A Whisper of Eternity - By Amanda Ashley Page 0,26

his eyes as he said, "I have been tempted, many times, but, no."

"Why not?Isn't that what vampires do?"

"You have never wished for it."

"Why haven't you just taken it by force?" She lifted a hand to her throat, probing softly. "Or when I'm asleep?"

"Is that what you want?" He didn't move, didn't alter his tone or expression, yet something she didn't comprehend changed in the air between them. Though he remained where he was, it seemed as if he was leaning toward her, waiting.

"No!"

"You would find it most pleasant."

"Never mind.I want to see where you live."

If he thought her request odd at such a moment, he didn't say so. Instead, he held out his hand. "Come."

He led her out the door that led to the backyard. Turning right, she followed him down a narrow path that seemed to end in a tangle of trees and shrubs that she had planned to clear away when she found the time. Just beyond the shrubbery was a narrow iron door that, as far as she could see, had no handle or latch of any kind.

Dominic put his hand on the door and it swung open on well-oiled hinges. Beyond the door, she saw nothing but blackness.

Dominic crossed the threshold, pulling her along behind him.

Tracyjerked her hand from his. "I'm not going down there. It's dark."

A wave of his hand brought several candles to life.

The passageway led steadily downward, not leveling out until they came to another door. Dominic opened this one as he had the other, revealing a large, square, windowless room. The walls, floor, and ceiling were of stone. A large fireplace took up most of one wall, accounting for the house's second chimney. Bookshelves lined anotherwall, a third was covered with drawings of a woman. Stepping farther into the room,Tracy studied the pictures. She was not surprised at what she saw. A queen in a long gown; a dancer clad in a provocative costume reminiscent of Salome; a schoolmarm clad in a long-sleeved, high-necked dress; a young woman wearing a veil and flowing robes.

Looking at the drawings made her uncomfortable and she turned away. The room was sparsely furnished. An easy chair faced the hearth. There was a large ottoman on one side of the chair, a small table on the other. A sofa stood at a right angle to the chair.

Opening a door, Dominic beckoned for her to follow. "My bedroom," he said.

There were no windows in this room, either, of course. Windows would be impossible so far underground. There were paintings of all shapes and sizes on all four walls - paintings of sunrises, nothing but sunrises. An armoire of dark cherrywood stood in one corner. There was a small desk and matching chair.

And in the center of the room, a sleek black casket lined with rich black satin.

She stared at the coffin, stared at Dominic, and then at the casket once again.

She blinked as the room went out of focus, spinning around her faster and faster, sucking her down, down, into blessed oblivion.

He caught her before she hit the floor.
Chapter 8
She woke cradled in Dominic's arms and knew, on some subconscious level of awareness, that he had held her this same way many times in the past. A fire burned in the hearth, providing the only light in the room.

He smiled faintly when he saw she was awake.

"I don't remember ever fainting before I met you." She had an almost irresistible urge to laugh out loud as she muttered, "At least not in this life."

"Are you all right now?"

She nodded. "I think so."

But he made no move to let her go, and she made no attempt to rise. Somehow, the effort seemed too great. Or maybe it was just that she was numb inside, overwhelmed by what he had told her and what she had seen. Maybe she was dreaming again.

He was a vampire.

He was over two thousand years old.

She had lived before, many times.

She shook her head to clear it, and shook off her lethargy at the same time. It didn't matter who she had been before, only who she was now.

As for Dominic... she looked up and met his gaze. "Where do we go from here?"

"Wherever you wish."

"And if I wish to go upstairs?"

Sitting back, he took his arms from around her. "You are free to go, as always."

Not sure that she trusted him, she scooted off his lap. For a moment, she stood looking down at him, waiting. When he made no move to stop her,