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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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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 save

other times, it’s like she’s a robot with bad programming,

look unnatural.

there be a reason to do a good

sure how to respond. Of course there doesn’t need to

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Shit.

Yeah, he is.

is the candle still

fire hazard.

Vampire’s Goodwill

in her general direction. “Come. It is time for

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

Nope.

No phone.

too convenient to call someone and let Lucas know I’m safe and alive if I had kept my phone on me like a normal person. Instead,

microchip you at

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

was coming today?”

that she had the unusual ability to

says, leading us into a

oak table

filled only

quick count shows twenty chairs

Ava: A Vampire’s Goodwill (1)

the table.

blood, she murmurs.

shudder makes its way down my spine, and Sister Miriam pulls a chair out at the fair end of the table, motioning toward it.

rude. Even so, sitting just seems… awkward.

didn’t come for a

“Don’t worry. No one will harm you while you are in

it, looking incongruous as a

even blink, only

me to park my

selected.

as requested, tracking the strange woman as she crosses to the other side of

double doors at the far end of the room swing open,

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Ava: A Vampire’s Goodwill

at something otherworldly. Each carries a covered platter, the scent of food wafting through the

air.

us. We were woefully unprepared for such esteemed guests,” Sister Miriam announces, her voice echoing

an ornate dish before me. “Bon appétit,” they murmur, their voices soft yet

appear, they vanish back through the doors, leaving me staring at an array of