Ravenous

memory.

Holly's route took her between some of the oldest brick-and-ivy buildings on the campus. Except for the denim and fleece wardrobes of the students, there were parts of this old area that looked as they had during the Edwardian age.

The path looped within view of the Flanders house. Holly reluctantly looked in that direction. The ornamented black gables still rose above the other roofs like the top tier of a macabre cake. Mac had mentioned that the police were still conducting their on-site investigation, delaying the execution of the burn order.

Even though the house was a block away, its presence chilled Holly. It was all memory—there was no whisper of power there—but she did a good job of spooking herself. Holly stopped, oblivious to the other students passing by her, bumping her with clumsy packs and bags. I beat that house. I should feel victorious when I look at it, but I'm uneasy. Why can't I just pat myself on the back and move on? Where's the unfinished business?

The clock tower chimed the hour. She'd have to navel-gaze later, or be late.

The Business Studies Building was one of a cluster of modern structures that sprawled on the far side of a vast parking lot. The entrance was hidden among a welter of flower beds and stairways that seemed to go no where, and Holly walked all the way around the building before she saw the welcoming glow from the glass double doors. By then she was hot and out of breath.

'Holly!'

She stopped. It was Alessandro. 'What are you doing here?' she asked.

'I need to talk to you.' He leaned against the concrete wall, nearly hidden by the shadows of the entryway, a cigarette in one hand. He smoked, she knew, to mask the scent of a crowd of humans. Apparently it was a bit like walking into a restaurant—the smell of so much food whetted the appetite. Given that excuse, she'd never asked him to butt out.

The end of his cigarette flared red as he stepped into the light. Wow, she thought, forgetting everything else for a moment. Not subtle, but wow.

Tonight his legs were encased in black leather with rows of fringed decoration that spiraled around his thighs. His hip-length coat was festooned with matching fringe. The long streamers of leather swished and slinked with feline grace, making her want to stroke them, braid them, run them through her fingers.

'What can I do for you?' Holly asked, imagination supplying some graphic suggestions. 'How did you find me, anyway?'

'It's the first day of classes. I knew you'd be here. With slight encouragement, the administration office was most willing to assist with your schedule and room assignments.' Alessandro took another drag on his cigarette, exhaling dragonlike through his nose. She watched the white smoke, transfixed. 'I wouldn't bother you, but I need your help.'

'With what?'

'Let's go someplace to talk.'

Holly nodded, her mind still tangled in the fringe. 'I have a class starting, and I'm nearly late. Is this something that can wait an hour?'

'An hour,' he said, clearly tamping down impatience. 'Yes, I suppose.'

'I don't want to miss my very first class. It's important.'

Alessandro seemed to come to a decision and shrugged. 'Then I'll come with you. We can talk afterward. The instructor is a friend.'

'A friend?' Alessandro never mentioned friends.

'Yes, he set up my laptop.'

Holly smiled. 'You, Alessandro, have a computer?'

He tilted his head to one side, half-coquettish, half-reproachful. 'You think that is so ridiculous? That I am perhaps too old or too blond to keep up?' He rolled the cigarette between his fingers, studying its glowing tip.

Holly shrugged, her mind slowly refocusing from his outfit to the class ahead. 'I just didn't think you'd be interested in techie stuff.'

He mimicked her shrug. 'Who does not want to surf the Web?' He raised one eyebrow, daring her to respond. When she was silent he grinned, showing just the tips of his pointed teeth.

'What on earth would you surf for?' she asked, her imagination supplying several yucky suggestions.

'One has to keep up with the times.' He crushed the cigarette and held the door open for her, fringe swinging as he moved. 'There are so many interesting chat rooms, and so many daylight hours to kill.'

'What, you can get high-speed Internet direct to your coffin?' Holly looked around her for room numbers. She turned right.

Alessandro made a rude noise. They had gone about three steps when he asked, 'How was your dinner last night?'

'The food was good,' she said lightly, thinking about the phone call that had taken him away. When he would get around to telling her what had happened?

'If all you remember is the food, next time I should plan the evening.' Alessandro thrust his fingertips into his pants pockets. The pants were so tight, that was all that would fit.

'I doubt you could cook like Mac.'

'Mac, is it?'

'We had a very nice conversation. Very relaxed. You're just being a pain.'

'I have six centuries of experience wooing women.' He gave another slow, fang-tipped smile. 'I have a surprising depth of knowledge when it comes to interpersonal relations. When I have a woman in my arms, I do not aim for 'nice conversation.''

Holly rolled her eyes and walked into the classroom, heading to the back of the room, where the last two empty desks sat with their humming computers.

Yes, it was a night class, and she should have known it would be a mixed population. All those folks who couldn't come in the daytime were there. A few students dressed in ultra-Goth looked like they had goblin or perhaps Unseelie heritage. A young-looking vamp read a Howlywood fan mag, filled with gossip on supernatural screen idols. One nerdish ghoul hungrily gnawed his pen and eyed the other students as though they might be his next chew toy.

Holly dropped her backpack with a thud. A spiral-bound course manual marked, Computer Concepts: From E-mail to E-business Platforms, lay neatly on the desk. She wiggled the mouse to kill the screen saver and brought up the start screen.

At the front of the room a man was standing next to the digital projector. He looked about the same age as the students, but was apparently the instructor. For a moment Holly felt ancient. He smiled diffidently at the class and nodded to Alessandro. With wavy brown hair and a narrow, sensitive face, he was cute in a youngish way. When he filled out in a few years he would have hunk potential. She felt ancient for another moment.

'Hello, and thank you so much for coming,' he said, all charm. 'My name is Perry Baker.'

A loud crunching came from the right side of the room. All heads turned curiously, and the crunching stopped as suddenly as it began. Holly stretched, trying to see over the heads between her and the source of the noise.

Perry pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. 'Umn, please don't eat the mouse.'

Baldly curious, she stood up to get a better look at the show. The ghoul sat perfectly still, a belligerent expression on his face. The cable that normally ran to the mouse ran into his mouth, dangling like a tail. His cheek bulged, evidence of guilt.

This should be interesting.

The ghoul chewed once and a plasticky crunch resounded, like a very loud potato chip. Holly never thought a peripheral could sound so tasty.

A nervous giggle rippled through the room.

Tugging authoritatively on his oversized black T-shirt, Perry Baker marched up to the ghoul's desk. He held out one long-fingered hand. 'Spit it out.'

The ghoul glowered as only ghouls could, with mean little eyes and a wrinkly nose.

Beside Holly, Alessandro stood up as well, his eyebrows drawn together. She guessed he was deciding whether or not to intervene. Ghouls could be nasty customers when riled, and vampires were one of the few