Read Online Halfway Bitten by Terry Maggert - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Terry Maggert
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assault the girl. I spoke to her and— ”
“No.” My voice cracked with certainty. “You taunted her; maybe got off on it a little. Then, you lay hands on her in a direct violation of the law, both human and witch. Your simple presence here is causing me some concern, which in turn causes my grandmother to be concerned. You see how this might raise my ire when you deliver virtual grunts for answers to my questions?”
He waited a moment before responding, “I will try to be more elaborate with my answers.”
“Good.” I smiled at him for a flash, then got back to business. “Let’s set the issue of your assault to one side for the moment. Why are you here?”
“Interesting question. No, I’m not dodging you, I’m complementing your observational skills. You didn’t ask me what I am, nor do you seem concerned. That tells me as much about you as you know about me. A sort of unspoken trade, don’t you think?” Philip grinned in the gloom, and I could see the points of his teeth. A vampire, and not young. I’d been right to hold him at arm’s length.
When I stayed silent, he went on. “These are your lands? By what right?”
I gave him a murderous glare, letting my charms clink together in an unspoken message. “What an unwise question, but I’ll answer it.” My voice was dripping frost, but a hot flush was creeping up my cheeks. “I do not claim ownership of these lands. My family claims stewardship, as well as protective status over the residents herein. That would include visitors, like Amy, the young woman you attacked.”
He looked at me, adjusting his opinion. My use of the term family was not accidental. “Before you attack me, allow me to ask . . . am I not a visitor?” He smiled, but it did not reach his eyes.
“You are indeed. But, like a rabid animal, I have no problem removing you from this place. By force, if necessary. Now, enough dancing. I don’t want to waste time asking you a litany of questions; I’d rather you simply tell me who you are—in detail—and why you are here. We’ll address the issue of your behavior momentarily.”
Philip lifted his palms and grinned. “That’s not unfair.” He exhaled, looking up into the sky. “I’ve travelled some distance in order to lay claim to something which has been taken from me. It is—I cannot call it an object; it’s much more complicated than that. Do you understand the power structure of vampire clans?”
I nodded slowly. “Somewhat. Whose clan do you represent?”
“I am of House Tidewater, but I do not represent them. I am the last member, so in truth, I am Tidewater.” The vampire who called himself Philip looked upward again. “I expected the stars to be different, but they are the same cold, distant points.”
“Is this the part where you wax poetic about the mysteries of the universe, charm me with some legend about the stars being souls trapped in heaven, and we forget all about your assault on that girl?” I asked, a smile creeping into my voice. I enjoy folklore, especially when it’s being used as a distraction.
“I may look the part of a savage, but I respect nuclear fusion as a force of creation. No, I enjoy the poetry of lies that we use to describe that which is unknown, but I trust fact over myth,” Philip said with an impudent grin. It made him look young, and I could see an echo of the man who must have been before he was turned.
“A vampire and a skeptic? That’s rare earth, indeed. On a long shot, let me ask if you’re hungry?” I stared at his eyes to see if he reacted to the thought of feeding. If he was in command of his inner lust, then there was another reason for his attack. I intended to understand it before he was done talking.
“Yes.” One word, and his eyes cut away from me in a mix of shame and admission.
“But that isn’t why you attacked the girl, is it?” I said, more statement than question.
He measured me before answering. “True, but what leads you to that
“No.” My voice cracked with certainty. “You taunted her; maybe got off on it a little. Then, you lay hands on her in a direct violation of the law, both human and witch. Your simple presence here is causing me some concern, which in turn causes my grandmother to be concerned. You see how this might raise my ire when you deliver virtual grunts for answers to my questions?”
He waited a moment before responding, “I will try to be more elaborate with my answers.”
“Good.” I smiled at him for a flash, then got back to business. “Let’s set the issue of your assault to one side for the moment. Why are you here?”
“Interesting question. No, I’m not dodging you, I’m complementing your observational skills. You didn’t ask me what I am, nor do you seem concerned. That tells me as much about you as you know about me. A sort of unspoken trade, don’t you think?” Philip grinned in the gloom, and I could see the points of his teeth. A vampire, and not young. I’d been right to hold him at arm’s length.
When I stayed silent, he went on. “These are your lands? By what right?”
I gave him a murderous glare, letting my charms clink together in an unspoken message. “What an unwise question, but I’ll answer it.” My voice was dripping frost, but a hot flush was creeping up my cheeks. “I do not claim ownership of these lands. My family claims stewardship, as well as protective status over the residents herein. That would include visitors, like Amy, the young woman you attacked.”
He looked at me, adjusting his opinion. My use of the term family was not accidental. “Before you attack me, allow me to ask . . . am I not a visitor?” He smiled, but it did not reach his eyes.
“You are indeed. But, like a rabid animal, I have no problem removing you from this place. By force, if necessary. Now, enough dancing. I don’t want to waste time asking you a litany of questions; I’d rather you simply tell me who you are—in detail—and why you are here. We’ll address the issue of your behavior momentarily.”
Philip lifted his palms and grinned. “That’s not unfair.” He exhaled, looking up into the sky. “I’ve travelled some distance in order to lay claim to something which has been taken from me. It is—I cannot call it an object; it’s much more complicated than that. Do you understand the power structure of vampire clans?”
I nodded slowly. “Somewhat. Whose clan do you represent?”
“I am of House Tidewater, but I do not represent them. I am the last member, so in truth, I am Tidewater.” The vampire who called himself Philip looked upward again. “I expected the stars to be different, but they are the same cold, distant points.”
“Is this the part where you wax poetic about the mysteries of the universe, charm me with some legend about the stars being souls trapped in heaven, and we forget all about your assault on that girl?” I asked, a smile creeping into my voice. I enjoy folklore, especially when it’s being used as a distraction.
“I may look the part of a savage, but I respect nuclear fusion as a force of creation. No, I enjoy the poetry of lies that we use to describe that which is unknown, but I trust fact over myth,” Philip said with an impudent grin. It made him look young, and I could see an echo of the man who must have been before he was turned.
“A vampire and a skeptic? That’s rare earth, indeed. On a long shot, let me ask if you’re hungry?” I stared at his eyes to see if he reacted to the thought of feeding. If he was in command of his inner lust, then there was another reason for his attack. I intended to understand it before he was done talking.
“Yes.” One word, and his eyes cut away from me in a mix of shame and admission.
“But that isn’t why you attacked the girl, is it?” I said, more statement than question.
He measured me before answering. “True, but what leads you to that
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