Anita Blake 15 - The Harlequin Read Free Page A

aware that he was slumping. "You won't even give me that, will you? Please tell Jean-Claude what I have told you. I should have come to you immediately. I thought morals kept me from running to the very power structure I despise, but it wasn't morals, it was sin; the sin of pride. I hope that my pride has not cost more of my followers their lives." He went for the door.
    I called after him. "Malcolm."
    He turned.
    "How big an emergency is this?"
    "Big."
    "Will a couple of hours make a difference?"
    He thought about it. "Perhaps; why do you ask?"
    "I won't be seeing Jean-Claude tonight. I just wanted to know if I should call him, give him a heads-up."
    "Yes, by all means, give him his heads-up." He frowned at me. "Why would you not see your master tonight, Anita? Aren't you living with him?"
    "Actually, no. I stay over at his place about half the week, but I've got my own place still."
    "Will you be killing more of my kindred tonight?"
    I shook my head.
    "Then you will raise my other colder brethren. Whose blissful death will you disturb tonight, Anita? Whose zombie will you raise so some human can get their inheritance, or a wife can be consoled?"
    "No zombies tonight," I said. I was too puzzled by his attitude on the zombies to be insulted. I'd never heard a vampire claim any kinship with zombies, or ghouls, or anything but other vamps.
    "Then what will keep you from your master's arms?"
    "I've got a date, not that it's any of your business."
    "But not a date with Jean-Claude, or Asher?"
    I shook my head.
    "Your wolf king then, Richard?"
    I shook my head, again.
    "For whom would you abandon those three, Anita? Ah, your leopard king, Micah."
    "Wrong again."
    "I am amazed that you are answering my questions."
    "So am I, actually. I think it's because you keep calling me a whore, and I think I want to rub your face in it."
    "What, the fact that you are a whore?" His face showed nothing when he said it.
    "I knew you couldn't do it," I said.
    "Do what, Ms. Blake?"
    "I knew you couldn't play nice long enough to get my help. I knew if I kept at you, you'd get snotty and mean."
    He gave a small bow, just from the neck. "I told you, Ms. Blake, my sin is pride."
    "And what's my sin, Malcolm?"
    "Do you want me to insult you, Ms. Blake?"
    "I just want to hear you say it."
    "Why?"
    "Why not?" I said.
    "Very well; your sin is lust, Ms. Blake, as it is the sin of your master and all his vampires."
    I shook my head and felt that unpleasant smile curl my lips. The smile that left my eyes cold, and usually meant I was well and truly pissed. "That's not my sin, Malcolm, not the one nearest and dearest to my heart."
    "And what would your sin be, Ms. Blake?"
    "Wrath, Malcolm, it's wrath."
    "Are you saying I've made you angry?"
    "I'm always angry, Malcolm; you just gave me a target to focus it on."
    "Do you envy anyone, Ms. Blake?"
    I thought about it, then shook my head. "Not really, no."
    "I will not ask about sloth; you work entirely too hard for that to be an issue. You are not greedy, nor a glutton. Are you prideful?"
    "Sometimes," I said.
    "Wrath, lust, and pride, then?"
    I nodded. "I guess, if we're keeping score."
    "Oh, someone is keeping score, Ms. Blake, never doubt that."
    "I'm Christian, too, Malcolm."
    "Do you worry about getting into heaven, Ms. Blake?"
    It was such an odd question that I answered it. "I did, for a while, but my faith still makes my cross glow. My prayers still have the power to chase the evil things away. God hasn't forsaken me; it's just that all the right-wing fundamentalist Christians want to believe he has. I've seen evil, Malcolm, real evil, and you aren't that."
    He smiled, and it was gentle, and almost embarrassed. "Have I come to you for absolution, Ms. Blake?"
    "I don't think I'm the one to give you absolution."
    "I would like a priest to hear my sins before I die, Ms. Blake, but none will come near me. They are holy, and the very trappings of their calling will burst into flames in my presence."
    "Not