Blessed Curse - Sandra R. Neeley Page 0,29

out by working non-stop. You should visit with your family since you’re home for a few days. Go have dinner with your grandmother. You’re twenty-one now, go out, blow off some steam, you’re in the right city for some exciting nightlife. But at the very least, rest up before you’re off on your next hunt.”

Solange watched Gillian trying to become less formal with her, assuming she knew what Solange was thinking and feeling. She’d never be at ease with herself. She was so uneasy with herself that she envied those who were at ease with their roles in this world. Solange shook her head. “No. I’m good. Just tell me where I’m off to next.”

“You should take a little time off, make sure you don’t get burned out,” Gillian suggested again.

“I’m fine. I have vengeance to deliver. What have you heard? Where am I going next?”

Gillian sat back in her chair regarding Solange. Finally she decided to tell her the truth. “We don’t know. We haven’t heard anything since you came so close to him in London. I can send you elsewhere, and you’ll be successful no doubt. But these missions won’t be Alastair. At least not until we pick up his trail again. They will be other vampires, though.”

“Okay. Where am I going?” Solange asked.

“You’re sure?” Gillian asked.

“Completely,” Solange answered firmly.

Gillian shrugged as if to say, ‘okay then.’ “Italy. Seems several tourists have disappeared over the last month. Interestingly enough, they were all on a tour of the catacombs. Three of them, different days, different tours, but never seen again — alive at least. One of the bodies was found among the ancient dead there. No blood. None at all. Tiny puncture marks on her neck and wrist.”

“I’m in,” Solange said.

“I’ll book you on the next flight. I’ll text you the details.”

“Good deal,” Solange said, getting to her feet.

“Solange, this obituary… I’m sorry that this case is so personal. It had to be a shock coming across this. But it is one of the main reasons we recruited you.”

Solange nodded, glancing down at the familiar photo in the old newspaper. Her heart hurt as she looked down at the photo of her mother, published just above her obituary in the newspaper dated twenty-one years before, the newspaper itself crumpled and smeared with bloody fingerprints.

“It means that he is at least aware of the female he is constantly trying to replace,” Gillian said.

“I know,” Solange answered.

“And it also means that he’s aware of you. You’re listed in this obituary… ‘infant daughter’, it reads.”

Solange nodded.

“Just be careful. He’s missing. He’s gone underground. And he knows you’re out there. Somewhere in his twisted mind, he may decide you belong with him. Keep your guard up.”

“I always do, Gillian. I’ll be waiting for those details,” Solange said quietly.

“Here,” Gillian said, holding the newspaper out for Solange to take. “I’m supposed to catalogue this and keep it in our files. But I think this particular piece belongs to you.”

Solange reached out taking the newspaper from Gillian. She looked down at it, then she offered Gillian a small smile. “Thank you,” she said softly before turning and moving toward the front door on her way out of the office.

Gillian’s voice had her pausing. “I worry about you, Solange. You’re alone all the time. You should make some friends.”

Solange turned at the sound of Gillian’s voice, and found her standing on the mezzanine raised slightly above the ground floor of the reception area. Solange watched Gillian’s face as she waited for Solange to reply. Gillian was sincerely concerned for her. Solange debated opening up about her plans a little later this evening. There was nothing secret about it, but she’d not told anyone, she never did. Her life had always been and still was, a mystery to any who knew her — a need to know basis only type of thing.

“Does it bother you that much, that I care what happens to you?” Gillian asked, when Solange still hadn’t replied, but stood watching her.

Solange shrugged slightly, self-consciously. “I’m not used to it.”

“Makes you wonder what I want from you?” Gillian asked, smirking.

Solange met Gillian’s eyes and smirked right back at her.

“Nothing. That’s exactly what I want from you. Other than your friendship,” Gillian said.

Solange stood silently for a moment longer before deciding to trust Gillian with just a touch of information. “I was supposed to meet Rozlynn later for a drink,” she confessed.

“Rozlynn?” Gillian asked, surprised. Then she nodded. “Makes sense. She’s a lot like you.