Dream Vampire Read Online Free

a spectacle of them, but thought it better if they just disappeared. I used my powers to bend them to my will, drank enough blood from each of them to ensure they’d die, then wrapped them together with some rusty chain I found nearby. I almost forgot that human bodies tend to float, so I secured the chain to a heavy steel girder from the bridge reconstruction project, and dumped the lot of them into the water.
    “I had intended to comfort you, and to tell you what I’d done, but when I returned, the entire area was saturated with police cars and medical personnel. Since I was covered with blood, I thought it wise not to involve myself at that point. Shortly thereafter, I had an... unexpected visitor... and was forced to leave. I only recently resolved that situation and returned.”
    He grasped her upper arms again, and stepped back, holding her at arm’s length so she could look into his amazing eyes. “The men who killed Stephen are dead. You needn’t fear they’ll harm you. I won’t ever let anyone harm you.”
    His story had been so outrageous that she stood silent, unable to craft a response. If he ever got out of the insane asylum, he’d make a fine fiction writer, himself.
    Anger flowed across his features and he shook her, hard enough to startle her before releasing his grip. He eased back a few inches. “I’ll not be going to an insane asylum, thank you very much. You were a stubborn child, and now you’re a stubborn woman. Well, have it your way, then.” As she watched, his canines extended down beyond his other teeth, their points glistening dangerously in the light. He ran his tongue over the tips. “I suppose you think these are part of my costume? That I just happened to have fake teeth embedded in my gums for the sole purpose of theatrics?”
    She stared at his mouth for a few seconds, then reached up and placed a fingertip on one of the strange teeth. She jiggled it as if testing for a loose tooth, then dropped her hand to her side. “Make it go back up again while I watch.”
    He seemed surprised by her request—or she supposed by her sudden calm—but he did as she asked. The teeth slid effortlessly back into his gums, lining up naturally with the others.
    He stepped closer, intense eyes locked on hers. “What now? Shall I levitate? Transform into fog? Take control of your mind, have my way with you, then drink your blood?”
    She stared up at him, expression serious. She’d just experienced a sense of déjà vu so powerful it was as if she’d transported herself back in time. Memories of Michael came flooding back. “None of those demonstrations will be necessary. You used to tell me I was a stubborn child when I was small, didn’t you? When you said those words, I remembered refusing to go to sleep until you told me one more story.” She paused, her eyes searching his. “You’re telling the truth, aren’t you?” She walked over to a nearby chair and flopped into it, silent, watching the flames dancing in the fireplace.
    He knelt in front of her, his eyes glittering in the firelight. “I always indulged your desire for one more story. I found you impossible to resist. I still do. I watched you grow into a beautiful woman, but it never occurred to me that I’d have the opportunity to share another portion of your life. As sad as the circumstances are, I’m grateful you’ve come to me.”
    She leaned forward and took his face in her hands. “You were very kind to me. You’re right about my being in love with you. I certainly was. You were my mysterious dark prince who would one day kiss me and take me away to your castle. You are the one who told me about vampires. I remember. I was crushed when you stopped coming.”
    “It was time. You needed to be with those of your own... species... and your own age. I was never far away. I saw that horrible little boy with the pox on his face try to kiss you in front of my house. I almost intervened, but I’d promised myself I’d let