Page 93 of Kiss of the Vampire

Minutes later, the middle-aged woman came back out. “There’s no one in there. Are you Levka? Here’s a note left next to one of the sinks.”

“Yes, thank you.”

His heart thundering, Levka reached for the envelope and ripped it open.

Dear Levka,

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me a chance at life when I was so near death. I will always treasure our friendship, but I must become my own person. Please understand and let me go. Your friend always, Caitlin.

Arman looked over his shoulder and communicated the letter to Ruric and Stasio.

“Find her. She can’t have gone far,” Levka ordered.

The four headed in the direction of her perfume, but Ruric took off at a run. Of the four, he was the best tracker of the bunch.

“Caitlin, talk to me,” Levka called to her telepathically.

Silence.

“I think she’s headed for the taxi stand,” Ruric said to Levka and the others.

“Tell me what the matter is, Caitlin. If you need time to adjust, I have no trouble with this. But you’re not safe on your own. Not as a fledgling.”

“She’s at the taxi stand, but indecisive. Should I attempt to grab her?” Ruric asked.

“She’ll probably cry out if you touch her. I’m on my way there, but if she gets into a taxi before I reach you, go with her."

“I think she’s pacing. Her perfume seems to be moving from place to place.”

“I’m nearly there.” Then Levka said for everyone to hear, “I love you, Caitlin. From the moment I laid eyes on you, you stole my heart. If I have not made that clear to you before…”

“She’s crying.”

“Invisibly?”

“Yes. Should I grab her? Five airline passengers are staring in the direction of her sobs.”

“Caitlin, please don’t leave me.”

“I can’t go with you, Levka. I’ll be the death of you and your friends.”

Levka’s heart stilled.

“Someone’s gotten to her,” Arman warned.

“Who says this, Caitlin?” Levka asked.

Silence.

“Caitlin, who says this?” Levka asked gently, standing next to her. He felt the connection to her at once, heard the blood pumping rapidly through her heart, smelled her sweet fragrance, felt her slight body’s warmth. “Tell me.”

“Petroski.” She sobbed louder and two of the people waiting for taxis backed away. Another two headed inside the building. “He’s an assassin.”

“He’s a tracker, nothing more.”

“He came to me and told me he’s an assassin.” She sniffled.

“Did he tell you that you would be safe, a fledgling among our people?”