Read Online Death Deceives: Book Three (Mortis Vampire Series) by J.C. Diem - Free Book Online Page B

register. He hunted through a drawer for some keys as Gregor picked up the pen.
    We each used a fake name on the register then took the keys and headed upstairs. The room Luc entered was even mustier than it was downstairs. I picked up a pillow, smacked it hard and watched generations of dust fall to the floor. “What a crap hole,” I muttered sulkily.
    “Would you prefer to sleep in the trunk of our car?” Luc asked me.
    “It would probably be cleaner than this place,” was my snide response.
    We took a shower together and the hot water cut off before my dark companion could get any ideas about jumping me. From the tortured groaning of the pipes, the plumbing was even more ancient than the carpet.
    It was Luc’s turn to stay awake again. Once the sun made its appearance and we were sure our friends were asleep, we used the opportunity to engage in a bout of sexual gymnastics. Keeping the human in mind, I tried not to make too much noise.
    Muffling a groan of pain as I snapped his spine, Luc rolled off me onto the dusty carpet. The bed would have collapsed if we’d tried to utilize it for this purpose. “Sorry,” I said as his bones began to repair themselves.
    Sending me a wry smile, Luc levered himself to his feet and held his hand out to help me up. “You should never apologize for giving me such pleasure, Natalie.”
    “I just can’t seem to stop myself from hurting you.” While I loved having sex with Luc, I hated causing him pain.
    Guilt and sadness crossed his face fleetingly. “It is no more than I deserve after what I did to you.”
    We both knew he was talking about the time he’d cut my head off. “That wasn’t your fault, Luc. The praying mantis is to blame for that and, believe me, she is going to pay.” I’d never been all that devoted to keeping my promises before but this was one I wasn’t going to shirk.
    Amused by my nickname for his maker, Luc kissed me on the temple and handed me my shirt. “You should try to get some rest.”
    I shivered at a cold draught of air that crept in through a crack in the wall. Sparks flared in the fireplace when the breeze reached it. Despite the flames, the room was still too chilly for me. Putting the t-shirt back on, I flicked as much dust off the covers as was possible and turned the pillow over. It was far cleaner on the other side. Since I didn’t need to breathe, the dust couldn’t get up my nose and make me sneeze. As I fell asleep, I realized I actually missed some of my former bodily functions. I hadn’t sneezed once since the night I’d died and had been reborn as the undead.
    Waking the next night, I sent out my senses and was disturbed to find that one of the small packs of vampires heading for the cavern of doom had almost caught up to us. I advised the others of this as we left the inn and headed to our cars.
    Gregor had an answer for how they had managed to close the distance between us. “They must have a human slave to transport them during the day.” It seemed obvious after he pointed that out.
    “I’ve been thinking,” Geordie said timidly. We all turned to look at him and he hunched his thin shoulders at our stares. Apart from me, he was the youngest in vampire years and usually had little input into our strategy or discussions. Given his mischievous nature, none of us tended to take him very seriously.
    “What have you been thinking? ” Gregor asked with a touch of indulgence in his tone.
    Unaccustomedly serious, Geordie was expecting ridicule but took a cha nce and voiced his opinion anyway. “What if not all of our kin in these small groups are possessed? What if they’re just being forced to join the First?”
    “What difference does it make?” Igor said in response. “As soon as they reach the First, they will be lost and will become our enemies anyway.”
    Nodding excitedly, Geordie was almost dancing on the spot. “That is my point exactly! Shouldn’t we try to help the unpossessed ones escape before they are