Call of the Vampire Read Online Free Page A

and held out his hand.
    “After you bring him.”
    As the waiter left, Viktor came closer. I could tell that my distress and Blossom’s condition had him excited, but he was trying to hide his delight. He extended an arm and leaned against the wall so that he was towering over us on the settee. “There’s no reason to call Jessie. I can be just as helpful as him.”
    “Step back! You’re crowding us, and she needs air,” I snarled.
    “Ooh, the little girl has teeth.” He laughed, not feeling at all compelled to comply.
    “What did you give her?” I demanded.
    Viktor shrugged. “Champagne.”
    “Yeah, I mean, what was in the champagne?”
    “Bubbles.”
    His callous humor really had me upset. “Just get the hell away from us, okay? Just leave us alone.”
    Several of the party guests were now watching us as if we were performing some kind of play. No one offered us any aid; several people were openly amused.
    “I’m just trying to help,” Viktor said, as if the whole thing were my fault.
    “Yeah, well you’ve helped enough for one evening.”
    “I’ve always found it’s better to help myself,” he said, setting down his glass and scooping Blossom up in his arms.
    “Put her down!” I shouted, but it was no use. Viktor was already carrying her up the wide staircase that led to the second floor. I had no choice but to chase after him.
    It was amazing how fast Viktor could mount the long flight of stairs carrying the dead weight of my friend. He was already outstripping me when the heel of my shoe twisted under me and my foot popped out of the sandal but remained tangled in the straps. I was delayed a few seconds as I wrenched both sandals off my feet. By the time I reached the top of the staircase, I barely saw Viktor disappearing with Blossom into a room. I charged after them, jamming the sandals that were in my hands into the narrowing gap of the door as Viktor tried to push it closed.
    “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I shoved the door open, Viktor putting up no resistance.
    “Please,” he smiled his predator’s smile. “Join us.”
    He’d laid Blossom on the bed in a large bedroom that was decorated in cream fabrics shot through with gold thread. There were large bay windows that I assumed faced out onto the river, but the heavy drapes were closed.
    “Viktor,” I said in the steadiest voice I could muster, “you need to leave.”
    “No,” he smiled. “You can leave, or you can stay; the choice is yours. But I am not leaving.”
    “Yes, you are,” said an angry voice behind me. I spun around to see Jessie Vanderlind, and he looked furious.
     

Chapter 3
    “Ah, our charming host,” Viktor said, smiling. “I was just helping myself to a few of the hors d’oeuvres. I hope you don’t mind.”
    “I very much mind,” Jessie informed him. “These two are not on the menu this evening. You’ll have to sate your appetite elsewhere.”
    Viktor frowned. He was a man not used to hearing the word no, or at least not listening to it. “I spoke to them, and they said they were not your particular friends.”
    “They misspoke,” Jessie replied. “They are my very close friends, and I’m telling you that they are to be left alone.”
    “Have it your way.” Viktor shrugged like the fabled fox that was denied the grapes. “They aren’t that enticing anyway.” He brushed past me on his way out of the room but stopped for a moment to say one more thing before he went. “I won’t forget your lack of hospitality, Jessie.”
    “Nor will I forget your rudeness,” was the reply.
    Once Viktor was gone, I breathed easier. “Thank you so much,” I sighed. “I’m really sorry for all this. I think Viktor slipped something into Blossom’s drink. She’s out cold. And then he dragged her up here, and I couldn’t get my cell phone to work.” I paused to take a breath, then laying my hand against my cheek, I said, “I’m sorry, I just didn’t know what to do.”
    Jessie’s