Maura heard the taste in Vladimir’s tone, but also the sadness, as if the mark this murder had cut into his soul had never truly left him. Did he feel guilt over this murder, or was he simply trying to manipulate her emotions?
Not being able to see him made it that much harder to guess his intent.
“But enough of this painting,” Vladimir said. “It is vital, yes, but only one of my accumulated lives. If you’re going to immortalize this one, you need to see the others I’ve experienced over the years new zealand email list before we can truly begin.”
Maura turned back toward the stairs as the shadows that covered their length retreated like a soft, black tide. She licked her lips, aware again that she was alone in this mansion with Vladimir, a man who had just admitted to murdering her father and her monstrous mentor.
“Hesitation? Really?” he said. “You’ve come this far. And I’ve already bared so much of my soul.”
Maura knew he was egging her on to climb the stairs. That alone should make her leave and return to her friends. But as much as she knew, she should be afraid, part of her thrill of being Vladimir’s center of attention, of feeling the power of his gaze upon her.
“Come to me,” she continued. “See what I ask of you. And then, if you feel the task is too great and choose to leave, I will not stop you.”
