She Dies at the End (November Snow #1) Read Online Free Page B

visitor is apt to do.  “This is the only vision I’ve ever had about my own personal future.  I know nothing else about my fate.  I’ve tried to look, but it’s all fog and smoke.” She paused.  “I assume you know the others in the scene?” she asked as the visitors flipped through her work, stunned into silence.
    “Yes,” the man in charge finally answered.  “The vampire who made me is the one you call the businessman.  The Indian woman is my sister Savita, made by the same vampire.”  He closed the book and inquired, “May I take this with me?  I will return it.”
    November hesitated.  It felt like giving away a part of herself.  Then she relented, realizing that she didn’t really need it anymore.  “Sure,” she said.  “Please don’t let anyone normal see it.  I don’t want to end up back in the madhouse.”
    “Do not worry about that.  I am not in the habit of consulting humans,” he said with a small smile.  “You seem awfully calm about all this.  Human beings are not usually so sanguine about their own deaths.  Nor are vampires or fairies for that matter.”
    “It’s kind of a relief, honestly, that you’ve finally appeared.  I’ve spent my life waiting for the ax to fall,” she confided.  “I stopped being afraid of dying some time ago.  I know that's insane, but the world beyond is better than this one, based on what I’ve seen of both.”
    Her guest stood up.  “Based on these drawings, you’re going to be stuck in this world even after you die, poor child.”  He studied her for a moment.  “We will be back for you.  I must make arrangements.  Do not run,” he admonished her.  “We would surely find you, and as much fun as it would be to hunt you, I really don’t have the time to waste.  Besides, if you eluded us, you could well find yourself in the hands of someone worse.  Diamonds don’t stay hidden forever. When does your little band leave town?” asked the vampire, standing up to depart.
    “Day after tomorrow, at dawn,” November answered truthfully.  She had no intention of trying to evade them, knowing that it would be futile.  “Are you going to bite me?” she asked with some trepidation.
    “Almost certainly,” William answered with a grin, “but not right now.  I wish we had more time to prepare, but we will have to make do.  We shall see you tomorrow night, November.  Stay out of trouble.” 
    “Wait,” she cried.  “I have more questions!” And in the blink of an eye, they were gone, silently and invisibly, and she was left alone once again, with only her visions for company.

Chapter 3
    November stumbled through the rest of the evening on auto-pilot, tremendously grateful when the last patron made his exit.  It didn’t seem real; it simply didn’t seem possible that she’d just met two vampires and a fairy, a dream come to life.  She wondered briefly if she was losing her mind again but quickly dismissed the notion.  In fact, she was strangely calm.   The shaking and crying would come later, when she lay down to sleep and found her mind abuzz with questions and fears and strange images from William Knox’s too long life. 
    November realized she was ravenous, changed clothes quickly, turned in her cash box, and headed down to the communal supper they held together late each night.  As usual, she brought a book with her, but she found herself looking around the table rather than burying her head in its pages.  There were a few faces she’d miss: Neil, of course, and sweet Mrs. Kravitz who had made her a birthday cake the year before.  The workers chatted loudly, blowing off steam after a long day.   She kept accidentally catching Mike’s eye; he would then quickly look away.  That was odd.  The carnival owner usually avoided even glancing at her, unless her mother’s behavior made it unavoidable; November had the impression he was a little afraid of her.  Her mother was picking at her food with