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Authors: Eve Vaughn
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Something definitely wasn’t right. And why did she sound so
scared? Somehow, despite appearances, Constantine knew she was telling him the truth, but so had the gallery manager when the man had told him and Aries that Stella was the dealer for S.E.D’s art. How could both people be stating the truth and yet contradict each other?
He gently placed his hands on either side of her head and closed his eyes. Touching her mind with his, he delved into her psyche, shocked by what he found. No wonder Stella denied knowing S.E.D – there were large chucks of memory missing. A strong force jolted through him, pushing him back from her mind.
38 Eve Vaughn
Clearly, someone had gotten to the dealer first; Constantine couldn’t proceed further into her mind or it would kill her. From what he’d picked up, this could only be the work of a wizard or witch.
Why would they do this to a human, and why erase her memory like this? Judging
from Stella’s fear, they’d left an indelible impression on the woman, even though she couldn’t quite remember why.
“Enjoy your frozen dinner tonight, Stella. When you get home, take a bubble bath and relax.”
She nodded. “Yes. That’s what I’ll do.”
“And, Stella, this is your last cigarette.”
“My last cigarette. I was just thinking of quitting,” she agreed amiably.
Constantine packed her off in a taxi and watched it drive away as he tried to make
sense of what had just happened.
Aries approached him on the sidewalk. Incredibly, his cousin must have found some
place to park the big car. “So, did you find out anything?”
“Not only did I not find what I wanted, but something strange is going on.”
“What do you mean?”
“Parts of Stella’s memory have been wiped; I suspect those were the areas that contained what I need to find the person we seek.”
“Wizard or vampire?”
“Wizard.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Her subconscious remembers something happening but doesn’t know what.”
“I see what you mean. She wouldn’t remember anything at all if it were a vampire, but he or she could have been sloppy about it.”
“It’s possible, but I didn’t get that impression. And it happened recently. I have the feeling there’s something very extraordinary about this artist.” The shrill ringing of his phone interrupted his thoughts. “Constantine here.”
“Constantine! It’s Sarah. Please help me!” she whispered desperately on the other end.
A loud crash followed before the line went dead.
Kyriakis 1: Kyriakis Curse
39
Chapter Five
Paris glanced at his platinum, diamond-encrusted Patek Phillippe watch for the third time since he’d sat down. His companion was very late; perhaps he had forgotten their semi-annual lunch meeting. On the verge of pulling out his cell phone, Paris saw his friend enter the restaurant.
An amused smile tugged at the corners of his lips as the other man walked through the restaurant, drawing the stares of every single woman in the room.
“You’re late,” Paris chided softly as Dante Grimaldi took the seat across from him. They had been friends since Paris was a cub. At one time, Dante and his brothers had stayed with the Kyriakis pack shortly after the death of the vampires’ parents.
Paris had not yet been born then, but the friendship Dante had formed with his
grandfather Spyros had been extended to Paris’s father as well as to him. The vampire was considered family, and over the years, they’d both helped each other out of sticky situations.
Paris knew they’d continue to be friends until the end of time.
“Yes. I apologize, but it couldn’t be avoided. I had a bit of a family crisis.”
Paris frowned. “Is everything all right?” Now that he had a chance to inspect his friend, something seemed a bit off. As usual Dante was impeccably dressed; like Paris, the vampire wouldn’t dare appear in public in anything but the best. However, the far-off look in those cobalt eyes told him
scared? Somehow, despite appearances, Constantine knew she was telling him the truth, but so had the gallery manager when the man had told him and Aries that Stella was the dealer for S.E.D’s art. How could both people be stating the truth and yet contradict each other?
He gently placed his hands on either side of her head and closed his eyes. Touching her mind with his, he delved into her psyche, shocked by what he found. No wonder Stella denied knowing S.E.D – there were large chucks of memory missing. A strong force jolted through him, pushing him back from her mind.
38 Eve Vaughn
Clearly, someone had gotten to the dealer first; Constantine couldn’t proceed further into her mind or it would kill her. From what he’d picked up, this could only be the work of a wizard or witch.
Why would they do this to a human, and why erase her memory like this? Judging
from Stella’s fear, they’d left an indelible impression on the woman, even though she couldn’t quite remember why.
“Enjoy your frozen dinner tonight, Stella. When you get home, take a bubble bath and relax.”
She nodded. “Yes. That’s what I’ll do.”
“And, Stella, this is your last cigarette.”
“My last cigarette. I was just thinking of quitting,” she agreed amiably.
Constantine packed her off in a taxi and watched it drive away as he tried to make
sense of what had just happened.
Aries approached him on the sidewalk. Incredibly, his cousin must have found some
place to park the big car. “So, did you find out anything?”
“Not only did I not find what I wanted, but something strange is going on.”
“What do you mean?”
“Parts of Stella’s memory have been wiped; I suspect those were the areas that contained what I need to find the person we seek.”
“Wizard or vampire?”
“Wizard.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Her subconscious remembers something happening but doesn’t know what.”
“I see what you mean. She wouldn’t remember anything at all if it were a vampire, but he or she could have been sloppy about it.”
“It’s possible, but I didn’t get that impression. And it happened recently. I have the feeling there’s something very extraordinary about this artist.” The shrill ringing of his phone interrupted his thoughts. “Constantine here.”
“Constantine! It’s Sarah. Please help me!” she whispered desperately on the other end.
A loud crash followed before the line went dead.
Kyriakis 1: Kyriakis Curse
39
Chapter Five
Paris glanced at his platinum, diamond-encrusted Patek Phillippe watch for the third time since he’d sat down. His companion was very late; perhaps he had forgotten their semi-annual lunch meeting. On the verge of pulling out his cell phone, Paris saw his friend enter the restaurant.
An amused smile tugged at the corners of his lips as the other man walked through the restaurant, drawing the stares of every single woman in the room.
“You’re late,” Paris chided softly as Dante Grimaldi took the seat across from him. They had been friends since Paris was a cub. At one time, Dante and his brothers had stayed with the Kyriakis pack shortly after the death of the vampires’ parents.
Paris had not yet been born then, but the friendship Dante had formed with his
grandfather Spyros had been extended to Paris’s father as well as to him. The vampire was considered family, and over the years, they’d both helped each other out of sticky situations.
Paris knew they’d continue to be friends until the end of time.
“Yes. I apologize, but it couldn’t be avoided. I had a bit of a family crisis.”
Paris frowned. “Is everything all right?” Now that he had a chance to inspect his friend, something seemed a bit off. As usual Dante was impeccably dressed; like Paris, the vampire wouldn’t dare appear in public in anything but the best. However, the far-off look in those cobalt eyes told him
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