Read Online Boys That Bite by Mari Mancusi - Free Book Online Page A

Wow, he seems really nervous. And he's usually so confident. Arrogant even. This Lucifent guy, cute kid or no, must be real powerful in vamp circles. He's like a mafia Godfather or something. "What do you mean, case of mistaken identity?" Lucifent questions in a tight voice. "Well, th-this is Sunshine McDonald," Magnus says, gesturing to me. "And she has a, um, identical twin sister named Rayne." "And I care about their family tree, why?" Magnus swallows hard. "Her twin went through all the training. She was assigned to me as my blood mate." "And?" Lucifent's face has gone quite pink. I think he's finally getting the gist of what Magnus is saying. For king of the vampires, he comes off a bit slow, if you ask me. "And I bit the wrong twin." Magnus admits, dropping his eyes to the floor, his face blazing red with embarrassment. "You what?" Lucifent cries, even angrier now than he was at my laughing. Magnus flinches as if he's been struck. "You bit the wrong person? Someone who didn't sign a release? Who didn't get tested first? Who didn't go through the training?" He slams a tiny fist against the desk and I stifle another giggle. I can't help it, he's just so darn cute. "How could you, Magnus? You worthless bag of bones! You're useless! Why, I should have left you to rot in that Moorish prison. I gave you eternal life. Riches beyond belief. Power beyond a mortal's imagination. And this is how you repay me?" Magnus looks like he wants to crawl under the desk and die. I almost feel bad for him. I mean, hey, I don't like that he screwed this up as much as the next guy, probably more even, seeing as it directly affects me and my life. But still, we all make mistakes. No need for this verbal bashing. I wonder if vampires have unions. Magnus could so report this guy. "Look, dude, it's really not Magnus's fault," I butt in, attempting to defuse some of Lucifent's rage. He definitely has major anger management issues he needs to deal with. "I mean, Rayne and I look exactly identical. Even our mom can't tell us apart." "Shut up, human," Lucifent snarls. Evidently he didn't rise to king of the vampires on the basis of his charm alone. "I am sorry, my lord," Magnus says, bowing low. "I know I made a terrible mistake. And I'm willing to pay the price." "That's good of you. Because you will pay, for certain," Lucifent agrees with a self-satisfied smirk. As if he's enjoying Magnus's distress. Loser. "You will pay well." "You know, assigning blame's all fine and good," I interrupt. "But we need to move on here and get more solution oriented. In six days, I'm told I'll be changing into a vampire, unless this whole thing is reversed. So I'm here to find out how the whole reversal thing works. Tell me that, and I'll be on my merry way." "Anything for that to happen," mutters Lucifent. "Very well, then. I will tell you what you must do."
    9
    Bertha the Vampire Slayer
    So there is a way?" I ask, trying not to get too excited. "The transformation can be reversed?" Lucifent nods. "Indeed," he says. "It's simple, really. All you have to do is—" Suddenly, milliseconds before he can spit out the knowledge that will save me from eternal damnation, warning sirens start going off. They sound like something you'd hear on a Star Trek episode, moments before the Enterprise self-destructs. Or after Homer Simpson does something stupid yet again at the Springfield nuclear power plant. "The perimeter has been breached," a robotic female voice announces, her tone oddly calm and computerized, given her message. "The Slayer has entered the building." Lucifent utters a curse that no Haley Joel look-alike should ever utter, as it's quite disconcerting to anyone in the vicinity. Then he leaps from his desk, his eyes wide with fright. "We've got to get to the safe room!" he cries, running toward the door. "Wait," I call, struggling to be heard over the chaos. "What about turning me back to a human?" "Later!" Magnus says, sounding just as panicked as he grabs my arm