Embrace the Night

Page 121



"No."

"I'll be back," she repeated in a voice that brooked no argument. "Sara?"

"Yes?"

"The cross in front of the house. Remove it." "All right."

"You must also wash the door frame." "Anything else?"

"A circle made of holy water and garlic surrounds the house. Break it." "I will."

He nodded, resenting the fact that he'd had to ask her for anything else when he'd already taken so much. "You know I can't stay here any longer."

Of course he couldn't stay here. It was no longer safe. Why hadn't she realized that before?" "We've got to get you out of here," she said. "I'll be back inalittle while. You rest until then."
"It's morning. I can't go out."

"I'll think of something," she said, and hurried away before he could argue further.

Outside, she took a deep breath, wishing she had thought to ask the carriage to wait. But perhaps a good long walk was just what she needed. Ordinarily, she would have been afraid to be out walking on a lonely road at dawn, but not now. She concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, refusing to think of what he was as she made her way back to town.

When she reached the city, she hired a closed carriage, dismissed the driver, and drove to her apartment.

Inside, she walked through the house, closing all the drapes. In her bedroom, she covered the curtains with a heavy quilt, so that no light at all filtered into the room. Then, laden with every blanket she could find, she drove back to the cottage.

Not wanting Sara to see him in his deathlike sleep, Gabriel roused himself when he sensed her approaching. Moving sluggishly, he reached for his cloak. Sewn into the lining was a fine layer of earth from Vallelunga. His native soil, necessary to his survival when he was away from his homeland.

It took all his strength, all his willpower, to meet her at the door. Had the sun been any higher in the sky, it would have been impossible.