Paul was sitting on the porch swing, leaning forward, his blue eyes shimmering in the moonlight as they watched my every blink. Blond straggly hair brushed the striped sleeves of his bowling shirt, the shoulders of which seemed wider, his form larger and more commanding. As if he were gaining in power.

"Hey, Paul," I said casually, more as a warning to my three vamps to stay put inside the doorway.

They tensed out of the corner of my eye. Sawyer brought his thick arm up to ...