Part 52 (1/2)

Terry took her arm. He started to stand. 'Let's go into the bedroom.'

Lauren pulled at his hand, firmly, and he was seated once again. The couch felt suddenly cramped. She held the full gla.s.s near his mouth. 'Drink,' she said.

Terry began to feel uneasy. The red liquid rippled beneath his eyes, the tiny waves moving in slow motion. The wine was cold; he could actually feel the chill radiating from it.

'Drink,' she whispered, pressing the wine against his lower lip. Her nails were pointed, seductively long. On one finger she wore the engagement ring he had given her, the three-carat diamond. On the other finger she wore a simple silver ring. The latter looked vaguely familiar. It had a wonderful s.h.i.+ne.

'Where did you get that ring?' he asked.

Lauren withdrew the gla.s.s from his mouth and switched it into her other hand. She turned her attention to her ring finger. It hung limply, seemingly numb. Her entire hand, in fact, appeared heavy. 'I found it,' she said.

'Where?'

She studied him. A corner of her mouth curled up over her teeth. 'It hurts my finger. Could you take it off for me?'

He nodded and took her hand in his. Then he paused, confused, his fingers on the ring. It was not the least bit tight. 'Where did you find this?' he repeated.

'Why do you ask?'

'I just... I want to know,' he stuttered. He was no longer floating on perfumed clouds. He was sitting by a roaring fire after an icy funeral, reading about the mystery of Man's origin. A cold fear, small but spreading swiftly, entered his mind.

'Take it off and I will tell you,' she said.

Reluctantly Terry began to ease the band over her knuckle. He was trembling. He had thought his head had cleared before. Why had it been cloudy? A disturbing question. There were others. He was sitting only ten feet from where he had first read Jennifer's story. It was coming back fast. Janier had taken Chaneen's ring to Mars. Lauren had gone to Mars. Now she had a ring of her own.

'If it hurts so much, why didn't you take it off before?' he asked.

She locked his gaze with her own. It was as if her eyes became a single fathomless pupil. 'You will do as I say, Terry.'

He tried to joke. His voice cracked. 'I think the silver suits you.'

'But it's uncomfortable. It pains me.'

'Then take it off yourself.' He hastily removed her hand from his lap. The winegla.s.s in her other hand splashed. Had a drop spilled on her white dress? There was a red stain near her right breast. Yet the stain appeared dry. It...

Oh, G.o.d.

It was a bloodstain.

Michael.

Terry knew the meaning of terror.

'You seem fascinated by this silly ring,' Lauren said. 'Tell me, why is that, Terry?'

He shook his head and turned away. Please, Jesus, no. The ring was Chaneen's. Naturally Lauren couldn't remove it. She was still a vampire. He had been tricked into inviting her inside his house.

'Ahh.' Lauren nodded, reading his thoughts. 'Look at me.' He did so. He had to. It was as if he had no will of his own to resist. 'Do you find me desirable?'

Her dress had slipped back off her shoulder, off her breast. An erect nipple peeked over the material.

He knew what the situation was. But suddenly all he could think of was s.e.x. And all he had to do was give the word. Yes, Lori, let's make love. Sweat dripped from his hair, thick with salt. It stung his eyes. He s.h.i.+vered amidst the many dark fires that began to burn inside him.

'Yes,' he croaked.

'You want me to love you,' she said mischievously, stroking his crotch with her free hand. 'And look, you're all prepared to love me.'

'No.'

'Yes. Beautiful, so beautiful.' She sighed and began to unzip his pants. She reached inside. There wasn't a lot of room. She pinched the tip of his p.e.n.i.s, again and again. His pleasure was only outweighed by his pain. He couldn't burst. It wasn't permitted. Not until you decide, lover. That was the proposition.

'You know,' she continued. 'I've been wearing this silly ring for a long time. It can always wait. But you're thirsty. You're hot. You need a cool drink.' Again she touched the gla.s.s to his lips. Saliva collected in his mouth. The wine smelled like an ambrosia a hedonist would order before the Grim Reaper came for him. 'Go ahead,' she crooned. 'Just a little sip. And I promise I'll give you a long...' She squeezed his p.e.n.i.s and licked her lips. 'You know.'

'What is in this wine?' he panted.

She continued to caress him even as her eyes bored into his soul. 'Just a little sip and you'll see. It's such a small thing.' She leaned over and whispered in his ear. 'Then I'll be yours forever.'

'But you're a...' He could not get the word out. It didn't catch in his throat, though. It caught lower. All he could think of was down there, where the nasty kids played.

'I'm your lover,' she said. 'Drink. Now.'

'Go ahead, Janier, and I will let you go. It's such a small thing.'

'No!' he cried, shoving her hand away. It was another trick. She was a liar. She was evil.

'No?' she asked, mocking.

He turned away and zipped up his pants. 'I've got to go, Lauren,' he mumbled. He tried to stand. She held him on the couch with one finger.

'Of course you don't want to leave. Surely you know you can't.'

He swallowed. 'I have to.'

She shook her head. 'I'm sorry.'

'But I have decided to go,' he said, pleading.

She threw back her head and laughed, coa.r.s.e and throaty. 'You have decided. I'm afraid leaving is not one of your choices. Indeed, your choices are rapidly dwindling. Fool! With your rosary around your neck. Do you know who/am?'

Terry froze. He didn't want to get into an argument with her. He had no magical powers. He was not Chaneen. He didn't even have his gun with him. He was doomed.

Still chuckling, she reached a powerful hand under his s.h.i.+rt and grabbed his rosary. She twisted the beads slowly tighter until he was choking.

'You will be my lover, if only for tonight,' she said. 'Your seed is necessary - the same seed as before, alive but slipping into sweetness.' She tugged at the rosary. He was yanked forward and his air was completely cut off. 'Yes?'

In a lifetime of nightmares, Terry could not have conceived of anything more horrible than the way in which she was smothering him. His heart shrieked in his chest, threatening to rupture. Still he managed to shake his head.