Read The Kingdom of the Nine; The Vampire Legacy IV for Free Online

to me that there was something very wrong. “Julian?”
    “I'm sorry.” He said, softly, and looked back
at his hands. “There's something important that I need to tell you,
something that is very important.”
    “I'm listening.” I replied. He turned to face
me.
    “You're in danger.” He said, quickly.
    “I'm in danger?” I repeated, and watched him
nod. “From whom?”
    “Others like me, vampires, who want you,
hurt.” He said and took my hands. Julian closed his eyes. “I have
to leave because of this, but I'll be back. Michael will watch
you.”
    “Why, if I'm in so much danger, are you
leaving?” I asked him, knowing who Michael was, but not
understanding the need for his protection and not Julian's. He
kissed me, quickly, on the lips, backed away, and then kissed me
again. This kiss was not like the first, not a quick peck on the
lips, but drawn out, letting me feel every emotion you could
possibly feel from one person.
    His lips were hot with passion, and as they
closed over mine, they sent chills down my spine. He wrapped his
arms around me, trying to fight the strong urge to let go. I did
the same, not knowing quite how to respond to this advance,
wrapping my arms around his waist, then moving one of my hands to
hold the back of his head. Slowly, he moved away, both of us
struggling to catch our breath, and he put his forehead against
mine then closed his eyes.
    “It's too much.” He whispered then looked at
me. I sighed, feeling that Julian and I have always been special
together. He held the back of my head with his hand and looked into
my eyes.
    “You're in danger because of me.” He said,
quietly. I looked at him, a bit shocked and confused, but I reached
out and put the palm of my hand against his cool cheek. He closed
his eyes and leaned into it. “I'm so sorry.”
    “Don't be sorry, Julian.” I whispered
listening to his sighing then watched him blink, sleepily. “Just be
safe.”
    “I won't be gone long.” He whispered. I
promise.”
    “Don't make a promise you don't intend to
keep.” I replied. Julian drew in a deep breath as he stared into my
eyes.
    “I have to go.” He said, quickly, then backed
away, only a bit as if he didn't really want to let go, but then he
stood, and I watched him walk to the door. Julian stopped and
turned to look at me. “Would it be wrong to love you?”
    “No.” I said, honestly. He nodded and walked
out the door again.
    I don't know what the threat is, Diary, but
if it made him leave, after all this time, then it can't be
good.
    * * * * *
    As I drove closer to the house, with trees on
one side of me and ocean on the other, I began to vaguely recall
the first time I had driven down here. The four of us girls were in
the back of a mini-van, and I was staring out the window, vaguely
listening to Beth and Laura debate over the best color of lipstick
to wear to the beach. Connie was asleep beside me and I watched, in
fascination as the view of the ocean grew.
    This time, when I pulled up to the front gate
of the house, a young woman in a booth stopped me. She smiled at me
as I rolled down the window and handed her a five dollar bill, the
entrance fee to the park. She smiled and handed me a ticket, marked
with the date, and it took me a moment to work up the nerve to ask
her a question.
    “Could you tell me if the man who owned this
house about six years ago might still be around?” I inquired.
    “Oh, yeah, actually, Mr. Deveraux and Mr. La
Rouge both still live here.” She replied, cheerfully.
    “They do?” I asked. She nodded again. “I
thought they turned this over to the state.”
    “Well, sort of.” She smiled. “They decided to
open it to the public and since Mr. Deveraux owns a large company
that employs quiet a large number of the people who live here, the
state decided to name it a state park.”
    “I don't mean to be so nosy, but are they
home at the moment?” I asked, as butterflies danced in my
stomach.
    “Would you like me to