A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

Page 22



"Just a dream."She laughed uneasily. "That's what I get for painting vampires before I go to bed."

Gradually, her heartbeat slowed. Her breathing returned to normal. Slipping out of bed, she pulled on her bathrobe and padded downstairs. She switched on the light at the bottom of the steps,then headed for the kitchen, turning on every light she passed along the way.

Entering the kitchen, she gasped, one hand flying to her throat as she saw a vague shape moving toward her. She opened her mouth to scream then she realized it was merely her own reflection staring back at her from the window over the sink.

Letting out a sigh of relief, she quickly closed the curtains. Lifting the teapot from the counter, she filled it with water and set it on the stove to heat.

Maybe buying a house way out here hadn't been such a good idea. Standing there, waiting for the water to get hot, she was acutely aware of how alone she was. There were no other houses within shouting distance. If she telephoned for help, it would take the policea good ten or fifteen minutes to arrive. She could be a headline in the morning paper by then.

The whistling of the kettle made her jump. Turning, she grabbed the handle and lifted the pot from the stove, only to drop it on the counter when the handle burned her palm.

"Ouch!"

Sucking on her fingers, she turned off the stove. She was as nervous as a hen in a thunderstorm.

Willing herself to calm down, she took a mug from the cupboard, filled it with hot water, dropped a tea bag inside, and added a spoonful of honey.

Standing there, waiting for the tea to steep, she shifted restlessly from one foot to the other. Whatwas the matter with her tonight? Whatever had possessed her to paint Dominic as a vampire?

Carrying the cup to the table, she sat down, her gaze darting around the room as if… as if what?

She took several deep breaths, admonishing herself to calm down. There was no one there.Nothing to be afraid of.Nothing at all. With a sigh, she went back to bed.

Deep in the underground lair below the house, Dominic was aware ofTracy 's unease. It was impossible for her to know what he was. No one had ever perceived what he was unless he wished it. And yet he sensed her uneasiness, her awareness that something preternatural lurked nearby. It was the same kind of uneasiness his prey experienced when they knew he was close at hand. No doubt she would be shocked to discover that there was a vampire dwelling below Nightingale House, that it was his presence she found so disturbing.

If he told her what he was, if he told her that he had known her in many lifetimes before this one, would she believe him, or think him mad? He had followed her through the centuries, sometimes loving her from afar but always waiting, always hoping she would accept the Dark Gift and take her rightful place at his side.

Perhaps this time.