Playing with Shadows Read Online Free Page B

really
there.
    Vlad’s head snapped up at the sound.
His countenance turned wary at her appearance. “What do you want
now?”
    Nicola, putting her hands in the
pockets of her jeans, sighed in defeat. “I wanted to apologize. I
shouldn’t have tried to force you to do this. Especially since you
are my master, but…”
    “ But you’re going to do it
anyway.” Vlad finished for her. When she didn’t say anything more,
Vlad put a hand against the wall beside him and leaned into the
cold concrete. “I should have known better than to try to change
your mind.”
    Nicola took a small step towards him
then stopped when he leveled a disappointed look in her direction.
“I would appreciate any help you’re willing to give me. I can’t do
it without you.”
    Vlad closed his eyes as if he were in
pain. “You’ve really fallen hard, haven’t you?”
    Nikki didn’t know what her master meant
by his words, but instead waited for him to make his
decision.
    As if her silence was all the
confirmation the old vampire needed, Vlad finally met her eyes with
a look of defeat. “I’ll help you, but only because you are like a
daughter to me. I can’t let you face this alone.”
    Nicola felt more than relieved. She was
happy that Vlad understood why she was doing this though she still
didn’t know why herself. “Thank you Vlad. You won’t regret
this.”
    He didn’t respond, but instead snorted
in amusement. She could almost hear the sarcasm in it.

Chapter 5:
    It had been difficult to get Vlad and
Christian in the same room again after their earlier argument, but
Nicola somehow managed. Now they were standing across from one
another, each man with a look of pure hatred on his face. Nicola
didn’t know how to make them trust one another, but she had to get
down to business. She wasn’t sure how long Carolyn had left before
the demon decided to kill her… or worse.
    “ What exactly are we waiting
for?” Nikki asked her sire with a wave of her hand. “We need to get
out there and hunt this thing down before it does any more
damage.”
    “ Patience my child.” Vlad
told her kindly, though his expression was anything but. “Alistair
will be here…”
    The door burst open a moment later
revealing a vampire Nikki had never seen before. Alistair
Stavropoulos is the name Vlad called him by though apparently
during the time Alistair was alive, surnames didn’t exist. He had
adopted it once humans began to use them. Alistair was
exceptionally handsome. He was clearly Greek in heritage with his
darker skin and shoulder length curly ebony hair. His eyes were the
color of melted caramel and he had been in peak physical shape when
he’d been turned into one of the undead.
    “ No need to stand just
because I’ve arrived!” Alistair gushed out in his deep
Mediterranean accent. “But, if you must, then who am I to stop
you?”
    Vlad Tepes only smiled at his friend’s
attempt at humor and with a quick stride, walked up to the vampire
and embraced him. “Al! It’s so good to see you old
friend.”
    Once parted, Alistair clamped a hand on
Vlad’s shoulder and squeezed in a warm gesture. “It’s been too
long! But, ah, we shall catch up at a later date. Tell me- what is
the reason for your calling me all the way to Romania?”
    “ I wish it were better
circumstances, but sadly we have a demon problem on our hands.”
Vlad told him in a tone that didn’t sound upset at all. Nicola
found it odd considering his earlier reaction to learning a demon
was after a member of Christian’s family.
    “ A demon?” Alistair asked,
whom clearly hadn’t been told of this before he
arrived in Romania. “You never said anything about a demon,
Tepes.”
    “ I know, Al, and I
apologize, but I need your help. I cannot do this alone.” Vlad
spoke softly though it didn’t matter. Nikki could still hear
everything being said and she guessed that Christian could as well.
“Nicola has grown fond of the ghost and has vowed to help