Read The Vampires' Last Lover (Dying of the Dark Vampires Book 1) for Free Online Page B

floor, who in turn roused Elaine from her room. It made me worry about Tyreen again, since no sound came from her bed. Did they hurt her with something stronger than a mere ‘tap’?
    Suddenly two quick clicks resounded from the window, and both Elaine and I directed our flashlights to the swaying curtain.
    “What in the hell?” she whispered, moving over to the curtain and pulling it back.
    Not only was the window shut, the latch was locked.
    She muttered something to herself that I couldn’t quite hear and stared out the window and into the early morning darkness beyond. No vampires, good, bad, or ugly were in sight.
    Lucky for me, she left, although in a huff. I couldn’t tell for sure if she was mad at me, or annoyed that she didn’t find anyone. At least when she turned the overhead light on, I could tell that Tyreen was okay, sleeping soundly. And I have no doubt that once Elaine returned to her room, she promptly went back to sleep.
    If only it was that easy for me. Left to think about my recent conversation, I couldn’t go to sleep right away. One theme repeated in an endless loop, keeping my weary mind awake. Garvan and Armando. Were they truly good vampires? Or, were they more like the bad vamps they spoke about, just pretending to be good?
    Time would surely tell.



hat a difference one day could make. Twenty-four hours after a brutal homicide rocked the campus, the morning hustle and bustle in getting ready for Thursday’s bevy of classes and other events was a somber affair. Not that everyone took things seriously. Peter and Johnny made serial killer jokes at breakfast. Enough to really upset Tyreen; her tears were the only reason her man quit making fun of what happened to Irma Goizane.
    Peter soon followed suit, especially after a rumor spread like a wildfire through the cafeteria. Another victim had been found, and this one near Humes Hall.
On
campus.
    The menace had stealthily moved from UT’s off-campus housing to the dormitories. I felt an icy shiver as I thought of Armando’s statement that the others, the more primitive vampires, were tracking my scent. Did it mean that when I passed Humes Hall, on the way to my morning classes the day before, I had left an invisible trail for them to follow?
    I prayed this homicide was unrelated, even though the rumor included that the police suspected the killer, or killers, were the same. I gripped tightly to my fantasy of an alternate outcome.
    After breakfast, Peter and I stepped into the morning’s sunshine. Everyone around us on the way to class smiled politely.
    “It’s probably just a coincidence, and we don’t even know the details of this other killing,” I said, trying to reassure myself more than anything else.
    “You’re right. Let’s not jump to conclusions until we hear the official report on the news.” Peter gave my shoulder a soft, but strong squeeze as he spoke. The unuttered message was clearly ‘I am here to protect you.’
    We arrived at our biology lab, and I reluctantly pulled away from his reassuring warmth. His confidence and comfort made me think that things would work out somehow. I sat down across from him. His penetrating deep brown eyes and infectious smile warmed me as much as his body and light spiced cologne had moments before.
    “I suppose you’re right. I hope so, anyway,” I agreed, arranging my notes while he lit the Bunsen burner for the day’s lab project. “I guess it’s best to sit tight until we know for sure.”
    Of course, beneath the table I furiously searched the Internet on my phone for the latest information. Not that I was trying to be sneaky, as I intended to share whatever I found.
    “Tonight when you come by, bring a change of clothes,” he said. “I’ve already got plans for dinner—something to make up for what happened the other night. Stephen will have already left for Nashville by the time you arrive. He’s getting an early start, since his parents are planning a huge bash tomorrow