Beautiful Monster: The Hunt (Book 2) (10 page)
Read Beautiful Monster: The Hunt (Book 2) Online
Authors: Jeanne Bannon
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Lev pulled Carly aside but Alina heard their conversation as clearly as if they were standing in front of her.
“We can’t leave yet,” Lev said. “We’ll help find the girl and then we’ll go.”
Carly let out a growl of displeasure. “I won’t stay another minute. I hate what I’ve done. I hate what I’ve become. I hate what she made us!”
Then Lev’s voice again, soft and comforting, “Think about it, Carly. We’re at her mercy. We can’t leave. We are creatures of the night now. Like it or not. And...and, I’m not so sure she can send us home even if she wanted to.”
“What?” Carly shrieked. “What did you say? Please, Lev, tell me that’s not true.”
“Shhhhh. Keep your voice down. We owe it to the girl at least. Think of the child, that poor imp. Think of how scared she must be. Think of what might be happening to her right now. What tortures—”
“I am not yet creature enough to let those worries go. Of course, I’m worried about the girl.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “But I don’t think anyone can save her now.”
With Carly’s words, Alina jumped to her feet and was at her side in an instant. “As your maker, I can disown you; leave you to make your way in this world on your own. Ask Lev what that’s like. I’m sure he has many unsavory tales. The one thing I do have is my book of spells.” Alina turned to Lev. “Actually, I found it in the attic of your brother’s house. Did you even know it was there?”
Lev shook his head.
“We can take it from you,” Carly said, her lips twisting into a smile.
“Yes, I’m sure the two of you could manage to wrestle it away from me but can either of you understand Latin?” She got no response. “That book is the only hope you two have of getting back to ... to where ever the hell you came from and since I can read Latin, I’m you’re only hope.”
“We’ll help you find ZoZo,” Lev said, looking at Carly and giving her a nod as if compelling her to agree.
Alina smiled through her sorrow. At least, she’d have help. It shouldn’t be too hard to track ZoZo down. The child was in the company of stupid humans after all.
“I need to grab my book. It’s back in the apartment where Boris was killed.” As Alina started down the hallway, she heard Lev call, “I know the perfect place to stay while we search for the girl.”
She knew the place he was referring to before he’d even alluded to it. Lev, she thought, may want to go back to where she’d conjured him from, but for now, he’d have to settle for just going home—to the place where he’d lived his immortal life with his brother before Boris claimed it as his own.
Before Alina left to fetch the
Book of Spells
, something caught her attention. In the corner by the window lay a purple crayon. She scooped it up and held to her unbeating heart. ZoZo had been here! Something else caught her attention. Why hadn’t she noticed it before? It was a scent beneath that of the foul humans who’d just occupied the room but this scent was feral. It was the acrid smell of the undead.
Fear took her in rough hands. ZoZo may not have been taken by mere mortals after all.
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About the Autho
r
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Other books by Jeanne Bannon:
Beautiful Monster — The Exchange (Book 1)
Jeanne Bannon is an award winning, international best-selling author. She has worked in the publishing industry for over twenty-five years, first as a freelance journalist, then as an in-house editor for LexisNexis. She currently works as a freelance editor and writer.
When not reading or writing, Jeanne enjoys spending time with her daughters, Nina and Sara and her husband, David. She’s also the proud mother of two fur babies, a cuddly and affectionate Boston Terrier named Lila and Spencer, a rambunctious tabby, who can be a very bad boy.
Discover more about Jeanne Bannon