“You said you were walking home from a class. Where was the class?” Maya asked.

Frantically, Ursula scrambled for an answer. She knew nothing about San Francisco. But every large city had to have a college. Holding her breath, she answered, “The community college.”

“Out in Sunnyside? That’s far from the Bayview.”

Ursula shrugged.

“Do you know how you got there?”

“I told you, I don’t remember. It’s like my memory was wiped clean.” She looked away, wanting to avoid her scrutinizing look.

“Fine, I believe you. It must be the shock. It’s not uncommon.”

Relieved Ursula lifted her head and caught how the doctor’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Oliver. His jaw set as if he was clamping it down tightly, and he glared back at Maya. It appeared as if a silent battle was raging between them.

Then the doctor turned her head back to her and pasted on a smile. “Why don’t you rest for a little while?” She snatched the blanket from where Ursula had dropped it earlier. “Here. You’ll probably be a little cold, but that’s normal after the blood loss.”

To her surprise Oliver reached took the blanket from Dr. Giles’ hand and spread it over Ursula’s legs. Then he gave her a sad smile almost as if he had a difficult chore ahead of him.

“Oliver, a word,” Dr. Giles said.

He looked up at the doctor, then back at her. “You’ll be safe here.”

She quickly lowered her lashes. Had he realized that she hadn’t really lost her memory? Did he know she was lying and wanted to tell her that the people who were chasing her would never find her here? Or were his words of reassurance simply a casually thrown away sentence?

8

Deep in thought, Oliver stepped into the library across the hall. Why was the girl lying? Why didn’t she admit what had happened? Was she too embarrassed about her wanton behavior that she’d decided to pretend it had never happened? As if she were afraid that he would collect on her promise of a night of sex if she admitted that she’d made it. Was that why she pretended to not remember a thing? It was the only thing that made sense. Maybe he could somehow explain to her that he wouldn’t force her to do anything she didn’t wanted to do, if only she would tell the truth.

When Maya entered the room behind him, he knew she was pissed. If the glare on her face weren’t an indication for it, then the way she now stood, her legs in a wide stance, her hands placed at her hips, left no doubt.

“Of all the despicable things you could do, you had to attack a young girl and leave her at death’s door?” The words spewed from her mouth like a fountain of poison. “You really think I’m stupid?”

Oliver took a step toward her, squaring his shoulders. “That’s not true! I didn’t do it!”

“Bullshit! Your handwriting is all over it.”

He narrowed his eyes, getting angrier by the second. He’d done awful things in the two months since he’d been a vampire, but he hadn’t done anything to that girl. “I never touched her! I saved her from another vampire!”

“Give it up, Oliver! Why do you continue lying when we both know what the truth is? You nearly drained her and then you wiped her memory so she wouldn’t remember you.”

“I didn’t wipe her memory! She’s lying. She remembers what happened!”

Maya shook her head, disbelief in her gaze. “She doesn’t remember anything! You made sure of it to cover your tracks!”

He balled his hands into fists. “If I really wanted to cover my tracks, why the hell would I bring her here then? Tell me that, huh, why? And why would I call you for help?”

She contemplated his question only for a split-second. “Because you felt remorse afterwards. It’s always like that with you. Haven’t you noticed that? You go on a binge, and afterwards you feel like crap because of what you’ve done. It’s not any different now.”

“You have no idea how I feel! You’ve never been through what I’m going through.”

Maya narrowed her eyes and went toe-to-toe with him. “What are you insinuating?”

“You know exactly what I mean.”

“No, tell me,” she challenged.

“You never craved human blood. You have no idea what it’s like. All you wanted was Gabriel’s blood.”

“And that makes you think I never went through what you’re going through now? That I never had those cravings? Grow up! We all have the same cravings, no matter whose blood it is we want. Your cravings aren’t any worse than anybody else’s. But you choose to act on them. You choose to show no restraint!”