Sips of Blood Read Online Free Page A

fine; the Hansas were being
disobedient.
    "None of that," she said out loud. Marie
knelt down and began her work.
    An hour later she heard a car coming up the
driveway. Must be Louis, she thought, wanting to use the
basement again. The car door slammed.
    "I really wish you would set up your own
place. Some of the equipment is in need of replacement, and I
expect you to pay half the cost."
    Silence. No rants. No raves. No hissing at
her purposeful derogatory statement.
    Marie turned her head to view Louis. Only it
wasn't Louis; instead Keith Bridgewater stood by the oak
tree--dressed. Legs covered in old-man polyester pants. T-shirt
hidden under a cotton earth-toned plaid shirt.
    She stood.
    "Mr. Bridgewater, or may I call you Keith?
Certainly you should call me Marie."
    "Plain Bridgewater is fine."
    "And what will you call me?"
    "Damn if I know. There don't seem to be any
man living here. At least I never saw you drive by with any man in
your car. So I don't know if you're a Miss or a Mrs. I don't like
Ms."
    "Oh, I'm tickled to know that you noticed me
drive by your house. I kept meaning to stop, but our first
encounter wasn't--"
    "That's fine, keep going. Ain't asking you to
stop."
    "I wouldn't mind stopping, especially if you
were wearing those trousers that you have on."
    "I dress as is most comfortable for me on my
property." He seemed to stand taller.
    I could break you before you even knew I
was trying, she silently said to Keith.
    "Come in. I made fresh éclairs this morning,
and I have some lovely imported hot chocolate." Marie moved toward
the front door of the house then stopped and looked over her
shoulder. "Unless you'd prefer an expensive French cognac."
    "Don't drink hard liquor. Have a beer once in
awhile."
    How sophisticated. "Out of beer, Mr.
Bridgewater."
    "That's okay. I'm here to let you know my
son's coming to visit me."
    "How wonderful for you!"
    "No it ain't. He's a pest. Wants to check up
on how I'm doing."
    "That is considerate."
    "Wants to put me in some old-age home and
sell the land."
    "He said that?"
    "I've known him all his twenty-seven years. I
can read his mind."
    "Your wife?"
    "Dead. Died giving birth to the shit."
    "I'm certainly glad you dropped by to tell me
the latest news. If there's anything I can do--"
    "There is."
    Marie's gut knotted.
    "See, he thinks I have friends."
    "And you and I..."
    He nodded.
    "I'd be delighted to be your friend. However,
since we are such old buddies, I must insist you come in for some
hot chocolate, dear."
    She saw Keith wince. I dare you to correct
me. He didn't. She threw open the antique oak door and invited
him in with a crook of her finger.
    "If the éclairs are too rich for you, I have
some angel food cake."
    "Nothing wrong with my stomach."
    "Good."

Chapter 5
     
     
    Louis had stopped at a pet shop, where he had
selected a beautiful white rabbit. The animal was plump and
healthy.
    "I'll take it," he had said.
    "I have to warn you, sir, he has a nasty
temper and has nipped several people."
    No problem, Louis thought, Liliana
can be far nastier when hungry.
    His niece, Liliana, had sworn off human blood
ever since she had fallen for the British espèce de crétin Stuart. Melodramatic, he thought. He couldn't understand her
constant whining about lost youth, when forever she would look
seventeen. And she would never have babies. She never would have
brats that would keep her locked away in an insane asylum, as he
had had.
    Suddenly the Jaguar was filled with an
offensive odor.
    "Alors! You were too well-fed. You'll
have to sit in it until we get home, Monsieur Lapin de
Garenne."
    In answer there was a steady beating against
the walls of the animal carrier.
    "Ah, Liliana, obviously I would do anything
to see you happy again. However, mortality cannot be my gift to
you. Instead I gave you eternal life and received tears from you in
return.
    "Lapin, is that fair? If I were to
give you eternal life..."
    A loud fart came from the carrier.
    "Jamais! Never! If