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the door and looked quickly up and down the small hallway.
    Silence. I could not hear any movement, no running water not even breathing.
    “Drake?” I whispered nervously. “Are you still here? I...”
    A sudden, almost indefinable change in the air around me caused me to jump and turn.
    “Damn!” I shouted as I ran headlong into the man himself. He stood with his arms crossed; tall, dark and unmoved by either my physical proximity or my shrill voice. His ebony hair was damp and lay in waves around his neck and shoulders. I inhaled the scent of sandalwood that seemed to perfume his freshly washed skin and hair.
    I staggered back and quickly tried to compose myself.
    “I, I...” I felt like such a fool and could not even finish the sentence. The smell of this man turned vampire was so warm and inviting. I closed my eyes briefly and envisioned Andrew, clean and dripping wet from a shower. My heart and soul ached as I thought of his fair hair, blue eyes and full, luscious lips. It had been so long...
    “Did I startle you? I apologize,” he said.
    I expected to open my eyes and see Drake looking down at me, mocking me with his eyes and smile. His face was serene and serious. Not at all the man I knew and feared so many years before.
    “It’s alright Drake. It’s my fault. I should not have disturbed you. Thank you for...”
    My words died as one strong hand reached out and drew me close. I struggled against his chest for a moment then succumbed to the feeling of his arms around me. I missed this closeness with someone, a man, a fellow vampire.
    Drake’s chest rose and fell quickly with each breath and I could hear a strangled moan from deep within him.
    “This desire is so human and yet we as vampires cannot seem to control it.” He whispered into my hair.
    “It’s no different than the blood lust.” I answered, knowing full well how different it could become.
    “Look at me, Silver.” Drake moved me away from him and held me at arm’s length. “What do you see? How do you feel?”
    For the first time I had to admit that Drake was no different than I was. We both were struggling to find our way through life and disappointments. We were trying to cope with the human world and balance that with the vampire within.
    I clasped one of his hands in mine and held it to my chest so he could feel the beating of my heart.
    “I have lost as much as you have,” I said quietly. “We have both made good and bad choices in our lives for different reasons and now we need to help one another to survive and get our lives back in whatever capacity that may be. I see a man who has had to make hard decisions and I feel a kinship in our mutual sorrow.”
    “Is sorrow all you feel?” Electricity seemed to run down my arm as Drake stroked my hand and fingers. A burning sensation warmed by belly and thighs as I looked up and stared deeply into his dark, liquid eyes.
    I shook my head and looked down at my feet. “No, not just sorrow.”
    “Come with me. Let’s get you cleaned up.” Gently pulling on my arm, I allowed him to lead me down the dark hall.
    A mixed feeling of relief and disappointment twisted my gut as I followed Drake. Just what was I feeling?

Chapter Seven
    My heart raced as we entered a small marble bathing room with a large, claw-footed tub and shower. The air was warm and a bit damp from Drake’s earlier bath. The room smelled strongly of sandalwood and roses.
    “You fed, now be refreshed, then rest. Hannah’s minions can wait a few more hours.” Drake said in a firm and gentle voice.
    I wanted so much to forget Hannah and her bastard vampires ever existed. I could not forget her nor could I forget what I had given up because of her.
    “Hush now.” Drake’s words filled my head and blocked out any other thoughts or misgivings that were flooding my subconscious. “Relax and let the world pass you by for just this one moment.”
    Before I could protest, Drake’s strong hands stripped me of my bloody