Dead Over Heels by MaryJanice Davidson Read Free Book Online Page A

day, like my guardians.”
    “But-but . . .” There were things wrong with this scenario, right? Then why couldn’t I think of any?
    “But don’t you want a normal life?” Jessica asked. “I bet a looker like you would get adopted in about five seconds.”
    “And go live in the suburbs and attend public school and do chores for an allowance and fight with siblings?” The child rolled her eyes. “When I’m living in the greatest city in the world, with no bedtime, brilliant tutors, and thirty parents who watch out for me? Not to mention twenty-four-hour room service?”
    “You’ve got us there,” I admitted. “What’s your name?”
    “Bernadette, but everybody calls me Bernie.”
    “Well, Bernie, I guess I’m one of your guardians now, too. See, I’m the vampire queen.”
    Bernie blinked, then started to laugh. She actually rolled around on the steps, she was laughing so hard.
    “It’s not that ludicrous,” I mumbled.
    “It really kind of is,” Jessica whispered back.
    “You! Oh! Oh, not you! It’s not you! You’re not the queen!”
    I stomped my bare foot and realized anew I was wearing nothing but a hotel robe. “I am, too!”
    “What is going on here?” Sinclair said, startling me badly. I’d never heard him come up behind me.
    “Hey, it’s her!” Nick said happily, coming up on Jessica’s left. “And she’s okay!”
    “Who is ‘her’?” Sinclair asked icily. I guess he was still pissed about the tantrum I’d thrown in the alley. Well, I’d make it up to him later.
    “This is Bernie, the kid I was telling you about. But she’s safe!”
    “That,” Sinclair said, “is no child.”
    Bernie abruptly quit laughing. “Now him,” she said to me, smiling prettily, “he’s the king, yes. I can believe that. They told me you were young, but there is no way in hell you killed Nostro and Marjorie. You spent the evening shoe shopping!” She looked at Jessica. “And it’s not you, either. You’re just a human. So where is she? Where’s the real queen?”
    “Wh-what are you talking about?”
    “You’re making a fatal mistake, Bernie, and you won’t be the first to underestimate The One.”
    The kid scowled. “Oh, hush up, Vampire King. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “Your greed—and your bite marks—gave you away,” Sinclair informed the kid. “Too narrow for an adult vampire.”
    I whirled on him. “You knew a kid was doing this?”
    “I suspected. The second victim confirmed it. Really, Bernie. Five bites? It’s a wonder you haven’t been caught before.”
    “The staff,” Jessica rasped, then cleared her throat. “The staff protects her.”
    Bernie stood, so quickly it was like she teleported to her feet. “The staff fears me,” she said, “as should you. Now get out of my hotel.”
    And with that, she turned and bounded up the steps into the Grange Hotel.
    We all stared at each other, and then I broke the silence with an unoriginal, but heartfelt, “Get that little bitch!”
    And up the steps we went.

Chapter 18
    W e chased her through the lobby and across the lounge, around tables like a crazy game of tag. Which I’m betting Bernie thought this was. The staff and guests stared at us, or ignored us—I guess the true (human) New Yorkers were the ones who were ignoring us.
    “Help me!” Bernie shrieked as we closed the distance (we had adult legs, after all). “They’re going to kill me!”
    I didn’t dare look back to see if anyone was coming to the rescue; Bernie had proved before that she could disappear like a rabbit in a hat. I had no intention of taking my gaze off her.
    Then, in a case of truly awful timing, the elevator dinged, the doors slid open, and a family of four stepped out. W ho the hell goes sightseeing at midnight? Quick as thought, Bernie snatched the toddler right out of his stroller, holding him up by his neck. The parents didn’t even have time to scream before the doors slid closed and she was gone.
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