A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

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Bryangrinned sheepishly. "I went to the library and did some reading this morning. The book I read said that the most common ways to destroy a vampire were staking and beheading. Beheading sounds really messy. Drenching them with holy water is supposed to work, too, but…" He shrugged. "I'm not Catholic so I didn't think I could get hold of that much holy water. Anyway, ash is supposed to make the best stakes.Took me a while to find some. Bet you didn't know that the Norse god, Odin, used ash to make mankind."

"No, I didn't know that. You really did do a lot of reading, didn't you?"

"Well, it was really interesting once I got started.Hawthorne is good for stakes, too. Did you know that every culture in the known world has some kind of vampire legend?Even the American Indians."

"Anything else?"

"Lots of things, but I can't remember them all now.Seems like every country has its own myths. Anyway, keep that stake close by,"Bryan said, tapping the point. "You never know when you might need it."

"Did you make one for yourself?"

He nodded. "Darn right! They won't take me without a fight."

Bryanfinished his soda in two long swallows,then crushed the can in his hand. "I'm thirsty all the time! Nothing satisfies me."

Tracysqueezed his arm sympathetically. " Bry, I'm so sorry. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be in this mess."

"It's not your fault."

"Of course it is!" She shook her head in exasperation. "I just don't know what to do." "About what?"

"About Dominic."

Bryanswore softly. "That should be the easiest decision you have to make. Dump him. He's a monster." "He is not!"

"You're in love with him, aren't you?"
She blew out a sigh, and then nodded. "Yes." "I don't understand it."

"Maybe I can explain it," she replied. Plopping down on her stomach, she proceeded to tell him the story Dominic had told her, of how he had followed her through the centuries, hoping to make her his.

Bryanwhistled softly when she finished. "That's some story."

"I don't blame you for not believing it."