knew he'd been there the night before, so the smell must just be lingering. The memory of their encounter last night made her check all of the doors and windows again.
Confident that all of the locks were secure, Salena headed toward the bathroom. She stopped in the doorway, though, because a vase full of painted daisies—the same daisies she'd eyed earlier, she was sure—was on the ledge of her tub. She ran back to the kitchen and there, on the kitchen counter, was the vase full of flowers from Eric. Someone had gotten inside the house again. He had been inside my house again. Was he still here? Terrified, she ran to her bedroom and locked the door. Would that even do any good? She quickly threw on clothes and, this time, called the police.
About thirty minutes filled with panic later, Officer Ann Marx showed up and looked around. She investigated all the doors and windows and saw for herself that nothing had been tampered with. She did notice that the basement door didn't have a lock, though, and scolded Salena about that. Then she went downstairs and checked it out. All she saw was the locked patio door, with a built in pet door, that Salena told her was never used. The windows were intact and locked secure as well. "And you are sure you didn't buy these for yourself?" she had her head tilted like Salena was crazy.
Salena cleared her throat, "No. I mean, yes, I am sure I didn't buy them. The storm started in before I had the chance. I am not that forgetful," she added for emphasis. Then, on a side note to herself, I'm just crazy is all, and I have a vampire after me.
The officer looked at her and shrugged, "Well, the techs have dusted for prints, so we'll see what turns up."
Before she could leave, Salena stopped her, "Wait! There's this too." She pulled her collar aside to expose her neck to the officer.
"What are you trying to show me? I don't see anything."
Salena ran to the bathroom mirror and looked for herself; it was gone—completely. Officer Marx looked at her with deep concern. "I think you should lie down and get some rest. Is there someone we can call for you?" Salena thought about that, remembering her plans suddenly, "No, thank you, I'll be seeing my friends shortly."
The officer reminded her to put a lock on the upstairs basement door and never hesitate to call if she thinks someone has broken in. As the officer was getting into her car, though, Salena saw the woman shake her head side to side.
"Yep, she thinks I'm loco," Salena said aloud as she watched the police leave. Then she called her friends to say she'd be a little late.
After triple checking the lock, she got dressed for her night out with the girls. She hadn't noticed the black cat watching her the entire time.
Chapter 23
A shadow played across the building. Shannon walked faster to her car, ankles wobbling, wishing she hadn't worn those damned spiked heels. It had been a big waste anyway. She was tired of going to bars in the hopes of finding "Mr. Right." But now, feeling terrified about the idea of being followed to her car in the pitch-blackness, she especially wished she'd stayed home alone, again. As she fumbled in her clutch for her keys, her car only a few feet away, she was sure she could hear footsteps closing in behind her. Her hands trembled while she tried to get the key in the lock. God, don't let me be found dead here in this parking lot , runs through her mind right as a large hand covers her mouth, and a sharp pain pierces her neck. As she feels her warm blood—and life—spilling out, she knows her worst fear is coming true.
The woman in the parking lot was not to his taste, but it would be enough to hold him over for the moment. She had smelled of cigarettes and booze, instead of the French perfumes he preferred. But it was time to come back to the United States and have a family reunion. Gabriel knew it was time to find his brother, Devin.
Chapter 24
Devin followed Salena back into town. Standing outside
Confident that all of the locks were secure, Salena headed toward the bathroom. She stopped in the doorway, though, because a vase full of painted daisies—the same daisies she'd eyed earlier, she was sure—was on the ledge of her tub. She ran back to the kitchen and there, on the kitchen counter, was the vase full of flowers from Eric. Someone had gotten inside the house again. He had been inside my house again. Was he still here? Terrified, she ran to her bedroom and locked the door. Would that even do any good? She quickly threw on clothes and, this time, called the police.
About thirty minutes filled with panic later, Officer Ann Marx showed up and looked around. She investigated all the doors and windows and saw for herself that nothing had been tampered with. She did notice that the basement door didn't have a lock, though, and scolded Salena about that. Then she went downstairs and checked it out. All she saw was the locked patio door, with a built in pet door, that Salena told her was never used. The windows were intact and locked secure as well. "And you are sure you didn't buy these for yourself?" she had her head tilted like Salena was crazy.
Salena cleared her throat, "No. I mean, yes, I am sure I didn't buy them. The storm started in before I had the chance. I am not that forgetful," she added for emphasis. Then, on a side note to herself, I'm just crazy is all, and I have a vampire after me.
The officer looked at her and shrugged, "Well, the techs have dusted for prints, so we'll see what turns up."
Before she could leave, Salena stopped her, "Wait! There's this too." She pulled her collar aside to expose her neck to the officer.
"What are you trying to show me? I don't see anything."
Salena ran to the bathroom mirror and looked for herself; it was gone—completely. Officer Marx looked at her with deep concern. "I think you should lie down and get some rest. Is there someone we can call for you?" Salena thought about that, remembering her plans suddenly, "No, thank you, I'll be seeing my friends shortly."
The officer reminded her to put a lock on the upstairs basement door and never hesitate to call if she thinks someone has broken in. As the officer was getting into her car, though, Salena saw the woman shake her head side to side.
"Yep, she thinks I'm loco," Salena said aloud as she watched the police leave. Then she called her friends to say she'd be a little late.
After triple checking the lock, she got dressed for her night out with the girls. She hadn't noticed the black cat watching her the entire time.
Chapter 23
A shadow played across the building. Shannon walked faster to her car, ankles wobbling, wishing she hadn't worn those damned spiked heels. It had been a big waste anyway. She was tired of going to bars in the hopes of finding "Mr. Right." But now, feeling terrified about the idea of being followed to her car in the pitch-blackness, she especially wished she'd stayed home alone, again. As she fumbled in her clutch for her keys, her car only a few feet away, she was sure she could hear footsteps closing in behind her. Her hands trembled while she tried to get the key in the lock. God, don't let me be found dead here in this parking lot , runs through her mind right as a large hand covers her mouth, and a sharp pain pierces her neck. As she feels her warm blood—and life—spilling out, she knows her worst fear is coming true.
The woman in the parking lot was not to his taste, but it would be enough to hold him over for the moment. She had smelled of cigarettes and booze, instead of the French perfumes he preferred. But it was time to come back to the United States and have a family reunion. Gabriel knew it was time to find his brother, Devin.
Chapter 24
Devin followed Salena back into town. Standing outside
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