The Immortal Coil by J. Armand Page B

him in here.” There was a light tap on the door as he answered.
    “ Him ? I thought it was —”
    “Nope, it’s a person,” Noah said, with an aloof air.
    Why did that woman refer to me as “it”? Just what was she expecting him to kidnap?
    “And what of Monsieur Price?” she questioned further. “What did he know of this?”
    “I got rid of Price and his lackeys. His job was to locate and deliver the kid.” Noah’s response made me even more curious. Was this Price guy one of the men he killed at the dock?
    I heard the tinkling of piano keys as someone started to play.
    “It’s too bad he didn’t work out,” the woman stated. “Now we will have to replace him to keep New York in our name. Finding someone who we can trust is clearly more of a problem than we first thought. C’est la vie , no?”
    Maybe this was some organized crime syndicate like the Mafia. It would explain the kidnapping and expensive taste in decor.
    The French woman spoke again. “So, what can he do?”
    “Move stuff with his mind,” Noah answered in the same indifferent manner. “I haven’t found out anything else yet.”
    My body tensed as I sat on the bed listening.
    “Is that of any use?” The woman didn’t seem all that impressed or even interested that someone in the room right next to her could magically move objects. Then again, the man she was speaking to could move as fast as lightning.
    “It kept him alive against those creatures I told you about. I saw him impale a couple.” He was there watching Lyle and me while we were being attacked and we never even noticed. Was Lyle in on this from the start? Did he bring me to the airport knowing this guy was there?
    The sound of the door opening got my heart pounding again. The flick of a switch lit a chandelier overhead and two sconces above a fireplace across from me.
    My kidnapper entered first with his usual swagger, followed by the most attractive woman I had ever seen. They both exuded an indescribable presence that made it difficult, if not impossible, to look away. The woman, however, was so particularly stunning I remained fixated on her beauty.
    She appeared to be about Noah’s age. Her skin resembled fine china, white and pure, a distinct contrast to the man’s golden tan. I had always hated being so fair-skinned, but she pulled it off well. She wore barely any makeup; it didn’t look like she needed any help enhancing her natural beauty. Her eyes shimmered in the light like brilliant evergreen jewels.
    “Oh my, Noah, you didn’t mention our guest was this cute.” I could feel myself blushing at the sound of her words. The French accent made everything she said sound so much more exotic and sultry.
    She was dressed in a sleek black evening gown. The diamond necklace and earrings she wore looked like they could have afforded her a private island in the Caribbean. I couldn’t keep myself from staring at the thigh-high slit along the side of her dress. She had legs that went on for miles and the body of a lingerie model.
    “ Bonjour ! My name is Vivian, dear. And you are?” She bent over like she was talking to a child.
    Noah leaned back against the far wall with his arms crossed, just like in the alley. “He’s not much of a talker.”
    “Don’t be shy, love,” she crooned. I looked up at her from my seat on the bed. Her burgundy hair was styled up, with just a single lock dangling free.
    “Where am I? What are you going to do with me?” I choked out.
    “Do with you? What do you mean?” Vivian seemed genuinely taken aback by my question.
    “He thinks we’re trying to kill him.” Noah didn’t seem too concerned as he began fidgeting with assorted knickknacks on the fireplace mantle.
    “Why would he think that?” Vivian sounded as if she were scolding him.
    “We didn’t really get to spend quality time,” he replied, and shrugged.
    Vivian sat next to me on the bed and placed my hand in hers. “No, no, my love. You misunderstand. You are