As Twilight Falls

It explained everything.

And nothing.

“Tell us about yourself, Kadie,” Marti said.

“There’s not much to tell,” she said wistfully. “I’m a freelance photographer and writer. I live in California with my folks and my younger sister, Kathy. She’s very ill, but none of the specialists she’s seen can diagnose the disease.” Kadie bit down on her lower lip, blinking rapidly to keep her tears at bay. “I’ve got to get home before it’s too late.”

It was midafternoon when Kadie took her leave. Reluctant to return to Saintcrow’s house, she walked the few blocks to Main Street, her mind replaying the conversation she’d had with the women. She had a lot to learn about vampires and life in Morgan Creek. It seemed Marti and Rosemary had given up any hope of escape, Kadie mused, but she never would. There had to be a way out of here. There just had to be!

And what if there isn’t? queried a little voice in the back of her mind. What then?

At loose ends, Kadie decided to check out the movie theater. She was surprised to discover there were four auditoriums, all playing different movies. She was a little disappointed that she had already seen them all, but she frequently saw movies she liked more than once.

There was no charge, of course, no one to take tickets, but Leslie and Chelsea were behind the concession counter, handing out popcorn, candy, and soft drinks.

“Hi, Kadie,” Leslie said cheerfully. “What’ll you have?”

“Popcorn and a root beer, please.”

“Coming right up,” Chelsea said.

Leslie leaned her elbows on the counter. “So, have you settled in yet?”

“I guess so.”

“I hear you belong to Saintcrow now.”

“I don’t belong to anybody!” Kadie exclaimed indignantly, then quickly apologized for her outburst.

“It’s all right,” Leslie said. “We all get frustrated now and then.”

“Do you two work here every day?” Kadie asked.

“We all take turns,” Chelsea replied, handing Kadie a bag of popcorn and a large soda. “It helps to pass the time.”

Nodding, Kadie thanked the women for their help, then went into the first auditorium. No one else was there.

The movie had been playing about twenty minutes when a man entered the auditorium. He glanced around, then took a seat in Kadie’s row, leaving one seat between them.

“I’m Carl Freeman,” he said, his voice gruff. “You must be Kadie Andrews.” He didn’t bother to whisper, since they were the only two in the place.

“Pleased to meet you,” Kadie said.

He gestured at the screen. “This is a good one. Have you seen it?”

“Yes, back home.”

“Where’s home?”

“Morro Bay.”

He nodded. “Pretty country down there. I’m from L.A.” He grinned wryly. “Hard to believe anyone could miss the smog and the congested freeways, but I sure do.”

“What did you do there?”

“I was a draftsman for a successful firm.”

“How long have you been here?”

“I don’t know, it’s hard to keep track of time. Five years, maybe six. What difference does it make?”

Kadie nodded. His voice held the same note of despair as Rosemary’s. “I’ve only met a few men who aren’t vampires.”

“We’re few and far between.”

“I was told there’s a female vampire here. Have you met her?”

“Oh, yeah. Her name’s Lilith. She’s as ugly as sin and meaner than hell. She prefers to feed on men and, lucky me, I’ve become her private stock.” He stared at the screen for a few minutes, his hands clenching around the scarf at his neck. “I tried to get one of the others to kill me, but they won’t do it. I can’t blame them. They’re afraid of repercussions, I guess.” He looked at Kadie intently. “I don’t suppose you’d . . . ?”

“No,” Kadie said quickly, horrified by the mere thought of taking a life. “Don’t even ask.”

He sank back in his seat, fidgeted a few minutes, then got up and left.

Kadie stared after him. Had his only reason for coming in here been to find out if she’d put him out of his misery?

It was dark when Kadie left the theater. Caught up in the misery of others, she paid little attention to her surroundings as she left Main Street. Earlier, with the sun shining brightly, she hadn’t realized just how long a walk it was from Saintcrow’s house to town. Now, strolling along the quiet, shadowy streets, she wished she had taken his car.

She had never been afraid of the dark, but then, she had never lived in a town full of vampires before. She jumped as a cat ran across her path. She told herself there was nothing to worry about. She was perfectly safe. Still, she was almost running when a man stepped out of the shadows to block her way.

She came to an abrupt halt, her heart pounding like that of a rabbit’s caught in the jaws of a fox.

He didn’t say anything, just stared at her. And then, before she even saw him move, he was on her, one arm holding her close while he sniffed her hair and skin. She opened her mouth to scream, but there was no need.

Muttering an oath, he pushed her away, then disappeared into the darkness.

My scent is on you now. No one will touch you on pain of death. She heard the words in her mind as clearly as if Saintcrow was standing beside her.

He was waiting for her in the living room when she entered the house. Dressed in black jeans and a gray T-shirt, he might have been an ordinary man but for the power that radiated from him like heat from a furnace. His hooded gaze swept over her, his nostrils flaring like a wolf scenting its prey.

She stood in the doorway, uncertain of what to do or say.

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Did you enjoy your day?”

Kadie shrugged. “Not really.”

“Did you enjoy your visit with Rosemary and Marti?”

“How do you know about that?”

“I know everything that happens in my town. You’ve been to the movies. You ate popcorn and drank a soda. You talked to Carl. He’s still looking for someone to end his life. Quinn accosted you on your way here.”

Kadie fisted her hands on her hips. “Why do you bother to ask about my day if you already know everything that happened?”

“Conversation brings people closer together.”

“Maybe, but you’re not people,” she said flippantly, then swept past him on her way to the kitchen.