Read Online Jane Goes Batty by Michael Thomas Ford - Free Book Online Page B

a gold digger,” she said.
    “Precisely,” said Jane. “But Walter hasn’t any money to speak of, and at any rate I have more than enough of my own. I certainly don’t need his.”
    “My guess is that she’s just trying to put a scare into you,” said Lucy, sipping her wine. “You know what you should do?”
    Jane shook her head.
    “Bite her,” Lucy said.
    “I’m tempted,” Jane said. “What a horrible woman.”
    “I’m serious,” said Lucy. “Didn’t you tell me that feeding on people can make them more susceptible to your charms?”
    “Well, yes,” Jane replied. “In a manner of speaking. But I wouldn’t feel right feeding on Walter’s mother. I think that crosses some sort of line.”
    “What about glamoring her?” Lucy asked.
    Jane shook her head. “Glamors are temporary. I’d have to keep doing it, and that would be exhausting. Besides, truth be told, I’m not terribly good at it. I mean, I can get by, but something like that would take more power than I’ve developed.”
    “Maybe you should sic Byron on her,” Lucy suggested. “I imagine he could glamor anyone.”
    “I’m not so sure of that,” said Jane. “He’s not done very well with Ned.”
    “Ted,” said Lucy.
    “That’s what I meant,” Jane said. “With Ted.”
    “No, he hasn’t,” said Lucy.
    Something in Lucy’s voice caught Jane’s attention. “You know why, don’t you?” she said.
    Lucy shifted uncomfortably. “No,” she said defensively. “Why would I know anything?”
    “You
do
!” Jane insisted. “Out with it.”
    Lucy sighed. “All right,” she said. “But you can’t say
anything
to Byron. It will hurt his feelings.”
    “You’re assuming he has any,” Jane said.
    “Be nice,” Lucy told her. “I think he’s behaved rather well, all things considered. He hasn’t hit on me once since our battle with Our Gloomy Friend.”
    “Anyway,” said Jane, waving her hand dismissively. “What do you know?”
    “Well,” Lucy said. “Apparently Ted isn’t at all attracted to Byron. He thinks he’s too old.”
    “He
is
old,” said Jane. “He’s two hundred and twenty-three.”
    “I mean too old for Ted,” Lucy said. “How old was he when he died? I mean when he turned?”
    “Thirty-six, I think,” said Jane.
    “Is that all?” Lucy said. “I would have guessed early forties.”
    “Eternal life isn’t as easy as it might seem,” Jane remarked.
    “Ted is only twenty-two,” said Lucy. “Those fourteen years make a big difference.”
    “Not after a century or so,” Jane replied. “He’d catch up.” She drank some more wine. “Besides, the way he acts most of the time, Byron might as well be twenty-two.”
    “You sound as if you
want
Ted to be turned,” said Lucy.
    “I suppose I do,” Jane admitted. “Not for Byron’s sake. He’d tire of the boy within a month after he got what he wanted. I’m thinking about the other one. Ned.”
    “What about him?” asked Lucy, tucking her feet under her and leaning against the back of the couch.
    “I hate to see him lose his brother,” Jane explained. “I know what that’s like.”
    “But didn’t you once tell me that you wouldn’t have turned Cassie even if she’d asked you to?” said Lucy.
    Jane nodded. “I did feel that way,” she said. She hesitated. “I don’t know that I do now.”
    “What if
I
wanted you to turn me?” Lucy asked.
    Jane looked at her friend. “I’ve never turned anyone,” she said.
    “That’s not what I asked you,” said Lucy.
    “I know what you asked,” Jane snapped.
    Lucy looked stung. Jane got up, went to the couch, and sat beside her. She took Lucy’s hand. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to sound so angry.”
    “It’s all right,” Lucy told her. “I shouldn’t have asked.”
    “No,” Jane said. “You have every right to ask. You’re my best friend. I suppose that’s why I reacted as I did.”
    “I don’t understand,” said Lucy.
    Jane continued to hold