A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

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Tracy. Dominic's voice sounded in her mind.

"Dominic? Is that you?"

I need your help.

Pushing the curtains aside, she peered through the front window, gasped when she saw him sprawled out on the floor of the porch.

Turning the lock, she opened the door. "Dominic!"

He reached for her hand and she grasped it in her own. Lifting him to his feet, she helped him into the house, closed and locked the door behind them.

Once inside, he sagged against her. It took all her strength to help him into the kitchen. He sank down in a chair, squinting against the light as she removed his blood-soaked shirt and trousers. Even his socks were drenched with blood.

Tracystared at him in horror. His face and hands were badly burned. The skin on his chest was deathly pale, his eyes were red and sunken.

"What happened to you? Did Kitana do this?" "No."

Pulling a dish towel from a drawer, she wet it in the sink and as gently as she could, began to wipe the blood from his face. He winced and jerked away from her touch.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, and ministered to the wounds in his chest.So much blood. The towel soaked it up and she tossed it in the sink and wet another one. "How did this happen?"

" Petrina."

"She did this?"Tracy asked in disbelief.
"She had help."

"Why didn't you?" The second towel was thrown into the sink with the first.
"This is my territory. If I am to hold it, I must be strong enough to do it alone."

She pulled another towel from the drawer and wiped the blood from his legs. "You could have bled to death."

"No. They were clumsy in their haste." He looked down at his wounds. Though he had bled a great deal, none of the wounds was deep enough to be life-threatening.

With a shake of her head,Tracy wiped the last of the blood away,then tossed the third towel into the sink with the others. She looked back at him, wondering what else she could do.

He put his hand on her arm.Tracy …"