Read Last Bitten (The Emerald Night Series) for Free Online Page A

the dark ensemble of red carpets, baroque-style arches, and black walls with a majestic center staircase that led up to the upper-level balcony.
    Nia knew they were going up and away , and they did. Upon hitting the upper level and making a left down the red-candlelit hall, the butler offered Nia a gold chalice, expectantly placed on black-marble table with marble legs adorned in carved cherubs. Nia took the cup and drank, peering in at the dark liquid.
    “Blood?” s he asked.
    The butler nodded .
    “Drink ,” Bruce insisted. “You must keep up, for the night ahead will be busy and you will be tested.”
    “Tested? What now? I thought this was a done deal.” Nia drank and enjoyed the sweeter flavor, tinted with a hint of mint. “Refreshing.”
    “I stay here . You go up with Florence; she’ll introduce you to your coffin room.”
    The stairs spiraled up; Nia followed the blonde bombshell, realizing she hadn’t uttered a single word.
    “Are we in one of the towers?” Nia asked , gripping the ring box in one hand and the chalice in the other.
    Florence opened the heavy, red door with a single white calla lily carved dead center. It looked real. Nia stroked the smooth curves then entered to find the room filled with real calla lilies. She gasped. “How does Johnny know I love these?” She looked to Florence, who had disappeared off into a walk-in closet on the right. Nia flopped onto the silkiness of the bedding on the cherry-wood, four-poster bed. It was obviously centuries old; she could feel it speak. Memories of something flashed in her mind, something bad—pain. She jumped back up.”Where’s the coffin?”
    Florence pointed to the large mirror that hung on the left side of the room .
    “What , you don’t speak? What is it?” Nia asked, leery of the silence.
    Florence shook her head no .
    “Why not ? Wait staff banned from talking?”
    Florence shook her head no and looked down as if ashamed .
    “I’m sorry . I don’t mean to pry. I guess I never thought that you were mute. I’m sorry if I offended you in any way.”
    Florence nodded then signed something with her hands .
    “Oh , I . . . I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you mean. I don’t know ASL.” Nia shrugged palms open as they both stood in front of the large, silver, antique mirror. “I guess I’ll have to learn.”
    Florence reached a hand out to her , took Nia’s hand and held it, then opened her mouth. Nia backed up in shock. “You have no tongue?”
    Florence nodded and smiled sadly .
    “Should I ask how that happened? I mean, you could write for me .”
    Florence nodded no , then took Nia’s hand again this time cupping it in her own. Florence nodded and closed her eyes, then motioned for Nia to do the same.
    A s cene unraveled in Nia’s conscious, like she’d flashed back fifteen years. She saw a young, ethereal woman framed in long, sleek, white-blonde hair that just barely touched the white marble floor. The woman held a pair of scissors, inching slowly but surely toward her. Nia felt her arms tied, all the while drowning in an awful sense of fear and hatred.
    Nia let go in shock and covered her face. “She cut out your tongue?”
    Florence nodded again , the hurt in her hazel eyes.
    “Because you broke her favorite vase? I just don’t get that . Who is this woman? That is so awful— You don’t ever need to worry about me doing something like that, okay?” Nia gave Florence a hug, feeling the middle-aged woman’s anguish and mortality. “I’m so, so sorry.”
    Nia deeply felt Florence’s pain. This new ability to connect with others was strange, to say the least. In their embrace, Nia also knew that Florence hadn’t touched another person in many years. Why she had touched Nia just now, Nia wasn’t sure. They had instantly bonded.
    Nia pointed back at the mirror. “Am I missing something?”
    Florence smiled and pressed on the left side of the mirror. It swung open and another set of stairs led up into the