Blood Red - Heather Graham 5 стр.


But then they were there and she let out a sigh, praying that it wasnt audible. The cast iron gates, dating back to the eighteen-forties, were opened to the main manor and the old cottages surrounding it.

Theirs was the middle cottage, directly facing the pool. Lauren all but dragged her friends toward it.

Honestly, Lauren, Heidi began to protest.

See, were here. Your stubby little legs can get a rest.

Stubby little legs! Heidi objected. Some slave you are.

But were here. Arent you glad? Lauren demanded.

Deanna yawned, pulling out her key and opening the door. Yeah, yeah, great, were here. She turned around and said speculatively, Look how good that pool looks.

You want to go swimmingnow? Lauren demanded.

Well, Im sweatingsince I ran back, Deanna said.

Wed make a racket, Lauren said quickly.

No one said that we couldnt swim at night, Heidi said.

Weve all had a fair bit to drink. No one is going to save us if we begin to drown, Lauren informed them, longing desperately to go inside and lock the door.

Shes right, you know. We have had too much to drink, Heidi said.

Right, Lauren announced. She pushed open the door fully open and turned on the light. Theyd left the television on. She was glad. She was even happier to realize that it was showing a 70s sitcom, not some creepy horror show.

How are we sleeping? Heidi asked. There were two double beds in the bedroom behind the kitchen/living room area where they were standing. In the outer room, the bed was a pull-out sofa.

Ill take the bed out here, and you two can have the real beds, Lauren said. She would have taken a hard wooden floor at that moment, she was so relieved just to be back in their cottage.

You sure? You can bunk in with one of us, Deanna offered.

You snore when you drink, Lauren said, grinning for real at last. Ill be fine out here.

I do not snore! Deanna protested.

You do, Heidi told her, grinning. But only when you drink, she added quickly.

Hmph, Deanna muttered, and started for the bedroom.

I guess that means shes taking first dibs on the bathroom, Heidi said, shrugging. Im getting into pajamas and crashing. She gave Lauren a hug goodnight. Thanksthis is the best trip, ever.

Absolutely, Lauren agreed, wishing she could believe it was true.

She watched Heidi walk into the bedroom, too, then turned to open the sofa bed. It wasnt so bad. The closet offered plenty of extra bedding and pillows, and she could brush her teeth and wash her face in the half-bath next to the kitchen.

Clad in boxers and a T-shirt, she started to turn off the TV and the lights.

Then she hesitated.

She left the TV on, wanting the sounds of a sitcom to lure her to sleep. She left the bathroom light on, then turned off the others. When she was done, she found herself walking to the window that looked out onto the courtyard and pool.

She had intended to reassure herself. Instead, she felt a jolt of ice rip along her spinal cord.

There was someone out there.

A man.

Watching their cottage.

He was leaning against a utility pole out by the street, but, despite the high fence, she could see him, and she knew he was staring at the cottage.

What was worse was the fact that she knew who he was.

Tall, dark hair, piercing blue eyes.

It was the man she had crashed into at the bar.

A scream froze in her throat. But then, as if he knew he was being watched in return, he stepped away from the pole and walked away. She saw the breadth of his back for a few seconds, and then he was gone.

She realized a few seconds later that she had a death grip on the curtains, and that she was still staring out at the night, which now appeared completely calm and normal.

She bit her lower lip, wondering if she should call the police. And tell them what? That she had no evidence, but she was certain a man she had met in a bar had followed them home and stared at their cottage? Like that would be a pressing concern to men who had to deal with real problems, drugs, thugs and nasty drunks. But no matter what the police would think, she was sure that they had been

Stalked.

She glanced toward the bedroom. The door was ajar and the room was quiet. Heidi and Deanna were probably sound asleep already.

All right, she would just call the police and ask if an officer could do a few drive-bys during the night.

They would undoubtedly think she was a jumpy freak. But better that than

Determined, she walked over and closed the door to the bedroom. Then she did call the police, using the non-emergency number. A very polite officer took her information, assured her that she wasnt an idiot and promised that a car would check the property throughout the night.

When she hung up, she felt almost smug. She got a can of Coke from the refrigerator and curled her legs beneath her on the sofa-bed to watch TV.

But as she sat there, the cold from her soda seemed to seep into her bones. She couldnt help but replay the her fading memories of the strange scene in the fortune tellers tent. Now, alone in the dark, the details seemed to be coming back.

She had the strangest feeling that the evil being in the crystal ball had been real.

And that a dozen police officers couldnt stand against the soulstealing danger that he presented.

She had seen him. Great. Now she would think he was stalking her.

He was still in shock himself. It was impossible for anyone to look so much like Katie, and yetIt was as if his fiancée had been cloned. Even her smile, the way she flushed slightly, the slight hike of her browall were simply Katie.

As he walk away from the B and B, he was all too aware the woman in question was probably still watching him from the window.

Then, to his surprise, he noticed that there was a light on over the door to the main house, and several lights still blazing inside.

He made a point of walking away, then doubling back. The curtain at the cottage had dropped. He was free and clear. He walked up the porch steps of the main house and tried the door. It was open.

Hello?

A long hall led back to a desk. He admired the main house as he walked in; it reminded him of the Cornstalk, another bed and breakfast, and one of the loveliest in New Orleans. A curved stairway led to the upper rooms, while the hall branched off toward several more. He knew that each one would be a little bit different. That was the beauty of such a place: nothing was cookie-cutter; every room would have something all its own.

Hello! a cheerful voice called from the end of the hall.

He walked on to the desk. A woman of about sixty, with shimmering silvery white hair, was sitting there. Papers were strewn before her, and a computer was on a table to her left.

I saw the lights on, Mark said.

I suppose I should lock up and go to bed, but Ive discovered that I love being an innkeeper, she said. She had a great smile, dark eyes, and an aura of energy about her, even as she sat still. Im Lilly Martin. How do you do?

Im Mark Davidson, and Im great, thanks. I think your inn is wonderful. I was hoping you might have a cottage left.

She cocked her head slightly. Youre looking for a room at three AM?

She cocked her head slightly. Youre looking for a room at three AM?

He laughed. I have a room, but I just saw your place, and I think its enchanting.

Lilly Martin flushed with pleasure. Thank you so much. And I do have a cottage vacant. Im not sure Id feel right, though. I cant just give you the room for free, but I cant really charge you for a full night, either.

We could split the difference, he suggested.

Lovely. Sold, Lilly said.

She turned toward the computer. Lets see. Mark Davidson. Address and phone, length of stay, and will this be on a credit card?

He produced his drivers license and credit card. As she looked at the information, he made a point of looking over her shoulder. The registrations for the night were up on the screen.

He scanned the screen quickly. The girls were obvious. Cottage five.

Lauren Crow, Heidi Weiss, Deanna???.

He leaned back, smiling

As she typed information into the computer, Lilly asked, Just being nosy, Mark, but what do you do for a living?

Im a writer.

Oh! Have I read anything youve written?

He hesitated. Probably not. I mostly do sports articles for syndication, he lied.

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Hm. And here I thought you might be an underwear model.

What?

She laughed. Sorry. You look like those guys in the ads.

Uh, thanks. I think.

Or a ninja, she added.

A ninja?

She laughed. Silly of me. Okay. Maybe a cop. Or FBI.

Just a writer, he said. But thanks. Ninja?

Within ten minutes, Lilly had him registered and he had a key to his cottage. He hesitated, though. You really should lock up this late at night, he told her.

I know. My kids would be angry.

As well they should be.

But I filled another cottage tonight, didnt? she asked cheerfully.

He turned to her, catching her hands. Yes, but its not safe, Lilly. Please, lock up much, much earlier, okay?

She let out a soft sigh. Yes, of course, youre right. She winked. But dont tell on me, okay? Anyway, its bedtime for both of us now. In the morning, coffee and croissants are served in the dining room, to your left there, or on the patio, by the pool.

Great. Thanks. Ill go pick up things from my dreaded chain hotel, he told her, grinning. Then Ill be back.

After she accompanied him to the main door and watched him go, he heard her slide the bolt, and he was relieved. It worried him a bit to stay here; he hoped he wasnt putting Lilly in danger.

But if he thought that woman looked like Katie, so would Stephan. And he knew that Stephan was here. He had followed the creatures trail from Abruzzi to Cannes to Essex, then here to New Orleans. Mark was convinced that it was only a matter of time before Stephan saw the womanif he hadnt seen her already.

Because Stephan was definitely here. He could feel it.

Mark simply hadnt expected that he would come across so many other vampires along the way. Tonight he could have sworn he had found Stephan at last, but hed been wrong. Was he going to think that every tall, dark man he caught a glimpse of was Stephan?

It had still been a good nights work. He couldnt regret killing the vampire in the cemetery. Hed saved someones life, at least.

And yet

The lust for vengeance was like a fire inside him. Complicated now.

Because it was as if Katie had come back to life.

She was sleepingdreaming, Lauren thought.

She had to be.

She was there, at the bar. And he was there, too.

He said something, teasing her, as if they had been friends forever. No, lovers forever. She could smell something that teased her senses. Something that affected not just her flesh but her mind, awakening her sensuality from within, touching her most erotic zones.

Then he was touching her. Stroking her.

She awoke suddenly, the faint sound of a click in her ears. She realized that the television was still on; now it was an infomercial diet pills.

The dream weighed heavily on her, but she knew that a noise, something that wasnt the TV, had awakened her.

The door. She had heard the door opening.

She leapt up, looking around. The bolt was undone, and she threw the door open, thinking only afterwards that it was a stupid thing to do.

But she was glad she had done it..

Deanna was outside, standing at the end of the pool, talking aloud as if she were carrying on a conversation with someone invisible, or maybe someone who had just left.

Lauren burst out after her friend, calling her name. Deanna!

Deanna didnt move.

Lauren raced around in front of her, grabbing her shoulders and staring into her eyes. They were glazed. Deanna didnt even see her.

Hey! She gave her friend a shake. Nothing. Deanna! A harder shake.

Deanna started, her eyes widening in alarm. Lauren?

Hey, you, what are you doing?

Sleeping, Deanna said, her features twisted into a mask of confusion.

Sleep walking, Lauren corrected, confused herself. Deanna had never done this before, at least as far as she knew.

Weird, Deanna said. She looked around at the foliage, the shimmering water in the pool, the shadows of the night. Im lucky I didnt fall in the pool and drown.

You dont remember coming out here at all? Really?

Deanna shook her head and groaned. No more of those drinks with all the shots in them, bachelorette party or not.

Good thought, Lauren agreed. She felt a chill, remembering how she had seen the man standing by the pole earlier. What if he had still been hanging around? Lets go in.

Ill put a chair in front of the door, Lauren said as soon as they were inside, the door safely locked behind them.

Deanna gave her a quick hug. Thanks, she said huskily.

Deanna went back into the bedroom, and Lauren lay down again, troubled. She was so tired. Her lids became heavy. She drifted.

And dreamed.

Mark returned to the bed and breakfast with his car and belongings. He glanced at his watch. It was four in the morning.

Once he had parked and grabbed his overnight bag, he stood in the courtyard. Unease trickled through him.

He could smell it. Sense it.

Someone had been here.

He dropped his bag and hurried to the cottage where the girls were staying. He tried the door. Locked. He prayed God it had remained so since he had left.

But he didnt like it. Didnt like it at all.

What if Stephan had discovered the woman, the one who looked like Katie?

He was tempted to pound on the door, to make sure the girls were all right. But all signs were that they were locked in, sound asleep, safe. If they began to think of him as a danger, an insane man, he wouldnt be able to help them.

It occurred to him that he was in a perfect position to use the women in his own quest. He was here; they were here.

The perfect bait.

No, he told himself, gritting his teeth painfully. Never bait. Never.

He stared at the door for a moment longer, then looked around the courtyard. Whoever had been here was gone. Long gone, probably. Regretfully, he walked softly away from the door, seeking his own cottage.

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