Death Deceives: Book Three (Mortis Vampire Series) by J.C. Diem Read Free Book Online Page B

with sticky, congealed blood. Every single man, woman and child had been slaughtered in their cages. Their pitifully thin bodies held multiple stab wounds. Many were missing limbs and most had claw marks on their abused bodies.
    “Imps did this,” I concluded as the men gathered beside me in front of the nearest cage.
    “How can you tell?” Gregor asked. He eyed the dead calmly enough but I sensed his fury and pity at the fate that had befallen the captives. By his pained expression, he found their living conditions to be as abhorrent as I did.
    “Because some of them have been partially eaten.” I pointed at teeth marks in an arm that had been torn off and dropped to the floor. Vampires drank blood, we didn’t eat meat. That could only mean that our transformed kin were responsible for the slaughter.
    “There’s no point searching through the entire catacombs,” Igor said wearily. “They are too extensive for just the five of us to search effectively. Besides, the courtiers and Councillors are long gone by now.”
    “And we have no way to track them,” Luc said grimly.
    Gregor studied my face, reading me far more easily than I cared for. “Natalie, do you know of a way for us to locate them?”
    “I might, ” was my reluctant reply.
    Luc gave me a long look then gestured to the tunnel entrance. “Let’s head back to the safe house. We can discuss our options there.” I wasn’t about to argue, not when I wanted to get away from the smell so badly. It was bound to linger in my hair and clothes as well as in my memory.
    I took the lead again, more to avoid any questions than because I thought it was necessary. No one was going to attack us here. My senses were on high alert and they were coming up empty. The First had called the entire Court to him and he hadn’t left any nasty surprises for us.
    We had a silent ride back to the safe house and didn’t stop for a quickie this time. Even Luc wasn’t in the mood for it, which was rare. The fact that I was still holding one of my swords might have been a minor deterrent for him. My reflexes were so quick that startling me could end badly for the startler.
    Back in our safe house, I took a seat in the living room and waited for everyone to settle into place before telling them my idea. I felt secure enough to put the sword away. “You know it’s possible for me to sense the imps,” I began. They all nodded. “You also know the First can mask them from me somehow.”
    “Yes, chérie ,” Geordie said and made an impatient gesture. “We all know these things.”
    “ Well, what you don’t know is that I can also sense other vampires.” I ignored their startled looks. “It’s a skill I picked up during my short vacation in the cemetery a few months ago.” Geordie sniggered then cringed at a dark look from Luc.
    “How close do they have to be for you to sense them?” Gregor wanted to know.
    I gave him a shrug. “I don’t know exactly. I’m hoping it will be easier to find a large group.”
    “Is this going to put you in any kind of danger?” Luc demanded.
    “I don’t think so.” How the hell would I know? I didn’t get the Mortis manual when I was turned by Silvius. I hadn’t received any instruction at all from the creature that had created me. Once I’d realized what he was, I’d been too busy trying to kill him to ask him if he had any tips to pass on. The only thing Silvius had taught me was that holy objects had a tendency to make us burst into pretty blue flames when we touched them.
    Gregor sat on the edge of the couch, keen black eyes focussed on me intently. “When were you planning to try this?”
    “There’s no time like the present,” I replied then stood. “It’ll be easier if I do it lying down.” Not being the object of their stares would also be far less of a distraction.
    Geordie bit his lips trying to suppress a laugh at my choice of words. “It usually is, chérie .”
    Rolling my eyes, I headed upstairs. Luc