Endless Night by R. M. Gilmore Read Free Book Online Page B

first hour in the city. Way to go,” Cyrus paced around me as he spoke.
    “Shit, sorry. I was unaware I was supposed to sit idly by while some little girl accuses me of murder.”
    “She didn’t accuse you, to be accused she’d have to be wrong, or at least presumably wrong. You are a murderer, of sorts. You killed two boys and she knows it.” Tatum, who’d been meandering, with her stupid ginger boyfriend, down the street to meet us, piped in with her two cents.
    “Who asked you?” I turned to glare at my absentee friend. “Maybe if you’d bothered to glance up from that freckled bloodsucker, you could’ve stopped me, but apparently it doesn’t matter what time zone we’re in, you’re still shoved so far up his ass you can taste his haggis.” I stamped my foot against the cracked pavement and moved my vengeance toward the Persian. “And how did she know what’d happened? You’re telling me she’s a psychic? A priestess and psychic? Well, fuck me, eh?” I flapped my arms at my sides unattractively and let out an even less attractive huff.
    “You’re the idiot that went into a voodoo shop in New Orleans,” Tatum shrugged her shoulders as if she were talking about washing a red sock with the whites. She didn’t even acknowledge my blatant attack on her and her new found relationship. No big deal. “Why the hell did you go in there in the first place? I never knew mysticism was your thing.” She turned her head coyly as her retarded boyfriend kissed her neck.
    “Are you on drugs?” I asked without expecting an answer; Cyrus laughed. “I don’t know why I went in. I’m in fucking New Orleans! What else is there? Ghost tours, voodoo, and apparently red headed vampire boys who can’t stop sucking face with my friend.” No response. “Jesus, I saw the sign. I liked the symbols. Besides, I’d do pretty much anything to get away from this bullshit .” I lifted my hand and used all my fingers at once to point in the direction of the disgusting show of public affection.
    No response. I’d followed Tatum halfway across the country taking her at her word that all she wanted was to spend time with me. To ensure I had fun. To pull me out of the gun-toting funk I’d slipped into since becoming a murderess and full-time author. I’d been with them just over seven hours, including the flight, and all I’d seen of her is the side of her face as it was suctioned tightly to the face of Vlad the Ginger Kid. I had half a mind to pack my shit and head right back to my dungeon.
    “Darling, please make better choices in the future. I’d hate to see you lose that pretty head of yours.” Cyrus took his strong hands and held my face gently between them. I felt instant calm wash over me. Warm hands and pretty green eyes had that effect on people.
    Maybe I can stay for the weekend.
    I let out a short laugh, “Ironically, that comment just may come to fruition if I keep hanging with the likes of you.” Cyrus gave me an inquisitive look, “Oh, I got a call from Mike.” The look changed to disdain. “Told me to be safe. Another headless corpse popped up in Texas. Making eight including Reggie. Staked, hands bound with hair, all girls, all affiliated with the vampire subculture.” I don’t know what came over me to explain all this to the likes of Cyrus Atossa, but it all just spilled out.
    “Ah, I remember this girl. This is the journalist I met at Macabre Saturnine so many months ago. This is the girl who’s all business; out for the story. I’d think the headless girls would make a better tale than a little vampire party.” He was right. I just didn’t have it in me to see more death. At least not for a while.
    “No, no more true crime. I’m here for the fiction and the free trip. Although, after that encounter, I may start researching magic and mystics .” A familiar smile spread across my face. It was the smile of horrible ideas fermenting in my ever working mind.
    “Embracing the occult I see. I