Read Online Paint It Black by Nancy A. Collins - Free Book Online

eyebrow.
    'Uh, excuse me, but I'm looking for Mal.'

    'You found him.'

    Judd blinked, confused. 'No, I'm afraid there's been some kind of mistake. The guy I'm looking for is black, with dreadlocks...'

    The man in the bad suit smiled. It was not a pleasant sight
    'Sit down, kid. He'll be with you in just a moment'

    Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer ( http://www.novapdf.com ) Still uncertain of what he was getting himself into, Judd slid into the opposite pew.

    The older man lowered his head, exposing a bald pate, and hunched his shoulders. His fingers and arms began to vibrate, the skin growing darker as if his entire body had become suddenly bruised. There was the sound of dry grass rustling under a high wind and thick, black dreadlocks emerged from his scalp, whipping about like a nest of snakes. Judd was too shocked by the transformation to do anything but stare.

    Mal lifted his head and grinned at Judd, tugging at the collar of his turtleneck. 'Ah, yes. I remember you now. Sonja's renfield.'

    'M-my name's not Renfield.'

    Mal shrugged his indifference. 'So, what brings you here, boychick?'

    'I'm looking for Sonja. I can't find her.'

    'She doesn't want to be found.'

    'I have to find her! I just have to! Before she does something stupid. Kills herself, maybe!'

    Mal regarded the young human for a long moment 'Tell me more.'

    'Something... happened between us. She feels responsible for hurting me. She sent me this letter a few days ago.' Judd fished a folded envelope out of his back pocket and held it out to Mal. 'Here, you read it'

    The demon plucked the letter out of its envelope like a gourmet removing an escargot from its shell. He unfolded the paper, noting the lack of signature and the smears of blood on its edges.

    Judd,

    I can never be forgiven for what was done to you. I was not the one who did those things to you. Please believe that.
    It was her. She is the one that makes me kill and hurt people. Hurt you. I promise I'll never let her hurt anyone, ever again. Especially you. I'm going to do something I should have tried years ago, before she became so strong. So dangerous. So uncontrollable. She's sated right now. Asleep in my head. By the time she becomes aware of what I'm planning to do, it'll be too late. I'm going to kill her. I might end up killing myself in the bargain, but that's a chance I'm willing to take. I won't let her hurt anyone

    Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer ( http://www.novapdf.com ) again, damn her. I love you, Judd. Please believe that. Don't try to find me. Escape while you can.

    'She doesn't understand.' Judd was now close to tears. 'I do forgive her. I love her, damn it! I can't let her die!'

    'You know what she is.' It wasn't a question.
    Judd nodded. 'And I don't care.' 'And why have you come to me?'
    'You know where she is, don't you?'

    Malfeis shifted in his seat, his eyes developing reptilian slits. 'Are you asking me a question?'

    Judd hesitated, recalling Sonja's warning that he should never, under any circumstances, ask Mal a question.

    'Uh, yeah.'

    Mal smiled, displaying shark's teeth. 'Before I respond to any questions put to me, you must pay the price of the answer. Is that understood, boychick?'

    Judd swallowed and nodded.

    'Very well. Tell me your name. All of it.'

    'Michael Judd Rieser. Is that it? That"s all you want? My name?'

    'To know a thing's name gives one power over that thing, my sweet. Didn't they teach you that in school? Come to think of it, I guess not.'

    'What about my question? Do you know where Sonja is?"

    'Yes, I do know.' The demon scrawled an address on the back of the letter Judd had given him. 'You'll find her here.
    She's inside the meat locker on the ground floor.'

    'Meat locker?'

    'I wouldn't open it, if I were you.'

    Judd snatched up the address and slid out of the pew. 'But I'm not you!'

    Malfeis watched Judd hurry out of the bar with an amused grin.