Dhampir Love by Shirlee Lewis Page B

Jennifer.”  Getting up I ran to the elevator, but the doors closed just as I got there so I watched the ancient arrow slowly moving from number to number until it stopped on three.  I pushed the button and waited for the doors to open so I could see Tony.
         On the way up to the third floor my cell phone rang.  It was Tony.
         “Hello.”
         “Sweetie, where are you?”
         “I’m in the elevator.”
         “See you in a minute.”
         The doors opened at the third floor and Tony was waiting for me.  “Our plane leaves in the morning.  Are you packed?”
         Tony and I walked toward our bedroom.
         “I’m all ready, but I want you to go with me to the basement.”
         “We don’t need to.  Father told me about the family and soldiers you saw down there.”
         “I know, but I want to see what is behind the barred door before we leave.”
         “Jess, you don’t need to know what’s there.”
         “Do you know what is behind the barred door?” I asked thinking he knew.
         “No and I don’t want to know.  Please let us leave it at that.”
         “Where is Victor?”
         “He was heading towards his bedroom.  Why?”
         “I need to talk to him.”  I started for the elevator when Tony caught my arm and stopped me.
         “Jess, please, leave it alone.”  Tony looked at me with concerned eyes, which only made me more curious.
         “Okay,” I said and went to get his suitcase from the closet.   Sitting it on the bed, Tony went to the dresser and started getting his clothes. 
         Taking the opportunity with his back to me, I ran for the elevator.  With the doors already open I reached for the buttons with my hand and pushed a button hoping it was for one.   I looked up to see Tony running toward the elevator.  “I’m going to talk to Victor,” I said as the doors were closing.
         Instead of going to Victor, I went to the first floor kitchen and up the stairs to the door that led to the basement.  Opening the door, I descended the stairs and flipped on the light.  Looking around, I saw a board just the right size for prying leaning against a wall with several nails sticking out along the end.  Taking the board, I pried off the boards which held the door shut just enough for me to get around them and into the room.  As I was getting the last board away from the wall, I heard footsteps behind me.  Looking behind me I saw a soldier with its back to me walking toward the room with the family.
         The door didn’t want to budge.  Using all my strength, I managed to open the door, but not without the door hinges squeaking.  When I had the door open enough I slipped inside closing it behind me.
         The room was dark and cold, musty smelling.  Feeling a breeze it chilled my arms so I rubbed them hoping the goose bumps would go away.  I started feeling for a light switch and wished I had the candle and matches or a flashlight.  The wall was rough, but there was no switch on the right side of me.  Running my hand along the door to the left side of the wall, my hand stopped when I felt what could have been a finger.  My heart started to race for fear of the unknown before me in the dark.  Squeaking sounds could be heard throughout the room.  Hopefully they were just mice.
         My eyes soon adjusted to the darkness.  My legs were shaking, but I had to find the switch.  Inching my hand across the door, the bump was gone.  Frightened but determined to find the light switch, I searched until I found it.  With my finger on the switch, I slowly started to push the switch up.
         “Don’t turn the light on,” a soft angelic whisper came from across the room.
         My head snapped to where I heard the voice . “Why not?” I asked trying to stay calm.
         “I don’t want it on.”
         “Who are you?”
         The voice