Page 13 of Silent Nights and Vampire Lights

“But you need humans to survive, right?”

“We have blood servants who serve us during the day and provide nourishment. They tend to pass the role on to their offspring, though some vampires take on humans in the role. Some vampires use other humans too, wiping their minds after they feed.”

I waited to see if she would exhibit any fear, but she only looked thoughtful. “Is that how you survived? Wiping human’s minds over the years? Or did you bring one of those servants with you?”

I thought about our family’s servants. We had a long history with the Fletcher family, with multiple generations linked to our family. “Oliver came with me. He insisted on it. He swore that I would need someone to help me, in case I couldn’t find a blood source. At the time, vampires weren’t out yet, so my nature had to stay hidden.”

“At least you weren’t alone.” Then she frowned. “What happened to him?”

Guilt still rode me hard about his fate. “Blood servants have a healthier and longer life because of their time with us, but they’re not immortal. Another vampire got angry with something I did and targeted him while I slept. They killed him many years ago.”

She gasped. “That’s terrible. How could that vampire do that?”

I shrugged, even as remembered pain threatened to swamp me. “It’s the old way. Blood servants were fair game in wars between vampires.” I glanced at her, hoping I wouldn’t scare her away. “Don’t worry. I got my vengeance.”

She narrowed her eyes at my fierce tone. “Good. He deserved it.”

“She,” I corrected. “Females can be just as vicious as males in our world. Never forget that, Holly. Vampires are predators. I will keep you safe as best I can. Stay close to me and do exactly as I say until I can get you to safety.”

She didn’t look at all worried. Instead, she settled into the soft bed, pulling the cotton duvet around her face and snuggling into the pillow. “I trust you, Nicholas. I know you’ll keep me safe.”

I hoped I could. I was bringing her to my family, to a clan who had little more regard for humans who were not blood servants. They were isolationists, and humans weren’t exactly welcome unless they served a purpose. I had to find a way to protect her or send her on her way before we got there.

“Do they know you’re coming home?” she asked after a pause.

I sighed. “No.”

“Why not? You weren’t sure you were actually going to go, were you?”

I grimaced. “Something like that.”

A brilliant smile crossed her face. “So you really don’t mind all the side trips. It only delays your visit home.”

Dammit. She was too perceptive. “I don’t like the holidays. I think we could find another way to delay my return.”

“I don’t understand why you don’t want to go home. I mean, I understand the whole being exiled thing. That would put a damper on family reunions. But if I had a family, nothing would keep me from them.”

I snorted. “You would think that, but it sucks to be an outsider, to be the one always looked at as the one who doesn’t belong. I have never fit in with them, always questioning and arguing with my father. It got to be uncomfortable, not just for us, but for my mother and sister. It was easier to leave.”

“But you didn’t leave. You were exiled. That had to hurt.” Her soft voice dripped with sympathy, sending me back to the days when I first left.

“I had my pride. I was determined to show them that I was right.”

“Pride is a cold bedfellow, or so the saying goes,” she said quietly.

“Yeah,” I replied. The spackling on the ceiling was really poorly done, unevenly spaced, with the paint worn in spots. But it served its purpose. To distract me from the conversation and the feelings Holly was inspiring in me.

Unfortunately, Holly was not to be deterred. “But if they invited you home, then they must miss you. Do you miss them?”

I thought about my mother and her tears when I left. She had not argued with my father, however, nor had anyone else in the clan. I had been alone. Did I miss them? It had been so long since I had talked with them or allowed myself to get close to anyone. Not since Oliver had died.

She ignored my silence, as Holly often did. I wasn’t sure if she hated silence or if this was her way of helping me. “I miss my family, and if I could ever see them again, I would. No matter what. Life is too short for arguments, Nick.”

“Nicholas. And you forget, I’m a vampire. I’ll live a lot longer than you will.” And for some reason, that made me sad. Knowing her light would be extinguished while I would go on. The world would be dimmer without Holly Winters in it.

She stifled a jaw cracking yawn, her eyelids drooping. “On that cheery note, I think I’ll try to sleep now.”

She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “Thanks for the conversation. That helped. Good night. Or is it good day? What do you vampires say to each other when you go to sleep?”

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