A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

Page 156



Bryanstared at her a moment, then a flush rose in his cheeks."Oh, sure. I'll see you downstairs." He made a hasty retreat, closing the door behind him.

Rising, she went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. She felt a little light-headed, a little unsteady on her feet, but, other than that, seemed to have no ill effects from last night.

She took a quick shower,then made her way downstairs.

She foundBryan sitting at the table in the kitchen, a cup of coffee clutched in his hands. He looked up as she entered the room. "There's fresh coffee in the pot."

"Thanks." She poured herself a cup,then sat down across from him. "Do you have to work today?" "Yeah.I start at one. Will you be all right?"

"I'm fine—don't worry about me. Just remember, don't stay out after dark." "That's good advice for both of us," he reminded her.

"Are you hungry?"

"I fixed myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich earlier—hope you don't mind."
"Of course not."

Bryandrummed his fingers on the edge of the table. "So, what do you think happened to him last night?"
" Petrinaand some of the other vampires attacked him. I'm not sure why. Revenge, I guess."

"Well, I hope she's dead." Finishing his coffee,Bryan carried his cup to the sink and rinsed it out. "I need to go home and change. I'll call you later, okay?"

Tracynodded.

AfterBryan left, she fixed herself a bowl of cereal and a slice of buttered toast, poured a second cup of coffee, and sat down at the table again. She ate as though she hadn't eaten in days and when she was done, she was still hungry. She fixed another piece of toast and slathered it with jelly. And then, unable to stand it any longer, she went outside and followed the path to his lair.

She put her hand on the door. It was cold to her touch. "Dominic? Are you down there?"

Her voice penetrated the black sea of pain and lethargy that held him fast. He yearned to answer her, to give her the reassurance she craved, but he was too weak to reply, too weary in mind and body to summon the energy to unlock the door.

Last night, too weak to call on his preternatural powers, he had been forced to drag himself inch by agonizingly slow inch through the night. He could have taken refuge in an abandoned building that he passed, could have tried burrowing into the earth to avoid the rising sun, but he'd had only one thought in