Giver of Light by Nicola Claire Page B

close neighbours were or whether it would be plausible for me to find help if I escaped.
    Rather than get excited at that prospect, I pushed the thoughts away. I didn't need to escape, I was quite fine right where I was. I reached over and took hold of Jonathan's hand as it rested on his thigh. I could tell I had surprised him, the car slowed slightly as soon as I made contact. His head whipping round to look at me.
    “Lucinda.” He didn't say anything else and it wasn't a question.
    “Well, are you going to show me how fast it can go?”
    He smiled again. “With pleasure, my lady.”
    It turns out that a Camaro can go very fast. He didn't lower the top, I think we would have frozen had he done that, but the thinness of the cover made it feel like we were so much closer to the environment around us as it sped past. There hadn't been any houses near us, as it turns out, I only vaguely registered when the first neighbour sped past. The speed of the car, the beautiful lush scenery out the window even in full dark and the warmth of Jonathan's hand as he held mine, made me feel safe and happy. I just sat back and enjoyed the thrumming engine and sense of escape the drive provided.
    After about half an hour we entered a well lit area, with a rather large car park and more and more buildings the closer we came. Jonathan parked the car and came around to help me out of my side. The air was crisp and fresh, but not too cold, still I wrapped my coat a little closer around me. Jonathan's arm came about my shoulder and added to the warmth. I could see tall, rock like mountain peaks, on either side of a well lit area and hear the sounds of voices from what must be a crowd of people. It was hard to believe he was letting me near other humans. I had been isolated for a week, with only Jonathan and his vampires. If I had wanted to escape, now would have been the time.
    Instead I walked happily toward the entrance and took in my surroundings. The sign above the gateway read Red Rocks Amphitheatre and the show tonight was Diana Krall. I had never seen her in concert before, but I knew her music. I was definitely into a little light Jazz.
    “You like?” Jonathan whispered in my ear as we walked through the entrance without anyone stopping us to see our tickets.
    “Yeah, I do.” I couldn't keep the smile off my face, I felt free. Finally free.
    He knew his way around the venue and led us directly to a private viewing area above all the many people already in attendance, but off to the side. It was enclosed and I had the thought that it might have been why he had taken the risk of bringing me here. I wasn't going to be anywhere near the humans who had flocked to see Diana. They were all seated on long curved bench seats, which made up the amphitheatre, leading down towards the stage. The lights that lit up Diana's grand piano and the beautiful red rock walls on either side making it look like a Christmas scene, sparkling and vibrant and alive.
    If it wasn't for the fact that I was out and about, the bright lights alone would have made my heart soar. For some reason the lights sang to me and I knew this would probably be more true than the music itself. I had been in a house surrounded by darkness and now I had found light. I decided I needed more light in my life. Maybe I could ask Jonathan for flood lights on the gardens back at the house. Light felt very important to me, I couldn't say why, but I just knew it was so.
    We sat down and waited for the show to start. Our timing couldn't have been better. Diana came on stage and began her set. I found myself moving forward in my seat and kind of dancing where I sat, the music was great. The performance brilliant. I particularly liked the drummer and the acoustic guitar player, but watching Diana's fingers fly over the keyboard was also a thrill.
    It was towards the end of the performance that I realised Jonathan hadn't been watching the show at all, but had instead been watching me. I felt a