Free Born to Darkness Book 1 in the Immortal Destiny Series: Vampire Romance Paranormal by Lorraine Kennedy Page B

touching his lips.
    “Thank you,” she replied - her words sounding strange because she was missing a front tooth.
    The man took her small hand into his. Nicole was repelled by the coolness of the man’s skin, but she didn’t pull away. That would be rude, and Mom told her she shouldn’t be rude to others.
    “I will come back and see you another time,” he promised.
    Then he was gone.
    But the spot where he’d stood wasn’t empty.
    Now an old African American woman was there. She was sitting in a rocker - moving it back and forth. She was a tiny woman - so old and frail, a gust of wind might knock her over. From her wrinkled and worn face, she stared at Nicole with eyes that were clear and alert.
    “Now ya listen to ole Bellea, girl.” The woman’s voice was course, but clear. “Ya need ta find dat man.”
    A strong wind hit them and the woman dissolved - scattering like the sand around her.
    Gasping for air, Nicole jumped up from the sofa. She felt as if she’d died for a moment, and then came back from the dead. It was a struggle just to get air into her lungs.
    When her breathing returned to normal, she realized it was morning. She’d been so exhausted, and had meant to rest her eyes only for a few minutes, but she must have fallen asleep.
    Why hadn’t Alec come back for her?
    Nicole stepped out to the rickety porch. Shielding her eyes from the sun, she scanned the swamp. It was beautiful - in an eerie sort of way. In the distance, a gator bathed on the bank. Not far from the shack - she saw the head of one of the reptiles sink below the waterline.
    She sure didn’t want to try and get out of here on her own, even if she would have had a boat. Reptiles made her cringe, especially the extra large ones. She’d rather take on an entire nest of vampires, than one alligator.
    What a strange place for someone to want to live.
    Suddenly, the dream came back to her in vivid detail.
    She hadn’t thought of the man in the park for years, so why dream about him?
    She’d been confused as a child, but eventually forgotten about the man. He never did return, as he’d promised.
    Bellea being in her dream could be explained. After all, she was in the old lady’s house.
    It made sense, yet Nicole couldn’t shake the feeling that the woman was trying to tell her something about the man in the park?
    Maybe it was time she asked her mom who the man in the park had been?
    With a deep sigh, Nicole went back inside. No matter how she tried to relax - the anxiety and fear wouldn’t leave her alone. She couldn’t help but worry that something had happened to Alec and Ethan.
     
     
     

Chapter Seven
     
    Twilight comes on rapidly in the swamps. Nicole sat on the porch - waiting and frantic with worry. As darkness gathered around the little shack, she contemplated spending another night.
    But then she heard the low hum of an engine.  
    Some of her anxiety faded when she saw Alec maneuvering a boat around some trees protruding over the water. A moment later, he was at the dock and the boat’s engine went silent. 
    Nicole flew down the stairs to greet him. When he stepped onto the dock, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed his lips lightly.
    Her actions surprised her. The moment she’d seen him - she felt like a heavy weight had lifted from her heart.
    He was safe!
    “I thought something had happened to you,” she said.
    He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “Why do you do this to me Nicole?” he whispered in her ear.
    “What?” She stepped back, smiling innocently.
    He stared at her with those eyes - those stunning eyes that sent heat coursing through her body whenever she looked at them.
    Alec reached out to softly caress her face. “You are as beautiful as you are innocent.”
    Nicole blushed. She was unaccustomed to being showered with compliments.
    “What about Ethan?” she asked, changing the subject. “Did you get him away from Omar?”
    Alec shook his head. “They are not keeping