Alexander-Fyn-Sanguinarian

with likenesses of the deceased in repose, just as she had seen them in Westminster Abby. There were scores of dead Ravenscrofts. Evangeline saw herself falling down dead from a heart seizure should a gust of wind close the heavy door and leave them trapped in the darkness.
    “You’re cold.” Raven hurried back, having made his way quite some distance from her between the coffins. He took her into his arms and she was at once reassured by the fragile warmth of his body. He was ghostly pale but he was a living, breathing man all the same. “I’m being selfish, not thinking about how you feel the cold so badly.”
    “It’s not just the cold, it’s all so empty,” she said, horror creeping into her body.
    “Empty?” Raven looked confused. “Empty of what?”
    “Life.” She was astounded that he could not feel it, too.
    “But the dead are all around us. How could it be empty? Can’t you feel their presence?”
    “I feel nothing save that they are empty shells, all the life gone from them. How can you like to be here? Don’t you see how different 238
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    we are?” She shuddered. “How impossible a match between us would be?”
    “You fed me. Each day you have fed me,” he said quietly. “You gave life to me. That makes us less different than you want to believe.
    We give to each other and we take from each other. They are just different things. Our needs are different but we both have needs. I thought you had accepted me for the man I am. I have accepted you.”
    “I keep thinking I know who you are, and then I have to reevaluate my judgment.” She looked up into his eyes.
    “No, you don’t,” he whispered soothingly. “I am a sanguinarian vampire. I am the man you offer your blood to willingly. I am the man who makes love to you until you scream.”
    The smell of him and his warmth brought back the memory of all he had done to her these last few nights. He had promised to quell her desires and he had. Raven wrapped his hand around the back of her head, bringing his mouth down to meet hers, but she could not respond in the dead atmosphere of the crypt. He began to fumble with the front of her gown, trying to open the buttons. Panic rose inside her, all her desire gone.
    “Let’s lay your cloak on the floor and I’ll pleasure you. You won’t get cold with me to keep you warm,” he said against her mouth.
    Surely he did not think they could be intimate in a crypt full of corpses. Her fear grew until it exploded within her. “No!” she managed to scream. “Get away from me.” She clawed at him, only her gloves keeping her from tearing the skin of his face. “Are you mad! Do you think I would let you touch me here among all this death?”
    Raven struck her across the cheek. “Calm down,” he said angrily.
    Evangeline held her hand to her stinging cheek. “Get me out of this disgusting place and do not ever suggest we visit it again.”
    “Stupid child,” Raven growled. “Just when I thought you were beginning to show a little maturity. Just when I thought I could share something important with you. Do you think I would bring just Sanguinarian 239
    anyone to see the family tombs? You have no appreciation.”
    Taking her upper arm in one hand, he walked her up the steps and outside where he closed the crypt door before walking her back to the castle. Not a word passed between them as they crossed the grounds and entered through a side door. Raven left her at the foot of the main staircase where she ran up without looking back.
    In her chamber she began packing the few items of clothing that were her own, nothing from Lady Ravenscroft. She threw her things into the valise as quickly as she could, wanting only to get away from the castle and its strange inhabitants. When she was packed she rang the bell. Instead of her maid, Munk arrived. Raven must have warned her that Evangeline was upset. The woman looked at her valise sitting on the end of the bed ready to be closed, then went to the fire and began to build it up.
    “There’s no need for that. I’m leaving. His lordship has assured me he would not hold me against my will. Have a carriage brought round to the front please, Munk.”
    The woman stood up and wiped her hands on her apron. She looked pointedly at the windows. Evangeline turned to follow her gaze. It was snowing heavily again, blinding impenetrable snow.
    Evangeline sat down and wept.

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Chapter Eighteen
    It was dark when a maid opened