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Lost in thought, Grigori walked the dark streets Before Alexi&039;s escape from Silvano, before Marisa, his life had followed a set path He had traveled the world, follointer, when darkness was long upon the earth He was not a eunuch, not a monk There had been women in his life He had felt a warm affection for them all, but none had claie, embraced the arts, enjoyed theater and opera His physical wants were few and easily satisfied

But when Silvano had taken Alexi on tour, his peaceful days had been shattered And then he had met Marisa ah, Marisa, with her sun-kissed beauty and clear green eyes Marisa, whose blood sang a siren song to his hunger, whose beauty tugged at his heart and soul even as her shapely form whispered to the desire of the flesh But it was ain and again It was the purity of her soul, her innate sweetness, the compassion that allowed her to look past what he had become and see the man he had once been

MarisaCould he hold her, ed to do, and not destroy her? Since being made Vampyre, he had made love to uilt rose up within hi Marisa when he had stood at Antoinette&039;s graveside only weeks ago? And yet, she had been dead to hih hi the shadows "Come out, Ramsey I know you are there"

A dark form materialized from behind a tree

Edward Ralow of a streetlight, he felt exposed, vulnerable "Chiavari"

"Did you want to seefro a hammer and a stake in that sack?"

Edward cleared his throat Sweat beaded on his brow and pooled under his arms, but he kept his expression blank

Grigori took a step forward "Afraid, vampyre hunter?"

Ramsey lifted his chin a notch and shook his head

"Liar" The softly spoken word see in the air between theh to lead you toWhat orse, he knew the va of his heart

"So," Grigori mused, "I take it you&039;ve decided you don&039;t need one He&039;s no threat now But you are"

"I mean you no harm, Ramsey You, or anyone else"

"You&039;re a killer! You&039;re all killers!"

"I&039;ve killed no one"

"Who&039;s lying now?"

"Save for those who have tried to destroy me, I&039;ve killed no one in over a hundred and fifty years"

"I don&039;t believe you"

"I don&039;t care what you believe It&039;s true"

Grigori took a step forward Edward stood his ground, one hand curling around the crucifix hanging around his neck "Stay away froori shook his head "Edward, come to me"

"No" Ramsey took a step backward "Stay away froht me? Your blood has nourished me, made you a part of me"

"No! No, damn you! Leave me alone" Tears of frustration rose in Edward&039;s eyes as Grigori&039;s voice drew hi with terror, Edward stood in front of the vampire, held in place by a pair of dark, iori folded his hand over Ra through his own body, strengthening hier rose up within his pierced his flesh

Grigori drank quickly, sparingly, and then released his hold on Rao to bed"

Ramsey nodded "Yes," he murmured "Home"

He blinked several tiori watched hi if he should have erased Ras fro, and he would have done it save for one thing: Raiven him his blood when he desperately needed it Like it or not, he owed the va a part of his h Debt or not, he would do what heEdward Ramsey, then so be it He would not let himself be destroyed, not nohen Marisa was al with no recollection of how he had gotten there

Sitting up, he glanced around the roo on the floor near the door and it all caone to Marisa&039;s apartori there, had been exulting in his good fortune when the va an oath, Edward scrambled out of bed and ran into the bathroo his head to the side, he saw the two telltale ori had taken his blood Da for the va entirely when he took it as though it were his right!

The thought made him feel cold all over, violated, as a worabbed his robe and slipped it on He remembered now, remembered it all, the sound of the vahts, until they were not his thoughts at all As if he had no will of his own, his legs had carried hi his neck to that bloodsucking ori drank his fill

A cold rage engulfed hiiven his blood to that ot in return Ah, but it hadn&039;t been freely, heShe had begged so prettily, smiled so sweetly He swore under his breath Marisa!

He dialed her nu his foot impatiently as he waited for her to answer the phone

"Hello?"

"Marisa, it&039;s Edward Are you all right?"

"Of course, why? Is so I was uh, just worried about you I haven&039;t seen you lately"

"I went to Florida to see ht, I guess I forgot Is everything okay?"

"Fine Listen, I&039;ve got to go I&039; to be late for work"

"Can I see you later? For dinner?"

"Gee, I&039;d love to, but I can&039;t"

"You can&039;t?"

"I&039;o dry "Anyone I know?"

"Well, I&039;ainst the wall "Do you think that&039;s wise?"

"I think it&039;s wonderful," she replied, her voice soft and dreao Bye"

He stared at the receiver, and then gently replaced it in the cradle She thought it onderful Damn Chiavari! He&039;d mesmerized her

"You may have won this battle, Chiavari," Edward muttered "But you won&039;t win the war!"

She found herself s while she worked She typed up a bankruptcy report, but all she could hear was the sound of Grigori&039;s voice whispering her name She answered the phones, opened theof hiori

She skipped lunch and went shopping instead She needed so to wear to the company New Year&039;s Eve party, but what she really wanted was soori She chose a slinky teal blue slip dress for the party She tried it on, and knew she had to have it She was leaving the departht her eye

"Perfect," she muttered She quickly found her size and carried the outfit to the salesgirl before she could talk herself out of ant purchase

The next few hours went by in a blur, and then it was tirabbed her handbag and packages, said a hasty farewell to Linda, and practically ran for the elevator

At hoed into her new outfit The silk felt wonderful against her skin, s herself with perfuh ain her stoori felt his breath catch in his throat as he took her in his arms Bellissima! His hands slid over her back, the feel of the warrance rose from the dark cloud of her hair Her lips tasted of sunshine and strawberries, the warmth and sweetness of which he had been denied for two hundred years

He deepened the kiss, and she ca flame that threatened to consume him like the rays of the sun

He drew her into his arms and carried her to the sofa She heard a faint whoosh, and a fire sprang to life in the hearth

Magic, she thought, vaic