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147 Ava: A Vampire’s Goodwill (1)

147 Ava: A Vampire’s Goodwill (1)

The familiar voice comes from behind us. Spinning around, I find Sister Miriam standing in the doorway, exactly as I remember her. Pale skin. Dark hair that seems to swallow light instead of reflecting it. Eerie red eyes that seem to glow in the soft light of the

room.

It occurs to me that the curtains are all wide open, letting natural light into this space. And she visited during the day when we first met.

I really need to learn more about vampires. My lack of knowledge might get me killed.

“How did we get here?” I ask, hating the slight tremor in my words.

It isn’t every day that you open your eyes and realize you’ve been magicked to another place.

Sister Miriam smiles, but there’s something unsettling about the expression. It doesn’t quite reach her eyes. I remember, now, how her face doesn’t really move with her smiles. “You called for me, did you not?”

147 Ava A Vampire’s Goodwill (1)

Each graceful step brings her closer, and I step back, bumping against the warmth of Selene’s body. At least I’m not alone.

It’s almost as if she’s gliding rather than walking.

“I must say, I’m impressed. Not many have the ability to reach me in such a way.”

My brows come together in confusion. “I don’t understand. I just lit the candle and thought of you, like you said.”

“It takes more than just a candle and a thought, child. There must be power behind it. Power that you clearly possess.”

She moves closer to me, and I fight the urge to take another step back. There’s something about her presence that both terrifies and intrigues me. “What do you want from me?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Sister Miriam tilts her head to the side, studying me with those unnerving eyes. “The question is, what do you want from me? You called for me, after all. There must be a reason.”

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la Ave & Vamps Goodwi

sent a letter to the Westwood pack, warning me about danger.”

“That danger is now passed.” She looks me over, the gesture more dismissive than anything else. “You seem to have made it out in one piece. There’s no need to

call me.”

did you try to

the other side. Sometimes, she has an inhuman grace. At other times, it’s like she’s a robot with

look unnatural.

do a good

to respond. Of course there doesn’t need to be a reason, and yet

too calm for our current situation. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the Findɴovel.ɴet website

Shit.

Yeah, he is.

the candle still burning at

a fire hazard.

Vampire’s Goodwill (1)

Miriam turns suddenly, waving us in her general direction. “Come. It

five clocks in the room, all showing different times. I reach into my pocket to check,

Nope.

No phone.

would be way too convenient to call someone and let Lucas know I’m safe and alive if I had

microchip you at

follow Sister Miriam to dinner, even if it should only be lunch time. You

I was

that she had the unusual ability to prophesize the

us into a

a long oak table

filled only

twenty chairs along the sides of

Ava: A Vampire’s Goodwill

the table.

blood, she murmurs. It

and Sister Miriam pulls a chair out at the fair end of the table, motioning toward it.

sitting seems rude. Even so, sitting just seems…

didn’t come for

faint smile. “Don’t worry. No one will harm you while

beside it, looking incongruous as a dog at a fancy

doesn’t even blink,

for me to park my

selected.

into it as requested, tracking the strange woman as she crosses to the

settles into her seat, the double doors at the far end of

18:12

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Ava: A Vampire’s

at something otherworldly. Each carries a covered platter, the

air.

such esteemed guests,” Sister Miriam announces, her voice echoing

an ornate dish before me. “Bon

through the doors, leaving me staring at an array