As Twilight Falls

“Why did you give me this house if I can keep you out?”

He considered a lie, then opted for the truth. “I didn’t want any of the others preying on you.” He flashed a wicked grin. “You might say you’re my own private stock.”

“That’s disgusting!”

“Really? I thought you’d be pleased.”

“Why on earth would you think that?”

“If you’re opposed to the idea, I can revoke your ownership of the house and let you fend for yourself.”

The threat should have scared her. Instead, it made her angry. “Do it then!” she snapped, and slammed the door in his face.

Eyes closed, Kadie stood with her back against the door. What had she done? If Vaughan took the house away from her, she would be at his mercy, and at the mercy of every other bloodsucking vampire in town.

Lifting a hand to her neck, she tried to imagine what it would be like to have them feeding on her, one after the other, until there was nothing left.

With a shake of her head, she went into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of cold water, then splashed some on her face. She was letting her imagination run away with her. None of the women she had met looked as though they had been abused.... Good grief, what was she thinking? Just because the women hadn’t been drained of blood didn’t mean they weren’t being mistreated. They might have the run of the town. Food and shelter and entertainment might be provided for them. But, one and all, they were prisoners here, nothing but a food source for the vampires—a supply of fresh blood whenever the monsters got hungry. It was despicable!

Leaving the glass in the sink, Kadie went back into the living room and dropped down on the sofa. What was she going to do?

Kadie was still pondering her questionable future when she woke late the next morning. Later, sitting at the kitchen table over a cup of coffee, she considered her options and decided she really only had two—she could accept Vaughan’s offer, or she could join the ranks of the other women.

Neither option was particularly appealing, but if she had to pick one, Darrick seemed like the best choice. Kadie didn’t know how often he ate—or drank—or whatever, but better to nourish one than many.

Would he give her a black scarf to warn the other vampires away?

Feeling as though the walls were closing in on her, she ate a quick breakfast, dressed, and left the house.

Filled with a restless energy, she walked through the town, nodding to those she passed. Most waved back; a few people she hadn’t met stared at her, their eyes narrowing suspiciously.

Without conscious thought, she found herself in front of the house on the hill.

Was Vaughan in there? Resting in his coffin? Waiting for the sun to go down so he could rise and terrorize the townspeople ?

Why didn’t the people in town break into the old house and destroy the vampires while they slept? If the vampires were dead, would it break whatever spell kept the human inhabitants of Morgan Creek from leaving? Had they ever tried to destroy the vampires?

She frowned. If killing the vampires didn’t break whatever spell prevented the people from leaving, they would all eventually starve to death.

With that cheerful thought, she returned home, where she ate a leisurely lunch. After washing the dishes from breakfast and lunch, she rearranged the furniture in the living room.

A glance at her watch showed it was only two o’clock.

Sighing, she took another walk through the town and ended up at the library. Perhaps she could lose herself in a good book. It wouldn’t solve her problem, but it might take her mind off her predicament for an hour or two.

After chatting with the librarian, Kadie picked up the latest mystery by her favorite author, then found a chair in a secluded corner where she spent a few minutes wondering how the vampires managed to have the latest movies, books, and DVDs before losing herself in the story.

Kadie woke with a start, fear piercing her heart when she realized she had fallen asleep and hours had passed.

She stood abruptly. The book in her lap fell to the floor with little notice.

It was dark outside.

Marti had told her that the human population had the run of the town during the day, which, by implication, meant it belonged to the vampires at night.

And it was night.

And she was human.

And terrified.

She stared at the front door of the library, wondering why no one had awakened her, and what her odds were of getting safely home. There were a lot more people in town than vampires. Maybe she was worrying for nothing. It wasn’t that late. Only a little after seven. Maybe it was too early for the vampires to be out and about and there was nothing to worry about.

Nothing to worry about.

Startled, she shivered as the words whispered through the room. She glanced around, a nameless fear raising goose bumps along her arms. “Is someone there?”

Even as she called out, she knew there was no one else in the library, and yet she felt a presence in the room beside her. A frightening, almost tangible presence, as if a ghost had wandered inside and was now hovering nearby, watching her every move.

She flinched, certain someone—something—had just brushed against her arm.

“No such things as ghosts,” she murmured, her gaze exploring the shadowy corners.

She didn’t see anything, but there was something in the room with her. She knew it. And while there might not be ghosts, she knew there were vampires.

The thought had no sooner crossed her mind than a man was standing in front of her, a speculative gleam in his eye. A man who was, without doubt, one of the Undead.

“You must be the new one.” He smiled. His teeth were very white.

Kadie stared at him, her panic growing when she realized his wasn’t the presence she had felt earlier.

That same unembodied thing was still in the room.

The vampire took a step forward. “Just as pretty as I was told.” He took another step toward her. “You smell delicious,” he said, licking his lips. “Do you taste as good as you look, I wonder?” He took another step toward her, his nostrils flaring as he leaned over her.

He was sniffing her, she thought, the way he might appreciate the aroma of dinner cooking. And she was dinner.

He was reaching for her when he suddenly froze, his expression changing from lust to fear as he backed away from her, his gaze darting nervously around the room.

“I never touched her!” he shouted, and as quickly as he had appeared, he was gone.

Kadie slumped down in the chair, her heart pounding as she glanced around the room. What had the vampire seen—or sensed—that had frightened him so?