Born in Twilight: Twilight Vows by MAGGIE SHAYNE Read Free Book Online

work for DPI—the Division of Paranormal Investigations. It’s a government agency, Sister. We’re doing research, and—”
    â€œDon’t call me ‘Sister,”’ I said. “Don’t ever call me ‘Sister.”’
    â€œI’m sorry. Listen…come with me. We’re working on a cure. There’s a chance we can help you.”
    I narrowed my eyes and studied his face. “Where?”
    â€œOur headquarters. In White Plains. It’s not far, really. Come on, come with me. Let me help you. You want to be human again, don’t you?”
    I blinked, searching his face. Was it truly possible? Could I regain my mortal self, and with it, my immortal soul?
    No! Don’t trust him!
    I went stiff as, very clearly, that satinlike voice rang in my mind. The voice of my victim. Not wandering through my head like a stray thought or a daydream. But speaking, weakly and breathlessly, in my mind. His voice. It was real.
    I glanced behind me, and his eyes, though barely open, met mine, held them. Don’t go with him! Don’t go….
    I snapped my head around, ignoring the dying man. Surely he was not the one I should be listening to right now. He’d admitted to me that he had friends who were…like me, as he’d put it. Other vampires. Was I to trust a friend of those creatures, those leeches in human form, those predators of the night? No. I hated them. All of them, and I hated myself for being like them. I wanted it to end! I could not exist as a monster. I could not.
    â€œI’ll go with you,” I said. And the stranger took my hand.
    Fool. I kept hearing his voice in my mind as I went with the stranger. Though it grew weaker and weaker. Traitor. You’re a traitor to your kind. And you deserve whatever they do to you there!
    I closed my eyes, tried to block out his voice.
    I could have helped you. You’ll wish you’d let me…I swear you’ll wish…
    And then nothing. Nothing at all. Had he finally died then? A heaviness like none I’d ever known filled my heart. I’d killed. Twice now, once for no more reason than to preserve my own life. I was damned, but perhaps the road to salvation was not entirely blocked to me. Perhaps this was simply a test, or a lesson I had to learn, before I could take my final vows. Perhaps there would be forgiveness for me still.
    The stranger opened the door of his automobile, and I got in. And as we pulled away, I heard him again, that musical voice, perhaps its dying breath.
    You were right, Tam. Dammit, I need help…I…I…
    There was no more. Not another hint of life from that condemned building. A large tear rolled down my cheek as we rounded a corner and drove out of sight.
    Â * * *
    â€œJameson? Can you hear me?”
    â€œHe’s going to be all right, Tamara. We got to him in time.”
    â€œBut Eric…”
    â€œShh. Let him rest. He’s going to need all of his strength when he wakes. It won’t be easy for him to deal with this. He wasn’t ready, you know.”
    â€œI know.” A hand stroked Jameson’s face. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “But we just couldn’t let you go.”
    Jameson opened his eyes, and then blinked, because something was wrong with his vision. Everything was too bright. Too vivid. He quickly closed them again, startled. “What happened?” he whispered, searching his memory.
    â€œYou were attacked,” Tamara said softly, and he was amazed that he could hear the very vibrations of her vocal cords as she spoke to him. The perfect hum of her voice. Like music. “You called out to me for help. We found you in—”
    â€œWait…I remember. That crumbling ruin.” It all came back to him then, but as he held up a hand to stop Tamara from speaking, he turned it slowly, eyeing the white bandage on his wrist. When he looked at his other wrist, he saw another.