The Lost Night Read Free

simple instability of the aura.” She was ratherproud of the
does not present
line. It sounded clinical, she thought; very professional. “There’s a whole chunk of the normal spectrum missing in his energy field. Think flatlined.”
    “That’s not possible,” Ian snapped. “If his aura was flatlined, he’d be dead.”
    “Not his entire aura. But there is a blank section on his spectrum. It’s like someone shut down the lights in that region.”
    “I would remind you, Miss Blake, that it is your job—indeed, the mission of this clinic—to turn on those lights for our patients.”
    “Okay, maybe the light thing was a bad analogy. Let me try another approach. In the old days, people would have said Lancaster was soulless. That was always a big element in the traditional vampire myth, you know. Today most laypeople would tell you that Lancaster lacks anything resembling a conscience.”
    “This is a para-psychiatric clinic, Miss Blake,” Ian said. It sounded as if he had his teeth clenched. “We do not deal in matters of religion or philosophy. We are focused on using modern science to diagnose and heal illnesses of the para-senses.”
    “And a worthy goal that is,” she said quickly. “I’m all for it. In fact, I was thrilled when you asked me to come to work here. I’ve always felt I had a calling to do this kind of work. Oh, wait, that sounds sort of religious or philosophical, doesn’t it? I mean, if my life had taken a different direction, I might have had your job.”
    Ian’s eyeshardened. “Think so?”
    Okay, that had been a tactical mistake.
    “Well, no, probably not,” she admitted. “I wasn’t born for upper management.”
    Another poor choice of words, she realized.
    Ian flushed a dark red. Alarmed, she rushed to calm the gathering storm.
    “I’m more of an entrepreneur,” she explained. “I could never do the kind of work that you do. What I’m trying to tell you is that I can’t fix Marcus Lancaster or anyone else like him.”
    “In that case,” Ian said evenly, “your services are no longer needed here at the Chapman Clinic. You’ve got fifteen minutes to clear out your desk. A member of the security staff will escort you to the door.”
    Although she knew an escort to the door was standard procedure when someone got fired, it hurt to know that Ian did not trust her.
    “Afraid I’ll steal some paper clips or a list of your drug company clients on my way out?” she asked.
    Ian shook his head and exhaled heavily. “I’m sorry about this, Rachel. I really believed that you would be an asset to my team.”
    She rezzed her talent. The charms on her bracelet clashed lightly on her wrist, generating just enough ultralight to allow her to view Ian’s energy field. Ian was angry but he was also experiencing genuine disappointment and regret. He had taken a chance on her, hoping that she might give him an edgein the highly competitive world of para-psych drug research, and she had failed him.
    She heard Carl and Marcus Lancaster in the hall behind her. She did not turn around but she could feel the monster’s energy.
    “Isn’t she lovely, Carl?” Lancaster asked. “Miss Blake is going to be my bride, you know. The voices tell me that she’s my perfect match. We have so much in common.”
    “Congratulations,” Carl said. “Be sure to send me an invitation to the wedding.”
    “I’ll do that,” Lancaster said, sounding pleased.
    “Meanwhile, it’s time for lunch.”
    “Yes, of course,” Lancaster said. “Do you suppose there will be quiche and perhaps a nice white wine at lunch today? I haven’t had a decent meal since I arrived here.”
    “This is Wednesday,” Carl said. “That means meat loaf.”
    “I really don’t like meat loaf,” Lancaster said. “But I will tolerate anything so long as I can be near my beloved. Her radiance lightens my aura like a fine champagne.”
    “No wine at lunch, either,” Carl said.
    “I was afraid of that,” Lancaster