Dark Enchantment: A Vampire Romance (Immortal Legacy Book 3)
Page 9
After I was breathing normally again, I let my thoughts return to the dream. Really, it had been more like a memory than a dream.
When I was in Caroline’s body, I was her. I felt everything she felt and knew everything she knew.
I was still shaking from the terror I’d felt when I heard the child’s screams.
Something had happened to that child!
I tried to remember - tried to go back to that lifetime, but everything was a blank after the sound of the child screaming. Taking another deep breath, I tried to calm my frayed nerves.
The room seemed to be closing in on me, making it difficult to breathe. Knowing that I would never get back to sleep, I decided to get some fresh air. Glancing at the clock, I saw that it was only 2:00 AM. Dawn was still a long time away.
Getting on my robe and slippers, I left my room and made my way out into the garden. Watching the sea had a way of calming the troubled spirit, and I needed that calm right now. Dreaming of Darrien had only reminded me of his absence and the void that he’d left behind.
I barely knew him, why did it even matter to me?
Because I did know him and I’d loved him once. A little voice whispered in my ear. It was the truth that my heart had always known, even if I couldn’t remember, except for in my dreams.
Less than a quarter mile from the garden was the Sutter Point lighthouse. It had been abandoned for almost a hundred years, but tonight a light was shining from the top of the lighthouse, beckoning to those out at sea, and to me.
Was I seeing things?
In all the time I’d lived in Sutter Point, I’d never seen it lit.
A narrow - overgrown path led from the garden to the lighthouse. Taylor and I played there as children, but we’d never been allowed to go inside. Aunt Jeanie said it was too dangerous. The stairs could be decayed and we might fall through them.
The beam at the top of the lighthouse called to me. Somehow, I knew I was supposed to go there.
I was suddenly fixated on discovering who was sending out its light to guide me to the antique structure.
I started down the path, heedless of the darkness and the dangers of the night. The sound of the waves gently crashing against the rocks below was calming, lulling me - comforting my fears. From somewhere in the darkness, the hoot of an owl serenaded the night.
The path led away from the house and onto the point. The lighthouse stood on a large cliff outcropping, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Weeds caught in my slippers, making the trek more difficult, but I barely noticed. I kept walking as if driven by some magnetic force.
Reaching the lighthouse, I looked up, expecting to see a light flashing from the top of the structure, but it was dark.
Could I have imagined the light?
Was I really asleep and this was just another bizarre dream?
I made my way to the large door that was always kept locked. It stood open just a crack, the rusty chain and padlock were on the ground in front of it.
Someone was in there, or had been recently.
Reaching out, I slowly pushed the door open. The old hinges creaked so loudly that it undoubtedly alerted whoever was inside. Even this knowledge didn’t deter me. Stepping inside, I found myself in almost complete darkness. A small amount of moonlight came in from the top of the lighthouse, illuminating the long - spiral staircase.
Placing my foot on the first step, I cringed when the wood moaned loudly beneath my weight. Holding onto the rail, I took the steps slowly, waiting for one to give way and send me falling to my death.
Finally, I reached the lantern room. An abundance of moonlight found its way in through the pains of glass, making it easier to see.
Clearly, no one was there. At least that is what I initially believed. As I looked around the room, I saw a shadow move. Then I realized that it wasn’t a shadow at all, but someone standing at the window, looking out at the sea.
Was it Darrien?
Could that why I’d felt so compelled to come to the lighthouse?
My heart jumped at the thought, while at the same time, there was something about the figure that wasn’t right. All my senses were screaming at me, telling me to run and hide.
The figure turned to look at me. His eyes were had that strange light to them, but it wasn’t the light of hunger. What I saw was the thirst for fear. It would feed off my terror, as well as the warm blood that flowed through my veins. The evil in those eyes was foreign to me; they weren’t Darrien’s eyes. This creature was a vampire, but he wasn’t Darrien.
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Look for the next installment, Dark Temptation, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWUL581
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Author
Lorraine Kennedy is the author of the Immortal Legacy and Skinwalkers, as well as several novellas and short stories. Ms. Kennedy was born and raised in Utah but has lived in several different states. She attended Weber State University, majoring in Criminal Justice and Anthropology. Lorraine Kennedy and her family now make their home in Utah. You can get Lorraine Kennedy news by visiting her on the web at www.lorrainekennedy.com