A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

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She shivered again, frightened now without knowing why. "I think I should go back. My mother…"
"Do not be afraid, mein kleines ."

She drew her hand from his arm and backed away. "Good night, sir."

She didn't see him move, but the next thing she knew, his fingers were digging into her forearm and he was dragging her into the trees. She struggled in his grasp, kicking and scratching. Her nails raked his face, but to no avail.

When they were well away from the inn, he came to a stop.

Kitanalooked up at him, her heart drumming in her ears. "What… what are you going to do to me?" "I am going to give you a gift that was given to me centuries ago."

"A gift?" she asked skeptically. "What kind of gift?" He looked past her into the distance. "I am the last of my kind."
"Your kind?"Some of her fear dissipated in the face of her curiosity.
"I am Vampyr ."

" Vampyr?'She repeated the word,then gasped. "You mean vampire? You're a vampire?"

He nodded. "All the others are gone. Those who were not destroyed by the hunters have taken their own lives."

She tugged against his hold, her gaze darting from side to side. "But I have no wish to be a vampire."

"I have never brought anyone across. My blood is pure, my powers strong." His gaze settled on her face again. "I have what you need," he said quietly. "But be warned, the gift I am about to give you carries great risk and great responsibility."

She stared up at him, the taste of fear bitter on her tongue, as he lowered his head toward her. She tried to fight him, her struggles increasing when she felt his teeth at her throat. And then, abruptly, she was filled with a sense of warmth and well-being. She closed her eyes and leaned into him, all thought of resistance swallowed up in the sense of euphoria that engulfed her.

" Kitana. Kitana, child, you must drink."

Feeling drugged, she blinked up at him.

He thrust his wrist in front of her, pushed it against her lips."Drink!"

Staring into the endless depths of his eyes, she did as she was told. And when he tried to draw his arm away, she clung to him, hungry for more. Strength flowed into her with every swallow. Energy pulsed through her with every breath. For the first time that she could remember, she felt healthy and strong, felt as though she could run and never grow weary, climb a tree, swim the river.