Vampire Hunter D: Pale Fallen Angel Parts Three and Four Read Free Book Online Page A

she fought to restrain the girl’s wildly thrashing hands and feet.
    What was it she feared?
    On the far side of the big desk sat Fisher Lagoon’s massive form, the giant looking on with clear amusement but not moving a muscle. It was only when Zanus took both girls by the scruff of the neck and dragged them back to their chairs that any emotion stirred in the giant’s face, which had the same dark sheen as worn leather.
    â€œKnock it off,” he said in a voice that somehow called to mind the growl of a carnivore.
    â€œThese little bitches are out of line,” Zanus said, putting his hands on the shoulders of both. His fingers didn’t exactly sink into them, but neither May nor Taki could move in the least. “Mister Lagoon, let’s forget the whole deal. The only thing that’s gonna satisfy me now is to hang the two of them from Madison Bridge.”
    â€œSorry, but since we’ve already set the price, they’re my property now. Get your hands off them. Now, take this and go, will you?”
    A thin gold bar was placed on the table.
    â€œNo, save it. I wanna make these bitches listen to their own necks snapping.”
    â€œZanus,” the giant said, his eye vested with a terrible gleam.
    But Zanus didn’t respond at all. “You ready to see your whole place wrecked on account of these two?” he asked in a soft tone.
    Smiling thinly, the giant remarked, “Vlad would be heartbroken, I’m sure. Over the loss of such a good subordinate, that is.”
    â€œFine,” Zanus replied, letting his white teeth show. “Show me a little more sincerity, then.”
    The giant’s hand slid across the tabletop, and three more bars of gold appeared.
    â€œThank you. That’s what I’d expect from the owner of a place like this. You really know your way around. Well, they’re all yours, then.”
    Taking his hands off the girls’ shoulders and collecting his bars of gold, Zanus then departed in high spirits.
    Now left alone with the giant—Fisher Lagoon—Taki and May remained frozen in their seats. Ordinarily, the act of taking the two of them from Zanus should have lent him some humanity or perhaps earned him some gratitude, but as he sat there before them, the intensity that radiated from him in some ways surpassed that of Zanus.
    â€œWe were tricked, you know. Let us go,” Taki said.
    Without changing his expression in the least, he declared gravely, “I paid more for you two than I intended. And you’ll have to work it off. We get all kinds of folks here. Out of them all, we’ll give you the kind of clients new girls have the hardest time with to get you used to the work.”
    Running his eyes over the list of names on a screen set in his desk, he said, “Tonight, it’ll be—oh, is that Mister ‘Porky’ I see? And then there’s—”
    Here his breath escaped him. On their first day, the two “new girls” got to see something rarely witnessed by anyone: a look of fear on Fisher Lagoon.
    -
    III
    -
    When D and the baron arrived, the village was dissolving into the twilight. However, it was bright. Blindingly so. Along the streets, torches and atomic lamps glowed warmly, while tables and chairs were set out haphazardly where the people could while away their time with steins of beer and monster chess and pleasant conversation. Though the yard of each and every house had its gate closed, light still spilled from the windows, while at bars, restaurants, and even the general store—anyplace one might get a drink—every door remained open, ready to welcome all guests. The sad strains of a gypsy violin rang in the baron’s ears as he sat in the driver’s seat, while fireworks tossed by children exploded in a rainbow of colors around the feet of the mounted D. When the baron and D were spotted, it came as little surprise that folks’ expressions changed and the street