After Dark (Between the Veils Series, Book One) Read Online Free

followers upstairs.”
    “I suppose you could do that. But if you decide to take that route, you’d best be prepared for the inevitable outcome.”
    “Which is?”
    “Five more dead bodies.”
    Temperance’s expression changed as her smile faded into a tight line across her face. She glanced down at her wrist, slowly tracing the outline with her thumb before meeting his gaze again. “You have my attention.” She waved at him. “Please. Continue.”
    Avery nodded, resting more of his weight against the edge of the desk. “It started about nine months ago. I came down here to investigate some unusual disturbances at the local cemeteries, when I met up with a couple of fellow hunters. They’d been attracted by the same stories and had decided to do a number of sessions in the surrounding tombs. They asked if I wanted to join them in one of the mausoleums in Metairie Cemetery the following night. I agreed, figuring it’d be a good way to get a read on their abilities and see if they had any real leads I should be concerned about.”
    Temperance chuckled, shaking her head at him. “In other words, you wanted to measure up your competition and see if there was a way you could discredit their findings while you furthered yours.”
    He huffed. “Damn it, Temperance, must you make me out to be the bastard in every scenario?”
    “So you weren’t looking to discredit them?”
    “Not in the sense you’re thinking.” He sighed at her smug smile. “Look. We’re not going to get anywhere if you don’t give me the benefit of the doubt for just a few minutes.”
    Her shoulders lowered a bit as she relaxed against the wall. “You’re right. I’m sorry. So what happened next?”
    “I showed up but there was only one of them in the parking lot. I found him rocking on the pavement beside his car mumbling something about him being next. When I pressed him for answers, he screamed and ran off. I had no idea what the hell was going on until I ventured into the crypt. That’s where I found the other investigator.” He pushed off the desk and walked over to her, gently taking her left hand in his. “Her body was like a shriveled up husk, with the only discernible feature being a collection of these.” He caressed the scar, ignoring the way the feel of the raised skin sent shivers down his spine. “As you can imagine, discovering what caused these bloody things became my top priority.”
    Temperance shifted her focus from his face to his hand, a soft rasp drifting along the air when he started drawing small circles on her skin. Her breath hitched and held, leaving an eerie quiet in the room.
    Avery stepped closer, his chest brushing against hers. “I spent months searching through old texts, talking to people with less than admirable qualities, only to come up with a few sketchy theories. Then, four months ago, tourists started disappearing, only to be discovered in the same state. Police figure it’s some kind of demented serial killer who’s stalking the cemeteries, though they can’t quite determine cause of death. From what I’ve heard, it’s as if every ounce of energy has been sucked out of the victims, aging them to nothing more than withered skin and hollow bones.”
    She drew a shaky breath, finally looking up at him again. “So why hasn’t any of this been plastered across the news?”
    Avery laughed, waving one hand at the window. “It’s Mardi Gras, darling. Nothing stands in the way of this celebration. And I’m sure you can imagine how spooked the population would have become if this had come to light before the party started, thus…”
    “They covered it up so tourists would still flock here.”
    Avery shrugged, easing back.
    Temperance huffed, pouting her lips. “So this demon…what does it do? Steal the life force out of people who get too close? And how does it move from one cemetery to the next—”
    Avery held up his hand, stopping her barrage of questions. “While I wish I could tell