A Girl's Guide to Vampires

so tragic killings. It was all just a screen of smoke they create. But me, I have the alibis most unbreakable, and they must go away without me.' He sat back and looked terribly smug.

'Do you mean to say that the police thought you had killed someone?' Roxy asked, scooting just a bit away from him.

'They called them the Vampire Murders, yes? And I,' he said with an affected little flip of his hand, 'am le grand Vampyr. It follows that they must suspect me.'

He sounded like he was proud of the fact.

'I didn't know they were seriously investigating anyone with the fair,' I said slowly, looking at the tips of his pointy boots as my mind turned over the facts. Was it the fair employees the police were investigating, or one amber-eyed man with a police history in particular? 'Arielle told us about a woman who died, but she said the police at Heidelberg—' The words stopped as goose bumps crawled up my flesh. Raphael had told Inspector Bartos to check with the police at Heidelberg about something, about proving he was innocent. Oh, God! If the police had viewed him as some sort of suspect in previous murders, it was no wonder Bartos had him on his suspect list.

'Those pigs! They delayed us one whole week. We lost much revenue in Prague because of them. But that is over with. They did not find any connection between the fair and that woman.'

'And now Tanya is dead,' Roxy said thoughtfully, her gaze on Dominic.

'Yes.' He sobered up at that thought. 'She was not the most amiable of women, but she did not deserve death.'

I gave him full brownie points for showing what looked to be real grief over Tanya's death. 'I didn't get a chance to say so last night, Dominic, but I want you to know I'm very sorry about Tanya. I know you were close to her—this must be especially difficult for you. Do you have any idea who would have wanted her dead?'

For a moment the real Dominic peeked out. He looked like he was going to be sick, his eyes filled with horror; then the mask descended again and he was back to his slick persona.

'No. It is deranged to me. She was angry, yes, but not enough to do something foolish.'

I withheld judgment on that point. Roxy put a few more questions to Dominic regarding the murders of the other women, but he had nothing new to say on that subject, or on his warnings against Raphael. I tolerated those for a few more minutes, then thanked him for his help and promised him I'd be at the festival shortly after opening to take up my duties at the rune-stone booth.

'I almost feel sorry for him,' Roxy said a couple of minutes later as we stood outside his trailer, taking deep breaths of fresh air. The fair people, most of whom looked tired and drawn due to interrupted sleep, were just starting to break down the tents and booths. Some would be packed away, others would be moved to Drahanská's grounds for the festival.

'I think I'll go see how Arielle is,' Roxy said, watching Paal and another man at a water spigot. 'I take it you're going to tackle your jailbird?'

'I don't believe a thing Dominic said about Raphael. I may not have known him for long, Rox, but I do know him. He's gentle and loving and would never rape a woman, especially with such force as to tear her up inside. He's beefy, but he's not monstrous! No, there has to be a mistake. Raphael told me he was accused of something he didn't do, and I, for one, believe him.'

'Atta girl,' she said with a pat on my shoulder. 'I knew you wouldn't stay all pissy at him for long. Not with that belly tattoo. And of course, there's his huge—'

'Oh, I'm still ticked off royally at him,' I interrupted her. 'He's got a lot of explaining to do. But that doesn't mean I believe he's capable of rape and manslaughter. I think since Christian is out of commission until it gets dark, I will have a word or two with Raphael.'

A smile touched her eyes. 'A word or two, eh? K. I won't expect to see you for, oh, say three hours? Is that enough time for you two to talk?'

'You really need to get a man, Roxy. Your mind is just obsessed with sex. Obsessed! It's a sign of mental illness, it really is. Get some help. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to beat Raphael soundly about the head and shoulders with a sharp dick. Imagine him not having more faith in me!'

I snorted my indignation and strode off leaving Roxy doubled up, howling with laughter. I didn't stay to inquire what set her off, I had a man to handle. The fact that I went all mushy inside just thinking about handling him was neither here nor there. I had a point to prove. I was trustworthy, I was the perfect woman for him, and it was about time he realized that.

As for his secret… well, it was clear to me that it wasn't what Dominic believed, just as it was clear that the police viewed Raphael in a less than innocent light. I was about to knock on his trailer door when I remembered what Roxy had said about trust coming with time. If I told him what I'd found out, he'd be forced to trust me. But was forced trust what I wanted?

No, it wasn't. It wasn't good enough. Therefore, I couldn't let him know I knew what he had told Dominic. I gnawed on my lip while I figured out what I'd say to him. My last words had an awfully ultimatum feel to them. Perhaps an apology would start things off nicely. Maybe if I admitted I was wrong, he would do likewise and spill his guts about what really happened in his past.

The door opened without me touching it. 'Are you writing obscenities on my door, or can you not bring yourself to knock?'

'Oh, very funny, Mr. Ha Ha. I happened to be in the area, and I thought it would be polite to say hello.' I mentally pinched myself for the horrible inanities emerging from my mouth. What was I thinking? I sounded all stiff-rumped and prissy.

'Hello,' he said, not moving from where he blocked the door. The glare I was about to level upon him for making me beg to be let in died when I saw that his eyes were dulled with fatigue.

'I also came to apologize,' I said, unable to keep from stroking my hand down his temple. 'You look exhausted.'

'I am,' he answered, grabbing my hand and pulling me up the three stairs, slamming the door behind him. Unlike Dominic's Trailer o' Darkness, Raphael's was filled with sunlight… and him. 'I've had a hell of a day. First the woman who makes me mad with desire left me, then the police refused to listen to me, and finally my employer informed me my services were no longer needed.'

I took a step toward him. He stood in the aisle, his arms crossed over his chest, his legs in battle stance. One of the things I appreciated most about Raphael was how he made me feel feminine in comparison with all his hard maleness. I took another step until I was close enough to brush his crossed arms with my breasts. 'Dominic fired you? Why would he do that? He needs you now more than ever.'

'He pointed out that I was engaged to keep the peace during the fairs, and his employees safe at all other times. Obviously, I failed in that duty.' He bit the end of the sentence off as if he wanted to say something else, but didn't.

I leaned into him a little. His eyes grew brighter. I tried to count how many different shades of amber were within them, but failed. 'That doesn't make sense. You can't possibly be responsible for everyone all the time.'

One corner of his mouth turned up in a wry grimace. 'Regardless, after the festival, I will be unemployed.'

'Oh.' I scooted closer, putting one arm around him, my fingers stroking the nape of his neck. 'I'm sorry about that. I'm also afraid I can't do anything about the police. But the first item on your list, this woman you spoke of, perhaps I can make you forget her.'

'No,' he said, his eyes glittering now. I froze in mid-stroke. Suddenly his arms were around me, pulling me tight against his hard body—and I do mean all of it—his mouth a breath away from mine. 'I will never forget her. She's everything I want in a woman—smart, sexy, and all mine.'

'Ah,' I said, allowing my lips to brush his as I spoke. 'Well, since I can't help you with that, I'll just have to recommend that you go to bed. Perhaps a little rest will make your future look brighter.'

'Bed,' he growled, grinding his hips against mine. Every bone in my body melted into gelatin. I sagged against him. He shifted and hoisted me up in his arms, turning to carry me toward the tiny bedroom. 'Now why didn't I think of that?'

'You don't have the intelligence I do. I am much more reasonable than you. You are tired, therefore you must rest. In bed. For a very long time.'

'That is reasonable,' he agreed, his voice deep with desire. He set me on my feet