All Hallows Eve: A Krewe of Hunters Novella (1001 Dark Nights) by Heather Graham Read Free Book Online Page B

a distance, as if they were formed of fiery red-gold, burning like the flames of hell.
     

Chapter 4
    Sam knew that they often dealt with terrible things. That was the occupation he and Jenna had both chosen. Partly because of their “gifts,” and partly because they wanted to make a difference. But this situation seemed more personal. He’d intended to give Jenna all the space she needed. But alone, in the darkness of their room at Uncle Jamie’s, she turned to him with a sweet and urgent passion. The warmth of her naked body next to his, flesh against flesh, and the fever that seemed to burn in her became electric. No words, just her moving against him, touching, a feather-light caress at first, then a passionate love, both tender and urgent. He held her afterward, naked and slaked against him, and he thought that they both would sleep well.
    Home was wonderful.
    But home was also a place where nightmares could be rekindled.
    He didn’t want her facing any demons in her mind. But that night Sam was the one to dream. He saw something coming toward them out of a strange and misty darkness. Red, with shimmering golden eyes that seemed to burn with evil.
    Then he realized that the thing wasn’t coming at him.
    He wasn’t next to Jenna anymore. She was some distance away, sleeping, laid out on the bed, eyes closed, a half smile on her face.
    And the thing was going for her.
    He tried to run, to block the horrible menace from reaching the woman he loved. No matter how hard he tried, he was slowed down by the thick red mist.
    The thing was now on Jenna, leaning over her, stiffening, inhaling, as if prepared to suck the life from her. The red mist became thicker and thicker. He realized he was fighting, straining, trying so hard to reach her. But it was no longer red mist that held him back. Instead, the barrier had become a sea of blood.
    He woke with a start.
    Morning.
    His phone ringing.
    An aura of fear stayed with him and he fought it; reaching for the phone and checking on Jenna, who was just beginning to rouse.
    Jackson was calling. The right people had talked to the right people, and the FBI had been officially asked into the investigation. While suicide in the death of John Bradbury was a valid theory, the media had gone wild over the whole situation. Whispers of foul play ran rampant. He thanked Jackson for the assist and hung up.
    “That’s perfect,” Jenna said, when he explained the call.
    “I have to get to the autopsy,” he told her.
    “And I’ll head to the mortuary.”
    “Maybe you should come with me,” he said, recalling some of the dream.
    “Don’t be silly. We need to move fast on this. There are so many people we’re going to have to interview, so much we have to find out. We have to divide the load. I know the mortuary, but we need to know the layout, how someone might have gotten in. That can only come from a visit.”
    She was right and he knew it.
    He still didn’t want to be away from her.
    “Devin and Rocky will be here—”
    “We can’t wait on them,” she said, frowning then smiling. “Sam, I’m a good agent. I was an agent before you were an agent, remember? I’ll be careful. I promise.”
    He hesitated. “I had a nightmare,” he said.
    “You did?”
    “A boo-hag was after you.”
    She smiled. “Sam, boo-hags aren’t real.”
    “The one in the street was real. So we have to watch out.”
    “I swear, I’ll be careful.”
    “Maybe—”
    “Sam, I’m good at what I do. And when you’re back from the autopsy, we’ll meet up and go together from there.”
    He rose.
    She was already up, heading to the shower. He started to follow her. She laughed, paused, and told him, “No time for that. I’ll be right out. We need to move this morning.”
    “So you think you’re that irresistible?” he asked her.
    She grinned. “In a shower, you’re irresistible.”
    And she closed the door on him.
    “Nice lip service,” he told her through the door.
    “Lip service is