The Lost Souls Dating Agency
Page 16
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed movement at the warehouse door. A small woman with wild hair was shouting.
Roxanne! Shh they’ll hear you!
‘Shalini, what should I do?’ Roxanne moved closer to my bubble. The two vampires took no notice her.
Get out of here! I tried to shout, but my mouth sat vacant.
Roxanne looked from Will’s bubble to mine.
‘Oh dear oh dear…’ she mumbled as she walked closer to us.
Then with a short sharp shriek she lunged into my bubble. I watched as nothing happened. More importantly, the two vampires remained oblivious to her movements. Greg’s master spell kept Roxanne safe, unseen, unheard and un-sensed by the vampires. Unfortunately, it also made her completely ineffective as a would-be rescuer.
I floated away with the vampires and stifled a yawn as I felt a strong urge to sleep…
***
I woke up in familiar surrounds. It was that drab office block on Collins Street. Like the last time, the room looked like an ordinary boardroom, with a large oval table and office chairs that swivelled. I was seated on one, surrounded by three very burly men and Gary Numan sat opposite.
The Head of the Vampire League of Albion had decided to pay me a visit, in person.
I felt fear. I was sure Gary Numan could smell it.
He leant over slightly and looked me straight in the eye. ‘Well, Ms Gooptah, it looks like you did not honour our agreement.’
I wasn’t sure when I had entered into an agreement with him.
He continued, ‘The last time we spoke I was inclined to be lenient for your role in bringing Victor and the human female together. I’m starting to regret that judgement…’
‘How so?’ I asked bemused.
‘Well let’s just say,’ he paused, ‘matters have become a little more complicated.’
‘Do you mean you still haven’t found her body?’ I shot back defiantly.
His cold eyes narrowed. ‘You are more informed than I thought. Could it be you are still receiving communications —’
‘I didn’t hear it from Victor if that’s what you mean,’ I interrupted.
He gave me a shrewd look, then clasped his hands and casually leant back in his chair. ‘Well I didn’t come all the way to this back water colony to dissect the situation with you.’
‘Why are you here then?’
‘To notify you.’
‘About what?’ I was genuinely surprised.
‘That the League expects your cooperation in finding Victor of Wareham and that human.’
‘How am I supposed to find them?’ I asked incredulously.
‘Well you found Victor in the first instance, did you not?’
‘He came to me!’ My voice rose higher as mild panic set in. ‘To employ my services. I run a matchmaking agency not a lost-and-found.’
‘I’m not interested in the details,’ he said sardonically. ‘You can just use your skills again and find him, beckon him, ask, implore…whatever it is you do.’
I paused and collected myself. ‘And if I refuse?’
His manner changed to a cobra about to strike. ‘Do you notice anyone missing from this room?’
I looked around at the blank vampire faces staring at me. Who was missing?
Oh. My. God. Will. I gasped as realisation dawned.
‘Where is he?’ I asked savagely.
‘In safe keeping,’ he said slowly. ‘For now.’
‘You can’t blackmail me like this…’ I started.
‘Oh, Ms Gooptah, I can do so much more than that.’ He laughed brutally. Then his voice turned calculating as he stated his terms slowly. ‘You have two weeks to find Victor and bring him here. You will tell him nothing of our conversation or involvement. If you betray me in any way, and rest assured I will know if you do, your friend will meet a slow and painful end.’
The burly vampires alit from their seats and moved swiftly towards me, lifting me up by the shoulders.
‘But…’ I protested.
‘That’s all, Ms Gooptah.’ He waved his hand limply at his side kicks, who escorted me out of the room and dumped me unceremoniously outside the building.
***
I stood for ages on the street, staring blankly at a flashing neon cafe sign on the other side of the road. I felt a trail of tears leak from my eyes.
Oh, Will. I let out a short raspy cough.
What to do? My mind was racing with horrible, ghastly thoughts.
I let myself be miserable for about five minutes. Then I sniffed and gathered my thoughts.
Okay.
First step, catch tram home.
Second step, call my friends for help.
Third step…and this is where my planning faltered. How the hell was I supposed to find a rogue vampire?
I knew this third step was crucial. It was going to determine whether this became a life or death case for the Lost Souls Dating Agency.
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ISBN: 9780857992215
Title: The Lost Souls Dating Agency
Copyright © 2015 by Suneeti Rekhari
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