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knew he could never hurt her. The blood lust eased and his body began to respond to her. When it did, his mind turned to other things. But only with the promise of her consent, he told himself. That above all, was most important. I may be dead, he told himself , but I’m still a gentleman .
    “Show me your Massa’s room,” Lee said. “I’m feeling a bit peaked.”

 
    Chapter Six
     
     
    As promised, two thin young black men slept on the staircase, their feet shackled to chains that were bolted in the wall. Lee moved past them quickly, like a shadow. Livvy followed him down. One of the men moaned in his sleep, rolled over and tried to get comfortable. He peeled a bloodshot eye open and Lee had the uncomfortable feeling that he might cry out. Lee considered draining him, but before he acted on that impulse Livvy shook her head slowly, her eyes going to Lee and then toward a door at the foot of the landing. The man looked at Lee and the door, nodded slowly, and then laid his head back onto the step. His eyes were open, yet he laid still and silent, hardly breathing.
    Livvy stepped over the second man’s feet as she slipped quickly down the stairs behind Lee. Their feet touched the landing, and Lee jerked his head toward the door. Livvy, understanding, nodded.
    Lee considered kicking in the door, but knew that would alert anyone else who was in the saloon. Not that it mattered to him much. Now that he was free, he was certain he could kill anyone who was unfortunate enough to try and stick him back up in the room again. But there was Livvy to consider. She did, after all, free him, and although he didn’t feel love for her, and was certain he could never really experience that emotion again, he felt that she was worthy of his protection. Besides, there was sure fire satisfaction to not crashing down on the town all at once. Such an experience should be savored, like a fine brandy. He wanted to make them suffer for what they did to him, and suffer they would. Slowly, and painfully. The sweet sensation of revenge coursed through him. He turned the door knob.
    “It won’t open,” Lee said. “He’s got it locked.”
    “He don’t lock his door,” Livvy whispered. “Here, let me try.”
    “I don’t know how a girl can do something a grown man can’t.”
    “You ain’t no man no mo so move your skinny ass over.”
    Lee, moved aside. “Yes, ma’am,” he whispered.
    Livvy offered him an appraising look, then turned the door knob. It turned easily. “It’s the same with Phaedra and her mens, they’ve gots to be invited. Since I’ve had to sleep in here with Massa, I feel this is my room too, so I’m inviting you in.”
    Lee nodded, not fully understanding, but tucked the information away in the back of his mind for future reference. Livvy pushed the door open for him and he stepped across the threshold.
    Bruce the Bartender was sleeping alone. He rested on his feather bed in a striped nightshirt and white nightcap. His head was tilted back and his mouth was open. A stream of drool trickled out of the crusty corner of his mouth and down his unshaven cheeks. Lee virtually floated toward him, making no sound at all. Livvy closed the door and stood in front of it, her hands clasped as if in prayer; her eyes hungry with expectation.
    Bruce snorted, uttered a few deep snores, and smacked his lips. Lee grabbed Bruce by the throat, constricting his airway.
    Bruce the bartender jolted awake. His eyes widened as he realized who was leaning over him.
    “I tried to warn you, mister. We all did. But you wouldn’t listen,” he squeaked.
    “You didn’t try hard enough,” Lee said. He grabbed Bruce’s lower jaw, crushing it as he forced the man’s head to the right. Bruce whimpered, and Lee bit down hard on his carotid artery. Bruce’s hands and feet twitched as he convulsed. Lee sucked him dry in a matter of minutes, the barkeep’s body turning into a dried out husk as Lee fed. Livvy watched, biting down on her