Stephen by Kathi S Barton

Author:Kathi S Barton [Barton, Kathi S]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, power, shape shifter, IDS@DPG, dpgroup.org, vampire
Publisher: World Castle Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Stephen was sick of walking around as if the house where a bomb and the slightest sound would make it go off. He moved into the kitchen to see if he could find Clarice, but all that was in the room was Kasen. He didn’t look any happier than Stephen felt.

“She is out of doors with Master Vinnie. They have been out there for over an hour.” Stephen started to the door, only to stop when Kasen said his name. “Sire, may I be so bold as to ask you what you are going to do once you go out there?”

“I suppose whatever I was planning will piss you and her off, so why don’t you tell me what I should do?” He hated himself as soon as the words left his mouth. “I’m sorry. I’ve been a real bastard for the past several days and I don’t know what to do about it.”

“I’m sure you do.” Stephen waited for him to say more, and when he didn’t immediately, he looked out the door to see that Vinnie was talking to her and pointing to the trees. He looked up and saw a beautiful hawk there and wondered if it was their friend, Hawk. When the bird came down and landed on Vinnie’s arm, he figured it wasn’t. Hawk was a great man, but he didn’t do tricks. When Kasen cleared his throat, Stephen spoke first.

“She hates me, you know. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m a vampire, or simply because of who I am. Not that I blame her. I’ve not been the most friendly guy before she came along, and I’ve not changed all that much since she’s been here.” Stephen watched her back away from Vinnie when he seemed to get a little too close, if you could call five or six feet too close. “I guess I should be happy I’m not the only one she’s afraid of.”

“She’s not afraid of you, my lord, but I do believe she is afraid.” He looked at Kasen. “Watch her. The faeries that are there are not touching her either. It is as if they too can sense that she is a bit…”

“Standoffish?” Kasen shook his head and watched her for a few more minutes with him. She did seem to avoid touch, completely. When Leith landed on her shoulder, Clarice picked her up and set her on a nearby bush. “Why is she like that?”

“I have heard from Master Samuel that she has lived alone for a number of years. And before that, her stepfather had been abusive toward her.” Stephen nodded but watched Clarice as she backed away from Vinnie when he shifted again. “Perhaps she has forgotten how to let anyone close to her; mayhap she is…sire, I do believe the girl is lonely.”

He looked at his long-time day walker and thought he was kidding. There had been any number of people in and out of his house since he’d brought her there, and most of them looked at him as if he were carrying a disease or something.

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