Four Centuries (Damned and Cursed Book 7) by Glenn Bullion Read Free Book Online

Ligaments popped as his expression took on a look of pain.   Before he could scream Victoria's free hand covered his mouth.   She forced him to his knees, her eyes never leaving his.   The thirty-year-old illusion was gone.
    "I'll be going downstairs now," she said.
    Her manhandling of the security guard went unnoticed, with the dancing and drinking around them.   She gently applied more pressure to his wrist, sending him lower to the ground.   He nodded vigorously.   He would have agreed to anything she said.
    Leaving the man to nurse his wrist, Victoria descended a flight of stairs.   At the bottom was a set of double-doors, with red lighting on both sides.   A professionally-made sign hung above the door.   The Vermilion, in fancy, cursive lettering.
    She expected the doors to be locked, and was surprised when the handles turned without resistance.   She stepped into what reminded her of a doctor's office waiting area, although with much less light.
    Chairs were lined up against the walls.   A water-cooler was in the corner.   The lighting was low, like that of a fancy restaurant.   She wasn't sure of the intended mood.   Relaxing?   Seductive?
    A desk with a computer sat adjacent to another set of double-doors.   Leaning over the desk was a young Asian woman, wearing a short black dress.   She was tidying and cleaning as she hummed a tune.   Her jaw hung open when she saw Victoria.
    "Uh, ma'am," she said.   "I don't think you're supposed to be here."
    The doors shut behind Victoria, and silence replaced the chaos of the club upstairs.   Sound-proof doors and walls.   She was definitely curious, and her ears were thankful for the reprieve.
    "What is this place?"
    The woman stood upright and straightened her dress.   She tried to appear confident, stern.
    "This is a private business," she said.   "I'm sure you paid for the club, upstairs.   Ma'am, really—" Her voice cracked a bit.   "This place is off-limits, without an appointment."
    Victoria nodded, continuing to take in the waiting area.   There were empty picture frames hanging on the walls, serving as placeholders.   She wondered what art they had in mind.
    "I've heard that twice now.   An appointment for what?   How do I make one?"   Her gaze fell on the second set of double-doors.   "What's back there?"
    She walked past the desk and gripped the handle.   A delicate hand fell on her shoulder from the side.   Victoria could feel the young woman trembling.
    "Ma'am—"
    "Stop," Victoria said.   "First of all, please, stop calling me ma'am .   I'm old enough as it is without you adding years.   Now, what's your name?"
    "K-Kate."
    Victoria was tiring of people thinking they could touch her, bully the petite, tiny redhead.   Unlike her brother, Jack Kursed, she liked to be touched.   But on her own terms, in her own bedroom.
    "It's nice to meet you, Kate.   I can tell you're a sweet person, a little out of your depth here.   Please, take your hand off my shoulder."
    It took everything Kate had not to break down crying.
    "But…I'll lose my job."
    "No you won't.   Don't worry.   I don't want to ruin your beautiful dress, Kate."
    Kate removed her hand, and Victoria pressed forward, past another mortal obstacle.
    She stepped into a long hallway.   It had the same low-lighting theme as the lobby.   On both sides of the hallway were rooms, half the doors closed.   She peered inside one of the open rooms and saw what resembled a hotel room, but not quite.   There was a bed, freshly made, with a couch against the wall.   A dresser with a mirror.   No television, no refrigerator.   She inhaled deeply, and was surprised to pick up the faint scent of blood, along with generic air freshener.
    A door directly at the end of the hall opened.   Out walked two men, one human, one vampire.   The mortal had a radio similar to the door-man.   He whispered a quick thank you .   The man upstairs had done his job, and warned them.
    "Lady,"