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The man went down.
Filled with rage Jack stormed from the building.
He glared at her, the crimson still locked where an icy blue had once reigned.
She grabbed them, shot them down, and swayed. Jack walked around her to stand
before her Sage.
 How about you Trent? Are you ready for a drink.
There was one star in the sky whose brightness masked all others. A grey swirl
of cloud covered much of the sky, save for an island of black where that lone
star shone.
Below the ether the air was calm, yet saturated with the scent of Columbia. A
café, hidden within the midst of retail outlets, grocers and a movie complex,
acted like a magnet with its aroma as its pulling force. Tables, overstuffed
chairs and couches filled within and without onto a patio for the overflow.
Cecil sat alone at the table where she often found Jack reading. The large cup
of coffee, half drank, was on the table before her. A muffin lay untouched
beside it.
 Did you think he d change? a deep voice said from behind.
Cecil did not turn. She stayed focused on the mug, the table, and the empty
chair. A
tall, slender but well-muscled man walked around to the vacant seat. Pulling
it back he tossed his long, dark hair away from his eyes with one hand. Cecil
immediately grabbed the chair with her foot and yanked it back flush with the
table.
She growled,  It s taken.
 By who? By Jack?
Cecil could not meet the dark gaze that studied her.
He forced the chair free and sat.  I m Todd. Jack s best friend.
 If you are, then why not encourage him? He s becoming such a great person!
 I ve news for you lady, to some he has always been a great person. And not
one of anyone s making.
 You make it sound like we re manipulating him.
 Aren t you? Will you ever see beyond his past? Tell me you re not afraid that
his past won t become his present?
 Why are you doing this?
 Because Jack is losing the people who accept him for who he is, and he s
gaining friends who accept him in spite of who he was.
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 You don t get it.
The Kith  46 
 No? Then why are you here? Where is it that you think Jack is, and why can t
you trust him there?
Cecil opened her mouth to speak in her defence but Todd rose. She finally
looked up into his eyes and saw by his smile that he was mocking her. As he
walked away an intense dislike grew in her heart, but it was not for him. It
was for the mistrust she felt for Jack.
Trent stared at the glasses before him. He listened to the multitude of Voices
in his mind until they chorused into one. Finally he said,  I am.
 Then follow me.
Jack grabbed Tammi and marched to the shooter bar. Melanie felt Trent grab her
arm and pull her to follow, and she wondered how he planned to fake a
blood-drink. The evil
Kith spoke to the bartender and handed him some money. The bartender pressed a
button beneath his counter, and a door swung open on the wall. The four of
them filed inside.
Jack stood outside the building for a moment longer. Neon lights from a sign
that read

Puzzle
 pierced the night with a myriad of colours: red, yellow, and green. This
shroud shone over the lone man who stood beneath it. The doorway, innocent
enough, was the entrance to the Pandora s box where he would find a dream. An
apparition far removed from Heaven. His leather jacket was unzipped halfway, a
forest-green dress shirt peeked from beneath, and blue jeans hugged his torso.
He tucked his bare hands into shallow pockets as the wind tossed about his
long brown hair. The cold wrapped him in an icy embrace, and when he sighed
that embrace grew tighter.
Jack took a step forward, followed by another and another. His shoes made a
hollow sound against the night, but not nearly as hollow as the thump of his
heart. He reached out for the door handle, shuddered from tremors the music
inside made, and suddenly words consumed his thoughts:
As time goes on we do forget
Love we lost; our every regret
Our shattered dreams, our broken hearts
The endless nights we spent apart
Jack opened the door, but before he entered a voice said from behind:  Such
sorrow for a man seeking Pleasure.
Jack glanced over his shoulder and saw a tall man clad in a black trench coat.
 Do I
know you?
The stranger crossed his arms. He grinned, a deep chuckle rising from his
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diaphragm, and as his eyes narrowed Jack had the distinct feeling he was being
sized up for dinner. The man clad in black asked,  Tell me what you desire,
and I will deliver that to you. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]