Not here, Blair told herself. Not really here, just the illusion of her. But to prove it, she hurled a stake. And watched it pass right through Lora’s figure to embed itself into the wall.
“That was rude.” Lora turned with a little pout. “Hardly a way to welcome a guest.”
“You weren’t invited.”
“No, we were interrupted the last time, before you could invite me in. But still, I brought you a present. Something picked just especially for you. I went all the way to America for it. All the way to Boston.”
She did a long, sweeping turn with her eyes bright as suns. “Wouldn’t you like to see? Or would you like to guess? Yes, yes, you must guess! Three guesses.”
To show complete lack of interest, Blair stood hip-shot, a hand hooked in the pocket of her jeans. “I don’t play games with the undead, Fifi.”
“You’re just no fun, are you? But one day we’ll have fun, you and I.” She floated closer, running her tongue over fangs before she smiled. “I have so many plans for you. Men have let you down, haven’t they? Poor Blair. Withheld their love, and you crying out for it inside.”
“The only thing I’m crying out for is an end to this conversation before it makes me sick.”
“What you need is a woman. What you need…” She trailed a finger in the air, a breath away from Blair’s cheek. “Yes, bien sur, you need the power and the pleasure I’d give you.”
“I don’t go for cheap blondes with silly French accents. Plus the outfit? It’s so last week.”
Lora hissed, her head snapping forward as if to bite.
“I’ll make you sorry, and I’ll make you grovel. Then I’ll make you scream.”
Deliberately, Blair widened her eyes. “Golly. Does that mean you don’t want to date me anymore?”
With a laugh, Lora spun away. “I like you, I really do. You have, ah…flair. That’s why I brought you such a special present. I’ll just go get it. Wait one minute.”
She stepped backward, through the mirrors.
“Fuck this,” Blair muttered. She grabbed a crossbow, armed it. With the bow in one hand, the scythe in the other, she began to move cautiously toward the door.
This was Glenna’s area, not hers. Time to call in the witch.
But Lora slid through the wall again, and what she pulled with her had Blair’s blood freezing.
“No. No, no, no.”
“He is handsome.” Lora slid a tongue down Jeremy’s cheek as he struggled against her hold. “I can see why you feel for him.”
“You’re not here.” Oh God, his face was bleeding. His right eye swollen nearly shut. “It’s not real.”
“Not here, but real. Say hello, Jeremy.”
“Blair? Blair? What’s going on? What are you doing here? What’s happening?”
“It was so easy.” Lora clamped a hand on his throat, choking him as she lifted him an inch off the floor. And laughing when Blair charged them, flew through them and ran hard against the wall. “I just picked him up in a bar. A few drinks, a few suggestions. Men are deceivers ever. That’s Shakespeare. ‘Why don’t we go to your place?’ was all I needed to whisper into his ear. And here we are.”
She brought him down so his feet touched the ground, but kept her hand around his neck. “I would have fucked him first, but it seemed that would take the shine off the gift.”
“Help me.” He choked it out, wheezing each breath. “Blair, you have to help me.”
“Help me,” Lora mimicked and threw him to the ground.
“Why are you wasting your time with him?” Blair felt her stomach twist as Jeremy crawled toward her. “You want me, come for me.”
“Oh, I will.” Lora leaped, falling on Jeremy. Dragging him to his back, she straddled him. “This weak—yet attractive—human broke your heart. Isn’t that so?”
“He dumped me. What do I care what you do to him? You’re wasting your time with him when you should be dealing with me.”