Page 15 of Bitten By Chaos

“You can still do it, unofficially.”

“I can’t leave you.” He cupped my face and pulled away enough to meet my eyes, pleading.

“Yes, you can. Julian it’s okay to do what you need to do. You don’t have to babysit me every moment. Lydia is here. The others would come if you’re truly that worried. But I’m pretty safe at the estate. No one’s bothered me. Elsa has barely checked in on my work in the lab.”

After a bit more assurance, he began leaving the grounds for a few hours at a time, allowing me to explore, continue working the lab, and get to know some of the others that made their home here. When he left after breakfast, I often started with a walk in the gardens, having slathered on sunscreen and taken one of the anti-daylight charms Zoe had made for me.

“Good morning,” Merl’s deep voice startled me as I admired a set of sunflowers stretching taller than me.

“It’s not easy to sneak up on a vampire,” I said, guard up.

He held two steaming mugs of coffee, one in each hand, and the aroma of caramel and sweet cream tickled my nose, making my mouth water instantly as he held one out to me.

“I asked your friend Lydia what your favorite was.” He shook it slightly as I stared. “Go on. No charge.”

Snatching the drink, I shot him a suspicious expression before guzzling the best tasting coffee I’d had since I lived in Seattle.

“I order the beans from Brazil. They’re the finest.” He tipped his own cup up in a salute before taking a sip.

“Thank you,” I grudgingly said, turning back toward the sunflowers to indicate he could leave.

“I’m sure Julian told you I can’t be trusted,” he said, stepping so close to my side, the heat of his body and the scent of his blood made me dizzy. I refused to react, though, instead, taking another drag of the other elixir he’d gifted me.

“He isn’t wrong,” Merl said, undeterred. “My first priority is always my own interests. It’s how I’ve survived so long. Well, aside from the EOL.”

I glanced at him then realized the acronym was his elixir of life. I took another swallow of my double caramel latte as I assessed the arrogant bastard.

“Anyway, I have no reason to be your enemy. In fact, it makes far more sense to ally myself with you as I did Julian. So in the spirit of almost friendship, I wanted to let you know you have nothing to fear from me. It can get lonely here among the walking corpses, present company excluded, of course. Coffee and conversation serve both of us.”

I turned to face him and smiled sweetly. “Thank you for the coffee. Enjoy your day.” I shoved the empty cup against his chest, forcing him to grab hold, and walked back to the house.

Every couple of days, Merl would reappear whenever Julian was out and wherever I happened to be, with coffee or pastries. The man certainly had a way in the kitchen, I’d give him that. But I wasn’t going to be bought via my sweet tooth. On his fourth visit, I snatched my cinnamon roll and told him not to bother again. “You’ll just have to find company elsewhere,” I said, patting him hard on the shoulder and sending him tripping forward.

“I shall wait until you come to me then,” he answered with a smile. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

True to his word, he didn’t approach me again. Strangely, I found myself anticipating him showing up around every corner with a treat and his over-confident car salesman attitude. Maybe I was going stir crazy.

One morning I woke to find the bed beside me empty aside from a note. Julian’s sprawling script read, Sam picked up a new scent trail in the forest near the tarmac. Am investigating.

I crumpled the paper and scrambled to get dressed so I could join him. I’d made it as far as the hallway when Elsa moved out of her office, blocking my way to the steps.

“I have information you may find useful,” she said, gesturing to her office.

Glancing back at the stairway, I decided I had better find out what she was referring to before finding Julian and Sam. So, I marched inside and took a seat on the edge of her white sofa.

“Julian has shared with me his involvement in the group known as MorningStar. He’s filled me in on your dealings with a certain psychic, Marcia Honeywell.” Elsa sat on the other end of her couch and snatched up a glass of what appeared to be fresh blood which she sipped like a fine wine.

“I see.” I had no words. For some reason, Julian telling her the details of what we’d been through felt almost like…a betrayal. But there was no reason to react that way, so I tried to shake off the feeling. “You have news about her whereabouts?” I pressed as she swirled the glass, watching me.

“Yes. I’d like you to meet my guest.” She gestured to the corner, and out of the shadows stepped a vampire I was all too familiar with.

Tomas, the major’s helper, stepped up beside Elsa as she sipped from her glass. I stood immediately, ready to fight, but he stood still, eyes unfocused.

“Refill my glass,” Elsa ordered and held out the now nearly empty cup.

Tomas lifted his hand to his mouth, ripped open his wrist, and tipped it over the crystal goblet, filling it with his blood.

“Enough.”

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