Page 74 of Tainted Blood

Since we returned from Isaiah’s home, I had received not one but three emails from my dangerous pen pal. I kept them but didn’t reply. They couldn’t force me to live in fear, and I wouldn’t let them. I didn’t want to make it a big deal and give someone power over me by forcing me to think about them all the time. They couldn’t have that from me, not anymore.

Plus, I was doing my own hunting, and I wanted to be patient. Eventually, they would say the wrong thing, and I’d know exactly who they were and would go on the offensive.

When I sat down to turn on the show that I had left unwatched for so long now, I got to thinking of another person who wasn’t replying to me.

“Alexius, when do you think Isaiah will actually talk to us again?” I asked when he came in. “He ,ent the ashes, but… he won’t reply to my emails or anything.”

“When he’s done what he’s set out to do,” Alexius answered.

“That night… with Solon…” We hadn’t talked about it yet, but I wanted to. “Have you ever seen Isaiah like that before?”

“No, and that’s why we left.”

“Ah, okay…” I nodded, accepting that, but I was also silently horrified by that admission from him. “On a lighter note, your phone was ruined when you were caught in that firebomb. I ordered a replacement when we got back, but everything was on back order. It finally arrived a couple of days ago if you’d like it. I’m going to order more spares, just in case.”

“I like having my old phone back.”

“Your old phone isn’t very useful. I’ll get your new one set up tonight before I go to sleep.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I’m your assistant, of course I do.”

We fought to get back to our normal, to keep moving forward, and tonight, we were winning that war. I knew both of us were ready for the next shoe to drop, but we had a bit of time. Isaiah had been clear. We had to wait until at least November before we jumped back into work. We knew nothing was really over, not yet, but this plan hadn’t worked out for our enemies. We’d caught the ones who’d orchestrated it and would do so the next time as well.

When we returned home, they couldn’t steal our peace of mind from us.

“You should talk to your brother,” he said finally.

“Why?” I didn’t understand that logic. “He knows I live in Savannah, but he doesn’t need to know anything ese—”

“So you don’t regret it later on,” Alexius murmured. “Take it from me, and if not me, look at Isaiah. We both had centuries with Jacob, but now that he’s gone, we still wish we had more time. You should reach out to your brother.” Alexius sighed heavily. “And not only for that… You mentioned him while we were in New York. I haven’t wanted to say anything because it’s truly your decision to have that relationship if you want it, but it’s been on my mind.”

“I did, didn’t I? Okay. I will. You’re right about at least the latter part of that. Should get him up to speed for any potential danger to him.” I nodded, getting out my phone as the show played on.

I started the email simply, just seeing how he was doing, telling him that I’d been able to travel since the new year. I told him I was working for a great guy, smiling to myself as I typed that. It was a lot of small life updates, but they felt like the right things to say.

When I hit send, I didn’t get a sudden wave of regret. It was just like any other time I’d emailed my brother before everything in my life turned upside down.

“I didn’t tell him about all of this, but maybe I can later this year… I don’t want to surprise him through an email, you know?”

“If all goes to plan, when November hits, I’ll personally pay for him to visit,” Alexius said, his arm going over the back of the couch. “I had a momentary lapse of reason and forgot how much I hate Dracula,” Alexius muttered.

“Too bad. I’ve loved this mini-series. Actually, it’s been a month. I might start it over from the beginning.” I did just that, Alexius growling softly, but he didn’t move. He stayed beside me on the couch, watching it dutifully.

It was moments like this that I had been so ready to die for when I knew Alexius was in danger. Watching Dracula with me, trying to gently push me to talk to my brother, so I wouldn’t share his regrets… This was what the rest of them would never see but I was gifted with.

That was a pleasant trip. You really are just as bold in person as you are in your emails. You only need some time to find your footing, but you’ll get better with practice.

It’s almost sad to know that you would be so willing to die for him. You could have been an amazing immortal.

I leaned into Alexius just a little, holding my phone to my chest as the email came back to mind, only a day after we returned home. The sender was playing a game with me, trying to weaken my resolve, maybe even turn me against Alexius to use me against him one day. It would never work because I knew my response even though I never sent it.

He’s worth killing for, too. Just you wait. I’ll kill you, eventually.

---