Black Bird (Nevermore Duet #1)

EPILOGUE

Snow fell lightly over the Boston skyline, the quiet and stillness of it bringing in the magic that was Christmas. The glow of a cigarette bloomed across her chin beneath the hood of her dark jacket. She watched the exchange of the couple that lived above the art gallery on the corner of 4th and Butner, through the slight gap between their curtains. They were shameless. Beautiful, really. Beautiful, at least, in the way that their kind enjoyed each other.

She raised her phone to her ear as she smirked, the shadow of her hood hiding the upper half of her face.

“Yes?”

“I found them. They’re still in Boston.”

“I want proof.”

“I think you’ll have to wait a bit for that.”

“And why is that?”

She smiled, taking another drag from her cigarette. “Looks like a late dinner … among other things.”

“So, she’s been turned.”

“Certainly looks that way.”

“So be it. Leave the gift. Don’t lose her.”

“Oh, I don’t think she’ll be hard to find, John.”

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

She ended the call and her heels clacked across the street as she flicked the cigarette into the snow. She checked the contents of the box—a lovely black bird taking its final rest in a bed of red tissue paper. Closing the lid, and adjusting the bow, she laid it down in front of the door to the apartment. Her keen hearing picked up the sounds of breathy moans and fevered curses from upstairs. She slid her hands into the pockets of her jacket and smiled as she started down the sidewalk.