Extraits

Chapter One

I curled my fingers around a sharp brick windowsill that hung three stories from the ground and effortlessly pulled myself up to nose level. Mumbled voices passed through the thickly paned glass, and listening, I could make out about every other world.

"Night Quenn... harem... find... kill."

Under cover of darkness, I hauled my leather-clad body the rest of the way up lowered the backs of my legs onto the ledge. I leaned in, my straining ears, almost touching the cool glass in hopes of hearing a single name spoken - Rue.

Several tense seconds passed... more mumbles, and then jackpot.

"Snake.. Rue... brownstone... important buyer."

That was all I needed to hear. I dropped the ground and jogged away form the opulent mansion that once held me prisoner, a place where bad things happened.

I looked at my watch. "Shit". Time wasn't on my side. The brownstone that the Night Queen's thugs spoke of was ten miles from here, and for all I knew, my friend could already be in the wind.

I swept the side of my ear, turning on a transmitter. "Keri. Meet me in front of Strange Brew and be ready to move. I know where they're holding Rue."

Normally, I'd handle this rescue on my own. But considering the fire power that awaited me at brownstone, I figured a little help from a friend wouldn't hurt.

"I'm only three blocks from that dive," a familiar voice said, "bet I get there first."

The 'dive' was a rhythm and blues joint with the best entertainment you could find in Rowen City. The well-hidden hole-in-the-wall was tucked away between warehouses in a less than savory neighbourhood. Its main cliental consisted of mostly locals - not all the human variety.

I smiled. "Our standard wager, then?"

"Oh, you bet your sweet ass, Sis?"

Sis was what my best friend Keri call me. She said it was not only short for Cassis, but how she considered me.

After only knowing her for six months, I guess that said something.