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inside the chamber.
    Chamber? Indeed. The room was a chamber fashioned very much like the one he had sought solace in at his fortress in Morganford thousands of years ago. He strode inside and let his nose guide him to the fresh earth. Serenity came upon him, soothing his senses and reassuring his thoughts. His keen eyesight honed in on the object standing before him. He breathed a sigh of relief and reached one hand out. The cool feel of earth met his inquiring fingers. A smile touched his lips. He felt weary suddenly and sought the comforting solitude that awaited him. He crawled within his beloved homeland dirt and stretched out, the amulet clutched in one hand. He closed his eyes. The sleep of the dead was upon him.
     
    * * * *
     
    Jarharis opened his eyes. The room was dark just as it had been when he chose to end the first night of his time in the present. He lay still and listened, aware that he was in a foreign place. No sounds came to his ears. He levered himself up and left his earthy sanctuary.
    The fragrance of earth clung to his clothing. He breathed in the aroma, once more feeling that sense of reassurance he needed so badly. He left the room and ventured out into the hallway.
    I didn’t imagine the whole thing. When he was mortal, he believed that seeing was believing . And once he had been changed forevermore, he still clung to that concept, despite the fact that he had witnessed many things uncommon to either mortal or immortal man. He ran one hand through his hair, realizing that his long tresses were secured at his nape. He gazed down at his clothing surprised to see he was no longer wearing his rough tunic and britches.
    “What happened?” He realized he had spoken aloud and gazed about as if expecting to see another being then, finding no one, he quickly inspected his new clothing. He wore tight fitting jeans like those the blonde woman’s companions had been wearing. His shirt was loose and open at the throat. A gold watch adorned his left wrist. Sleek black boots were on his feet. He marveled at the transformation.
    Hunger gnawed at his stomach. He turned his thoughts to feeding. He walked through the rooms, searching for a way out. Finding the first room he had awakened in, he reversed his steps and found what appeared to be the entryway. A large wooden door flanked by two long windows covered in burgundy velvet stood on one side of the room. He walked to it and took hold of the brass doorknob.
    Place the amulet around your neck.
    He swung around at the sound of the voice, the amulet clutched in his hand. Finding no one, he raised his hand and inspected the chain on the gem. An odd feeling urged him to place the necklace around his neck. He slipped his head through the chain and the bauble slid into place between his male nipples. He looked down upon it for a second, remembering a time when he had tried to place it around his neck and could not. By some force, whether magical or otherwise, he had managed to activate the amulet’s powers.
    He felt immensely pleased—though a bit unnerved, too. He had clearly heard a voice speaking to him, commanding him to place the necklace around his neck. He hadn’t been imagining the voice. His hearing was too keen for imaginary voices to trick him. He considered investigating his new quarters, but decided to give in to his need to feed instead. He clutched the doorknob and gave it a twist.
    The door gave no resistance to his strength, opening easily on its brass hinges. He peered beyond the structure, identifying a wide street with several large trees flanking it. He was clearly in a house, he decided, his brow rising upward in surprise. He paused only a moment, glancing up and down the road while he decided which direction to take.
    He hoped this night proved more productive than the previous one. Thoughts of Selena, the blonde vixen he had encountered last night became vivid in his mind. He could see her long blonde hair and her naked body. He smiled