[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
were smoking, and a permanent cloud lingered over their heads. Three were Latina with hair styled in
dramatic braided rows and perms. One was a black girl with her hair in a misguided weave that appeared
unnatural and uncomfortable. The look on her face was somewhere between exhaustion and ennui, and her
lip jutted out in a pout. She wasn t inhaling any of the smoke from her Pal Mal. She just sucked it in and
blew it back out, not taking any time to let it linger in her mouth. Her shirt had a silver tiger on it. The
remaining prostitute was the skinniest white girl I d ever seen. She had pale skin wrapped like cellophane
around her jumble of elbows, knees and jutting bones. These girls had seen monsters that had nothing to do
with my line of work. I felt guilty that some of the creatures of my world had crossed into theirs. They had
it bad enough without vampires using them as a source of fast food.
As I approached I was thankful my internal temperature protected me from the bitter spring chill. The
possibility of a late-spring snow was an unspoken promise on a night like this. I sidled up to them
cautiously, my head bowed like a submissive puppy.
Whatchuwant, you? the largest of the girls asked. She was six inches taller than me and had to
weigh over two hundred pounds. Her arms were crossed over her substantial chest, and she didn t look like
she wanted any part of whatever I was selling.
Something Secret This Way Comes
It hadn t occurred to me on the walk here I would need any kind of a backstory. Foolishly, I had
hoped the prostitutes would see me as one of their ranks and accept me into their questionable sisterhood.
Then they would immediately start talking about the vampires who had taken others of their kind, giving
me the answers I needed so I could call it a night. I could be such a dumb blonde sometimes.
Uhh.
Park Avenue is da other way, girly. You a long way from da escort services of da Upper East Side,
ya know? This was from the black girl as she exhaled her ornamental smoke in my face.
The skinny white girl laughed but said nothing. It was clear she was the minority here and she knew
it.
The big girl took a hard look at me and snorted. You think you can come here? You think your pretty
blonde hair gonna make us say oh, Blondie, you can be one of us? Hmm? You lost on your way to a strip
club? Whatdafuckyouwant.
What I wanted was to give her a good reason to shove her attitude right up her ass before I did it for
her. These girls were treating me with the same disdain young vampires did upon hearing my name for the
first time. It pissed me off, but in her case she had a reason to look down on me.
A line of tears shone in my eyes, turning them into wide, wet orbs of sorrow. I was working a few
blocks east. Last week this girl on my corner got into a car. She never came back and they found her in the
park all ripped up. My voice trembled convincingly. The Oscar goes to&
They looked unmoved, but I saw the two leaner Latinas bobbing their heads in enthusiastic
agreement.
Yolanda, like what happened wit Cleo, yeah? The black girl was silenced with a raised hand from
the larger girl. She was clearly the leader.
Yolanda s eyes narrowed, and she assessed me more seriously now. Whatchyourname, girl?
Brigit. I used the name at the forefront of my mind after meeting with Mercedes.
Brigit. Sounds like a fucking cheerleader.
The other girls laughed for a second before they settled into observant silence. In the darkness near
the river, at least one vampire was watching the whole exchange. Holden s presence covered me like a thin,
protective blanket. Thinking of Holden brought another vampire to mind. I wondered what Sig would think
of this if he knew it was a result of the assignment he d given me. I thought he might get more than a little
pleasure out of my current situation. Doubtless, Holden would let him know about tonight s antics.
A car drove by and slowed, and I became the girls last concern. I hung back, and the five of them
launched into a well-oiled chorus of, Hey, baby! How you doin , honey? You need a date? I ll show you a
real good time. The whole thing made me queasy.
www.samhainpublishing.com 109
Sierra Dean
I was expecting him to pick one of the thin, prettier Latina girls, but to my surprise large, bland-faced
Yolanda was chosen by the john. I craned my neck to get a better view of him, but the guy looked like any
other hard-up, middle-aged schmuck who could only get pussy on a street corner.
The other four returned to huddle near me and gawked at me like I was a zoo display. They said
nothing, just blew clouds of smoke in my face. I was willing to bet none of these girls were older than [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl chiara76.opx.pl
were smoking, and a permanent cloud lingered over their heads. Three were Latina with hair styled in
dramatic braided rows and perms. One was a black girl with her hair in a misguided weave that appeared
unnatural and uncomfortable. The look on her face was somewhere between exhaustion and ennui, and her
lip jutted out in a pout. She wasn t inhaling any of the smoke from her Pal Mal. She just sucked it in and
blew it back out, not taking any time to let it linger in her mouth. Her shirt had a silver tiger on it. The
remaining prostitute was the skinniest white girl I d ever seen. She had pale skin wrapped like cellophane
around her jumble of elbows, knees and jutting bones. These girls had seen monsters that had nothing to do
with my line of work. I felt guilty that some of the creatures of my world had crossed into theirs. They had
it bad enough without vampires using them as a source of fast food.
As I approached I was thankful my internal temperature protected me from the bitter spring chill. The
possibility of a late-spring snow was an unspoken promise on a night like this. I sidled up to them
cautiously, my head bowed like a submissive puppy.
Whatchuwant, you? the largest of the girls asked. She was six inches taller than me and had to
weigh over two hundred pounds. Her arms were crossed over her substantial chest, and she didn t look like
she wanted any part of whatever I was selling.
Something Secret This Way Comes
It hadn t occurred to me on the walk here I would need any kind of a backstory. Foolishly, I had
hoped the prostitutes would see me as one of their ranks and accept me into their questionable sisterhood.
Then they would immediately start talking about the vampires who had taken others of their kind, giving
me the answers I needed so I could call it a night. I could be such a dumb blonde sometimes.
Uhh.
Park Avenue is da other way, girly. You a long way from da escort services of da Upper East Side,
ya know? This was from the black girl as she exhaled her ornamental smoke in my face.
The skinny white girl laughed but said nothing. It was clear she was the minority here and she knew
it.
The big girl took a hard look at me and snorted. You think you can come here? You think your pretty
blonde hair gonna make us say oh, Blondie, you can be one of us? Hmm? You lost on your way to a strip
club? Whatdafuckyouwant.
What I wanted was to give her a good reason to shove her attitude right up her ass before I did it for
her. These girls were treating me with the same disdain young vampires did upon hearing my name for the
first time. It pissed me off, but in her case she had a reason to look down on me.
A line of tears shone in my eyes, turning them into wide, wet orbs of sorrow. I was working a few
blocks east. Last week this girl on my corner got into a car. She never came back and they found her in the
park all ripped up. My voice trembled convincingly. The Oscar goes to&
They looked unmoved, but I saw the two leaner Latinas bobbing their heads in enthusiastic
agreement.
Yolanda, like what happened wit Cleo, yeah? The black girl was silenced with a raised hand from
the larger girl. She was clearly the leader.
Yolanda s eyes narrowed, and she assessed me more seriously now. Whatchyourname, girl?
Brigit. I used the name at the forefront of my mind after meeting with Mercedes.
Brigit. Sounds like a fucking cheerleader.
The other girls laughed for a second before they settled into observant silence. In the darkness near
the river, at least one vampire was watching the whole exchange. Holden s presence covered me like a thin,
protective blanket. Thinking of Holden brought another vampire to mind. I wondered what Sig would think
of this if he knew it was a result of the assignment he d given me. I thought he might get more than a little
pleasure out of my current situation. Doubtless, Holden would let him know about tonight s antics.
A car drove by and slowed, and I became the girls last concern. I hung back, and the five of them
launched into a well-oiled chorus of, Hey, baby! How you doin , honey? You need a date? I ll show you a
real good time. The whole thing made me queasy.
www.samhainpublishing.com 109
Sierra Dean
I was expecting him to pick one of the thin, prettier Latina girls, but to my surprise large, bland-faced
Yolanda was chosen by the john. I craned my neck to get a better view of him, but the guy looked like any
other hard-up, middle-aged schmuck who could only get pussy on a street corner.
The other four returned to huddle near me and gawked at me like I was a zoo display. They said
nothing, just blew clouds of smoke in my face. I was willing to bet none of these girls were older than [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]