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�Tonight, we not only celebrate the unity between Felicia and Britton, but Britton�s commitment to join us�become one of us,� Ralin announced cheerfully. �Let us toast the newly wed couple and Britton, for the new path he has chosen.� Ralin turned and joined the group facing Felicia and Britton. Ralin held his glass toward the couple. �To you Britton�and your step into immortality.�
Everyone chanted in response and drank their toast. Felicia leaned toward Britton, kissed him warmly on the lips, and they smiled at one another. She then lowered her mouth to his neck. Her fangs were clearly visible as she placed her mouth to his neck and bit him. Britton flinched then relaxed. Kate gasped softly and jumped away from the door with a horrified expression. The light in the small room suddenly came on. Kate whirled around and stared at Parker standing near the spiral stairs. The room was filled with wine racks, which were filled with bottled blood.
�Is there something I could help you with, Madam?� Parker asked with a cleverly raised brow.
Kate moved swiftly toward him and the stairs behind him. He didn�t take his eyes off of her. �No,� Kate replied while trembling. �I�m fine�thanks.�
�Perhaps you�d care to join the others?� Parker questioned.
Kate then noticed the tiny fangs within his mouth. Her eyes widened with concern. �Thanks�no,� she replied and ran past him and up the stairs.
Kate pulled open the doorway at the top of the spiral stairs and ran along the grand hallway past the many suits of armor. She could hear the echo of faint voices. Although they were coming from downstairs, it almost sounded as if they were coming from the armor themselves. Kate ran even faster along the hall in her bare feet. She spun the corner and nearly fell to the floor from her rapid speed. She turned and ran for the front door at the opposite end of the main hallway.
�Kate!� came Ralin�s voice from behind her.
Kate ran up the foyer steps and pulled on the door. It wouldn�t open. She looked back while pulling roughly on the door. Ralin slowly walked along the hallway toward her.
�Kate, please, let me explain,� Ralin announced in a pleading tone.
�Explain!� she cried out while yanking on the doorknob. �Explain what? That you�re a vampire! I don�t need further explanation!�
�You don�t understand,� he said gently. �It�s not what it seems. Just give me five minutes.�
The door flew open, to Kate�s surprise. She spun and ran out of the house and into the pouring rain. She ran only a few feet through the mud before colliding with someone. Kate cried out and looked to the man before her. To her horror, she stared at Randy. His expression was wet and hardened. He raised the gun at her.
�You�ve caused me a lot of trouble tonight,� Randy growled. �The police are crawling all over your wreck of a car. I�m going to enjoy this.�
Kate stared at Randy with complete horror. She couldn�t believe this was happening to her. Vampire on one side and a crazed killer on the other.
�At least let me give you a ride back to town,� Ralin called from the porch. �You can�t walk to town in this mess. Who�s out there with you?�
Kate continued to stare at Randy. She could see the idea forming in his mind. Randy grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to him, keeping the gun aimed at her.
�Accept his offer,� Randy growled lowly. �I get his car�you live. Got it?�
Kate slowly nodded, although she knew he would never keep his part of the bargain. He turned her to face Ralin and kept the gun aimed at her back.
�Tell him we�re friends,� Randy growled lowly.
Kate stared at Ralin, who slowly walked across the porch toward the steps while staring at them. �Okay, I�ll let you give me a ride to town.� Kate then hesitated with a fixed expression on her face. �This is Randy�a friend of mine.�
�Very well,� Ralin replied simply and moved back to the house and stood near the doorway. �Come inside and at least get a change of clothing. You can�t go to town looking like that.�
Randy forced Kate to walk toward the house. She slowly walked up the porch steps and looked at Ralin as she passed. Randy smiled and gave Ralin a polite nod. �Much obliged to you.�
Kate and Randy entered the mansion foyer. Ralin entered behind them and shut the door. Randy turned Kate to face Ralin and aimed the gun at him.
�Take me to your car,� Randy growled lowly.
Ralin appeared unaffected. �And if I don�t?�
Randy seemed slightly surprised then the angry expression returned. He pointed the gun to Kate�s temple. �Then she dies.�
Ralin slowly walked down the foyer steps and glared at Randy with little expression. �I�ll take you to my car, then you let her go,� Ralin replied simply and walked past them and down the hall.
Randy forced Kate to follow. They approached the back hallway beyond the grand hall. Kate watched each suit of armor as they passed then looked to Ralin ahead of her. His attitude displayed little concern for their situation. He had nothing to fear. They entered the stone spiral stairs and proceeded down them. Kate became tense. She watched as Ralin passed through the darkened wine cellar and into the large room before him. Kate and Randy entered the empty, dimly lit room. Ralin stopped near the front of the room and turned to face them. Kate looked around the empty room with some concern and confusion. Where had everyone gone? How did such a large group disappear so quickly? Randy also looked around with some confusion then looked back at Ralin and pressed the gun harshly against Kate�s temple, causing her to gasp.
�Is this some sort of trick?� Randy demanded.
Ralin leaned against the railing near the front of the room and folded his arms across his chest. �No, its no trick,� Ralin replied simply then smiled, revealing tiny fangs in his mouth. �You just picked the wrong family to screw with.�
�I�ll kill her, I swear!� Randy shouted in anger.
Kate could hear movement all around them. Randy nervously looked around. Kate became tense and looked around as well. Kate looked back at Ralin. He didn�t move nor comment. There was a deafening squeaking sound coming from the ceiling. Both Kate and Randy looked toward the dark ceiling. The ceiling appeared to drop as a hundred large bats dove down upon them. Kate screamed. Randy released her and cried out while firing his gun at the swooping bats. Ralin dove for Kate and pulled her away from Randy. Randy dropped the gun as the bats attached themselves to him. He swatted at them then fell to his knees while screaming and covering his face and head. The bats swooped back up to the ceiling as quickly as they had appeared. Kate clung to Ralin�s arm and cowered behind him. She looked from the ceiling back to Randy, who slowly lowered his arms and jumped with nervous fright. Ralin extended his hand outward. The gun slid along the floor and flew into his hand. Ralin crumbled the gun in his hand. Randy sprang to his feet and batted feverishly at his body, as if fighting off some invisible creature.
