Tainted Blood: A Generation V Novel by M.L. Brennan Read Free Book Online Page B

suicide rates around the lakes where rusalka lived—whether it was a chemical or pheromone they dispersed naturally into the water or something else, it was a fact of their presence. Depression rates would be higher around a rusalka, and suicide clusters common. It made sense, really. The rusalka was native to Russia.
    “That seems like a reasonable request,” I said. “Do you have any preferred destination?”
    “North.” That eerie hair of hers curled tightly, wrapping around her head and shoulders. “The water temperature is getting just a bit too high in the summer. I noticed it the last few years.”
    Somewhere, I thought, some Republican senator had sensed a disturbance in the Force and screamed out that global warming was a myth. “I’ll bring it up with my family and see what we can work out,” I assured her. Northcertainly wouldn’t be a problem—if we were looking for a relatively remote lake, we needed to get her farther away from the cities anyway.
    She dipped lower into the water, her tentacles now completely hidden. “But no Jet Skiers,” the rusalka said darkly.
    “You might have to compromise a little, but I promise that I’ll see what lakes have restrictions.” There had to be some privately owned lakes or lakes in protected areas where the authorities shared the rusalka’s distaste. “Is that sufficient?” I asked as she slid down even farther, until only her shoulders and head were visible. The rusalki were solitary creatures, not known for being great socializers, and I had a feeling that with our business concluded, she was ready to be on her way.
    “Yes. My thanks,” she said. There was a sudden flurry in the water, a swatting of tentacles, and a moment later two fat sunfish were flopping on the argyle blanket between me and Suze, and the rusalka was gone.
    We both stared at the flopping, gasping fish for a second. “Maybe that’s her version of a fruit basket?” I ventured.
    “So tossing them back in is out of the question,” Suze agreed, and made a face. “Your Fiesta doesn’t smell good at the best of times, but this might be a tipping point.”
    Almost three hours of sitting on a windy dock had left me with a desire to get somewhere with heating that was stronger than my inclination to defend the honor of my car, so we stuffed the fish into the deli container and headed back to the Fiesta. We dumped the now very dead fish four streets away, where we hoped they would make some stray cat extremely happy. By mutual decision, we then broke out the smartphones and made a beeline for the nearest pizza place. While the duck gizzards and the rusalka had not been very pleasant, we’d missed lunch and it was now almost four o’clock.
    I couldn’t vouch for Suzume, but I hit up the Purell dispenser in the bathroom with more than usual vigor.
    Once I’d decontaminated myself as much as possible, I settled back into the booth where Suze was already flipping through the menu. She’d taken off her parka for the first time that day and now looked much happier.
    “If we ever have to do that again, I’m doing it on four paws. My winter coat is all grown in now, and I would’ve been much more comfortable.”
    “Plus you could’ve eaten those fish she tossed us,” I noted. “Would’ve saved you the cost of dinner.”
    She looked up from the menu, clearly affronted. “What, I sit on a dock all day with you to visit something that is probably going to give me tentacle-hentai nightmares, and you can’t even spring for half a pizza?”
    When we’d first met, that would’ve had me lunging for my wallet. But I knew Suzume well enough to know how much of her indignation was just an act. “If this is a date, I’ll pay. But if it isn’t, we really should make sure to ask for a split check. You know, so everything’s clear.” I gave her my most agreeable smile, watching her eyes narrow.
    “So your argument here is that I should date you to get some free food?”
    “I’m just