Free Vampire Vacation by C. J. Ellisson Page A

of the long room. The cabins each have a small bedroom with a king-size bed, a well-appointed bath and a large living area containing a kitchenette. Accepting his offer to sit, I head to the table and take a seat.
    “No, we don’t expect our guests to be checking.”
    He’s trying to catch my eye, staring intently at my face with a pensive look. Could he have sensed my true age for a moment while I was outside? Or did I appear older with the recent infuse of power? What age am I to those who can read power signatures well? If he did sense something, I may have invited more trouble on my little fact-finding mission then I need right now.
    Hiding my true age keeps the guests calm. It leaves them unthreatened, allowing them to unwind, while protecting all we hold dear here. Most vamps would go on high alert when they encounter another undead older than themselves, which would not be conducive to a relaxing trouble-free vacation now, would it?
    Drew pulls me out of my depressing thoughts with a question.
    “I like the look of the main building. What made you choose the southern plantation style with the big columns and such?”
    Wow, where the hell did that come from? I’m used to the guests asking questions about the place, but the timing feels weird to me right now.
    “Rafe and I have traveled extensively and we’ve always thought the mansions down south had a relaxed air about them. Dignified and refined, yet somehow welcoming at the same time.”
    “The sunny yellow siding with black shutters does have a nice glow against all the snow. I think you both chose well.”
    Does this seem surreal to me because I’m hyped up on Jon’s blood or is he pumping me for information?
    He continues, oblivious of my discomfort. “The grounds here are extensive. I imagine one could come back again and again over the years and still find more to discover.”
    “Which was our hope. We wanted the guests to always find something new on their tour of the property.”
    “Those greenhouses with the UV lighting are a smart investment as well. You can grow fresh essentials for the employees and the guests who require it. You really have thought this out, haven’t you?”
    Well, crap, he has been doing a lot of exploring. Normally, it would be fine, but I don’t appreciate the twenty questions. My hopped-up brain is having a hard time sensing nuances in his speech, which means I can’t tell if he has a hidden agenda. It’s best to bail now or try to get this conversation firmly back on track.
    Before I have a chance to think up an intelligent topic, Drew fires out yet another question and observation.
    “You are more than you appear to be aren’t you, Vivian? That makes me even more intrigued than I was before.”
    It’s time to put a stop to his curiosity for now. I can’t mess around anymore. Projecting an air of innocence about myself, and some slight confusion at his question, I slip into his mind and push him to doubt what he sensed earlier, while blurring the information in his mind he thinks he can assume about me.
    When answering his question, I refer back to the word “appear” he’d used in his question to make it seem like I think he’s being literal.
    “I realize the sturdy jeans and bulky sweater combined with the heavy down jacket isn’t a look that works on me. But in a pinch, it’ll do to protect my skin.” I smile a vapid grin. “A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.”
    Drew’s eyes mirror his thoughts perfectly. My flippant comment combined with the push has done its job. He’s lost some of the assuredness I saw when I first met his eyes. Now would be good time to beat a hasty retreat before I lose the fragile moment. My earlier curiosity over his choice to visit here alone will have to be addressed another time. Rising from my seat, I head toward the exit.
    “I trust your stay here so far has been a good one?”
    He looks a bit dizzy; maybe I pushed too much. Damn. Subtlety is hard when amped