The Vampire And His Lady (Silver Hills #2)

Chapter 5

Diana was alone when she woke up. Her first instinct was to presume everything that happened was a dream, and she had just got blackout drunk and somehow found her way back to Elle's house.

She knew better than to presume upon something like that though. At that point in her life, it was easier to just believe what she was told. 

A witch. She wanted to laugh at the thought. Henry wouldn't believe her- not for one second. Well, he would eventually have to take her word for it. He wasn't, after all, a small minded man who required solid proof for every little thing, but a kindred soul to her own. They weren't whimsical enough in their thinking to be away with the fairies, but they didn't deny the magic in life.

Still, lighting candles and collecting crystals was as far as Diana had ever ventured into magic. Until last night, she remembered. Last night I did magic.

She shouldn't had gone to bed with wet hair. Now it was like straw, but she wasn't in the mood to wash it again.

She sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees. The day was bleak, as if desperate to be contrary to yesterday's brilliant sunshine. Grey skies and dampness just about summed up how Diana felt.

From the beside table, her phone was still going off at random intervals. Elisabeth?

Not her cousin, but her fiancée. He would be wild with worry at that point, and had probably rallied the whole town to search for her. She'd better deal with the problem instantly and not cause anymore headaches, she decided.

"Henry?" She said, holding the phone up to her ear.

"Diana!" His voice was shrill and sounded like a broken ice machine. "Diana, love, are you alright? I searched for you everywhere and then I felt awful because I couldn't find you and is left and-"

She nearly laughed at his panic. "I'm fine," she assured. "And it's not your fault. I had an accident whilst you were gone and a... family friendly brought me back to Elisabeth's house to get me cleaned up."

"Injured! Family friend!" He sounded as if he didn't know what to ask first. "What do you mean injured?" He finally settled on.

Diana noticed only then that the man from last night had crept back into the room through the open door. From the imprint on the chair, he'd been sat in it all night and probably only left very recently.

Seeing she was on the phone, he pressed himself up against the wall and remained silent. She gave him tight, but grateful, smile.

"Ummm..." she racked her brain for an injury that would explain her leaving early but also one that didn't leave a mark. "I tripped and hurt my legs. They feel a lot better this morning."

Hopefully, he wouldn't press to deep into the matter. Knowing Henry, he probably wouldn't make it a big deal if he knew she wasn't bothered about it.

"As long as you feel okay Di," he said in a voice that sounded like a sigh. "Did you say you were at your cousin's house?"

"Yeah. Why?"

She heard clattering on the other end of the phone. "I'll come and get you. Luckily, I haven't told your parents yet."

She let out a sigh of relief. They would've made it a national crisis if they found out.

"But I did tell Elise, just to make sure you weren't with her."

Elise was sensible enough not to cause a drama. "I guess I'll see you soon then," she said. "Love you."

"I love you." His voice sounded oddly thick as he hung up the phone.