Page 19 of Because the Night

We had been tentatively discussing a trip together to Hawaii later this year. Maybe that’s what they’ll do with the money, buy a place on the beach. Mom always dreamed of being closer to the ocean, and Dad would be able to fish to his heart’s content.

My best friend, Nicole, will have to find someone else to be her bridesmaid. Someone else with whom to share secrets and bad jokes and two-in-the-morning drunken revelations. We were going to save our pennies and open a book shop together one day. Not that either of us were good with money, or even particularly liked dealing with other people. But we both loved romance books and hanging out together. It was a beautiful dream, and now it’s gone.

“Why don’t you go take a shower?” suggests Henry in a gentle tone. “Get that ash and muck off you and freshen up. You’ll feel better.”

“Yeah,” I say with a discreet sniffle. “I think I will.”

Vampires like a party, apparently. And Henry invited half of the undead in L.A. to the house. There are even real live humans in the mix, but they’re all in the know. None of them bother to hide the bite marks on their bodies. Thankfully, my control is a little better tonight. Being freshly fed doesn’t hurt. But I still have a bad habit of gawking at them. I am officially a creep. I don’t mean to be. The blood calls to me and I forget myself. Which is probably why Henry sticks to my side like glue. To make sure I don’t lose control again and attack anyone.

As he would say, déclassé.

Music by Olivia Rodrigo pumps out through the open windows and doors. Henry and I are in the back courtyard areaoff the dining and living rooms. Party lights have been strung from the pergola and the overgrown garden has been tamed. Even the water feature has been cleaned and filled. This vibe out here is nice.

I didn’t last long inside. Too many voices and bodies and scents. Too many eyes staring at me. Anything new is a novelty to vampires, apparently. And I am the first newborn in a long time in this city. But yeah…inside the house was beyond overwhelming. My body is also being weird in new ways tonight. Like, I’m turned on for no reason. Even the brush of my clothes against my skin is enough to elicit a response. So strange. However, being outside in the night air is lovely.

What’s truly amazing is the beauty of the world with my vampire sight. Guess I was dealing with too many things last night to be able to appreciate it. But the curve of a leaf or a petal on a flower can be dazzling. The distant lights of the city below hold me spellbound. And the ability to see the expanse of stars in the heavens shining above is amazing. There are no words.

“I worked for a gambling hall, running messages and helping in the stables,” explains Henry when I ask for his origin story. “No real options beyond grunt work for a lowborn bastard. But I had a talent for card games and word got around. Then some asshole aristocrat accused me of cheating and shot me. Father frequented the hall and took pity on me, and here I am today.”

“Were you cheating?”

“Of course, I was, sweetie,” he says in an amused tone.

“Are these people all your friends?”

“Some,” he says. “Mostly they’re the ones who needed to see Father up and about again. They’ll help to spread the news. It caused quite the stir when he said he was going to sleep for a century. They need to know he’s back and not to be messed with.”

“But he doesn’t sleep.”

“Deny us blood for long enough and we slip into something like a coma. You or I wouldn’t have the strength to wake ourselves. But Father is old, with a singular sort of will, and I am sure you smelled absolutely delicious.”

More of the guests are wandering outside to keep an eye on us.Soweird. “Tonight is another show of strength?”

“Yes. Exactly. Vampires love a good turf war. They find it all very exciting, stealing each other’s shit and slaughtering so-called friends. Gives them something to do to pass the time. We’re not all like that, but enough of them are to be a problem. It’s the issue with living forever; one gets jaded. Not even the board and their rules could stamp it out entirely. So it saves time if we show the idiots it’s a bad idea to mess with our family. Even if there are only a few of us gathered here presently.”

“But Lucas and Archie weren’t friends.”

“Not even a little. They never got along. But Archie kept up his attempts to reach Father over the last thirty years purely because he didn’t want him waking up and claiming his territory. Guess he had a point. The runes never weakened, however, and I remained close at hand, so here we are.” He leans against one of the pergola posts with his arms crossed over his chest. “Father flouted the rules by making you and then refusing to allow them to execute you. And whether he likes it or not, he’s now the power to beat, in this neighborhood, at least. People need to see us strong and united.”

“How were these guests able to get past the runes?”

“Because Lucas allowed it.” Henry smiles. “He can have an open-door policy if he chooses. The runes behave according to his wishes. Especially now that he’s awake.”

“Are runes how the myth started about vampires needing to be invited into a home?”

“No. That one’s true. But a human needs to live in the building. It must be someone’s home,” he says, tucking a strandof blond hair behind his ear. He has a number of piercings. “All these questions. Hasn’t Father told you anything?”

“Only bits and pieces.”

“Whatever created us ensured we had weaknesses,” he says. “Running about in the daylight will turn you toasty. We can’t enter a human’s home without invitation, but any other building is up for grabs. Silver stings to touch. But a stake through the heart will ruin your entire night.”

“What about crosses and garlic?”

“Bollocks. Complete nonsense. Once upon a time, a pope was being pressured to come up with a solution to us preying on his clergy. The next thing you know, we’re supposedly all super religious with a dislike of seasonings. Idiot.”

“Huh. Can Lucas sense where we are?” I ask. “I know he can do that tug thing where you feel him in the middle of your chest. You know, when he wants something. But can he actually tell where we are?”

“No. We can feel that tug, as you call it, from a distance. That’s him telling us he wants us to phone home or something. And he can compel us if we’re face to face. But it isn’t supernatural GPS. He can’t find us through the bond. Not still thinking of leaving, are you?” Henry tips his head. “I wasn’t lying when I said you don’t want to be on your own right now.”

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