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eBook Category: Dark Fantasy/Fantasy
eBook Description: And then there's Zayne, the one whispered about in the witching hour when the lights flicker and the wind begs entry ... and the world pauses as she asks for help.

eBook Publisher: Mystic Moon Press, Published: 2008
Fictionwise Release Date: March 2008

This eBook is part of the following series:

• Kate Smith's Wolf Hollow Series

7 Reader Ratings: Great Good OK Poor

Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [216 KB], eReader (PDB) [41 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [13 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [13 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [73 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [86 KB], hiebook (KML) [69 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [74 KB], iSilo (PDB) [11 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [14 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [57 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [23 KB]
Words: 3665
Reading time: 10-14 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

"Are you sure you're Zayne?" Josh doesn't hide his misgivings. "Because I was expecting someone a lot taller and more capable of drinking the blood of her enemies from goblets made of their skulls."

The waif on the doorstep looks hardly capable of raising a sweat, let alone a goblet. But as she smoothes her hood back and her features emerge, ice slithers down Josh's spine.

Eyes as blue as diamonds dominate her face. The colour is striking against her olive skin and ink black hair but it's the desolate wasteland they evoke that rocks Josh back a step.

"Right, like anyone would impersonate you," Josh mutters. He recovers and kicks the door wide. "Come in."

Zayne hesitates. "Are you sure?"

That brings her word count to five. Josh frowns. He retreats to the middle of the foyer, giving her plenty of space, and folds his arms. "You wouldn't be here if it wasn't important, so, yes, please come in. Do you like lasagne? Tiramisu?"

The Nichtthane with the darkest dangerous reputation ever enters delicately, as though preparing to flee at the first loud noise.

Which arrives within seconds.

Josh winces as a crash of wood on wood echoes from the upper levels and the machine gun rat-ta-ta-ta of Scarlet's high heels heralds her descent. She swings off the last step and plunges in front of Josh, just as Kelly emerges from the depths of the mansion, raking both hands through his reddish-gold hair and yawning.

Kelly wakes up fast and freezes where he stands. Shock makes him blink.

Josh moves away from a protective Scarlet and Zayne tracks his movements warily. He tries an apologetic grin, adds a little shrug and a tip of his head toward the smouldering Scarlet with her hair up in a topknot and streaks of moisturiser below her black eyes.

Zayne straightens out of her slight crouch.

Scarlet smacks Josh's arm. "What where you thinking? Letting her in. Don't you know proximity to her is a sure fire way to get yourself killed sooner rather than later?"

"I know that, you know that, and so does she." Josh jerks his chin towards Zayne. "Why would she willingly invite your hostility by showing up here and politely knocking on the door?"

"Psychopathic tendencies. Sadomasochist. Too mean to commit suicide and handicapped by having to admit she's alive in the first place," Scarlet lists on her fingers. "And how about plain old evil?"

"Scaaar-let," Kelly warns, ranging up beside her. "That's enough."

"Tell that to all the innocents she let die."

Zayne takes it without flinching, without so much as moving a muscle.

Kelly pushes his scowl right into Scarlet's. "There's no need to be rude."

"Aha, oh yeah," Scarlet jeers. One hand lands on her hip, the other curls into a fist and thumps Kelly's sternum. "It's not as though she possesses a resonating charm or devastating wit."

"Right now, neither do you," Kelly snaps. "Which is a pity as the lack brings out lines and makes you look at least fifty."

Scarlet recoils, speechless.

"Yeah." Kelly nods, once, firmly, before turning to Zayne. "What can we do for you?"

That minimal politeness affects her more than Scarlet's accusations. Zayne swallows. "I require assistance." She stumbles on the unfamiliar words and her extravagant lashes veil her eyes for a moment before she focuses directly on Kelly. "I need your help."

Kelly stands tall against the tension filling the foyer. "Okay."

The air crackles with Scarlet's fury. Josh lassoes his arm around her waist and pitches his weight against her momentum, dragging her away, heels scoring the tiles. "Kel, you can't be serious."

Kelly shrugs. "It's in the Code. If she asks for help, I have to answer."

"Then answer no!" Scarlet hisses, claws shredding Josh's sleeve. "Show me where it's written you have to aid a belladonna."

Kelly rakes a hand through his hair. "Wrong Code, Scarlet."

Scarlet rams her heel into Josh's knee and shakes him off when he buckles. "If you dare die on me I'll find someone to call you back purely for the pleasure of yelling at you." She walks up the stairs. Walks, not storms or stomps. Things crack as she passes, things like vases and walls. Somewhere on the second level of the mansion a door hushes shut.

Kelly lets out his breath and points at Zayne. "If she does, it's you I'll be haunting."

Zayne looks at him. It's a long look, out of empty eyes. "What's one more?"

"Gah." Kelly stomps off in the opposite direction to Scarlet.

Zayne's retreat of two steps takes her outside.

"Perhaps there's a silver lining." Josh peels the rips in his sleeve wider to check the skin beneath. "Time apart might remind Kelly and Scarlet they actually like each other. Best holiday present they could give me."