glass. He lost someone. That’s who he’s been looking for in every face.
“I’m not in love with Callahan,” I say, bringing my attention back to Abe. “Nor Marco for that matter. They are just men. Means to an end. A girl has to have fun too.”
“I agree. But try not to have it with someone who we can’t afford to dig any deeper,” Abe says. “There are enough vampires in this city to go around. Hell, there might even be vampires working for Cohen, if that kind of danger is what you’re looking for. But there’s safety in staying with who we are. It protects our society. It keeps us hidden. And it stops us from having to experience the bite of mortality.”
I fall silent. He’s right, of course. I know he is. I know that Callahan is someone I need to stay away from me, at least in an emotional, physical way. If we want to solve this case together it has to stay professional and nothing else. I have more willpower than that.
“I suppose I’m lucky,” I say between a long swig of wine. “I only got one lecture while here.”
Everyone laughs, even Valtu.
“Well, I was going to remind you to not go so long between feedings, but from the way you took care of dinner, I think you learned your lesson,” Abe says, playfully touching his shoulder against mine.
Valtu puffs on his cigar and jerks his chin at me. “Well, what do you say, kid? Another song?”
“It would be my pleasure,” I say, happy to put this conversation behind me.
I get up, finish the rest of my wine, and take my place at the piano.
I’m bowing to thunderous applause again.
Only I’m not in Dr. Abraham Van Helsing’s house in Malibu. Instead, it’s the next night and I’m back at The Emerald Room, finishing “Body and Soul,” which of course reminds me of what Valtu said about Callahan. That he had me heart, body, and soul.
But Callahan isn’t here tonight. I spent the last two sets performing while scanning the crowd for him, expecting him to pop by. Marco is, of course, sitting in his usual spot with a couple of his pals, drinking and discussing business while I’m singing, as per usual. But Callahan is nowhere to be seen.
I’m a little disappointed. Maybe a lot disappointed. And I shouldn’t be. Abe was absolutely right in that I shouldn’t be getting involved with Callahan, no matter how much my body wants it (not my heart, nor my soul, sorry Valtu). I really have been sheltered from vampires by focusing on my singing career, which naturally puts me around humans all day and night long. Who knows, maybe Valtu is right in that sex with a human is subpar compared to a vampire. Maybe I oughta broaden my horizons a little bit and look beyond Marco.
And beyond Callahan.
The fact that he’s not here makes it easier. Yes, I felt close to him last night, yes I was forward with him over breakfast (must be the vampire in me), yes I feel there’s a connection with him I’ve never felt with anyone else before.
But going forward, all of that must remain in the past.
I must stay focused on finding Betty’s killer.
I must keep Callahan at arm’s length, for the sake of everything.