Pretty When They Collide (Pretty When She Dies 0.5)(8)

Picking up her shoes, she reattached the heels and reluctantly put them back on. Next she yanked a small linen bag out of her bra and dropped the relic into it. She hung the bag over her neck and tucked it into her dress. A quick check on Leonard’s parts revealed that he was swiftly decomposing into muddy sludge.

She had known from the moment she had taken the job that she would have to do something she hated doing. Sometimes being a dhamphir was a little too disturbing when it came to some of her more odd abilities. Yet she needed to be discreet and avoid the client that Leonard was meeting with shortly. Scott had been very clear that she was not to engage the client. She suspected it was someone that Scott occasionally worked for.

The air vent wasn’t too high up the wall and she pulled out her small tool kit from her bra. Being nearly flat-chested had its advantages sometimes when it came to storage space. She removed the vent and held the cover in one hand. With inhuman dexterity, she swung her body upward and thrust her feet into the opening. Instantly her body began to contract to fit into the narrow space. Whereas some vampires could turn into a mist, her body was able to collapse to allow her passage through tight spots. The old legends called dhamphirs boneless, and that’s exactly what it felt like. Her hips and rib cage squished inward, the relic an uncomfortable pressure against her skin, as she wedged her body into the vent. She kept one hand on the cover and wiggled her body until she was firmly inside the narrow shaft. Carefully, she tugged the cover into place and secured it with bits of putty from her tool kit.

Pushing with her hands, she slid herself through the air duct until she reached the vent that opened to the small storage area the maids used while cleaning the rooms. She had earlier removed the screws and easily popped it out. Gripping the edges of the opening, she unfurled her body from the vent in a snake-like motion. Immediately her bones and muscles shifted back into place and she dropped to the floor.

Once she returned the cover to the vent, she found the small bag she had hidden behind the towels and linen earlier in the day when she had solidified her extraction plan. She was relieved to peel off the gloves, and yank off the red dress, bra, and high heels. Replacing them with slim black jeans, a white tank top, and a black cropped thin-leather jacket, she hurriedly tugged on her low heeled boots and tied the laces. The rooms had already been cleaned for the day, but she needed to move fast if she was to avoid trouble. There was the distinct possibility of the guards finding Leonard soon.

The hair clips gave her a little trouble, but she finally got the extensions out and ran her fingers through her wavy hair. To destroy the glamour all she had to do was remove the enchanted earrings she was wearing. She rolled up her clothes and shoved everything into the bag. She then took apart the shoes to make sure they fit, before finally adding the baseball sized relic to the bag. Securing the straps, she tossed it over her shoulder and took a peek out of the storage room door. The hallway was empty.

Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself for the worst and hoped for the best before sauntering through the hallway. She had to pass Leonard’s room to reach the elevators, which meant walking past the guards. Even though she knew the glamour was gone, it was still a nerve-wracking moment when she strolled past them. Ramon glanced at her appreciatively while the other guard ignored her completely.

She couldn’t help but smile at Ramon. At least he wasn’t into vapid slutty women.

The area around the elevators was surprisingly devoid of people. She pressed the button and impatiently waited. Hotel elevators always took forever to make the journey to the selected floor. So many people were getting on and off it was amazing it ever reached its destination.

Combing her fingers through her hair, she fidgeted. She had taken longer than she planned and she didn’t want to be around for the discovery of Leonard’s body and the missing relic. Taking her cellphone out the pocket of her bag, she checked the time. If Scott’s information was correct, she was definitely cutting it close. Hopefully, the client wouldn’t be early.

The elevator doors slid open, revealing a very handsome man with gleaming black hair dressed in a tuxedo and red-tinted glasses. He flashed a charming smile in her direction and she instantly knew he was a vampire. Fearfully, she took a step to the side, hoping he wouldn’t sense her true nature. After his initial smile he barely acknowledged her as he stepped into the corridor. Desperate to get into the elevator and away from him, Cassandra darted into the car and crashed into the woman following in the vampire’s wake, knocking them both off balance. Instinctively, they both grabbed onto each other.

The moment Cassandra’s hands closed on the woman’s forearms, she felt a jolt of power sizzle through her body. The other woman’s pink lips parted in surprise.

“I’m sorry,” Cassandra muttered. “I didn’t mean to bump into you.”

“It’s okay,” the beautiful blond answered, her blue eyes sparkling beneath the gold fringe of her eyelashes.

Circling each other, the woman in the slinky evening gown ended up in the hallway and Cassandra found herself standing in the elevator. With surprise, Cassandra realized she was still holding onto the other woman. The woman’s fingertips traced along Cassandra’s fingers just seconds before two big men brushed past Cassandra from within the elevator, jostling them apart. Cassandra pressed her back to the wall of the elevator, her breath caught in her throat. Fear still coursed through her veins, but her attention was focused on the face of the young woman watching her as the elevator doors slid shut.