From Lily Snow in Boston

January 15, 2010

The conference was a mix of elves and steampunk women and gentlemen.  I have overworked myself as usual, I needed a moment to myself.  No matter how much fun something is, there are times when I must retreat to solitude to regroup.  This was one of those times.  I walked out the front doors of the hotel down Summer Street.  It was so brutally cold out that night that there weren't many people on the street. 

Actually I was almost deserted.  I continued my walk to clear my head down D Street.  That's when I saw a flash of fang around the dark corner of a building.  Another was coming up behind me.  I turned to catch his attack.  Throwing up my fists, the hand with the dragon ring Max gave me foremost.  He fell back into the shadows between buildings.

A vampire walked down the street toward me.  I recognized him from when I first met the vampires of Boston. 

"Hello, Herc."

"Hello, Lily Snow.  Why are you in our territory, alone and helpless?  The Arnhem Society doesn't take very good care of its ambassador."

I held up my hand with the ring and he took a step back.

"You know, Lily, I've always found you fascinating. "  He raised one hand and the other vampires lurking in the darkness disappeared.  "I thought you were Max's companion.  Why would he let you stray so far from home?"

"I do want I like."  I walked in the direction of the hotel.  He kept up by my side.

"I think he isn't worthy of you.  You need a man who is more adventurous.  Someone with the courage to turn you."  He moved closer and each time he did, I would thrust the ring at him and he would move back.

"You deserve more, Lily Snow.  You would make a great vampire."  Suddenly vampires encircled me.  I had forgotten the bone necklance Max gave me.  Taking a Thai kickboxer's stance, I prepared with fists out always turning to an enemy.  Each time one faced the ring, they leaped back but others closed in from behind.

Then David Hilliard stood in the center of this frightening circle with me.

"Arnhem Knight, you are not welcome in Boston."

"I know that.  Lily is here on personal business, and I am her bodyguard.  I'm here to protect you from Lily.  We do not wish her powers to further aggrevate the tensions between our two cities."

Herc and the others laughed.  "She has powers?"

David grabbed me around the waist and we were in the air.  Then we landed in front of the doors of my hotel.  The foorman said nothing, as we went into the lobby.

David kissed me on the cheek.  "I think it would be best if you stayed in the hotel, until you leave tomorrow.  And be sure to leave in daylight."

I hugged him.  "I will.  Thank you."

He walked out through the doors, and I went to the Masquerade.  A few times, I thought I saw vampires mixed in with the crowd.  I was probably mistaken.

–Lily A. Snow, Arnhem Society Ambassador and Historian

Susan Hanniford Crowley

Filed under: Adventures of Lily A. Snow, Characters, paranormal, paranormal romance, romance novels, Susan Hanniford Crowley, vampire books, vampires