Enchant the Night - Amanda Ashley Page 0,57
know they exist, so he wiped the memory from your mind. I know this is hard to believe, Viv, but I swear it’s all too true.”
“This isn’t funny,” Vivian said, her voice thick with unshed tears. “I thought we were friends. Friends don’t lie to each other.”
“She isn’t lying.”
Vivian jumped, her eyes widening when Quill appeared in the doorway dressed all in black.
He wasn’t hiding what he was. Preternatural power emanated from him, so thick Callie was surprised they couldn’t see it. A faint hint of red tinged his eyes.
Vivian stared at him, let out a strangled cry when he smiled at her, showing a hint of fang.
“It’s all right,” Callie said quickly. “He won’t hurt you. He’s just trying to prove that I’m telling you the truth. Quill, stop it. You’re scaring her.”
Withdrawing his power, he folded his arms over his chest, listening quietly as Callie answered her friend’s numerous questions while they picked at their lunch.
When Vivian finally ran down, Callie said, “You can’t tell anyone, Viv. Promise me you won’t.”
Vivian risked a glance at Quill. “I promise. Who would believe me?” When he left the room, she leaned across the table. “Aren’t you afraid of him?”
“No. He’s very kind and sweet and . . .”
“Kind?” Vivian exclaimed. “Sweet? Callie, the man’s a vampire!”
“But he’s not like the ones in movies that go around ripping out hearts and throats. His kind don’t kill people. I love him, Viv. He’s the most wonderful man I’ve ever met, and people are trying to kill him.”
“Does he drink blood?”
Callie hesitated before nodding, afraid of what the next question might be. And she was right.
“Does he drink from you?”
“Yes. And it’s wonderful.”
Vivian shook her head. “He is very handsome and sexy, but, Callie, he isn’t really human.”
“He’s human enough for me.” Callie smiled, wondering what Viv would think if she knew her best friend was a witch. Perhaps, one day, she would tell her.
But not today.
* * *
Vivian left shortly after lunch. She renewed her promise not to tell anyone about Quill, assuring Callie that the mere thought of breaking her promise was enough to ensure her silence.
Brow furrowed, Callie stood at the door, watching her friend drive away. Even if Viv told someone about Quill, it was unlikely that anyone would take her seriously.
Returning to the kitchen, she cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher. It wasn’t until she went into the living room that she realized she hadn’t seen Ebony since early that morning.
Frowning, she looked in her bedroom, peeked into the guest room where Quill was resting, though she didn’t expect to find the cat there. She looked in the bathrooms and the service porch. No Ebony.
In the hallway, she glanced at Ava’s room. The door was closed, as always. There was no way the cat could be in there, but she couldn’t resist taking a look inside.
Ebony was curled up in the middle of one of the bed pillows. The cat lifted its head when Callie opened the door.
“How on earth did you get in here?” Callie muttered. The windows were both closed, the curtains drawn. The door had been shut tight. There was no other way into the room.
The cat blinked at her, then lowered its head and went back to sleep.
* * *
Callie spent the rest of the day cleaning out the small attic her grandmother had used for storage. She hadn’t been up there since Ava had passed away, and the first order of business was going through all the cardboard boxes, most of which held Callie’s baby clothes, toys, and stuffed animals. One box held old photograph albums; another held an assortment of outdated hats and shoes.
Callie put the boxes holding her baby clothes and toys beside the attic door to carry down and dispose of later. She stacked the box of old photos in a corner, intending to go through them at another time.
A small wooden trunk held her grandmother’s wedding dress and veil.
Callie smiled as she ran her hands over the gown, which was silky smooth to the touch. She had played dress-up in it when she was a little girl, yet the dress remained spotlessly clean, as if it had been wrapped in plastic since her grandmother had worn it. No doubt Ava had woven a spell to keep it looking new.
On an impulse, Callie removed her T-shirt and jeans, then slipped the gown over her head. It fell in graceful folds to the floor. She twirled around, smiling as the