Read Fire Nectar 2 for Free Online Page A

did her name have to be Marion? God…what kind of prankster are you?
    As he walked away he pulled out his phone and dialed. Daniella’s name jumped onto the screen with the absence of a photo. It occurred to him then that he owned no pictures of her. He vowed to remedy that, hoping he’d have the chance. He frowned as her machine answered. What is happening down there , he wondered, not liking in the least that he had a clear suspicion.
    “Dani here. You know what to do, and if you don’t, I can’t help you.” The beep sounded for him to leave a voicemail.
    “Dani, it’s Josh. William and I couldn’t get a flight out tonight. Because of the noise curfew, there are no flights until morning. I’m in San Francisco, but I don’t have emergency lodgings set up for dawn on the freeways. I’ll be on the first plane out tomorrow. I look forward to seeing your face again, mon ami.”
    As he stepped on the rubber mat, the electric doors opened, allowing the cool air to rush over him. He headed to the taxi stand, still holding the phone to his ear in silence, her voicemail waiting patiently for his goodbye. He wondered if he should say more. In a quieter, more intimate tone, he chose to add, “Dani, I understand what you’re going through right now. I understand it more than Elizabeth does and I want you to know, you’re not alone. Do you hear me? You’re not alone. I’ll see you tomorrow. Adieu.”
    He hung up just as a taxi driver opened a door to his car. Damn the sun, he thought. He didn’t want to wait.

6
    19 May 1812
La Chabanais - Paris
    T he soft knock on the door was charming. It was as quiet as a child’s, only higher up on the wood. The vampires stood up from the floor, dusted themselves off and straightened their waistcoats. Planning to be near the girl lest there be need of a rescue, Ludovico motioned for Joshua to stay put until. Joshua watched Ludovico walk toward the door and steeled himself for anything, his self-containment once more a struggle. Excitement and fear battled within his every cell. The fear was of the most terrifying of foes…the unknown. His behavior a moment ago had surprised him. He’d never before been a violent man in any way and here he was with murder on the mind. He gulped–an unreleased human habit–as Ludovico cast a sharp warning glance toward him and gravely turned the doorknob with a human’s slower pace.
    The door opened wide. Before them stood the loveliest woman Joshua had ever seen. She was as Ludovico had requested, shyly demure, with hair like silky chocolate that was tied in ribbon and ringlets of the current fashion, and skin pink with youthful bloom. She was not dressed as the other women he had seen this night. Instead, her dress was modest and it matched the deep, beautiful green of her eyes exactly. Rounded with innocence and larger than her face should allow, those eyes bewitched his heart as they peeked into the room with delicate, ethereal curiosity. She looked up at Ludovico. They widened still more! But when they fell on Joshua’s speechless countenance, a shy smile tickled her lips and she, on the whole, appeared to shine brightly–a light that felt like it was just for him. He had never been so singularly stunned in all his life.
    She stepped gingerly into the room, past Ludovico whom she now seemed to have forgotten altogether, toward the equally awestruck composer who gaped at her with eyebrows raised high. Upon breathing her in, her scent of freshly washed roses, milk and innocence filled his body with an aching that longed to pull her into his arms where he could inhale her soul.
    She parted her soft pink lips to speak, to beg pardon and introduce herself with merely a whisper, “Je m’apelle Marion. Bonjour.”
    It was the end of him. Joshua fell at once, head over heels in blinded love.
    All his fears dissipated immediately. How could he hurt this girl? He could not. He would not! This vow he gave himself instantly and meant to keep it, no