Page 45 of Black Curtain

“I really amterriblysorry to break up the festivities like this.” The auburn-haired vampire smiled around at us. His glass-like eyes shone empty, devoid of light. “I have ateensyproblem I need fixing, Quentin. It really is quite a pressing thing, critical in every way… and only you and your lovely wife will do. Sadly, it simplycannotwait.”

That’s when I saw them.

A line of beings walked into the room behind him, one by one.

They kept coming.

And coming.

There were too many of them.

There were way, way too many of them.

They didn’t stop coming until they’d filled that whole end of the suite.

Staring around at those bone-white faces, the cracked-crystal eyes, I felt my chest close, my heart stop working. I realized I’d known this, somehow. I’d seen it coming. The bad feeling I had. What Black called my “premonition” not long after we finished saying our vows.

I finally understood what it meant.

Of course, understanding it now didn’t help us at all.

Understanding it now didn’t do jack-squat to help anything.

8

DO SOMETHING

“What do you mean, they left?” Angel stared at the wide-eyed seer, then at the human standing next to her, holding her hand. “Mika. That’s not possible. Black and Miri didn’t just leave on their wedding night. They would never do that.”

Ace nodded vigorously though, gripping Mika’s hand tighter.

“They did, though.” Ace’s Texas twang came out stronger. His voice filled with dense emotion. “They left. I saw it, too, Ange. They were with a whole bunch of––”

“VAMPIRES!” Mika blurted.

Her half-screeched word brought the party to a stop.

The nearby party at least.

Every human and seer in hearing distance froze.

Then they looked over, staring at Mika.

Angel didn’t think.

She clamped a hand over Mika’s mouth.

“SHHHHH…” she said.

“Hey!” Ace protested.

He started to pull Mika back, away from Angel’s hand, but Angel removed her palm from Mika’s mouth, looking between both of them. Cowboy now stood right beside her, his arm wrapped around her waist.

“Don’t get weird.” Cowboy gave Ace a warning look.

The big Texan visibly backed down.

Then Cowboy leaned close, his voice conspiratorial.

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