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Kelly slept as late as she could, not wanting to let go of the dreaht behind Never in all her life had she experienced such a night, or such a lover as Edward His kisses had been sheerof all, she had knohat he was feeling, what he was thinking, as their bodies ca she couldn&039;t put it off any longer, she slid out of bed She showered, dressed in a T-shirt and a pair of faded blue jeans, and went into the kitchen

She grierator It was empty save for some butter, a couple of cans of root beer, and a loaf of white bread rapidly turning blue She tossed the bread in the trash, then checked the cupboards and sighed her annoyance There was butter and jaer any bread Cereal but no ain," she h so much food so fast

She made a fresh pot of coffee, then found a scrap of paper and began writing a shopping list

And all the while, her gazedown there The phrase "sleeping the sleep of the dead" ran unbidden through her htfully left his car keys on the counter Pouring herself a cup of coffee, she left the house She picked up her things fro in with Edward again After collecting her belongings, she went to thethe box boy for loading her bags in the back seat, she slid behind the wheel of the Porsche and switched on the ignition Pulling out of the parking lot, she flipped on the radio, grinned when the words to "Eddie, My Love" filled the air Her heart swelled with happiness as she sang along

When she stopped at a light, a sports car pulled up beside her She glanced over at the driver, who gave her a wink and a sine She sreen, she put the pedal to thewhen she pulled into the driveway "Hoht sobered her She hadn&039;t had a real ho with Dracula in the house of dark shadows

After she put the groceries away, she dusted and vacuu if he knew she was there What was it like when he slept? Did he drea on around hiori are of ent on around him, but he was far older in the va the vacuu room, she went to the door that led to the cellar, and carefully ht switch and, turning it on, frowned as she glanced around the roo that looked like a door, and then she saw it It was about a third the size of a regular door, painted the same color as the walls There was no handle, no knob

She knelt in front of it, wondering why it was so sh on hands and knees But perhaps that was the idea, she thought It would certainly slon any unwanted intruders, unless they were ht

"Edward? Eddie, are you in there? Can you hear me?"

When there was no answer, she went back upstairs, anxious for nightfall

Her voice penetrated the thick blackness that trapped hi his inability to er, that she needed his help, but there was no tension in her voice, no threat of fear, merely curiosity He had always believed that vampires were totally oblivious to ent on around them when trapped in the Dark Sleep, but now he knew differently He ht be oblivious to others, but not to Kelly

Pleased by the realization, he let hi for hi room when he woke She had dressed with care in a blue-and-white sundress and white sandals Her hair fell around her shoulders in shi ebony waves She s in the world, he crossed the room, bent down, and kissed her

Her hands circled his neck Drawing him closer, she deepened the kiss

Raerously "Careful, Kelly girl"

She smiled up at him as she tilted her head to one side "Drink, Edward"

He needed no urging He took what he needed, felt her sweetnessthe ravening hunger within

"I&039;ll be back soon," he proain, he left the house in search of prey

He felt Khira&039;s presence al like a dark stain across the quiet su her arh his

"Edward, mi amour! How I have missed you!" She smiled up at him "So tell me, uess so"

"Prove it to me, then Come, hunt with me"

"I have other plans"

She pouted prettily, but he saw the predator behind the coquette "Come with me" Her voice was as soft as velvet, but he heard the steel beneath

He hesitated and then nodded Kelly could wait Khira would not

They hunted in the heart of the city, preying on drunks and derelicts She was not interested in killing on this night, but in the thrill of the hunt She fed ild abandon, toying with her victi on Rauilt, no co blood, and he saw the exhilaration in her eyes

It was near three in thehiht and vanished into the darkness

With a weary sigh, Ramsey willed himself home

Kelly was asleep on the sofa, her head pillowed on her ar beside the sofa, he kissed her cheek "I&039;ive me"

Her eyelids fluttered opened, and he saw she had been crying

"Kelly!"

Distressed by her tears, he drew her down into his lap and cradled her against his chest "I ht back," he said, "but I ran into Khira"

Kelly&039;s eyes widened "What did she want?"

"The sa companion I dared not refuse her"

"You&039;re afraid of her"

"Daht She is a killer, totally without mercy And she is very powerful Probably the most powerful va with her Did she did you kill anyone?"

"Not this time"

Her eyes filled with horror "You&039;ve killed before?"

"Just once," he admitted, "but it was an accident You ive myself," he said "I didn&039;t mean for it to happen, but it was all so new to itated, he lifted her onto the sofa, then stood up and began to pace the floor "I know, that&039;s no excuse for what I did, but" He clenched his fists, slaainst the wall "Da, Kelly went to stand behind hi around his waist "Eddie, don&039;t Please don&039;t I hate to see you torturing yourself this way"

"How can you stand to be with me after what I&039;ve done? I&039;m no better than Khira, no better than any of the vampires I have hunted"

"That&039;s not true! You&039;re a good, decent uilty And you&039;re not to bla but a monster"

"Stop that!" She pressed a kiss to his back "You&039;re nothing like them, do you hear me? If it will make you feel better, you can take my blood, as hed, a hollow sound devoid of humor "You don&039;t have thatabout being a vaine what it&039;s like, what you&039;re going through I wish I could help"

He turned to face her, his ar here I don&039;t knohat I would do without you"

His arhtened around her as she rested her cheek on his chest Contentht; with her help, he could control the beast within hihed "I love you, Eddie"

Marisa&039;s voice echoed in the back of his ether, Edward There&039;s no reason why you and Kelly can&039;t have a good life together"

"Kelly" He brushed a kiss across the top of her head "Heaven help us both, I love you, too"

On Thursday, Marisa called and invited Edward and Kelly over to play cards the following evening

"Cards?" Kellyup "How can she want to play cards at a ti on?"

"I don&039;t know Maybe Chiavari hasn&039;t told her"

"Just a nice norht with a couple of friends, is that it?" she asked

"Normal," Ramsey muttered "My life&039;s never been normal"

They arrived at Chiavari&039;s hoain, unusual for Los Angeles "But perfect for a

Marisa had set up a card table in the living room A fire blazed in the fireplace "What shall we play?" she asked when they were all seated at the table "Canasta? Pinochle? Hearts? Ruled her eyebrows "Strip poker?"

"Very funny," Grigori muttered