Christina glanced at the clock in an effort to steady her voice. "The gas station is probably closed by now."

"I really should be going." Erica didn't move.

"You can take my car-" Christina held out her keys, but when Erica reached out for them, Christina dropped them down her blouse, "if you dare."

Erica slipped out of her jacket and let it drop down to the floor. She then unb.u.t.toned her cuffs and rolled up her sleeves. When she was done she raised her eyes slowly until her face was only inches from Christina's. Her voice was a whisper. "Never say 'dare' to the hungry."

Her hand felt cool against Christina's hot, feverish skin. The keys were removed but were now somewhere on the floor. Christina caught Erica's hand as it emerged from her blouse and brought it to her lips. She placed light, airy kisses on Erica's wrist and hand. One by one, Christina took Erica's fingers into her mouth. Her tongue encircled each finger and as she gently sucked them, Erica moaned. Christina smiled as Erica lowered herself on to the steps.

The memory, even eighteen years later, still caused shivers to run up Christina's spine. She knew that Erica's pa.s.sion for making love was only matched by her pa.s.sion for life. As she walked to the den, Christina was troubled. Though many years had elapsed between them, she sensed that Erica was running away from something. The thought made Christina sad.

"Mother?" The voice startled Christina. She turned to find Tayler sitting in the shadows of the den. "Are you okay?"

"Oh, h.e.l.lo dear. I thought you'd be in bed by now." Christina shivered. "Is Catherine upstairs already?" she asked about her partner.

"Yes. She said she'd wait up for you."

"Well, I'd better turn in." Christina looked back at the staircase.

"Mother," Tayler paused, "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I did." Christina walked past Tayler to the bar and poured herself a drink. She couldn't see Tayler's eyes hidden in the late night shadows. "It's been a long day. You should be in bed."

"I couldn't sleep." Tayler sighed. "Every noise in the house makes me jump."

"Would you like me to sit up with you?" Christina took a sip. The brandy slid down her throat and warmed her stomach.

"No, but I think I'll go home tomorrow. Would you drive me home in the morning?"

Christina nodded.

"Are you sure you're okay? You look really pale." Tayler got up from her chair and walked over to her mother. "I've never seen you have a drink this late."

Christina sat down in a chair but said nothing. She took another swallow from the gla.s.s.

"Catherine told me you had lunch with Erica yesterday. Was it difficult for you to see her again-I mean, is she your ghost?"

Christina tilted her head back and looked at the ceiling. "Oh, I think it's a combination of my moving back here and your being attacked by some weirdo. I was shocked to learn it was Erica who rescued you."

Tayler hesitated, "You were lovers, weren't you?"

Christina took another swallow of her brandy before answering. "Yes."

"I shouldn't be surprised but I am. She's very beautiful," Tayler added.

"Yes, she is. And she seems to have grown more so."

"Are you still in love with her?"

The room grew quiet while Christina tried to find the right words. She had never talked to Tayler about the women in her life, even Catherine, whom Tayler adored. She had been too afraid that Tayler would not approve of her lovers or friends.

"I don't know if you can understand this, Tayler, but Erica's a difficult woman to forget." Christina looked at her drink.

"Did she leave the relationship or did you?"

"I left." Christina saw the surprise on Tayler's face. "I was too set in my ways. What I wanted and what I got were two very different things. Erica was young and just starting to sample life's delicacies." Christina tried a weak laugh. "I wanted someone to be there for me-night and day. And, I was beyond making out in the library."

Tayler raised an eyebrow. "I happen to find libraries very appealing."

"Leave it to a writer." Christina laughed.

"Is her lifestyle the reason why she's so private about her personal affairs?"

"Probably. Like other women in her position, she has a lot to lose if her personal life were to become public knowledge."

"But don't you think it makes more sense to 'come out' and fight for what you believe is so natural?"

"Absolutely, but I don't want to start receiving death threats because of who and what I am." Christina got up and poured herself another drink.

"When I found out that I would be renting from Erica I thought I'd learn more about her. But she's never home." Tayler squinted her eyes.

"Darling, Erica is an enigma. She's the type of woman who you'll never really fully understand. She's elusive and she prefers it that way."

"But it's that very quality that makes such a great story."

Christina's eyes grew wide. "You're not going to do a feature on her for your magazine, are you?"

"It would sell a lot of magazines."

Christina got up from her chair and walked over to where her daughter was sitting. "Tayler, let me give you some advice. Keep Erica as your friend because you don't want her as your enemy." She raised her index finger. "Hurt her and she'll haunt you the rest of your life."

"I'm teasing, Mother. I had no plans to do a story on her. Although I know many writers who'd love the chance."

"I feel sorry for the writer who tries." Christina walked across the room and put her gla.s.s down on the bar. "There's more to Erica than even I could ever imagine."

"She is definitely one of the most intriguing people I've ever met." Tayler said more to herself than to her mother. "As I said in the hospital, I've done a lot of research on her - or maybe I should say on what I could find out about her. She reminds me of a crystal."

"A crystal?" Christina searched her daughter' face. "Why?"

"Years ago, Father gave me a crystal for my birthday. I still have it. Anyway, when you take a crystal away from the light it basically reflects the things surrounding it. But when you shine light through it, a crystal reflects a rainbow of colors." Tayler paused. "I used to get out of bed at night and hold the crystal up to my eye. The moonlight created a brilliant background."

"I'm not sure I'm following you. So, why does she remind you of a crystal?"

"As beautiful as crystals are, they're also cold and lifeless. But they can also be extremely dangerous. If you hold a crystal at the right angle it can start a fire."

Christina noticed a strange look in Tayler's eyes. "In that, dear, you're right. Erica can seem cold at times, but I think that's a defense for her. She can also be extremely confident and self-a.s.sured. She's always been able to read people like an x-ray machine." Christina smiled remembering people's reactions to Erica. "I think that's why people are both intensely attracted to her and immensely fearful of her. She's black velvet personified-soft and secretive."

"I take it that she didn't agree with your decision to end the relationship." Tayler said. "She seems to still be holding a grudge."

"After our lunch yesterday I can only hope she'll understand and accept what happened." Christina waved her hand uncertainly.

"Has seeing her again made you wonder if you made a mistake?"

"No, I still stand behind my decision. We did, however, have some fun times." Christina c.o.c.ked her head to the side. "Oh, Tayler, all I can hope is that some day she'll find what she's searching for and stop running around. I can't believe it's all because I left her. I'm good but I'm not that good." Christina threw Tayler a seductively evil smile.

"Mother, you're such a tease. Now I know why all those women keep calling. Doesn't that bother Catherine?"

"Catherine knows I'm not about to stray. She trusts me and I wouldn't do anything to endanger that trust."

"I knew I should've gone home tonight." Tayler laughed. "I was beginning to feel like a switchboard operator."

Christina smiled. "It's just my way of getting you back for all those calls from macho high school boys."

"Well, Mom, my phone isn't ringing off the hook anymore." Tayler rubbed her eyes and stretched.

"You're intelligent, successful and you've got your mother's good looks. What man wouldn't want you?"

"I think I've convinced myself that there's something wrong with me. I feel more pa.s.sion playing the piano than bowling with the boys. Maybe I'm really the crystal." Tayler's voice got softer.

"Are you dangerous?" Christina shook her head. She had made the same comments to herself years ago.

"Only when I'm face-to-face with an adversary - like the tight-lipped source who has the information I need and won't divulge it." Tayler growled.

"Just be careful, okay?" Christina walked toward Tayler and bent down to examine the st.i.tches in Tayler's neck. "There's a nut out there who tried to kill you. Don't give him another chance. And as for Erica, I think I'd focus my attention on something a little more tangible."

"Mother, you make her sound spooky," Tayler chuckled.

"Tayler, I'm serious. Don't tangle with her." Christina stood.

"All I want to do is take her out to dinner as a thank you. She saved my life -it's the least I can do."

"Well, you won't be able to for awhile."

"Why not?" Tayler asked.

"She left for Greece this morning." Christina replied.

"How long will she be gone?" The smile on Tayler's face disappeared.

"A month." Christina helped Tayler from her chair. "Darling, please be careful -especially around Erica. Her beauty and charm create a seductive appeal. You'll get hurt if you're not careful."

"Mother, come on, now she sounds like a witch who goes about casting love spells."

"She is a witch," Christina's words echoed in the quiet room.

"Well, I guess I'd rather be under the power of a love spell than that of a curse." Tayler chuckled again.

Christina's expression did not change.

"Did she place a spell on you?" Tayler's eyes teased.

"Yes." She saw Tayler roll her eyes. "I know you don't believe me. Listen, I've known many women in my days and none, including Catherine, have obsessed me more."

"Oh, Mother, how can you believe such baloney? This is ridiculous. I can't believe that an educated, intelligent woman like you would believe such nonsense."

"It's true, Tayler," Christina sighed. "Hours turned into weeks and years trying to forget her."

"That's quite an accusation. Do you have proof?"

"Erica is a member of a coven." Christina shook her head as she spoke.

"How do you know this?"

"I have my sources, dear."

"Oh, Mother, this is absurd. I'm going to bed." Tayler shook her head and got up from her chair. "The next thing you're going to tell me she wears a decoder ring and has a secret handshake." She turned toward the door almost colliding with Catherine. "Oh, Catherine, excuse me."

"Where are you flying off to in such a hurry?" Catherine asked.

"I need to consult the Ouija board," Tayler's laughter filled the hall. "I have this sense that life is about to get really strange."

Five.

"You look tired this morning," Jane Fischer, Tayler's editor, sat across the table from Tayler.

"I feel tired." Tayler took a sip from her coffee cup. She wrinkled her nose.

"I know it's strong but you looked like you could use the boost. You haven't been sleeping, have you?"

Tayler shook her head. "It's been a month since the attack and I still feel edgy."

"I take it the security system and full-time guard isn't helping?" Jane was trying not to stare at the dark red, jagged scar on Tayler's neck. "You know you can stay with me. I've got plenty of room."

"Thanks, but I've got to learn to deal with this whole thing. Otherwise, I'll be running from every shadow and stranger I meet. I can't live my life like that." Tayler stretched her arms. "Dad never let this stuff stop him. He taught me to look danger in the face and then act-very, very quickly."

"Do you want to lie down?"

"No, that's okay." Tayler eyed the pile of correspondence on the table. She cleared her throat. "And stop staring at me. We've known each other for a long time, but you're looking at me like I'm some aberration."

"I still think you sound like Kim Carnes." Jane watched Tayler roll her eyes. "Hey, what woman wouldn't want your low, s.e.xy voice?"

"And you look like Amy Grant with red hair." Tayler retorted. She often teased Jane that she could be Amy Grant's double, except for the voice. Jane couldn't carry a tune.