she called it a day several hours later, she knew Mr. Petersen would be pleased. It was far and away the best seascape she had ever done.
She glanced out the window, felt a flutter in her stomach when she saw the sun was going down.
Dominic would be rising soon, and bringing reality with him.
Keeping her mind blank, she cleaned her brushes, wiped her hands, took off her smock and hung it up.
Night was coming and the vampires of Sea Cliff would be stirring.
She was fixing dinner when the phone rang. She caught it on the second ring.
"Hello?"
"Tracy? It's Bry . Can I come over?"
She started to say sure,then hesitated. Dominic would be there soon.
"Tracy? I don't want to be alone."
"Sure,Bryan .Hurry."
"Thanks, Trace," he said, and hung up.
Replacing the receiver, she went back into the kitchen, only then wondering ifBryan had had dinner. Assuming he hadn't, she put another couple of pork chops in the pan.
He was at her front door before the chops had finished cooking.
"That was quick," she said, closing the door behind him.
"Yeah."He followed her into the kitchen. "I feel like such a coward, afraid to be home alone after dark."
"Well, you've got good reason to be afraid. Have you had dinner?"
He shook his head. "Food's the last thing on my mind."
"Doesn't matter, you've got to eat. Sit down - it's almost ready."
Bryandropped into a chair and stared at his hands. "She's coming for me."
Tracyglanced at him over her shoulder. "How do you know?"
"She told me so."
With hands that trembled,Tracy filled a plate forBryan and set it on the table. "What do you want to drink?"
He looked up at her, his eyes haunted. "You don't want to know."
"Bryan, you're scaring me."
"How do you thinkI feel?" He looked at her throat,then jerked his gaze away.
After filling her own plate,Tracy sat down at the table across fromBryan . "You've got to get hold of yourself. You've got to fight her. Block her from your mind. You can do it if you try."
"Yeah."
"Don't think about it now." She gestured at his plate with her fork. "Eat. I'm a good cook."
Forcing a smile, he began to cut one of the chops.
"So, is she as good a cook as she claims?"
Bryan's face paled as Dominic appeared in the kitchen doorway.
"You should know,"Tracy said. "You ate some of it once."
Dominic grunted. He remembered that night, and its consequences, all too well. Without waiting to be asked, he sat down at the table.
If possible,Bryan 's complexion paled even more.
Dominic regarded him coolly. "You should eat something."
Tracycould seeBryan gathering his courage in the way he sat up straighter and squared his shoulders.
"Isuppose you've already eaten,"Bryan remarked.
A faint smile twitched the corners of Dominic's lips. "Indeed."
"Stop it, both of you,"Tracy said. "Bryan, eat your dinner. Dominic, leave him alone."
Bryanlooked sheepish; Dominic lifted one brow.
"Dominic, he needs help. He... he's..."
"What she's trying to say is that I've been craving blood,"Bryan said curtly.
"What else?"
"I can hear her thoughts. She's coming for me.Soon. And she gave me a message for you just before I got here."
Dominic leaned forward. "Tell me."
Bryanglanced atTracy and quickly looked away. "She said if you destroy Petrina , she will destroy whoever is closest to you."
"I guess that means me,"Tracy said, her voice little more than a squeak.
Dominic nodded, his attention still focused onBryan . "Did she say anything else?"
"Only that she will see you at The Catacombs tonight, if you are not afraid to meet her."
Tracypushed her plate away, her appetite gone. "You're not going?"
"I must."
"Why?"
"This is my territory."
"So?"
"It is mine because I am powerful enough to keep it. Those who have challenged me in the past have been defeated. If I want to keep the respect of the vampires among us, I cannot show weakness now."
Bryanpushed his own plate away. "That makes sense." Slamming his fist down on the table, he stood and began to pace the floor. " Dammit, I can't live like this!"
Rising to his feet in a single lithe movement, Dominic laid his hand onBryan 's shoulder. "Look at me."
Bryanstared into Dominic's eyes, whatever objections he'd been about to voice dying on his lips.
"You will go into the living room and lie down on the sofa," Dominic said, his voice low and hypnotic. "You will close your eyes and go to sleep, and you will not awake until tomorrow morning. Your mind will be calm and you will dream about walls.High walls that will allow nothing inside."
"Sleep,"Bryan repeated.
"Yes. Go now."
Yawning,Bryan walked into the living room.
Tracystared at Dominic. "You're just full of