“We’ll see,” I said, and left it at that.
My sister didn’t like that answer, but mercifully, let it go.
Although the sun had set an hour ago, the western sky was still aglow with oranges and yellows and reds. I loved that glow. It meant the damnable sun had finally moved on. It meant the worst part of my day—the part just before the sunset—was finally over. It meant I could relax. It meant I could be all that I’m capable of being. It meant I could be who I was meant to be.
A killer.
I shook my head as we jogged. Those words, of course, were not mine. They were hers. The demon that possessed me, although demon wasn’t quite the right word. She had been human once, mortal once. But now, she was so much more.
A highly evolved dark master.
A fancy title, I thought, for a murderous bitch.
Her words appeared in my mind only rarely. But when they did, I always got a jolt, followed by a cold chill. And, trust me, it was damned hard to give a vampire a cold chill. Anyway, I was certain I would never get used to her words in my head.
In fact, I never wanted to get used to her words. Hell, I was doing all that I could to eradicate her from my life, forever.
I get the heebie-jeebies, too, Sam, came Allison’s own distinct voice in my head. A softer voice, and maybe a little nasal.
Nasal? Now that’s just rude.
But true, I thought.
Whatever.
Mary Lou stopped running, although her chest didn’t get the memo. It jiggled and settled for a few long seconds afterward. “You two are doing it again.” My sister might have sounded exasperated.
You are entirely too focused on your sister’s chest, thought Allison.
Quiet, I hissed mentally, I think we’re in trouble. And I’m not focused on her chest. It’s just, well, so big. How can you not focus on it?
“Unbelievable! The two of you are actually still doing it while I’m standing here pissed. I’m going home.”
“Wait, Mary Lou,” I said, grabbing her shoulder. She had turned off the boardwalk and was about to cross some random parking lot. We were at least a mile or so from where our cars were parked. “I’m sorry. Really, I am. Telepathy is just, well, easy. And this one—” I jabbed a finger at Allison “—always seems to be in my mind.”
“Well, you’re always in my mind.”
I ignored her, although we both knew that wasn’t true.
Speak for yourself, she thought.
“Unbelievable,” said Mary Lou. “Please tell me you aren’t still doing it. Please tell me you wouldn’t keep disrespecting me like that.”
She was about to storm off when I caught her elbow. She yanked her arm free—or tried to—and only succeeded in hurting herself. She yelped and I released her. She now stormed down the boardwalk. At least she was going in the right direction. Allison and I watched her go.
“Well,” I said, “what a fine mess you got me into.”
“She’ll be okay,” said Allison.
I sighed. My sister could hold a grudge with the best of them...and she was only now coming out of her shell over the traumatic events of a few months ago. No, she hadn’t seen my husband get killed, hadn’t watched the dagger plunge into his chest, as I had. But she had heard him die. She had heard him scream out...and she had heard his ragged breathing as the blood from the wound had filled his lungs.
Yeah, she had been traumatized, perhaps even for life. I took in a big lungful of worthless air and watched her go, walking as fast as she could away from me.
I sighed again and grabbed Allison. “Let’s catch up to her.”
Chapter Eight
I was alone in my garage.