«I've felt fear before.” Her words were calm, but her lips trembled. “I've felt pain. More pain that even you can imagine.»
He was surprised by the anger that swept through him. The idea that someone, somewhere, had hurt this strange woman filled him with rage. A rage that had no reason. His fingers clenched around her shoulders. “Who hurt—»
She jerked back, away from him. “It doesn't matter right now.»
It mattered. For some unknown reason, it mattered very much to him.
«Are you going to help me?” She asked again.
«You mean, am I going to kill you?” In truth, he found that he hungered for the taste of her blood. For her.
She took a deep breath. “Look, we're wasting time. I know how it works. I told you, I've done my research.»
«Ah, yes … your research.” His words mocked her.
«I know what has to be done,” she said stubbornly, her bright gaze locked on his. “I know that I have to die in order to become…»
«Become what?” He asked as a dark suspicion wrapped its way around him. Surely she couldn't mean—
«Like you.»
CHAPTER 2
Evil lives in this world. I have seen it.
-Entry from the diary of Henry de Montfort,
October 5, 1068
Silence filled the room.
Savannah held her breath, praying with all of her strength that she hadn't made a mistake by coming here, by coming to William.
He had been her last resort. Her only choice.
If she were to have her vengeance, then she would need him.
Finally, just when she thought the silence would never end, he spoke. His words were slow, considering. “So it isn't true death that you seek, is it, little one? You want the kiss, the kiss of immortality. The kiss of the vampire.” He sounded almost disappointed.
«Yes, that's what I want.” No, it wasn't really what she wanted, but it was what she had to have. She had to become like him, to become one the walking dead, if she were to complete her plans. Otherwise, all would be lost.
«You aren't so different, after all.” He turned away dismissively and walked out of the room.
Her temples began to pound. She ignored the pain and hurried after him. “Wait! Stop!»
He was in the foyer. He pulled open the strong wooden door. The darkness from the night spilled into the room. It almost seemed as if the darkness were waiting for her, waiting to claim her.
«Good night, Ms. Daniels.»
«No!” She slammed the door, shutting out the night. “You have to help me.»
«I haven't helped any of those other poor fools who came to me over the years and asked for the kiss.” A cynical smile curled his lips as he read the surprise on her face. “What? Did you think you were the first to discover my nature?»
Savannah felt a flush stain her cheeks. Yes, she had thought that she'd been the first. From the instant that she learned of William Dark's existence, she had felt a strange kinship with him. A special link had seemed to exist between them. But, perhaps that had just been in her mind, too.
«There have been at least a dozen others who have come to me over the centuries.” William shrugged his broad shoulders. “They all stumbled upon the truth of my existence in one manner or another. And they all wanted the kiss. Men, women. Young and old. They didn't care what they would have to do once they were transformed. They didn't care about what they would become. They just wanted the kiss.»
Savannah swallowed to ease her suddenly parched throat. Fear rolled through her. William was going to refuse her, as he'd done with others a dozen times before.
«I didn't change them. And I'm not going to change you.»
«But if you don't, I'll—»
A gust of wind knocked the door open and flew through the foyer, sending Savannah's hair whipping around her face. “No threats!” William growled. “All of the others threatened me. First they begged, pleaded, and when that didn't work, they threatened. And do you know what I did to them?»
Staring into his swirling eyes, Savannah was afraid to ask about their fate.
«I could have killed them. I could have drained them dry or broken their necks. Then I wouldn't have had to worry about their sad attempts at blackmail.»
Savannah winced.
«But I didn't do that,” he said, his voice suddenly changing, lowering, flowing around her, through her, like rich wine. “I didn't have to kill them. And do you know why?»
«Why?” She whispered.
His head lowered toward hers. “Vampires have many powers. Both physical and mental.»
Savannah knew all about the powers that vampires possessed. The superhuman strength, the psychic talents. It was said that some could fly. Some could shapeshift. And some could control the actions of humans with but a stray thought.
Mind control. A shudder racked her body.
He smiled. “That's right. I didn't have to kill them because I simply made them forget. As I will make you forget…»
His lips touched hers, a light, fleeting touch. A tingle shot through her body at the contact.
«That's the only kiss you'll be getting from me, sweet Savannah. Count yourself lucky for it.»
He stepped back, and with one hand, he lifted her chin, forcing her eyes to lock on his. “Now, it's time for you to go. Go back to your nice little world and forget me. Forget all about me and the kiss that you wanted.»
As Savannah stared into his eyes, she felt as if her grip on the world was slipping away. The light in the foyer suddenly seemed incredibly dim.
Shadows surrounded William, and all she could see were his eyes, burning red.
«Forget, Savannah. Forget me. Forget the kiss.»
A scream of denial trembled against her lips. A scream that was never voiced, for in the next instant, the darkness overwhelmed her and Savannah could remember no more.
* * * *
He had no trouble taking her back to town, back to the small hotel room that she'd rented at the edge of the city.
When they'd gone down the mountain, he'd seen her car. It had sat, small and abandoned, on the old gravel drive. He would have to make arrangements for the car to be returned to her. In the mean time, he would plant an explanation for its absence in her mind.
He was very good at planting compulsions.
As they'd traveled, he'd cloaked their presence. No one would remember them. Even the few residents of town who had seen them would not actually be able to recall their presence.
It wasn't as if there had even been that many people out to see them. Tyler, North Carolina wasn't exactly the big city. There were a few shops and businesses along the main street, but most of the residents actually lived in nearby cabins. Nestled in the mountains, the city was occasionally visited by tourists hoping to get away from the rigors of big-city life. But even at the height of the tourist season, the town still only boasted a few thousand residents. It was a small town, quiet and secluded. Perfect for him.