Nocturnal (episode n. 1) Read Online Free Page A

surprise. Who was that woman, exactly? Her face told nothing to her. She had ripe lips, their crimson color like a beacon on the snowy skin of her face, framed in long jet-black hair. Her eyes where dark, almost black, and her long and curved eyelashes cut them out of her visage, almost making them float on their own in the shadows of the room.
    «Fame is an abstract concept. And not always a positive thing. What does really matter is to be known to the right people.»
    «Which include you, I take.»
    «At times.» She smiled, showing for a second a series of marble-white and just too perfect teeth, then she raised a chalice from the table and took it to her mouth, holding it by the stem with the tips of her fingers. Her nails were the same color of her lips.
    «I know that you are looking for someone», she continued after barely dipping her lips in the contents of the glass, something Amanda wasn't able to identify.
    «You know a lot of things.»
    «Many more than you might think, my dear.»
    «This one is wrong, though. I'm not looking for anyone.»
    «You should.»
    What was that supposed to mean? Amanda didn't want to give her a satisfaction asking, and just stood silent. Vivienne answered the unspoken question anyway.
    «Sometimes it is better to find than it is to be found.»
    «Do you always speak in riddles?»
    «There are some things that cannot be spoken plainly.»
    «I'll take it for a yes.»
    «Sharp. I do like that. But do not exaggerate, someone might not like your attitude. After all, I am sure you do not really think that just having a weapon on yourself is enough to fend off every danger, do you?»
    Amanda strongly hoped that her face wasn't showing what she was feeling. How could that woman know she was armed? The wand was carefully strapped to her leg, she had made sure it was all but invisible under the dress. She had to resist the temptation of looking down to make sure it still was, and forced a neutral smile.
    «Is this a threat?»
    «My dear, if it had been in my intentions to threaten you, I would have done so. Or, most likely, I would have had you killed, then threatened you afterwards, in order to spare time. But, believe it or not as you will, I am trying to keep you alive.»
    «What did I do to deserve such an honor?»
    «Nothing as yet. Another reason why to try to make you live long enough to change this situation.»
    This time Amanda did nothing to hide the confusion rising within her.
    «You are a most uncommon person, Amanda.»
    That couldn't be denied. As far as she knew, she was actually unique. But it wasn't like she had ever gained any advantage from that.
    «You switched from threats to compliments, I see.»
    «You do know what I mean», the woman accompanied her reply with an annoyed gesture of her hand. «For some, you are like a beacon in the heat of the night. Even unknowingly or unwillingly, they will come to you sooner or later, if they still have not.»
    «I still don't get what you are talking about.»
    «So much the better.»
    «So you made me come here just to give me unintelligible information that it's better for me not to understand?»
    «No. I made you come here to tell you that you might as well not be the only uncommon creature in this town, and that you should better look for the other one, before the other one finds you.»
    «And who... what is this creature supposed to be?»
    «I warned you, the rest is up to you.»
    «I hope you don't think I owe you anything for your riddles...»
    «Things are much simpler than that, my dear. Either you do what I expect you to do, after which you will owe me no more, or soon you will be dead, in which case it would not matter any longer.»
    «Threats again.»
    «I think I told you, I am not prone to threatening people. I was only explaining the situation to you, I did never state I would partake in your death. Ash, prepare the coach, I am leaving.»
    The last sentence was evidently for the black-skinned man, who immediately left the