A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

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"What difference does it make, if you do not believe?"

"What happened to her?To Kitana ?"

"We spent many years together and then one night I woke up and she was gone. It was while I was looking for her that I found you the first time. I knew the moment I saw you that we were fated to be together."

"How did you find me in all those other lives you claim I've had?"

"I do not know how to explain it, but somehow, sooner or later, I am drawn to where you are." He smiled faintly. "But this time, it seems, you were drawn to me."

She didn't want to think about what that might mean. "Did you ever see Kitana again?" "From time to time."

"Why did she leave you?"

"She found another young man. I imagine the world is filled with those she has brought over and abandoned." He did not tell her that once Kitana had tired of her youngman, she had come to him again, wanting to take up where they had left off. They had not parted on the best of terms. He had told her it was over between them. She had vowed that one day she would bring him to his knees.

"You're saying there are hundreds of vampires running around sucking people dry and no one knows?"

He laughed softly. "It is easy to pass among mortals. They do not want to believe vampires exist and so they dismiss the little things they see that are beyond their comprehension. As for sucking people dry, that is rarely done these days except by overeager fledglingswho cannot control their hunger."

"Did you… have you ever… done that?"

"Not for many years."

Tracygazed out over the gardens. They were beautiful, even in the moonlight. The air was fragrant with the scents of earth and grass, trees and flowers. It was beyond bizarre to be sitting here having such an outlandish conversation.With a vampire.

"Where do you sleep?"

He pressed a kiss to her palm. "That is one question I cannot answer." She regarded him curiously."Why not?"

"There is no need for you to know." "Don't you trust me?"

"Should I?"