by Joni Green
“Don’t do it,” the woman’s voice intoned.
Perdix shut his eyes and threw the crystal at the Ichor. It exploded on impact, turning the vampire into a pile of dry, gray dust. The old man gathered the remaining crystals and turned to leave.
He halted at the sound of clapping hands.
“Well done,” said the male voice.
“Andolin,” breathed Perdix.
Chapter 45
You
No finer banquet spread
Than that of pulsing veins.
The delicate nectar drips down my throat.
So beautiful that scarlet stain.
*****
“You needn’t think those rocks will work on me,” said Andolin.
“I don’t think anything,” said Perdix, chanting a spell in his mind.
The old man stood before the Ichor. He looked old and totally exhausted. He bent his head and coughed. This time, blood splattered the front of his layered tunic.
Andolin stared at the droplets. The tip of his tongue licked his bottom lip. It was all the distraction that Perdix needed.
He broke the locket from its delicate chain and thrust his hand into the pouch. Without looking, Perdix knew his fingers had grasped the correct crystal. It burned inside his palm.
The alchemist flung the blue crystal wrapped with the chain that held the locket with the locks of hair the Queen had given him so long ago. Andolin flung up his arm to ward off the deadly thing, but it was no use.
The Ichor threw his head back and roared.
It was a sound like nothing Perdix had ever heard, and the old man cupped his ears against the deafening noise.
He looked left and right, and seeing the coast was clear, bolted for the exit to the caves.
Just as he was squatting down to grasp the edge of the ledge, he felt a touch on the back of his shoulder.
“One finger would send you plummeting to your death, dear alchemist.”
“Oh, god,” Perdix gasped. “It’s you.”
Chapter 46
Stupid Fool
To soar above the rooftops
Beneath the pale silver of moonlight.
There is nothing more beautiful or so promising.
A feast awaits and you are mine for the taking.
*****
“Don’t be in such a rush to leave, my friend,” said the sultry voice.
“I should have guessed,” said Perdix.
“You should have, but age has dulled your senses,” Ava said.
“You look lovely, my child,” he said.
A racking series of coughs overtook the old man. This time, the cough was genuine.
“I think I want to have you around for awhile,” she said. “But it seems, your time is short.”
“Ava,” he said, “I tried to save you.”
“It was not enough.”
“You’re right,” he said. “I am sorry. But I can give you peace.”
“What makes you think I want it? Strip off your rags. You aren’t going to surprise me like you did the others.”
Perdix began to strip off the first layer of rags. A fit of coughing overtook him, and he doubled over. Out of Ava’s line of vision, his hand jerked the string, and it broke. He held the vial in his hand, pulled out the cork, and let the liquid slide down his throat. In one move, he leaped off the ledge and sailed out into the air and down the mountainside.
Ava shook her head.
“Stupid fool,” she said.
Chapter 47
Rough Landing
Grim.
The pallid flesh
When mortal breath abandons.
Red and Rosy,
Pretty posie.
Crimson so becomes you.
*****
His body bounced downward for thousands of feet. He landed in some scraggly brush at the foot of the mountain. He should have been torn to pieces, battered to a pulp, dead the instant he crashed the first time into the sheer rock wall.
He blinked, and his vision cleared. A hand reached to his forehead, snagging a lock of jet black hair. The hand was young and unblemished. The hair lacked one strand of gray.
The vial had worked. Perdix was young again.
As he laid on the ground, the laughter bubbled from his soul.
“What are you doing, stranger? Are you overcome with madness?”
It was a shepherd.
“No,” said Perdix. “I was just enjoying the beauty of your little valley. And thinking how great it is to be alive.”
“You speak as the madman,” said the shepherd. “Come. I will fix you some vittles by my fire. I will fill your stomach, then, perhaps your words will make more sense.”
Perdix got up. His legs were strong and the muscles rippled on the back of his shins.
“Thank you for your kind offer,” the alchemist said. “But I must be on my way.”
“Where to?” asked the shepherd. “There’s nothing here but scrub brush and rocks.”
“And demons that haunt your days and nights.”
“Aye,” said the shepherd. “Those we’ve plenty of.”
The shepherd turned to look at one of his bleating sheep.
“What do you smell, lass? A wolf? A bear?”
Looking back, he saw the tiny silhouette of a young man disappearing over the crest of a distant hill.
To: Jennifer.
About the Author
Joni Green is the author of the Cupid/Archer mystery series, as well as other historical novels, dark paranormal romance, and cozy mysteries. She also writes and illustrates children’s books.
She makes her home online at www.jonigreen.com.
You can connect with Joni on Twitter @JG_jonigreen, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JoniGreenauthor, and you can send her an email at [email protected].
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Also by JONI GREEN
Murder at the Buy-Right – A Cozy Mystery
Secrets of Beddelac Island - A Cozy Mystery
Beastly House (A Cupid/Archer Mystery 1) – 1920’s Murder Mystery
Cupid’s Archer (A Cupid/Archer Mystery 2) – 1920’s Murder Mystery
The Dust of Death (A Cupid/Archer Mystery 3) – 1920’s Murder Mystery
Ashes of Yesterday (A Cupid/Archer Mystery 4) – 1920’s Murder Mystery
Pale Moon Over Paradise (Book 1) – 1950s Jim Crow Era
Five Miles to Paradise (Book 2) – 1950s Murder Mystery
Songs of the Night – Civil War Romance
The Bad Room – Horror
In the Belly of the Beast – Dark Paranormal Romance
Behind The Smile – Collection of Short Stories
Children’s Books by Joni Green
Let’s Count to 10
The Alphabet is Easy
One Raindrop
The Magic Trunk
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