Author: catstark

From The Grey House:

Keith closed his eyes. “I was caught up in the moment.”

“Your excuse is that everyone else was doing it?” He shook his head and made a disapproving noise.

“I felt if I didn’t-”

“Save your excuses. I don’t care to hear your lies.” Vincent squatted down, bringing him face to face with his child. “Why did he give you money?”

Keith hung his head again. “To buy women.”

“No, Keith. What did you give him in return?”

Keith sank lower to the ground. His answer was barely a whisper. “The name of your favorite human at The Red Thread.”

From The Grey House:

She sighed. “I don’t know who else. It was after I found out how crazy this world really was. I freed a werewolf when I was trapped in a Slayer’s house. Charlie was human and in a cage. He asked for my help. I freed him. He turned Blitzkreig and killed the Slayer. I used alcohol to bury the memory. Woke up one day with a vampire bite on my wrist. I knew then that I had to change my ways or lose myself completely.”

He gazed at her, intrigued. He did not know this story. “One day, you will tell me all your stories.”

Natalia was surprised by the amount of interest in his eyes. He wanted to know more about her. She smiled. “Yes. Will you tell me yours?”

“I have been alive for a long time, Natalia. I don’t remember all of them.” Some he simply did not want to remember.

“Will you tell me what you can remember?”

“Yes.”

From The Grey House:

Vincent was bored and was progressing beyond bored into highly annoyed. The Red Thread was his club. Yet, there was Edwin, waltzing into the room with his bodyguards as if he owned the place. He had five bodyguards shadowing him and another ten arrayed about the room. The bodyguards, both men and women, were of all different walks of life. The younger vampire was like a plague in Vincent’s club. Too many of Edwin’s people felt they could act and dress as they pleased, even at a social affair. Most of the bodyguards were dressed in ripped jeans and dirty t-shirts.

From The Grey House:

The creatures that only appeared human, were now standing taller than Vincent. At over nine feet tall, they had to hunch in order not to hit their heads on the ceiling. Their clothing ripped, revealing hairy but matted arms and legs. Their most impressive features were their fangs and foot-long claws. Vincent had made a deal with the werewolves of the area. Work for him and he would house them and help to feed their more dangerous appetites. Vincent felt it was better to work with the supernatural population rather than hunt them down. Wars killed humans, which he needed, and brought Slayers, which he didn’t need.

From The Grey House:

Natalia sat in a huddled position, trying to look miserable. Considering she had just left the safety of her lover’s arms for an uncertain reunion with Zechariah, it wasn’t hard to pretend. She shifted until she found a position that allowed her a view of the street. Before long, she saw a maroon minivan with tinted windows pull up and drop off a young man carrying a large backpack. She watched as he went into The Hook Up, trying not to smile. She cringed as her lip split. She didn’t try to smile again.

Natalia sat huddled, wishing she could go to The Hook Up and get some food. She was hungry. The events of the evening had not allowed for nourishment, and the blood loss was adding to her already aching head. She started to breathe deep, trying hard to control the pounding. Part of the headache eased when, about 20 minutes later, Rebecca and the guy with the large backpack came out of The Hook Up. She watched as they climbed into the maroon minivan then watched it drive out of sight. Another similar van appeared at the nearby corner moments later.

From The Grey House:

“Madam, may I have a word with you?” Anthony gave her a small head bow.

“As long as you tell me your name.” Natalia regarded the man, sizing him up. He was not that much taller than she, and not that much wider either. He had darker skin than her, revealing a history of mixed ancestry. It made his green eyes stand out beautifully. His deep auburn hair was swept back, showing his high forehead. He wore a black suit with a gray shirt, and gray handkerchief. He was rather handsome.

From The Grey House:

“I watched as she spoke to ten individuals, yet only half remember talking to her. Interestingly enough, the ones claiming amnesia are some of the most flirtatious of your guests.” Vincent raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “The others stated she asked them questions of the city, like a tourist would ask. I considered talking to her myself, but I wanted you to witness it, in case I forget.”

“What is she doing when she talks to them?”

From The Grey House:

“What?”

She stammered trying to get the words out. Charlie cut her off with a soft voice.

“Look, just go home and forget about this OK? Pretend it’s a bad dream. Whatever it takes, just get out of here.” He turned and left. This time she did not stop him.

Natalia climbed off the cage, gingerly stepping to the floor. She hurt everywhere from puncture holes. She tried not to look at Lucas, but it was the first thing she looked at. There was a large ragged hole where his stomach had been. Intestines and organs protruded from the open wound. Some blood spurted from an open vein and Natalia fainted to the floor.

From The Grey House:

Vincent was sitting back in the seat, both feet planted firmly on the limo’s floor, hands entwined and resting on his legs. He was blocking the only door out. Charlie was seated across from him, feeling very antsy. Joseph was sitting to the side, a briefcase resting in front of his legs, watching him. Charlie got along with Joseph, and admired the vampire for his fighting skills. It was Joseph’s fighting skills that the wolf was now afraid of.

From The Grey House:

Natalia’s breath caught, and her heart was hammering in her chest. Rebecca, close enough to smell the changes, took a step back, an amused look on her face. She snorted, placed the First Aid kit on the desk, threw out the old bandages and headed for the door.

“Don’t scratch her back; she’s badly cut up.” Her hand was on the doorknob.

“And you’re leaving without my permission because?” He was looking at Natalia, who was still standing in her jeans and gauze shirt that covered her torso from breasts to hips. The look in her eye intrigued him. He had to try hard to remember his purpose here.

Rebecca snorted again and stepped out of the room. “Because three’s a crowd.”