Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97229 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97229 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“Is it Frederick who is going to kill George?”
“No. Frederick will just alert someone who will. George is likely already dead by now. I hope his passing was a peaceful one. God speed.”
I got a pang of grief so hard it made me blanch. The very idea that George was dead already. It was just–
“Horrible, I know,” Hans said. “I still remember how painful the ending of mortal life seemed to me in the early days, especially some. They can cripple your soul. But you adjust. Your perspectives change as your experiences change you.”
I tried to get back on track.
“Why is George being killed? Is it because of what happened in the bar? Did I do something wrong?”
Hans reached out and squeezed my knee.
“You didn’t do anything wrong as far as I’m concerned. I am in debt to you, actually. As are the rest of the vampire community. There are always hunters out to get us, and people who get scared and run to them. George was one of those people. He’s been too familiar with Frederick through Regency for quite some time. He’s heard plenty of things he shouldn’t have.” He paused. “People are like an interconnected web and rumours whisper through silky threads. George tapped into two sides of a long waging war, and he picked his side. A lot of people choose the righteous hunters. That’s understandable. There are always two sides to every story.”
I had a horrible rush of terror at the mention of vampire hunters, the pang of grief for George buried under panic.
“You got to him in time, did you? The hunters won’t be coming for you?!”
“It’s good to see your priorities are where I’d hoped they’d be, little one.” Hans squeezed my knee again. “No, I don’t believe any hunter will be coming for me. I’m sure Frederick will have things under control by now. George was only on the outskirts of the hunter network. He was splashing in a shallow pond, thinking his depths were deeper. He had a long way to go into the ocean before he found the central ship he truly needed to find where hunters are concerned, but that’s all over now. George is at rest. His splashing is over.”
I took a breath of relief.
“Thank God for that.”
Hans smiled. “Indeed.”
There was something that glowed deep underneath the bright green of his eyes, and I couldn’t place it. Spirit? Soul? Belief? I didn’t know, but it gave me another fresh new sensation, striking a chord in my chest. My brain spun, trying to understand, but failing. I was growing weary of the confusion, and much more needy of the basics. I needed… time. I needed–
“We can pick up questioning tomorrow if you’d prefer,” Hans said. “I’d strongly recommend you leave your mind to catch up and work things through. There has been a lot of revelation in a very short space of time.”
I nodded. I’d trust Hans to guide me from here on in. I felt like a loved child at his side, which was a new one for me. A happy place to be.
“You need sustenance before I drink more blood from you,” he said. “Let me get you some dinner. What do you like?”
I laughed, surprisingly light hearted. “You mean you don’t already know? Jam on toast, please.”
He laughed along with me. “Of course. I should have known that. I’m afraid I don’t have any jam. I’ll make sure to get some in for you.”
He stood up from the sofa and held out a hand. He pulled me to my feet so easily.
“How about a nice, rare steak, Katherine? That’s always good fuel to feed the fire.”
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten steak, but the idea sounded a good one. My stomach rumbled at the mention.
“Wonderful,” he said.
He guided me through to the kitchen, which was another impressive room with high ceilings. This one had rich terracotta floor tiles and black marble counters. Hans opened one of the thick oak cupboard doors and an inbuilt fridge appeared. Quite a contrast to the antique decor.
“Do you eat food? As in food, food?” I asked, and Hans shrugged.
“Very, very rarely, and usually only as a token display when in public. I don’t enjoy it, and usually spit it out again as soon as I’m out of view. My appetite for blood soon wiped out my appetite for almost every other food in creation. Blood is my only necessity. It’s like being an addicted wine connoisseur with a million different bottles of red to sample. Everything else pales into insignificance.” He smiled. “And that’s putting it mildly.”
I took a seat at the kitchen island as Hans took a steak from the fridge. A huge piece that looked like rump.
“Did you get that in especially?” I asked. “Did you know I’d be coming?”