He saw it all clearly in her mind, and in his own. Time after time, he had found her throughout the ages. In each life, he had been at her side when death was imminent.
Time after time, he had offered to give her the Dark Gift.
Time after time, she had refused.
Tracywas fully aware of Dominic's scrutiny. She felt his gaze resting on her face, felt almost as if his eyes were burning into her heart, piercing her very soul. Once, foolish as it sounded, it seemed as though she felt his mind inside her own. But that was ridiculous.Impossible.
Frightening beyond words.
And yet, for a short space of time, her mind had been filled with strange images of distant lands. Even more inexplicable was that she had seen herself in a number of foreign places. She tried to remember each one, but it was like trying to hold on to a handful of water - as soon as she got close, the image trickled through her fingers.
But the most frightening thing of all was the last image she had seen, the only one she clearly recalled. She had seen Dominic lying in what looked very much like a crypt of some kind, a tomb lined with cold gray stones.
With a shake of her head, she thrust the disquieting images away. When the lights came on a short time later, she realized she had missed most of the movie.
Dominic rose and offered her his hand in a courtly manner. When she took it, he drew her gently to her feet and they followed the crowd out of the theater into the lobby.
He was still holding her hand as they walked to the parking lot.
"Did you enjoy the film?" he asked.
She nodded, hoping he wouldn't want to discuss it, since she had little recollection of the plot.
He held the door open for her, then walked around to the driver's side and slid behind the wheel.
She was not in the mood for small talk as they drove home and neither, it seemed, was Dominic.
She stared out the window, her thoughts turned inward as she tried to remember the images that had flashed through her mind. Whatever had prompted such bizarre memories? Memories! That was impossible. She had never been a queen, yet she clearly remembered the huge old castle, the stone floors covered with rushes, the faded tapestries hanging on the walls, the long trestle tables laden with meat and cheese and hard brown bread, the knights who had carried her colors in the lists. She remembered being waited upon, her every wish a command. She placed one hand on her stomach. She had never had a child, yet she remembered the excruciating pain of childbirth, of lying at death's door. And Dominic had been there! He had knelt at her side, clinging to her hand as he offered to give her life...
She shook the thought from her mind. What foolishness was this? She didn't believe in reincarnation or ghosts or... vampires.
A chill ran down her spine.
She was glad when Nightingale House came into view. This was reality. And yet, looking at it, she thought again that it looked like a place where Dracula might comfortably reside, and hard on the heels of that thought came the notion that the house seemed for more suited to Dominic than toherself .
Dominic pulled up to the front of the house and cut the engine. Getting out of the car, he walked around to her side, opened the door and helped her out, then walked her up the stairs.
With a hand that trembled,Tracy unlocked the front door. "Would you care to come in for a cup of coffee?" The question was more of a polite gesture than because she wanted company, and yet, to be honest, she was somehow reluctant to go into the house alone.
"I think not." He, too, seemed distracted. Taking her hand in his, he bowed over it, his lips brushing lightly over her skin. "Thank you for this evening. I hope to see you again soon."
She nodded, felt an odd tingle as his gaze met hers.
Murmuring good night, she crossed the threshold and closed the door. Going to the front window, she watched him slide behind the wheel of the sleek black car and drive away.
The next afternoon Dominic sent her a dozen blood-red roses with a card that read:
Would you like to go walking on the beach this evening? If so, meet me at the foot of the stairs at sundown.