Click here for the Kate Hill page.
Excerpt from RUBY by Kate Hill
Available now from Changeling Press
After saying goodbye to Darcie, Ruby spent the remainder of the night moving from his hotel room to the suite at Burgundy Peak. Fairly spacious and impeccably clean, the suite was created for vampiric comfort. Soft lights. Black and dark purple décor, and a black tile bathroom with a shower that could comfortably accommodate two with room to play.
By the time he’d settled in, it was just past sunrise and sleep beckoned. He undressed, washed up, and slipped into his favorite black satin pajamas. Smiling with pleasure, he climbed between the crisp sheets and used the remote control to turn on the television. While switching through channels, he paused upon seeing Sir Hagen speaking with a hostess on one of the morning talk shows. It couldn’t hurt to familiarize himself with the man a little more before he saw his show.
The magician spoke in quiet tones, his voice touched by a smooth British accent. He talked about growing up in London, the only child of an English businesswoman and a Chinese jewelry designer. His parents died in a plane crash when he was sixteen. It was then he came into the care of an incredibly talented yet little known magician known as Methuselah, which is where he honed his skills.
"Sounds like he made the whole story up," Ruby scoffed, though he had to admit Sir Hagen was rather compelling with his hypnotic voice and strange yet attractive appearance. His slimness accentuated the almost harsh lines of his face with its sharp cheekbones and chiseled lips. Almond-shaped eyes the color of molasses stared intently from beneath sleek, arched eyebrows. Long, brown hair hung thick and straight down his back and over shoulders that were surprisingly broad.
"And the rumor that none of your assistants and workers are sworn to secrecy regarding your illusions is true?" asked the interviewer. Ruby noted with disgust that she was gazing at him with a stupid half-smile, apparently as taken with the magician as the rest of the world seemed to be.
A slight grin curved Sir Hagen’s lips and he replied, "Why should they be sworn to secrecy? I have nothing to hide. In my show what you see is what you get."
The reviewer chuckled and faced the camera. "Whether you believe he’s a superior illusionist or a genuine wizard is up to you. You can catch his performance from now until December 22nd at – "
Ruby switched off the television and tossed aside the remote.
"Genuine wizard," he muttered, curling up on his side and closing his eyes. For some inexplicable reason, Sir Hagen’s exotic face and smooth voice drifted through his mind as he tumbled into sleep.