The Raven's Song

From The Raven's Song: Chained to a chair in my own offce, with a bag over my head. Not a good way to start the day. A voice said, "Mr. Baine." A deep, sultry female voice. A voice tinged with amusement, sensuality, and overwhelmingly with barely contained violence. I detected the slightest hint of an unidentifiable accent. I heard the sound of a lighter being flicked, and a moment later I caught the faintest whiff of cigarette smoke. "Speak when you're told to speak," said the voice. "Okey-dokey," I said, smiling. Another blow upside the head. I continued smiling. For five minutes the only sound in my office was the occasional inhale and exhale of the cigarette. I presumed she was waiting for me to develop some degree of anxiety. People tend to underestimate me, especially vampire people; they don't know me well enough. During those rare times when I'm chained to a chair by an unknown stalker, this can be comforting. So whether she was waiting for me to betray some emotion, or just trying to get me scared way deep down inside, the only thing I was feeling was a mild curiosity. I had her right where I wanted her.