Rafe had watched the old Victorian mansion long enough to know that only a single man lived within the excellently maintained estate. Gardeners came now and then to tend the lovely grounds, but only the owner went beyond the front door. He?d seen the man several times now; a well dressed, dark and handsome figure who would have been some woman’s dream date, even if he did only came out at night.
Oh not a vampire -- nothing that common and easy to kill. Rafe knew this one could stand in the light of day; it just didn?t like to.
Rafe waited and watched, feeling the cold even within the shell of his ward. He wasn?t certain how to approach a Soul Stealer, and he?d grown tired of waiting for some sign. A portent from God, he thought with a little laugh. He?d stopped believing in those gifts of grace centuries ago.
And he shuddered at that thought, because it was not the considerations of the mortal man he had once been. He?d had such a good life, back in a prettier time. He hated this new world with its darker history and harsher pleasures. He even hated the unnatural lights that brightened the night. He wanted to go home.
And he couldn?t, of course. He could never turn back time. Rafe had adapted to the changes in life, moving from century-to-century while doing the work accorded to him by an angel who hadn?t stopped in his gift giving to explain immortality and the relentless passing of time.
Somewhere along the way Rafe had lost more than just his old language -- he had lost all touch with the person he had once been, including his love of art. Now he only ought things to set the world right, in payment for the gifts from God that he no longer used.
He buried those bitter thoughts and turned back to the only work he had left and the only reason for his otherwise empty life. The Soul Stealer would leave the house soon. Rafe intended to go inside the building then, in hopes of finding something that would help him deal with this enemy. In all the years he?d fought dark creatures, he had never faced a Soul Stealer before. However, from the number of mindless wretches who had turned up in the local LA hospitals lately, he knew that he had to work quickly. This one had quite an appetite.
Soon....
Oh not a vampire -- nothing that common and easy to kill. Rafe knew this one could stand in the light of day; it just didn?t like to.
Rafe waited and watched, feeling the cold even within the shell of his ward. He wasn?t certain how to approach a Soul Stealer, and he?d grown tired of waiting for some sign. A portent from God, he thought with a little laugh. He?d stopped believing in those gifts of grace centuries ago.
And he shuddered at that thought, because it was not the considerations of the mortal man he had once been. He?d had such a good life, back in a prettier time. He hated this new world with its darker history and harsher pleasures. He even hated the unnatural lights that brightened the night. He wanted to go home.
And he couldn?t, of course. He could never turn back time. Rafe had adapted to the changes in life, moving from century-to-century while doing the work accorded to him by an angel who hadn?t stopped in his gift giving to explain immortality and the relentless passing of time.
Somewhere along the way Rafe had lost more than just his old language -- he had lost all touch with the person he had once been, including his love of art. Now he only ought things to set the world right, in payment for the gifts from God that he no longer used.
He buried those bitter thoughts and turned back to the only work he had left and the only reason for his otherwise empty life. The Soul Stealer would leave the house soon. Rafe intended to go inside the building then, in hopes of finding something that would help him deal with this enemy. In all the years he?d fought dark creatures, he had never faced a Soul Stealer before. However, from the number of mindless wretches who had turned up in the local LA hospitals lately, he knew that he had to work quickly. This one had quite an appetite.
Soon....
