Page 37 of Kiss of the Vampire

“Let me know if he’s…mean to her.”

“Well, you know Dylan. He’s just…” Lynne shrugged. “Dylan.”

“If Dylan gets ugly toward her, let me know, will you?” Caitlin didn’t think Lynne would keep her informed, but just letting her know her concern might make Lynne watch him with her foster sister more.

“I take it you’re too busy watching her then. What will Thomas and Mildred say?” Lynne gave a smirk, then hurried out of the bathroom.

“She was just talking about you,” Lynne said to someone outside of the bathroom.

“Crap.” Was Lynne talking to Alicia or Dylan?

“Why don’t you talk to Alicia? I want to hear what Caitlin had to say about me,” Dylan said, his voice dark and threatening.

Chill bumps coated Caitlin’s skin. How she wished he’d tried something with her when she was on shore. He wouldn’t come near her if he only knew what she was capable of.

“Is everything all right, Caitlin?” Levka asked telepathically.

She imagined she’d been gone an awfully long time to have just run to the restroom, unless there had been a long line waiting for the stalls.

“Caitlin?”

“Can you…can you come and get me?”

“I’ll be right there. Are you at the restroom still?”

“Yes, just let me know when it’s all right to come out.”

“Wait for me, Caitlin. I’ll be right there.”

The restroom was near the elevators across the hall from the Blue Lounge so she knew it wouldn’t take him long to get there. She prayed Dylan would take one look at Levka and decide not to bother with either her or him. She assumed Levka would bring one of his friends if he thought there might be some real trouble.

“Caitlin? I’m here. Are you all right?”

She opened the door and walked out of the ladies’ room. There was no sign of Dylan, thank God.

Levka took her hand. “Are you all okay?”

“Yes, sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

“Anytime you need me, or any of us, just send out the message. One of us should be able to receive it.” He walked her back toward the dining room. “It’s lunchtime. Formal dining or buffet-style?”

“I don’t want to sit with Dylan.”

He studied her for a moment, his eyes dark as the ocean water. “Buffet it is.”

“If I communicate silently with you, do all of you hear me?”

Levka squeezed her hand. “Yes. But if you say whoever’s name you wish to speak to, the others will try not to listen.”

She made a face. “I thought maybe you guys were speaking to each other privately, shielding your communication from me in some way. I hoped I could do that, too.”

He smiled down at her. Did he think she sounded foolish?

They passed the pool where swimmers were splashing water everywhere. Sunbathers still hogged the loungers and the blue and white-striped swing was again occupied by the same couple who’d earlier laid claim to it.

“Anytime you want to sit in it again with me, just let me know,” Levka said.

Thankfully, he didn’t ask her why she was afraid to come out of the restroom. If only she had her powers, she wouldn’t have to put up with that creep Daryl.