Page 56 of Visions in Blood
Before another minute passed, Simone was following the long driveway that passed under large Sycamore trees and past lush vegetation before opening to a parking lot that could hold fifty cars.Emerald-green lawns and dozens of flower beds, sporting tropical and native varieties, surrounded the massive Greek Revival building.The floral scent was surprisingly heady, spicy, and sweet—intoxicating.
Five cars were parked in the row closest to the walkway leading to the library.It was midday during the work week, but I somehow expected more visitors.But then, how often would vamps visit a library?The turnaround at the guard stations would have deterred humans.
Simone led me up the low steps to a massive wooden door that she swung open as if it were made from balsa.“This particular library, like seven others of its kind around the world, is also a museum.The artifacts are displayed among the stacks on all six floors available for public viewing.The library opens in the afternoon and closes at dawn.”
Strange hours until one considered the clientele.The cars out front were probably staff, unless there was a back parking lot I hadn’t noticed.I didn’t see any sensors, but cameras dotted the lobby.
“Hello, and welcome to the Renaud Museum of Vampirology and Knowledge.”A wizened old woman, her hair as white and lofty as a cloud, peered up at us with bright green eyes the color of a meadow.Eyes that searched for any deception and made me want to squirm.She must be the head librarian.
“We’re from out of town and couldn’t pass the opportunity to roam the halls of this great building.”Simone finished with a slight bow of her head.It was such a mirror image of what I’d expect Devon to do, I had to blink.Maybe Devon held a class on how to emulate him.Between his cadre moving in perfect sync with him and copying his deportment, it was downright eerie.
“There’s a map in the basket.We only have a few guests today, but one can wander through the stacks for hours and never find another soul.”The old woman pinned her gaze on me.“If you need help finding a particular reference, there is one custodian on each floor.Tables are located in the center of each floor for reading.The only items that require a custodian’s assistance are the artifacts and any book in the rare book collection.Though with advanced notice, you can schedule a private viewing.”
Then she smiled, and I wished she hadn’t.Her yellow-stained teeth looked sharp, and the tips of her fangs hovered like they were stuck at that half-mast position.
“Thank you, custodian.”Simone took one of the folded, brochure-style maps and walked off.I followed, but the itch to keep an eye on the old crone made me want to keep watching our backs.
“Are they all going to be that creepy?”It was meant as a joke, but it was all I had to fall back on since I hadn’t thought to bring a flask of vodka.
“Yes.”
Well, that was helpful.“Did we need the map?”
She handed it to me.“No.”
I was going to ask her to elaborate until she added, “For appearances.”
Of course.And when was I going to remember that?It was second nature for me to create a role when researching a job.Somehow, that natural instinct seemed to have vanished since working with vamps.I tucked the map away, deciding it couldn’t hurt to keep it.With any luck, this map used words rather than obscure symbols to reflect the different sections of the library.
Our heeled boots on the marble floor announced our presence a good ten seconds before we appeared, and the sound echoed behind us.Otherwise, the place was quiet as a mausoleum.And based on the array of ancient weapons and paintings of bloody battlefields, it was close enough to one.
Simone stalked down the aisle to the central staircase and never slowed until we reached the third sublevel.She came to an abrupt stop at the base of the stairs, and I almost rammed into her.She lifted her head and made a complete circle—sniffing something out.
“What does that vampiric nose tell you?”
Her menacing glare came with a bit of fang, and I braced myself, amazed I didn’t take a few steps back.
“Vampires have been here.Recently.”
I sighed and rested a fist on a hip.“This is a vamp library.And based on the number of cars in the parking lot, it was probably a group of those custodians.”
“The custodians all have the same smell.These are different.”
They had the same smell?No doubt.They spent their lives buried in the book stacks and probably smelled of dust and mold.
“Four of them.Moving together.”She lifted her head one more time and turned to her left.“I’m not saying they couldn’t be here on legitimate business.Scholars or students.Maybe a family researching their history.”
She moved into an aisle, and this time her boots were stealthy silent.I followed like a trained puppy, not nearly as quiet, but a vamp would have to be listening for me.After two turns to the left and three to the right down aisles of floor-to-ceiling bookcases, she stopped just short of another aisle.She gave me a sign to go around and flank whoever might be down here with us.
I didn’t bother nodding, just turned and crept back to another main aisle.With no one in sight, I crossed the aisle and made a zigzag pattern until I was somewhere directly across from where Simone should be.I pulled my bone-handled dagger from an inner jacket and tiptoed to what appeared to be a small circular sitting area, wishing I had super scenting ability.Although, considering where I used to live, there were plenty of places where that gift wouldn’t be a plus.
I kept my head low and crept to the right, using the gap in books on a lower shelf to provide a partial view of the reading area.No one was there.
Then a flash of forest green—Simone.
She moved so quickly, a glimpse of her flowing caftan was the only proof it was her.I turned to flank from another position, all the while, closing the net.
After another five minutes of quiet circulating, Simone called out, “Whoever it was is gone.”
