Vampire 01 - Daughter of Darkness

passion,” I said.
    He smiled. “It was like it was all meant to be, even this secret rendezvous. Hey, we’re like Romeo and Juliet. What’s in a name and all that stuff.”
    I turned away. If he only knew how true that was. We didn’t come from warring families, but we came from two worlds so different that we might as well. I could sense how my silence was making him nervous.
    “You know I mean for this to be more, Lorelei. I wasn’t looking for a one-night stand.”
    “I know.”
    “You’re not saying anything,” he said. “You’re not angry, are you?”
    “Oh, no, Buddy.”
    “Then what is it? Your father? Your sister? I mean—”
    “Let’s not talk about it anymore, Buddy. You were right. Just enjoy and live in the moment without doing an autopsy.”
    I saw the confusion in his face. “Autopsy? Nothing died here, I hope.”
    “No,” I said. I smiled as warmly as I could. “Something was born here.”
    That pleased him. “Great.”
    “But let’s leave it be for now,” I said.
    “That’s fine, as long as I can see you and be with you.”
    What was I to tell him, to promise him? “We must not say things that will disappoint us in the end,” I said.
    “Why must there be an end?”
    “There always is.”
    He shook his head. “I swear, I don’t know what makes you so cynical, Lorelei. You’re too young to be this cynical. Unless you’ve been hurt badly in a love affair. Have you?”
    “I know you don’t believe me, but this is my first love affair,” I said.
    “Mine, too. I mean it. Don’t smile. I’ve been with other girls, yes, but I’ve never felt as strongly about any as I do for you.”
    I stopped smiling.
    “Doesn’t that make you happy?”
    “Yes, but it frightens me, too.”
    “Frightens you? Why?”
    “I told you. I don’t want you or me to be deeply hurt by disappointment.”
    “Never happen,” he said.
    I stood up.
    “I swear, you look taller,” he said.
    “Do I?”
    I went to the mirror over the dresser and looked at myself.
He’s right
, I thought.
I do look as if I’ve grown taller.
Was it just our imagination?
    “Maybe you’re just happy, fulfilled,” he said. “You know, like a beautiful flower now able to blossom? Don’t look at me like that. I’ve never said these things to any other girl. I swear.” He raised his right hand.
    “Okay,” I said, laughing. “I’m convinced.” I looked at my watch. “I have to go.”
    “To face the music for yesterday, huh?”
    “Yes. I might not be able to see you again for a while, Buddy, and it might even be hard for me to call you.”
    “You can call me anytime, whenever you’re able to call. I don’t care how late or early it is.”
    “I’ll try,” I said.
    “You look really worried,” he told me as we started out together. “Are you sure I can’t meet your father? I’m a charmer,” he kidded.
    “Not a good time,” I said.
    I paused when we stepped out of his uncle’s house. The street was as quiet as these cul-de-sacs could be. Nothing was moving, yet I had the sense that we weren’t alone. For a moment, I felt the way Daddy often did when that sixth sense of his was triggered by something. I stared ahead.
    “Something wrong?” Buddy asked.
    “No.” I moved quickly to my car. When I reached forthe door, he reached for my hand to stop me and turn me around so he could kiss me again.
    “The way you’re talking, this kiss has to last a while,” he said, and kissed me again.
    “I will try to call you,” I promised, and got into the car. He stood with his hands on the open window.
    “I’m afraid to let you go. I have this sinking, sick feeling that I’ll never see you again.”
    “No matter what,” I said, “I’ll see you again.”
    “You had better, or I’ll find you, no matter where you are or how big your father might be.”
    I nodded. How ironic every word seemed to be. If he only knew how big my father could be, he wouldn’t even think those words. I flashed a smile and then started to back out of the driveway. He walked after me, as if he really feared that he would never see me again. The look on his face was breaking my heart, but I couldn’t stay any longer, and no matter how many promises I made, that look wouldn’t go away. He would always hear the hesitation and doubt in my voice.
    I watched him in my rearview mirror as I drove out of his uncle’s street. I had come there with tears streaming down my cheeks, and I was leaving the same way. Really,