Read Online After Dark by Nancy A. Collins - Free Book Online Page A

to the brat if I were you, Metzger,” he whispered. “This is far from over.”

CHAPTER 7

    “ T hat’s okay, Edgar!” Cally shouted over her shoulder as she hurried past the butler to answer the buzzer. Having been raised without servants, undead or otherwise, she was far more comfortable doing things herself. “I’ll get it!”
    Edgar stopped in his tracks. “Yes, Miss Cally,” he replied before returning to wherever it was he lurked in between household tasks.
    “Thanks for coming by.” Cally smiled as she opened the door.
    “No problem,” Melinda Mauvais said, looking around as she entered apartment. “Wow! Nice place! But don’t you live in Williamsburg?”
    “Not anymore,” Cally replied vaguely, unwilling to go into any further detail for fear of stirring up emotions best left unseen. “This is where I’m staying now.”
    “My father said something about you being brought before the Synod. Is that true?”
    “Sorta.” Cally shrugged. “But everything worked out okay. Although I don’t think your dad likes me very much.”
    “My dad’s an asshole,” Melinda replied as she flopped down on the living room sofa. “After we got home from the Grand Ball, he gave me this lecture about how he doesn’t want me hanging out with you anymore because you’re half human.”
    “Aren’t you afraid of him getting mad when he finds out you’re still friends with me?” Cally asked.
    “I think my own thoughts and live my own life, thank you very much. But you know that already—you’ve met my friend from Chinatown, remember? Besides, are you worried about your father’s liege lord finding out about the Maledetto sisters?”
    “I see your point,” Cally said with a smile.
    “So, what do you want to do tonight?” Melinda asked. “We could go check out this club I heard about.”
    “I don’t feel like clubbing…. I was thinking we could go to Sister Midnight’s.”
    “I love shopping there!” Melinda exclaimed, her face brightening. “She always stocks the cutest shoes! Are you looking for a new outfit?”
    “Not exactly,” Cally replied. “I want to talk to her about carrying a line of clothes I’ve designed.”
    “Girl, you’re kidding me—right?” Melinda said excitedly.
    “No, I’m being totally straight.” Cally laughed, holding up Sister Midnight’s business card. “She really liked the evening gown I designed for the Grand Ball. See? She gave me this.”
    “Let me see!” Melinda squealed, snatching the embossed card out of her friend’s hand. “ Ooohhh ! This is so great! I can’t believe it!”
    “I just need to get a couple of samples to take with me,” Cally explained.
    “Hurry up and pick something, then!” Melinda said, shooing her friend out of the room.
     

    Unlike stores owned and operated by humans, which had bright lighting designed to show the merchandise off to its best advantage, the interior of Sister Midnight’s resembled a romantically lit restaurant. After all, the select clientele who browsed the aisles all had excellent night vision.
    Cally looked admiringly at the glossy black cabinetry and smoked glass counters of the sales floor, trying to picture one of her creations on the chic mannequin posed before the cosmetics counter.
    An undead salesclerk, her hair pulled up into a fashionably severe bun, stepped forward.
    “Welcome to Sister Midnight’s.” Her gaze dropped down to the garment bag draped over Cally’s arm. “Do you have a return?”
    “No, I’m here to see the owner. She gave me this.” Cally handed the salesclerk the business card she’d shown Melinda.
    “Wait right here. I’ll fetch the mistress.”
    “There’s no need—I’m already here,” Sister Midnight said, stepping out from behind a rack of cashmere dresses. “Cally, my dear!” she exclaimed, opening her arms in welcome. “I heard how you saved Victor Todd from that wretched Christopher Van Helsing! Your father must be so proud of you right now! It is an