Page 22 of Twilight Longings

“It’s his. Definitely. That’s a scent I’m not likely to forget. How do you suppose it survived the fire?”

Saintcrow shrugged. “Let’s just be glad that it did.” He glanced at the sleeping girl. She slept on her side, one hand tucked beneath her cheek. She was a pretty thing, with long blonde hair and delicate features. He hated to steal from her but his need for the cloak was far greater than hers. “Let’s go see Izabela.”

“At this time of the night? Are you kidding?”

“Listen, after all the blood I’ve sacrificed to that witch, she can lose a little sleep.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Kincaid muttered.

It was an unhappy witch who flung open the door. She wore a purple velour robe over a long white nightgown. “Do you know what time it is?” she asked irritably. “I’ve half a mind to turn you both into toads.”

“Later,” Saintcrow said. For a minute, he thought she would refuse to invite them inside. But then she asked theubiquitous question, tapped her bare foot as she waited for the customary reply.

Still looking cross, she unlocked the screen door and invited them in.

Saintcrow remained on the porch when Kincaid crossed the threshold and let out a startled yelp.

Face twisted with pain, Kincaid glared at the witch. “What the hell was that for?” he growled.

“For waking me up,” Izabela replied, with a shrug. She looked at Saintcrow, a grin twitching her lips. “Well? Are you coming in?”

“What do you think?” he retorted and crossed the threshold. Knowing what was coming, he clamped his lips together, but he couldn’t help flinching as a streak of lightning-like pain speared through him.

“So, what brings you two here at this hour of the morning?” Izabela asked as she picked up the gray cat and settled in her rocker.

“This cloak,” Kincaid said, handing it to her. “It belonged to Luca. Is it possible to use it to find his whereabouts?”

“Possibly.” She ran her hand over the rich velvet. “Locating a disembodied spirit isn’t like finding a set of car keys, you know. It takes time and effort and enormous concentration. Not everyone can do it.”f

“But?”

She shrugged. “I’ll do my best. I may have to call in a friend of mine to help.”

“What kind of friend?” Saintcrow asked.

“A rather powerful warlock.”

Kincaid and Saintcrow exchanged glances.

“Does he require the same form of payment?” Kincaid asked.

“I’m afraid so.”

“Who is this warlock?” Saintcrow asked.

“I’m not at liberty to give you his name just now,” Izabela said. “But he’s very good at what he does.” She conjured four vials, then looked at the vampires, one brow raised. “Who’s first?”

Kincaid stepped forward, bit into his wrist, and watched his blood fill the first vial. As the second bottle began to fill, he looked at Saintcrow, and with a grimace, he said, “By the time this is over, we’ll be the world’s first anemic vampires.”

Chapter Sixteen

“Ihate to ask this,” Kincaid remarked as they left the witch’s house, “but what do we do if we can’t find Luca, and Izabela’s wizard can’t help?”

“Let’s not go there yet,” Saintcrow replied. “Wewillfind Luca and wewillend this blasted curse. Anything else is unthinkable.”

“What if we find Luca and he didn’t unleash this mess?”

“Dammit, Kincaid, I’m trying to think positive and you’re not helping.”