It had only been a few hours since Marissa left for the train station. Lucinda volunteered to drive, but Marissa had refused, out of hurt no doubt. Lucinda lay on the blood-red sofa, staring up at the ceiling when she heard the familiar voice.

“Lucinda.”

Quickly she rose from the sofa, looking around the living room while her heart pounded relentlessly against her chest. “Who’s there?”

“Invite me in.”

“No!”

Something inside her twisted, bringing her to her knees. Her legs felt like lead, her head reeled, and her lungs burned. Images of the blonde woman flitted through her mind so fast, she thought she’d go cross-eyed.

“Who the hell are you?” Lucinda gasped painfully. “Please stop this! Why are you doing this to me?”

“You seem to have no problems when I’m making love to you in the night. Marissa’s gone and you now belong to me. Let me in, Lucinda.”

“Marissa will be back!”

“By then you might be dead, unless…”

An invisible icy hand crept up her leg, toward her sex, while another tightened around her throat. Startled, Lucinda tried screaming, but she couldn’t. With each gasp, the grip tightened.

“Shhh,” Katrina whispered. “No need to scream, my love. Now calm yourself, be a nice pet, and let me in. Please don’t make me hurt you.”

“Come in.” Lucinda’s voice cracked at the realization that her dreams were now a nightmare. A fine mist seeped in through the crack of the living-room door, and she began to struggle from the invisible hand around her neck.

“This isn’t happening to me.”

“Oh, but it is.” Katrina’s form solidified into what looked like a human being, save for the glowing red eyes. Long blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders, resting on full, creamy breasts. The sheer white dress with the neckline plunging down to her belly button clung to the she-devil’s voluptuous figure.

The five foot six inch beauty seemed delicate enough, at least that’s what Lucinda told herself. At first glance, without the fangs and glowing red eyes, Katrina looked like an innocent, delicate flower.

“I’ve waited so long for you.” Katrina glided over to Lucinda and stood over her. “Rise.”

Unable to deny the command, Lucinda did as she was told. The pull toward this beautiful creature was more than she could handle. She focused on the cold, emotionless, dark depths of the she-beast from hell. Pure evil emanated from her innocent facade, but Lucinda was helpless to fight.

“Stay away from me.”

Katrina snorted. “I made you come as you never have before, just like old times,” she boasted. I am your soul mate. You’ve been lost to me for centuries, and now that I’ve found you I’ll never let you go.”

“Why are you screwing up my life? I’m not in love with you. Marissa is my true love.”

“I want…need what we shared centuries ago.” Katrina reached out to tweak Lucinda’s hair before leaning in to steal a kiss.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Lucinda snapped, trying to remove the foggy mist settling in her brain.

“You know full well what I speak of and if you cannot remember, I shall share a glimpse of your past life, when you were my maid, dear sweet Lucinda. Or shall I call you Lucy?”

Before she could react, Katrina gripped her tight, sinking her fangs deep into her neck. As the creature fed, she fondled and caressed Lucinda’s breasts. The euphoric feeling swept through her mind and body, claiming her once more. The dreams were nothing compared to what she experienced now.