As Twilight Falls

Kadie made a face at him; then, proving what a good student she was, she undressed him; looking smug, she flipped him onto his back and straddled his hips.

“I should have turned you months ago,” Saintcrow remarked. “You’re a natural.”

“A natural?” she asked skeptically. “Is there any such thing as a ‘natural’ vampire?”

“Some take to it better than others. You never know how anyone will react, once it’s done. Even people who’ve asked to be turned sometimes can’t handle it. I’ve known a few who destroyed themselves soon after they were brought across.”

“Ravenwood seems okay with it.”

“Yeah. He’ll be a master vampire one of these days.”

“What does that mean, exactly?”

“It’s usually a vampire who’s survived longer than most. Someone who’s staked out a territory and managed to defend it against all comers.”

“Someone like you.” She ran her finger along the silvery scar that ran from his shoulder to his navel, marveling that he had survived such a wound.

He nodded.

“Have you made very many vampires?”

“Just one, a long time ago. It didn’t turn out well.”

“What do you mean?”

“Like I said, some people can’t handle it. Gregor couldn’t. The lust for blood drove him crazy. And I mean insane. He wiped out a whole village.”

“That’s terrible!”

“Yeah.”

“What happened to him, I’m afraid to ask.”

“Just what you’re thinking. I hunted him down and destroyed him.”

Kadie stared at him for several moments, debating whether she wanted to know how one vampire destroyed another. After thinking about it, she decided she’d rather not hear the details. Instead, she asked another question. “Are all vampires created equal?”

“No. It depends a good deal on who sired you. Ravenwood was turned by Lilith, which puts him in the upper ten percent. Most of the vampires who resided here weren’t very powerful, which is why they came here in the first place. You, on the other hand, were turned by the oldest vampire in the country, which makes you very powerful indeed.”

He sucked in a breath as her hand moved lower. “And thus endeth the lesson on Vampires 101.”

Wrapping his arms around her, he rolled over, and after settling her beneath him, he demonstrated the remarkable staying power of a nine-hundred-year-old master vampire.

Chapter 41

After spending the night in Micah’s arms, it was difficult for Shirley to sit in the restaurant with Rosemary and Donna the next morning, and even more difficult to concentrate on what they were saying. All she could think about was the handsome young vampire who had made love to her into the wee small hours of the morning, and how anxious she was to see him again. It had been years since she had made love. Truth be told, she had never really been crazy about it. Until last night.

“Shirley, what do you think? Shirley?” Rosemary tapped her on the forehead. “Hey, are you in there?”

“What? Oh, sorry, I was . . . um . . .”

“Not here. That’s for sure. Donna thinks we should drive into Cody for the day, have lunch, do some shopping. Do you want to go?”

“Oh. Sure, why not?”

“Are you all right?” Rosemary asked. “You seem a little . . . distracted.”

“I’m fine.” She smiled faintly. “Really fine.”

“She has that look,” Donna said.

“What look?” Shirley asked.

Donna folded her arms over her chest. “The same one Kadie wore after she’d been with Saintcrow for a while.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

Rosemary nodded. “I think you’re right.”

“It’s that young vampire, isn’t it?” Donna leaned forward. “Come on, ’fess up.”

Shirley slumped in her seat. “All right. I’ve seen him a couple of times.”

“First Kadie, and now you.” Rosemary sighed. “I just don’t see the attraction.”

“Speaking of Kadie, she hasn’t been around lately,” Donna said. “I hope she’s all right.”

“Oh, she’s all right,” Shirley muttered. “But she won’t be coming in here for lunch anymore.”

Rosemary and Donna both looked at her sharply.

“He turned her,” Shirley said.

Rosemary looked stricken. “Are you sure about that?”

“I’m sure. I saw her last night.”

“I was afraid that would happen. It was just a matter of time.” Donna looked at Shirley. “If you’re not careful, it’ll happen to you, too.”

Eager to change the subject, Shirley pointed at two men approaching the restaurant, “Customers.” One was in his early thirties, the other in his fifties. Both were well dressed.

“I’ll cook,” Rosemary said, rising.

“I’ll play waitress,” Shirley offered.

“I guess that leaves me with the dishes,” Donna remarked, following Rosemary into the kitchen.

Shirley went to greet their guests. “Good afternoon, gentlemen. Would you prefer a table or a booth?”

“Either one is fine,” the older man said.

“Right this way.” Shirley led them to a booth by the window and offered them each a handwritten menu. “Coffee?”

Both men nodded.

Shirley hurried into the kitchen. “Do those two look like trouble,” she asked, filling two cups with coffee, “or is it just my imagination?”

“They remind me of the hunters that were here not long ago,” Rosemary whispered.

“You don’t think they’re here for Kadie, do you?” Donna asked.

“I don’t know, but I don’t think so. How could they have found out about her so quickly? They’re probably here for Saintcrow.”

“But if they find him, they’ll find her!” Donna exclaimed. “We’ve got to warn them.”

“Yes,” Shirley agreed. “But how?” Vampires slept during the day. Everyone knew that. Her breath caught in her throat as a new thought occurred. She had no idea where Micah spent the day now that Saintcrow had returned. She couldn’t warn him even if she wanted to.

“You’d better go take their order,” Rosemary suggested.

“Right.” Returning to the table, Shirley forced a smile as she set the cups in front of the men. “What can I get for you gentlemen?”