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  “He’s gone,” she told Jeanie and Mrs. Morris.

  “The man always did have a habit of leaving without saying goodbye. Thank you for coming dear.” Mrs. Morris moved back to the group of family members that were waiting for her near the casket.

  “We should get home,” Jeanie said, taking Sarah by the arm.

  “Run Sarah!” The voice vibrated through the room, shaking the chandelier.

  No one seemed to notice but Sarah.

  The vampire had told her to run, and now Gina. Where could she run to, and whom was she running from?

  Chapter Three

  As eerie as the ancient cemetery was, the blanket of swirling fog hugging the ground made it even more so. Alec stood at the edge of the graveyard. Behind him, a long abandoned village church and hundreds of gravestones rose up from the night mist. They were a reminder to all that life was short, and that sooner or later death would come for them. It would come for everyone but Alec, and his kind.

  Alec’s soul was damned to prey upon the living for all time. Nicole was his saving grace, but for how long would that last? Sooner or later, Omar would manage to turn her or kill her? Maybe she would escape Omar, but she would not escape time. He would once again walk the earth alone, unless he could free himself of his curse.

  He was sure that the ancients knew how to do this. They knew how the vampire could live in the light and exist without the need to prey on the living for their blood.

  Alec stared up at the massive black cliffs. At the very top was a fortress that had occupied the same imposing stance for hundreds of years. Castle Arges stood watch over the empty village nearby. This was how the master of Castle Arges preferred it. Solitude was the vampire’s friend, especially in Romania, a land of legends and vampires.

  Here in this dark land, it was difficult for the vampire to hide. The people were always watchful for these creatures, but few dared to confront Luciano. Some believed that Luciano was the oldest of the ancients, and perhaps even the first vampire, but Alec didn’t believe this. He did not doubt that Luciano was one of the ancients, but not the first.

  A steep staircase led to the top of the cliffs and Castle Arges, but Alec needed no stairs. Slowly he rose out of the mist and flew through the night toward Luciano’s haven of darkness.

  Confronting Luciano was a fool’s mission and Alec, was no fool. He would search out the castle himself for the Book of Anu. More than a thousand years ago, the words of an immortal were preserved in this manuscript, but it was kept well hidden by the ancients, if it actually existed at all.

  Alec hoped that it did, but he’d spent two centuries searching for it, without finding even a hint that the manuscript was anything but myth. Then Lex had confirmed its existence. He was a member of the Vilka pack, but Alec could not help but wonder what the wolves could know of the vampires? The Vilkas were the wolf people of Eastern Europe, and they were ancient, but what could they really know about vampires?

  The courtyard was empty and dark, the perfect place for Alec to gain entrance to Castle Arges. His feet touched down on the stone surface of the courtyard, barely making any noise at all. Normally he would have little fear of discovery, but this was no ordinary home. This was the home of Luciano, a vampire so powerful that none dared oppose him, not even Omar.

  Alec slipped inside through a large wooden door. It creaked as he pulled it open, but not enough to make others aware of his presence. He found himself in a long - dimly lit corridor. Not much had changed at Castle Arges since medieval times. There was now electricity and probably running water, but it appeared almost exactly as it had all those years ago. That was one thing that you could be sure about with the ancients. They did not like change, and tended to squash anything that would bring about change, or a shifting of power.

  The last time he’d been at the castle, he had not made it into the lower levels or any of the hidden passages. Alec decided that would be the best place to begin his search. A scream from another part of the castle brought Alec to a standstill. He listened for a long time. There was another shriek of agony.

  Alec blocked out the sound. Someone was playing with their food. This was not the way it was supposed to be. The humans were a source of life, not a toy for cruel amusement. He continued down the corridor, and was more determined than ever to end the curse of the immortal.

  * * * *

  Sarah stuffed the St. John’s Wort into the plastic bag and sealed it. It was her fiftieth bag in an hour. She heard the front door open and knew that her aunt was home from her weekly shopping trip into town. Aunt Jeanie loved her privacy and preferred to stay within her home, but she also liked to gossip with her friends whenever she got the chance.

  Fraternizing with the others was why she made it a point to go to town each week to shop, even if they didn’t really need anything. She and the other ladies would gather at the local diner for a little catching up. Of course many of the patrons of the Grotto would leave when they saw the ladies coming, but they didn’t let that bother them at all. A few even found it amusing that after hundreds of years, so many of the locals still feared them.

  “You’ve been a busy bee,” Jeanie said, setting two overstuffed grocery sacks on the kitchen counter.

  “I’m almost done, and then I’ll start on the rosemary.”

  “Nonsense! You’re young … it’s a Saturday. You need to go out and have some fun.”

  “But won’t it be dark soon?” Sarah raised her brows.

  “There’s a carnival in Sutter Point. Wouldn’t that be fun? There will be plenty of people there,” Jeanie pointed out. “As long as you stay with the crowd, you should be fine.”

  Sarah shook her head. “I don’t want to go alone.”

  “Well of course! What fun would that be?” Jeanie patted her niece’s back. “That’s why I’ve made arrangements for Taylor to go with you.”

  “Taylor?” Sarah scrunched up her face. “No kidding?”

  “Now Miss Sarah Fabre … don’t you be inhospitable.” Sarah’s aunt wagged a finger at her.

  Sarah smiled. “I’m a little older than that.”

  “Good, that’s my girl. He’ll be here in an hour to pick you up, so you’ll probably want to start getting ready,” Jeanie informed her.

  It wasn’t that she didn’t like Taylor. It was just that he was always trying to show off what he could do, and it never failed, something would go wrong with one of his spells. Last time their families had gone on a camping trip together, Taylor did a spell to keep the mosquitoes away. Instead of keeping the mosquitoes away, their campsite had been bombarded by sparrows.

  Sarah loved Aunt Jeanie dearly. She just wished that her aunt would stop trying to get her hooked up with Taylor. She was only 21 years old, and still had plenty of time to think about finding a guy.

  Sarah was ready and waiting for him by the front gate when he drove up, his old truck choking and coughing. He still looked exactly the same as he did the last time she’d seen him. His sandy blond hair appeared as if he’d forgotten to comb it when he got up in the morning, but his blue eyes had a good-natured twinkle, and Sarah liked that.

  There wasn’t anything wrong with Taylor. He was handsome enough, in a boy next-door sort of way. He just didn’t make her heart do flip-flops when she saw him. Besides, she had practically grown up with him so it would be like dating a brother.

  Taylor jumped out of the truck and ran around to open the passenger door for her.

  “Thanks Taylor.” Sarah smiled.

  When Taylor got behind the wheel, he turned and grinned at her. “Sarah, it’s nice to have you back.”

  “Thanks, I’m happy I could come and spend some time with everyone this summer,” Sarah told him, realizing that it was true. She loved Sutter Point. It was only the people that bothered her. The constant staring of the townspeople could be intolerable. Before she’d gone away to school, it got to the point that when she went out in public, her stomach would get tied up in knots. The townspeople in Sutte
r Point had a way of stirring Sarah’s anger and bringing out the worst in her.

  Taylor pulled onto the road. “Your aunt thought you could use some time away from the house.”

  Sarah nodded. “Yes, my auntie is always thinking of others.”

  Through most of the trip into town, Sarah stared silently out the window, lost in her own little world. She had so many questions, and too few answers. What had happened to her mother? Where had she gone after leaving her with Aunt Jeanie? Why wouldn’t Jeanie tell her anything about her mom?

  Taylor, bless his heart, seemed to sense her mood and didn’t push for conversation. He wasn’t her knight in shining armor, but he was a good friend.

  The sun was already down. She could barely make out the thick pines to the sides of the road as they sped by them. Sarah could not help but wonder what was lurking in the dark forest. Now that she knew there really were vampires that roamed the night, undercover of darkness, she could not help but wonder what other secrets lurked within the shadows? She could almost hear her Aunt Jeanie scolding her for being so fanciful.

  One moment she was staring out at the shadowy trees of the forest, and the next she was looking at his face. His eyes were there in the glass, glowing with the need to feed.

  Sarah screamed. The instant she’d opened her mouth to scream, he began to fade away like mist beneath the heat of the sun. Then he was gone. There was nothing there but the woods and the darkness.

  Startled, Taylor swerved. Sarah felt the truck tip to the passenger side, and she instinctively lifted her hands, pressing them against the top of the cab to brace herself. The truck rode on two tires for what seemed like an eternity, before the other side hit the road with a thud, jarring her teeth. Her heart was beating so wildly that she was sure it would burst at any moment. She held a hand against her chest, as if the gesture would somehow calm her heart.

  Taylor slowed the truck and pulled off to the side of the road. “Are you okay?” he asked, visibly shaken.

  Sarah nodded. “Are you?”

  “Why’d you scream? You scared the crap out of me!” With his shock passing, his annoyance came through loud and clear.

  A little smile touched her lips. “Aren’t you the most powerful warlock in Sutter Point?” she asked, unable to resist the urge to tease him.

  Taylor rolled his eyes. “Well why were you screaming your head off?”

  Sarah opened her mouth to tell a little white lie, but then closed it again. Why did she feel the need to cover it up? It wasn’t like they both hadn’t experienced stranger things.

  “I thought there was a vampire outside the window,” she confessed.

  The blood drained from his face. “A vampire?”

  She nodded. “But maybe it was my imagination.” Sarah didn’t want to scare him. After all, it wasn’t Taylor he was after.

  Taylor reached into the dash box and pulled out a bag of salt. Without saying a word, he jumped out of the truck.

  “What are you doing?” Sarah called after him.

  “Getting rid of a bloodsucker!” he told her as he started sprinkling salt around the truck.

  Sarah opened her door and got out. “Wait a minute. Maybe this isn’t really necessary.”

  Taylor motioned with his hand for her to stop. “I know what I’m doing Sarah. You may want to get back inside. It’s probably not safe out here.”

  When Taylor had circled the truck with salt, he started chanting.

  “Black as night,

  “Vampire take flight

  “Back to the grave

  “Forever from our sight.”

  Taylor repeated the verse three times before he stopped to look at Sarah. “That should do the trick.”

  “I don’t know. It kind of sounded like you might have forgotten a verse. It was a little short,” Sarah said with a smile.

  The truth was that she really had no idea if he had done the spell right or not. She didn’t know any vampire banishing spells, which was puzzling. If these creatures actually existed, why hadn’t her aunt taught her any protection spells against them?

  “No, I’m sure that’s the one.”

  Sarah shrugged her shoulders and got back in the truck. Taylor did the same, sticking the salt beneath his seat. “Just in case we need it quickly,” he explained.

  “Oh … okay,” she smiled.

  “Whoever it was shouldn’t be giving us anymore trouble tonight,” he told her. “You just have to know how to handle bloodsuckers.”

  “What do you know about vampires?”

  “You know Sarah, if you took a little more interest in the craft, you’d know just how dangerous these things can be,” he chastised her.

  “Taylor … what do you know?” she asked again.

  “Well I know how to banish them. I know that much.” He tossed her a look of reproach.

  Giving up, Sarah grew quiet again. How could she find out what was going on? She didn’t think that Taylor knew as much as he let on, and Sarah had the distinct feeling that Aunt Jeanie was keeping some very important information from her. Maybe she felt that until she was brought into the coven, she would not have the strength to protect herself from whatever was out there.

  When they drove into the outskirts of town, Sarah felt her spirits lift at the sight of the colorful carnival lights and all the people on the streets. She’d always loved carnivals. Every summer since she’d come to live in Sutter Point, Aunt Jeanie had taken her to the carnival. Jeanie would brush off the stares as easily as she waved her hand.

  She could almost hear Jeanie’s voice in her head. “It doesn’t matter one bit what others think of you. What matters is what you think of yourself.”

  As part of their yearly trip to the carnival, they’d end the day with an ice cream. By that time Sarah had already forgotten the ugly looks of the townspeople. Jeanie had a way of making the stormiest days feel like they were full of sunshine.

  The carnival was being held in a large - empty lot on the edge of town. The parking lot was really a weed-choked pasture, but walking through the weeds was no big deal. At least she was getting out for a few hours.

  Her aunt had been right, she really needed to see some bright lights and just have fun. The walk to the ticket booth only took a few minutes, and with so many people standing in line, Sarah didn’t think anyone even noticed her.

  Once inside, Taylor grabbed her hand. “Let’s go on a ride.”

  “Okay.” Sarah let him lead her toward the Asteroid Scrambler. Though this ride always gave her whiplash, she loved it. It was one of those rides that would give you an adrenaline rush that you just couldn’t get enough of.

  The line was short. Before long they were on the ride, and securing the safety belt around them. As the ride started moving, a lively tune began to play. Sarah grasped the bar, bracing herself so that she wouldn’t be flung against Taylor. He was kicked back like he didn’t have a care in the world.

  Though the ride started slow enough, within seconds they were moving at a breakneck speed. Everything was a blur. The lights and the people passed by so quickly, it was almost dreamlike.

  Looking over at Taylor, Sarah couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of his windblown hair sticking straight up. He had lost his relaxed posture and was now holding on tightly. It felt good to laugh. She hadn’t done enough of it the past few days.

  Too soon the ride slowed and was over. The world was still spinning when Sarah stepped out of the little cart that they had been sitting in. She tried to focus on a large tree near the fence that surrounded the Asteroid Scrambler. As her eyes focused, she saw him leaning against the tree, staring at her.

  Sarah quickly glanced at Taylor, and when she directed her eyes back to the tree, he was gone.

  Had she imagined him?

  “I’m hungry, let’s go get some dinner.” Taylor rubbed his stomach with one hand.

  “Are you crazy? I’ll vomit if I eat anything right now.” Sarah shook her head. “I think I’ll just go sit down and wai
t for you.” She pointed to the bench by the tree.”

  Taylor shrugged his shoulders and headed off to find him something to eat. Sarah walked slowly over to the bench and sat down. She hoped that a little rest would help her to get her bearings and stop the churning in her stomach. Leaning forward, she closed her eyes and rested her face in her hands.

  “Why are you still here?”

  The voice came from behind her. Sarah sat up straight and swung around to face him. He was kneeling behind the bench with his arms resting on the back of it.

  Dumbfounded, Sarah couldn’t think of a single thing to say. All she could do was stare at him.

  He smiled. “Do you like the Ferris wheel?”

  She nodded, still unable to find her voice.

  “We should ride it then.” He stepped around the bench and held out his hand to her. There was something about him that just seemed to scream at her senses, warning her off, but she wanted to talk to him, she wanted to be near him. He wore black clothing and boots, and although the night was warm, he also wore a long black coat.

  “I’m waiting for my friend,” she told him, trying to look away.

  He kneeled down in front of the bench and shook his head. “You have been waiting for me Sarah.”

  Was he right? Had she been secretly hoping that it had not been her imagination, and that he would make another appearance?

  She started to shake her head in denial, but he held up a hand to stop her. “Sarah … you can’t lie to me.”

  His eyes locked with hers, and he seemed to be staring right into her soul, peeling back the layers of who she was, until the person that was Sarah Fabre was naked and vulnerable. She blinked rapidly, trying to direct her gaze somewhere else, but she couldn’t.

  “What’s your name?” she forced her vocal cords to work.

  “If I tell you my name, will you go on a ride with me?”

  “Maybe,” Sarah told him.

  A smile touched his lips. “My name is Darrien.”

  “Taylor did a banishing spell on you. How come you are here?”