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"What happened?" Kelly stared up at Edward, wondering why she felt so strange She glanced around Even though the room was dark, she could see clearly "You did it, didn&039;t you?"

He nodded Had she changed herthe roo through her

"I&039;ll never get any older!" She held out her hands and looked at the them for the first ti, she ran to the back door and darted out into the yard She gazed up at the moon, and it was beautiful as never before She looked at a nearby tree, and she kneas alive, could al

"Eddie, this is wonderful! And we&039;ll be together forever!" She twirled around, caught up in the newness, the wonder

He watched her fro for the inevitable

The pain hit her suddenly and without warning Terrified, she doubled over, her ar?"

"You&039;re dying"

"What do you mean?" She lifted her head and stared at him, her eyes ith panic "What have you done to lided across the yard "It happens to us all" Taking hold of her arround

"I&039; blood "Eddie, help me!"

"Don&039;t be afraid It is only mortal death, and soon over"

He had never seen it happen, though of course, he had experienced it It had happened only ht Chiavari had brought him across He had studied va; but it hadn&039;t , and so he held Kelly&039;s hand while her body emptied itself of mortal fluids and his vampire blood infused her system

When the pain had passed, he took her into the house, bathed her tenderly, then carried her down to his room in the cellar He tucked her into bed, sat beside her until she fell asleep When she woke toht, she would be wholly varet it

He felt Khira&039;sin the yard, kneift moment of relief that he had never invited her into the house He could feel her power pounding at hi entrance

"No way," he muttered, and with preternatural speed, he was up the stairs and out of the house

She aiting for hi for me?" he asked coolly

"Why have you done this?" she deed "She wanted it"

"I will have no more vampires in er

"You will not touch her," he said flatly

Khira glared at him "Need I remind you that you are fortunate to still be alive yourself, Edward?"

"Perhaps Your threats grow tiresome, Khira"

"Do you doubt my ability to carry them out?" she deer

"You have killed three vampires since you have been here," he said "But they were not aze impassively "I a But even you do not kno strong"

"Why Edward Would you bare your fangs to"To defend that that" Her voice trailed off, as though words failed her

"She is mine," he said "Mine And none of your concern"

"I told you I do not like to sharetown I think there&039;s rooh"

"It is not a matter of room, Edward"

"Damn-it, leave her alone! Leave asped and reeled backward as pain engulfed hih every nerve, everyviolently, hardly able to breathe, he wrapped his arony increased Head bowed, he closed his eyes, praying for an end to the awful agony that threaded through hi his veins He rocked back and forth, choking back the cry that rose in his throat Pain He had never known such excruciating pain, not even when he went out to e such as he had never known He was on his feet again, facing her Forcing her power back upon itself Her lips drew thin He saw her blink, surprised And then that trace of uncertainty again He did not atte another attack

They stared at each other, the silence stretching between thehtly "There is powerful blood in your veins, Raori&039;s And soe of yours That fury Generations of Ra all concentrated in you I could kill you now - oh, don&039;t think I couldn&039;t - but" She paused, and he read the uncertainty in her eyes

He said nothing, only watched her through unblinking eyes, waiting, wondering if it was all a bluff

"It would cost arded hiue in the future," she warned, but he saw the doubt in her eyes, heard the confusion in her voice "Keep your little fledgling She is of no consequence Surely not worth fighting over" She smiled coolly "Not at this moment, anyway Only be careful she does not crossdown to the cellar to ain, hisHe had met Khira&039;s power and she had backed down! It was a heady feeling, diluted only by his weakened state; he had given a lot of blood to Kelly Had he been at full strength, would he have been able to deflect Khira&039;s power corily A sudden awareness, like a cold wind blowing over his skin, warned hier alone

"Chiavari"

The vampire materialized out of the shadows "Ramsey" The accusation was clear in his voice "Why?"

"She wanted it"

"Do you knohat you&039;ve done? Khira"

"Has already visited me"

Chiavari lifted one brow "Indeed?"

"Yes I thank you"

"For what?"

"You ht Khira atteo It hurt! Hurt like the very devil, but I re powerful blood It must be true She backed down She said she could take me, but it would weaken her"

"Did she indeed?" Chiavari waved his thanks aside "The test of your strength is good news"

"Good news? She almost"

"Good news indeed," Chiavari said "It means that, combined, we have the power to face her, if it coht Kelly across, not now It cos Weakens you, ht Marisa across?"

"What I do is none of your business"