Page 15 of Because the Night

“Rose is about eight hundred, and Javier was turned when this country was colonized.”

My eyes are as wide as the moon. “Huh.”

He undoes the button and zipper on his pants and pushes both them and his boxers to the ground. Nudity is obviously not an issue for him. I turn around before I can see it all. Though a fleeting glimpse suggests he’s a man of size. Next, I hear the groaning of pipes and the sound of water falling. My hearing is sensitive enough to make out the soft splashes from his footfalls as he steps into the shower.

“The oldest vampires, ones born BC, haven’t left their castles or caves in millennia. They have minions fetch their food,” he says. “But not many of us manage to survive that long. Some simply lack the will. After a couple of centuries, time starts to lose meaning. Once you’ve seen and done it all, there doesn’t always seem to be a reason to continue. But more practically, it’s hard to remain hidden. We need humans to feed on, but they tend to get upset and hunt us once the bodies start piling up.”

“You said we could feed without killing.”

“We can. I didn’t lie to you. It just takes practice and control. But some prefer to give in to their instincts and bleed victims dry. The rush from killing can be substantial. It’ll be interesting to see what these new rules of theirs entail regarding such matters.”

“Getting involved in vampire politics was not on my list of plans,” I say. “What about drinking animal blood?”

“It’s adequate, but the taste is subpar,” he says. “Are you out of questions yet?”

The water and soap he’s using smell nice. “I’m done for now. Oh. Where’s my phone?”

“I left it with Helena. Did you know people can track you with those things?” he asks, sounding sort of amazed.

“When did you do that?”

“When we first got up to her office. You were busy feeding. She explained that keeping it would be a mistake.”

“But I want to call my mom so she’s not freaking out, wondering where I am. I’ve thought up a story that’s plausible. I’ll tell her work is sending me to a foreign office. Then I’ll fake some pictures of me in France or something. I have it all planned out. I don’t know if I can do this…be like you. But I am not ready to die again yet, either.”

Nothing from him.

“Do you think the security guard had family?”

“Helena will ensure they’re taken care of,” he says.

I rest my head against the doorframe and close my eyes. Just for a moment. My body is weary. My strength and vitality diminished. I still don’t feel hungry, so I don’t think it’s due to lack of blood. However, my mind is mush.

“You’re falling asleep on your feet,” he says. “Go lie down.”

“Guess it must be close to dawn. We sleep all day, right?”

“No,” he says as the water turns off. “The older you get, the less sleep you need. But you’re a newborn and still adapting.Your brain has been dealing with a rush of new information from your heightened senses. It needs time to rest. Go lie down. The bed’s right there.”

“I’m going to go lie down for a minute,” I say, wandering off toward the bedroom.

“What a brilliant idea,” the wet and naked vampire grumbles behind me.

“Father,” singsongs someone in a loud and obnoxious voice.

I am lying on the four-poster bed with Lucas stretched out beside me, reading a book, apparently. It is an oddly domestic scene to wake up to. Guess he was enjoying either the book or the quiet, since he moans, “Give me strength.”

He put a blanket on me at some stage. Nice of him. All I remember is being so tired that I face planted on the bed. It was a lot like how a friend’s toddler operated. Go, go, go, stop.

“Is it sunset?” I ask in a sleepy voice.

Lucas nods. “Yes.”

A tall, young man with lots of blond hair appears in the bedroom doorway and grins. His body is lean and his face all sharp edges. Kind of like a male model. And when he talks, he does so with an English accent. “Hello, old man.”

“Henry. I wondered when you’d make an appearance.”

“Who’s this with you?” He bounces his butt on the end of the bed and studies me with interest. “Goodness, do you have all of the gossips abuzz. Word on the street is I have a new sibling. How exciting.”

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