As always, I was up and dressed long before Ephram. It was early evening, at least an hour before he’d be able to awaken. As I walked downstairs, I sensed the presence of another vampire. An Old one. Older than I, since I couldn’t tell much about him other than that he was somewhere below me in the building. I quickly erected my shields although I suspected it was already too late.
I found him in the gallery. He was studying a painting, his hands linked behind his back. Vince was across the room, helping a young couple, so I approached the vampire, saying, “For an up-and-coming local artist, he is quite good. Don’t you agree?”
“I do.” He turned the full force of his dark gaze on me, smiling. “I don’t believe we’ve met, which is not surprising as I only occasionally came to this city. My
