The Vampire And The Nightwalker by Sweet and Special Books Page B

mouth gave her a somewhat exotic appearance. She was tall; probably around 5’10” with a model’s body.
    Eventually, he was able to get her name out of a bartender that she seemed to be rather friendly with. That was how he had discovered that Secret Lavalle was one of the best psychics in a town of psychics. It seemed that she used to do readings on Bourbon Street as well as the French Quarter, but she had moved into a small house just outside of New Orleans. Clients still found her with no problem.
    Kane had been watching her ever since that night. He wanted to know more about her. No, that wasn’t right. He needed to know more about her; as much as he could discover. It was too soon to approach her and it would help his cause if he knew a few key things that would draw her in.
    It wouldn’t be difficult for him to gather information on her. In a matter of just a few minutes, he had discovered all sorts of details about her. Now, he only needed to find out if what he believed was true.
    Obviously, the fastest way to find out what he needed to know was to meet this woman in person. He wasn’t ready for a face-to-face meeting just yet, however. She might very well see him for what he was, and that couldn’t happen until he was more prepared.
    So, he would continue to keep an eye on her for the time being. For now, he must rest for awhile; and then he would be ready to resume his watch tonight.
    With that thought, he took his leave.
CHAPTER TWO
    AFTER A GRUELING hour, Secret bid Adele goodbye and closed her door in relief.
    Why do I even keep her on as a client? she wondered. Do I really need her money that badly?
    Oh, she knew it wasn’t actually the money that made her continue allowing Adele to come to her. It was Secret’s uncontrollable empathy; especially for those in pain. Adele’s pain was so strong that it was almost tangible; and Secret simply couldn’t turn her back on the woman, no matter how much she might want to do just that.
    She found it frustrating and infuriating trying to help Adele because she categorically refused to see the truth. At first, Secret had entertained the thought that Adele might just be hiding the truth from herself because she couldn’t cope otherwise. In the many months of reading for her, though, it had become clear that the way Adele saw things was actually what she truly believed.
    Adele saw that Sam’s new wife was holding him almost against his will and was preventing Sam from coming back to her. How Sam’s pregnant wife was able to hold a man the size of Sam, in place against his will, was something that Secret hadn’t been able to figure out, and Adele glossed over that little point anytime she was presented with it.
    It was becoming exceedingly clear that Adele needed help that Secret wasn’t qualified to give. That was another sore point, however, because Adele refused to seek professional help. The only help Adele saw herself needing was what Secret provided her in readings.
    Things were getting worse, though.
    Adele was beginning to become somewhat verbally abusive to Secret; and that wasn’t something to be tolerated. As badly as she felt for Adele, Secret would never allow herself to be treated badly. That would never happen again.
    For the moment, Secret put the problem of Adele out of her mind. She would figure something out when it became necessary. Now, she just wanted to head upstairs to her bathroom and sink into a sea of warm bubbles in her claw-footed tub. Just thinking about it made her smile and start to relax.
    Locking her door, she headed up the staircase to her sanctuary.
    This house was the best thing she had ever done for herself. Once she had decided to give up the street readings in New Orleans, she had started looking around for some place that would work as both her home and a reading parlor. She must have looked at fifty houses before landing upon this one.
    It was built around the turn of the 20th century; but had been extensively