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 Actually, I ve done plenty of stupid things out of
desperation. What happened with the other women?
 Once I came here, to be away from the people and hole
myself up in darkness, I found different ways to bring women
here. I d wine and dine them, buy them fancy clothes, and tell
them what they wanted to hear. By the second bite, they d be
too frightened and despised me for what I d done. I m
ashamed to say I never felt any real connection with any of
them, but I wanted the curse to end so badly, hoping I could
go back to leading a normal life, that I didn t care about their
needs. The longer it went on, the more rapidly I aged. They
didn t want to feed on others and they wouldn t agree to the
conditions of my alternative lifestyle. The price of loving me
was too high for them. I could offer them immortality, but
they didn t want it. I couldn t let them leave. I feared they d
hurt themselves or others, or bring people to cause me harm.
Soon they gave in to the madness. They blame me and will
haunt me until I die. I don t blame them though. Each day as
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I m closer to my death, I age. I long to reclaim my days as a
musician. I hadn t played since the day I went to the
cemetery. You see, there was something about your voice that
brought the passion back to me. I wanted one more chance to
see where it could take me.
 I don t know what to say, Ryder. There s so much about
this I don t understand. I realize money makes a person do
things they normally wouldn t. I m not real happy with what I
do in my life, and never have been. I ve made sacrifices
hoping to find happiness along the way, but it s never been
there. The only time I feel good is when I dance, and I found
something in your music, a passion as well. But what you ask
of me, I find it very selfish. At the same time, I see it as a way
out. So I m torn.
 How is it a way out? From what?
 From the direction my life is headed. I ll never be one of
those career women. It s not in the cards for me. I don t look
forward to a life behind a desk, without time to dance. I also
can t remain in my current profession. It s only been a means
to get by, and it s not worth it anymore. It represents all the
things I detest about my life. Do you know what I do?
He shook his head and ran his hand along her arm.
 Those things don t matter to me.
 They matter to me. I work at a strip club. I take my
clothes off, not all the way, and dance around the men for
tips. It took me forever to find a way to shut down while I was
out there and ignore what was really going on around me. The
older I get, the less opportunities I ll have. I guess what I m
getting at is, what can you offer me? I need to know what you
can offer me, to make me choose you.
 I can offer you honesty and true love. Immortality.
You ll never have to worry about growing old, getting
wrinkles, or worry about your looks. You ll stay, as you are,
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young and beautiful. I believe together we can both pursue
our dreams by bringing out the passion in one another. I offer
you a lifetime of love, respect, and admiration. I can play my
music and you can dance to your heart s desire.
 What you say is all very appealing. In a morbid way, it s
all the things I want. To start life anew, dance forever, and
not have to worry about aging. But is it the right decision?
Can I just step out of the life I lead now and into yours, like a
portal?
 I ll give you everything you want, you just name it. I
want you to know I love you. I m not saying that to get you to
stay with me. I speak those words from my heart.
Fallon stepped back and looked at him, trying to imagine
her life with him. Was fear holding her back, or instincts?
 There s no going back. One more time and everything
will change.
 I don t feel I m giving up much.
 Trust me, you are. More than you realize. You are
giving up sunlight soaking into your skin, all the activities you
normally do during the day, friends you ve made, family you
have, and the material things you ve acquired. Money won t
mean anything to you anymore. It will be just you and me.
 Do you have friends?
 I have some acquaintances. That may change if you want
to socialize more, but I never chose to. Especially when the
curse started to affect my appearance.
Fallon laughed to herself. Did she care about any of those
things in the first place?
 The things you mention aren t things I ll miss.
 You re not looking at the big picture.
 Listen to me. Because I ve just realized these things
myself. I work at night and sleep my days away as it is. I rarely
go out unless I have to. To be honest, I can t remember the
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last time I sat out in the sun. The friends I have are more
acquaintances than anything else, though I ve tried to make it
out to be more. My family has been gone for years, and
personal possessions don t matter to me. I ve saved up
money, but it was for the hope that one day, I could open up a
studio and teach dance. I m very private. So you see, I can t
figure out what I m giving up. You ve been the mystery man
of my dreams. Somewhere along the way, I must have known
I d be with someone like you. I know my feelings for you run
deep, and while I ve never been in love before, I truly believe
I m in love with you. I ve been searching for a purpose with
my life for so long, I didn t realize it was standing in front of
me this whole time.
She threw her arms around him and nestled her body
close. The moment the words were out of her mouth, she
knew there was something she needed to do first, or she d
regret everything.
 I choose an eternal life with you, Ryder. I choose you.
The smile on his face made Fallon s heart fill to bursting.
 I love you.
 Let me take care of a few things and I ll return. There
are some loose ends that I need to tie up and then I m all
yours.
Fallon could see the pained look in his eyes, but she
couldn t explain, not now.
 Very well. I shall wait for your return.
* * * *
He felt his heart ache as he watched her go. She said she d
be back, but when she was once again out in the real world,
would she change her mind? She wouldn t be back. He felt it
deep in his gut, and he couldn t blame her. He knew how easy
it was to not see things clearly when emotions were running
things. Those emotions were what got him into trouble in the
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first place. He loved her too much to be angry with her for
choosing a life of her own. If tables were turned, he knew he
wouldn t have traded anything for his chance of playing music.
She was a dancer; it was her dream. It didn t seem
possible for her to follow her dream from the confines of [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]