Read Online Lady of the Shades by Darren Shan - Free Book Online

but . . . ’ He shrugs. ‘I’ve spoken to a few of my friends who were at Shar’s party, and nobody knows her. I’ve been wondering why I haven’t bumped
into her before. From the way you describe her, she’s hard to miss.’
    ‘She is,’ I sigh, day-dreaming of Deleena in the black dress she wore when we first met. ‘But it’s not odd that your friends don’t know her. She’s a client of
Shar’s. She didn’t know anyone on the boat. That’s why we hooked up — we were the only two who were alone.’
    ‘Still, you have to bring her to see me, Ed. For all I know, she’s one of the ugly sisters.’
    ‘Up yours,’ I retort, and Joe laughs.
    I pour a third shot of rum and ponder my good fortune. A book that’s shaping up nicely. A relationship with a beautiful lady who brings out the best in me. And a good friend. It’s a
far cry from my usual lonely, passionless life. For years I’ve limped along, nursing grudges, bitter at the world for what it did to me, haunted by my ghosts, desperately searching for proof
that the spirits are real, that I’m not insane, struggling to hold on to whatever thin slivers of sanity I can claim to be in possession of. Now I can see light for the first time in ages.
Maybe love will cure me of my ills and banish the spectre of the ghosts. If they’re the product of a disturbed mind, perhaps all I need to make them go away is to find the happiness that I
was sure I’d always be denied.
    I’m not sure what I’ve done to merit this good fortune, but I’m determined to appreciate it for as long as it lasts, and if the fates are kind, who knows, it might just last
for ever.
    Another night in the company of the delectable Deleena. She takes me to a busy little restaurant overlooking the Thames. I tell her about my conversation with Joe. She laughs
and says to bring him along any time. I propose heading out to the countryside for a weekend away, all three of us, but she isn’t warm on that idea.
    ‘Work’s even busier than usual. I could be summoned without notice any day, even a Saturday or Sunday. I don’t fancy having to cut short a break and drive all the way
back.’
    ‘I thought slavery had been abolished,’ I scowl. ‘Surely you can ask for a Sunday off?’
    ‘Of course I can. But there’s a post opening up shortly and I’m in with a chance of bagging it. That would mean more income, more security and –’ she leans over to
playfully stroke my nose – ‘longer holidays. Three of us are in the running and we’ve been working flat out to impress our lords and masters. A plea for personal time now and I
might as well forfeit. So, sorry, but . . . ’ She shrugs prettily.
    We move on to the subject of the book and I tell her how it’s progressing.
    ‘Have you interviewed any more mediums?’ she asks.
    ‘Not this week.’
    ‘Did you look up Etienne?’ She’s referring to Etienne Anders, a medium she recommended.
    ‘I rang her a few times. She was engaged once and I got her voicemail the other times. I hate leaving messages, so I hung up.’
    ‘Do you still have her card?’ Deleena presses, and I nod. ‘You should ring her. I told her you’d get in touch. She’s really good, Ed. I’ve been to lots of
mediums over the years and she’s the only one who genuinely impressed me.’
    ‘I’ll contact her, I promise, but at the moment I’m exploring other angles. If you want, I can cancel a few things, swing by tomorrow.’
    ‘No,’ she smiles, laying a hand on mine. ‘You don’t have to go out of your way on my account. I’m trying to help, not interfere. Just hold on to the card and . . .
’ As her eyes wander, she freezes. Her hand goes limp and slides away. Following the direction of her gaze, I spot a table of five middle-aged men, boisterously pulling crabs apart. Deleena
is focused on a man to our left, long grey hair tied back in a ponytail, a heavy tan, immaculately dressed.
    ‘Something wrong?’ I ask.
    ‘No,’ she