Read Online Amanda Ashley by Deeper Than the Night - Free Book Online Page A

never.”
    â€œYou can come with me now, tonight, and learn to hunt, or you can leave my house and learn to survive on your own.”
    â€œAnd if I don’t wish to survive?”
    â€œThen you have only to wait for sunrise. A fledgling such as yourself will burst into flame at the first touch of the sun.”
    I shuddered at the thought, at the hideous images her words conjured in my mind.
    â€œThere is much you need to learn, Alesandro. I can teach you, or I can destroy you. The choice is yours.”
    I had never thought myself a coward until I faced the very real possibility of dying again. . . .

Chapter Seven
    He called the hotel again at eight, and at nine, and again at ten. And always the message was the same: Neither Miss Crawford nor her grandmother had checked in.
    Worried now, Alex left the house. Opening the garage door, he pulled his car keys from his pocket and slid behind the wheel of the Porsche. He turned the key in the ignition, listened appreciatively as the engine hummed to life. Backing down the driveway, he headed for Grenvale.
    The Porsche flew down the highway. He had grown to love the sense of freedom he experienced behind the wheel. He felt attuned to the car, almost a part of it.
    He arrived in Grenvale in record time. Leaving the Porsche in the motel parking lot, he locked the car door, then crossed the blacktop to the motel.And again the message was the same: Miss Crawford had not checked in.
    With a curt nod, Alex left the motel. Standing in the shadows, he let his mind expand.
Kara, where are you?
He waited, listening, and when he sensed no reply, he drove to the hospital. He drove through the parking lot, feeling a ridiculous sense of relief when he saw her car.
    He parked the Porsche next to her Camry, then went into the hospital, determined to find out what was going on.
    The night nurse listened to him patiently, then shook her head. “I’m sorry, sir,” she said, “Miss Crawford is in an isolation unit. She’s not allowed any visitors just now.”
    â€œI want to see her doctor.”
    â€œI’m afraid he’s left for the night. He should be back first thing in the morning if you’d like to call then.”
    â€œCan you tell me if she’s all right?”
    â€œAre you family, sir?”
    â€œNo. Dammit, you’ve got to let me see her.”
    The nurse glanced up and down the hallway, then leaned forward and lowered her voice. “I shouldn’t tell you this, but Miss Crawford’s fine. She’s just being kept overnight while they wait for the results of her tests. She was a little upset, and her doctor gave her a sedative to help her sleep.”
    â€œYou’re sure she’s all right?”
    â€œYessir. I’m sure you’ll be able to see her tomorrow.”
    â€œI can’t wait until then.”
    â€œWell, you could wait here a while, if you like. I could let you know if I hear anything.”
    â€œThank you.”
    She smiled up at him. “You’re welcome, sir.”
    He sat down in one of the hard plastic chairs, aware that the nurse glanced repeatedly in his direction.
    Too restless to sit still for long, he paced the hallway for a time, weighing the wisdom of trying to find Kara on his own.
    On the pretext of going to the cafeteria, he walked through the hospital’s quiet halls. A sign announced that the Isolation Ward was located on the fourth floor.
    Taking the stairs, he walked up to the fourth floor, through the double doors marked ISOLATION UNIT. NO VISITORS BEYOND THIS POINT .
    A guard sat at a small desk just inside the doors. He stood up as Alex entered the room. “I’m sorry, sir,” he said, “No one’s allowed in here without authorization.”
    Alex nodded. “Sorry, I guess I took a wrong turn.” He took a deep breath, felt a surge of relief when he caught Kara’s scent. She was here. Deeply asleep. “I’m looking for Intensive