I tied a black choker necklace around my throat and another black length of ribbon around my wrist, masking the worst of the bruising around my vampire marks. Then I took an excruciatingly long time with my make up. And still I had an anxious half an hour to fidget and chew my lip before the car was scheduled to pick me up.

Reflexively I checked my email. Still nothing. I opened a new message and began to type.

M,

Logan Talbot is bringing me ...