Page 70 of Kiss of Light

“Show yourself.”

“Interesting that you retain some consciousness. Normally a possession renders the host personality dormant. Was that how it was when you took that girl’s life? Were you aware of every last blood-soaked second?”

“Face me, demon. Accept your fate.”

“Fate is such an interesting word, isn’t it? I wonder, will you acceptyourfate?”

“Enough.”

Again, Lemar struck out at the motionless body of the shaitun. Again, an invisible hand held him back. He strained with all his strength, but something was stopping him. He let his arm drop.

“You’ve projected your consciousness. Where is it?”

That low chuckle again. Self-satisfied. Victorious. A cold trickle of fear crept up Lemar’s spine.

“You know where.”

Terror flooded through the vampire’s body. It was an emotion he’d never felt before, and it paralysed him.

“Get out of my head.Get the fuck out.”

“Now, now. You know it doesn’t work like that. I’m not just in your head. I’m everywhere. In every cell. You, vampire, are just a passenger.”

“I won’t let it happen again. I won’t.”

Lemar ran at a rock, intending to smash himself against it. If he could break his stupid skull, lay himself out, Ravij wouldn’t have a body to play with.

But his legs slowed and stopped of their own accord.

He remembered the man with the automatic rifle at the rest-stop. The one who’d been possessed by Ravij. The demon had worked him like a puppet.

“Why are you doing this?” he said in a low voice. “Just kill me and get it over with.”

“Patience, Count Lemar. I’m enjoying myself. And as I’m sureTala-jihas explained to you, we shaitun who still have masters seldom get to have fun.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Oh, I’m going to make you suffer. I’m going to make you relive your worst nightmare. And I’m going to make you enjoy every blood-filled moment of it. You’ll be powerless to resist.” Ravij made Lemar straighten up and turn towards the outcrop. “Now. Let us begin.”

The silver was magicked. It acted like an anchor, stopping Tala from shimmering or projecting. She brought her breathing under control, trying to compartmentalize the pain. She was only partially successful.

“Blake, what the fuck are you doing here?” she hissed. The mercenary gave her a cocky grin.

“Your old pal Ravij found me at that motel you left me in and filled in the inexplicable memory gaps I was suffering when I woke from a long and refreshing nap.”

“You’rethe hunter driving Ravij around?”

“We’ve come to an arrangement. Dick move, by the way, having your boyfriend put the whammy on me.”

“You’d rather I let him kill you? Because that’s what he wanted to do.”

“You stole my car too. Any chance I’m getting that back?”

“Go to hell.”

“Thought not.” He strung another silver arrow in his high-velocity crossbow and pointed it casually in her direction. “Just sit tight, Blue-Eyes. This will all be over soon.”

“What do you mean? Where is that son of a bitch anyway?”

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