Free Shiver (Night Roamers) by Kristen Middleton Page B

arrived.”
    It was getting more confusing by the minute. “What about my father? Was he really here last night? Did you kill him?”
    She snorted. “Is that what Ethan told you? That I killed your dad?”
    “Ethan said there was a man outside of the cabin, watching us through the windows. He said you took care of him.”
    She threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, he’s good.”
    I raised my eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
    “I didn’ t kill that man, Ethan did. He ripped his throat out and tossed him into the lake, then went after you.”
    It was hard for me to believe that Ethan had enough time to do that before he’d kidnapped me; but then again, he had unimaginable speed.
    “ Well, why didn’t you stop Ethan? You were outside, supposedly patrolling the area.”
    She smirked. “ Why didn’t I stop him? Well, as far as I’m concerned, your father got what he deserved for being a Peeping Tom. Plus, I heard how he abused your mom. You can’t be too upset about his death.”
    “He was still my father,” I said , trying to be strong around her even though I was bordering on the edge of hysteria. As horrible as he’d treated my mom, I couldn’t help but have feelings for my own father.
    “Fathers aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be,” she said. “Just think of it this way, your mom doesn’t have to live in fear of him anymore.”
    We sat in silence for a while as I stared out towards the lake. It was still horrifying to think that my dad’s body was lost in there.
    “ So, now what? Your dad’s just going to leave the body in the lake?”
    She shrugged. “I’m not sure what dad’s planning on doing. He mentioned trying to blame the recent murders on your dad.”
    I shook my head bitterly. “How convenient.”
    “It is , actually.”
    “That’s not going to fly with me,” I said, sitting up straighter. “Tell your dad that if he frames mine for murder, I’ll make waves.”
    She smiled. “You certainly have balls, I like that. You know what? I’ll just let him know you’re not tickled by the idea.”
    “I’m serious. My dad may have been a jerk, but he didn’t murder any girls and shouldn’t be blamed for it. ”
    “ Fine. Well,” said Celeste. “I’ve got to get going. I haven’t fed for a while and even you’re starting to look interesting.”
    I gave her a murderous look. “Goodbye, Celeste.”
    “Goodbye… Miranda,” she answered with a funny smile.
    I raised my eyebrows. “Miranda? That’s what Ethan called me last summer. What’s that all about, anyway?”
    She laughed. “You still haven’t figured it out yet? He never told you?”
    “No. I still don’t know anything about Ethan other than he’s one of you.”
    She smiled. “Miranda was his wife, Nikki; the love of his life. He’s been searching for her for centuries. Now, he thinks he’s finally found her.”
    I raised my eyebrows. “Seriously? Me?”
    She nodded. “He’s always been obsessed with finding her. All because this old gypsy lady once told him that Miranda would someday return to him.”
    “And he fell for it? Why?”
    “This woman had a kna ck for telling the future, I guess. I’d never met her but Ethan respected and believed in her so-called … prophecies.”
    “So, that’s why he’s so obsessed with me,” I muttered. He wasn’t in love with me at all. He was haunted by Miranda and consumed with finding her.
    “So you see, Nikki, Ethan will do anything for you, only because he believes you’re Miranda. If I were you, however,” she said, getting ready to jump over the balcony, “I’d stay away from him.”
    “Why?”
    She swung her leg over the railing and looked at me. “Remember the girls who were murdered last summer?”
    I nodded.
    “Ethan thought they were his dead wife, too. Until he realized they weren’t, then he murdered them.”
    All the blood rushed to my ears as she leaped off the balcony to the side of her truck. I couldn’t believe that Ethan was