Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 119694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
He tears it open and swipes it over the blue veins visible under my pale skin. I have one of those complexions where I’m either pasty white or burning red if I spend too much time in the sun. Since I don’t want skin cancer, I choose pasty white. It’s really inconvenient, considering that I live in Florida.
The tech doesn’t even ask if I’d like to sit down before he pulls out a needle and stabs it into my arm.
“Ouch!” I exclaim, but the blood is already flowing into the vial he hooked to the tubing. It’s a big vial too—how much do they need to know I’m not some kind of a junkie?
“Such pretty veins,” he mutters to himself as we both watch the vial fill. “Good producer too—look at that flow! No wonder the Head Fanger wants you all to himself.”
“Excuse me? What are you talking about?” I demand.
He only shakes his head, his long, brown and silver hair whipping around his thin face.
“Nothing, nothing. Whistler likes to talk to himself sometimes, that’s all. Ah look at that—almost full already!”
“You’re taking an awful lot,” I protest as he watches the crimson liquid flow into his oversized vial. I hope I won’t be dizzy after this. I fainted the last time I gave blood at a blood drive, but that was because I filled the bag so fast and they were taking so much. Also, I hadn’t eaten beforehand, which you’re supposed to do.
It’s been a long time since lunch though and I only had half a ham sandwich and a small apple. I’ve been saving my appetite for tonight.
“There we are, there we are.” The strange lab tech called “Whistler” finally pulls the needle out of my arm. He slaps a bandage on the small wound and then tucks the oversized vial of my blood into a small cooler he apparently brought for the purpose.
“That’s all then?” Mr. Philbens sounds disappointed—like maybe he was hoping the tech would drain me completely dry. “When will we know?” he asks the tech.
“Oh, by and by.” Whistler waves one bony hand vaguely. “My people will get in touch with your people. We’ll let you know.”
“Yes, but when?” Mr. Philbens demands. “I can’t let her go back to work until I’m certain she’s drug free!”
“Soon…soon,” he promises. “We’ll be in touch. Now, I must go.”
“But—“ my manager begins.
But the lab tech is already out the door, the cooler tucked securely under his arm. Mr. Philbens is left standing there, staring after him as though he doesn’t know what to do.
I’m not sure what to do either.
“Mr. Philbens, are you saying that I can’t work until you get the results of that test?” I demand, turning to him. “Because that was the shadiest lab tech I’ve ever seen. What company does he even work for?”
“Er…he didn’t say.” Mr. Philbens clears his throat. “I suppose you may return to work for the present, but don’t get too comfortable. If we get confirmation that you’re using illegal substances—”
“I’m not,” I say flatly, cutting him off. “And I’d still like to know who made this ridiculous accusation in the first place? Was it Donald? Is he trying to get back at me for reporting him to HR when he grabbed my ass at the Christmas party?”
Mr. Philbens stiffens.
“I told you, I’m not at liberty to say. Now go back to your desk.”
I know when I’m being dismissed. I give him a final look—a look that tells him exactly what I think of him, even though I can’t say it out loud—and push my way out of his office.
What a dick. He probably scheduled the drug test himself just to hassle me.
I have no idea how wrong I am…but I’m going to find out soon.
2
Lucian
I pace impatiently, waiting for the Realm-Hopper to return from the Human world. Behind me is a vast glass window, looking out onto The Bleeding Court—my syndicate’s territory. It’s a sprawling city made of velvet and steel. Elaborate Victorian architecture blends with soaring skyscrapers to make a cityscape unlike any other.
It’s midday now, which means the red sun which rises over the Shadow Realms is casting a weak, bloody light over the spires of the city. Our sun is weak compared to the sun in the Human Realm—I know, I was there once. It nearly blinded me.
I know that Julia lives in a part of the Human world where the yellow sun shines bright and hot most of the year. I wonder if she’ll mind the bloody twilight that reigns over my realm.
If so, too fucking bad. I need her and I’m going to have her.
But I can’t get ahead of myself. I have to taste her blood first—I have to be sure she’s truly got the Sanguis Vita before I go to the trouble, expense, and risk of bringing her to me. If the Magistrate who rules all six realms found out I was smuggling a Curvy Queen into my little kingdom, “the shit would really hit the fan,” as I’ve heard Julia say once or twice, while I was watching her in the Crimson Eye.