A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

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"Oh, yes, tonight," the vampire insisted.

"You heard the lady,"Bryan said. "We have other plans."

"And you heard Zarabeth ," Petrina said, taking hold ofBryan 's arm. "We won't take no for an answer." Bryanwinced as her hand closed over his arm like a vise, her fingers digging into his skin.
Tracylooked up atBryan . "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," he said, trying to sound nonchalant about the whole thing. ButTracy saw the sweat bead on his brow.

When they reachedBryan 's car, Petrina and Zarabeth climbed into the back seat. There was no conversation on the drive to The Catacombs.

"I don't remember ever seeing this place before,"Bryan remarked as they exited the car. "Is it new?"

"New?" Petrina laughed as her fingers curled possessively overBryan 's arm."Hardly. It's been here for years."

Tracyglared at Petrina . "Bryanismy date."

"You can't have them all," Petrina said, pouting. "Make up your mind. Do you want Dominic or this mortal?"

"Bryan's with me."She knew instinctively that the only way to survive this night was to bluff her way through.

With more courage than she felt,Tracy peeled the vampire's fingers offBryan 's arm, then took him by the hand and walked into the bar.

Stepping through the door, she wondered if Dominic was inside.

The bar was dimly lit, as usual. A slow, sultry tune was being played on the piano. Several couples were dancing, their bodies pressed intimately together.

Tracyrecognized a few of them, including Marcus and his human companion. There was no sign of Dominic.

Petrinaslithered up toBryan . "Come on, honey," she crooned, "let's dance." PetrinaledBryan onto the dance floor. Zarabeth grinned atTracy , silently daring her to make a scene.

Instead,Tracy moved to the bar and sat down between two vampires. She recalled Dominic had introduced them as Laslo and Turk. She nodded briefly at both of them,then turned to watch Petrina and Bryan dance.

Petrinawas pressed so close toBryan that they looked like they were joined at the hip. She was