Mixed Blessing (Mixed Blessing Mystery, Book 1) (41 page)

I spun around to face it, stake out and knife ready to go. Shane Smith walked round the corner of the alley and stood ten metres away. He smiled his shy smile and thrust his hands deep into his pockets. His shock of white curly hair caught the glint of a street light, his pale features in contrast to his black attire, regular wear for members of Michel's inner circle.

“
Hey Shane,” I said as I sheathed my knife and pocketed my stake. “What's up?”

Shane had been turned no less than thirty years ago, by none other than Michel Durand, the Master Vampire of Auckland City. He was now serving his time as Michel's gopher, the vamp who took messages and parcels where they needed to go. He was a weakling, as far as vamps go and always would be. But I liked him, I couldn't help it. I felt sorry for the guy. Who knew you had to give up your soul
and
live for ever like a doormat when offered life for eternity. He was a sorry excuse for a vampire, but he meant no one any harm.

“
The Master wishes to see you,” he said with a small tentative smile.

I sighed. “Now Michel knows I'm not one of his puppets to order around, so why don't you just go and tell your
Master
that I'm kind of busy tonight.”

“
Aww, come on, Luce! Ya know I can't return to him without ya, he'd have me for dinner, he would.”

Unfortunately, as melodramatic as that sounded, he would. Michel might be one of the nice guys, but he was a Master Vampire in charge of a city, albeit a city in the antipodes, he had to be strong and ruthless when it counted. I had no doubt Shane would clob it for my refusal to
attend
.

Another sigh and another subconscious flattening of my skirt and shirt. “OK, let's go see the Master,” I said as I strode past him into the night.

Book two in the Mixed Blessing Mystery Series:
Dark Shadow
- coming soon!

Find more Nicola Claire books at:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5831941.Nicola_Claire