Read A Shade of Vampire 8: A Shade of Kiev for Free Online Page B

“I’m just waiting for Elizabeth so I can go up to bed…”
    Barely had she said the words when a tall vampire wearing a long dress and an apron snaked her way around the tables and stood in front of Mona. She smiled briefly at each of us.
    “Nice to see you again, Mona. How are you?”
    “Fine, thanks. I’m actually planning to stay the night. Do you have an extra guest room available?”
    “I’m sure we can arrange for that.” Elizabeth pulled out a small ledger from her apron pocket and flipped through it. “Room forty is available. You can get the keys from Michelle behind the bar. Anything else you wanted?”
    “Yes.” Mona gestured toward my direction. “This vampire here… his name is Kiev Novalic. He wants to become a resident. I think you’re the best person for him to speak to?”
    Elizabeth looked me over before nodding her head. “Yes,” she said. “I can assist with that.”
    “Good!” Mona sighed. She finished the rest of her second glass of water and stood up. “I’m going up to my room now.”
    “My room isn’t far from yours,” Saira said.
    Mona didn’t so much as glance at me as she nodded and left with the wolf. Elizabeth took a seat next to me and eyed me cautiously once again.
    “Well,” she said. “First of all I suppose I should welcome you to The Tavern, Kiev. Did Mona brief you at all on how things work here? Or should I start at the beginning?”
    “You’d better start at the beginning.”
    “Very well.” She cleared her throat and settled down into a more comfortable position in her chair. “I first need you to answer some questions about yourself. Who are you, where have you come from, and why do you want to stay here?”
    Who am I?
    That question again.
    Who am I… or who do I want to be?
    I settled for the same answer I’d given Mona. “I escaped from Aviary where I was being held hostage. I simply seek shelter, a place I can live without my life being at risk.”
    “Very well,” Elizabeth said, peering at me from across the table. “Sounds simple enough. If you want to live here, you’ll have to contribute. You’ll have to take part in daily service, which can range from manning the gates, to fetching food, to helping with construction projects… Are you willing to be part of a community?”
    “Yes,” I said without thinking. “I’ll do whatever it takes to be accepted here.”
    The truth was, absolutely anything sounded better than my previous existence. I really was willing to do whatever was required to give myself a chance to breathe and experience my own thoughts.
    “That’s what we like to hear.” Elizabeth smiled. “Well, I suggest you get some rest now and I’ll talk with you more about the details of your service tomorrow. I’ll also go over the rules you must obey if you are to live here without getting into trouble. I’m too exhausted to go through all of that with you now. I’ve had a long day.” She closed her ledger. “For tonight, we’ll lodge you in one of the pub’s guest rooms. But tomorrow, we’ll move you to the vampires’ quarters, which is much better suited to your needs.”
    She got up and led me over to the bar. “Hand me the key to room fifty-three please, Michelle. Oh, and is there a spare parasol somewhere behind the counter?”
    Michelle handed her a key and a folded umbrella made of straw. We proceeded through a back door and up a winding staircase. We walked along several dim, carpeted corridors until we reached a small, tidy room that contained nothing but a single bed and a narrow window.
    “Thank you,” I said. “I think I’ll take a walk before resting.”
    “As you wish.” She handed me the umbrella. “Keep this for walking around in the daytime. It’ll save you getting burned to a crisp.”
    With that, she left the room and shut the door behind her. I looked out of the window. The building wasn’t high enough to allow a view of the sea. All I could see were large trees.
    I left the room