"Barb & J. C. Hendee - Noble Dead 01 - Dhampir" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hendee JC & Barb)

Epilogue



For Jaclyn, our little starving artist raised by two starving artists




Prologue



The village appeared deserted but for thin trails of smoke escaping clay chimneys to drift up and dissolve
in the darkness. All doors were barred, all window shutters latched tight until only the barest wisps of
light from candles or lamps seeped between their cracks. There was no one in the village’s muddy center
path to see the night-shadowed object flitter toward a cottage near the tree line.

The shadow stopped, hesitating next to the cottage. Slowly, its form shifted and expanded as it ceased
to consciously hide itself. Nothingness became booted feet and reaching arms, a tall and slim torso, and a
head with two pinprick glimmers for eyes. It scaled a tree rapidly and jumped onto its goal.

Settling upon the thatched roof, it slid on its belly to crawl headfirst down one wall. Then it stopped,
poised at the top of a shuttered window. One finger extended to slip a clawlike fingernail between the
shutters. Prying and pulling, it worked at the shutter until the latch finally gave with a sharp snap. The
figure paused, waiting, listening for any answering sound from within the room. When none came, it
pulled the shutters open.

On a bed inside lay a small, old woman. Long silver hair, tied in a braid, rested next to her head across a
yellowed linen pillow. A faded patchwork quilt of carmine and teal squares covered her.

The creature hung its head down through the window. Its voice sounded like an echo across a vast plain
as it whispered, “May I come in?”

The old woman moved slightly in her sleep.

Again the voice asked with a touch of yearning, “Please, old mother, may I come in?”

She moaned and rolled, her face turning to the window. On her wrinkled brow was a small, white scar
half smothered by the creases of aged skin. Her eyes remained closed in sleep as she murmured in reply.
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“Yes ... yes, come in.”

The visitor reached one arm through the opening and upward to set its fingernails in the wall. It crawled
over the upper edge of the window, letting its feet swing inward, then dropped soundlessly to the