Page 100 of Vampires of Eden: Oliver
“I have somewhere that’s better for you. Farther out.”
Drawing back, my shoulders tense. “I’m not staying at one of your houses.”
“It’s not my house, you dummy. Does that make any sense considering we’re trying to hide you? Would you just trust me for once, please?”
Calming my mind, I take a deep breath and nod. “Yes, sorry. Alright.”
Alexander turns and his long trench coat shifts with him as he moves. “Rest for tonight. Tomorrow morning, I’ll drive you out to my cousin’s house near the eastern mountains. Only Raphael will know about it, because if I don’t tell him, he’ll somehow know that I’m keeping secrets and will drive me insane. But I trust him more than anyone. Don’t worry.”
“Your cousin Leoni?” I ask.
“Yes, Leoni. I’ve already called and spoken with her, so we’re good.” Alexander turns to leave and I stand, feeling woozy. I don’t know if I can keep my sanity through the night. I look up, and Alexander is near the door, watching me.
“Do you need to feed, Oliver?”
“Yes.”
“Then why don’t you say it? Why don’t you ask me?”
“May I please feed, Alexander?” I step toward him. He leaves the door, meeting me halfway.
“You may.” He offers his palm. Without hesitation, I take it and bite down.
While his blood fills my mouth and nourishes me, his voice is low. Flowing over me like a spell. “Listen, I… I’ll do anything in my power to help you—but you have to tell me that you want it, okay? I’m not going to force myself on you anymore. Does that make sense?”
This feeding is so deeply fulfilling and warming to my body that my eyes naturally alight as I pull. If possible, I never want to feel like that again. Wretched. Cold, afraid and famished.
When I stop drinking and open my eyes, they’re still burning. But I meet Alexander’s gaze sincerely. “Yes, it makes sense. I appreciate you letting me feed. Thank you so much for coming to help me.” I lick his palm to clean it, then let his hand rest softly against my nose and face. I close my eyes, grateful for his warmth and familiarity after such a jarring and tumultuous couple of days.
Alexander snatches his hand away and my eyes fly open. He’s blushing. Bright, rosy red, and his eyes are alighted and golden. “Well, don’t suddenly be all sweet to me, because then I’ll get confused. I’ll come back to get you in the morning… you twat.” Flustered, he turns, yanks the door open and leaves the room.
Slowly, my body stops trembling and the ache at the back of my throat fades. Just disappears, and I can swallow again, functionally. Normally.
I feel better, but still fatigued as I drag myself over to the bed and crawl underneath the sheets. As I stare up at the ceiling, my body shifts into torpor again, but gently this time. Soothed and fed. I sleep, soundlessly, but my mind is a showcase of vivid dreams.
Not of dungeons, searing pain or dangerous, silver-glowing eyes. But of hope and possibility. Of my life splitting and forking along two divergent paths. One flashes with images of everything I’ve dreamed of—freedom, travel and creativity. Love and acceptance like I’ve always yearned for.
The second path is… new. Unexpected, but not cold. Not the restrictive, loveless and forced union that my waking mind has always conjured. This novel life is warm but very slow. Gradual, like water heating in a tea kettle. I can’t see any of the images clearly, but I can feel that when this life begins to boil, it thrives. It shrieks fiercely, powerfully, and turns the world around it—the air and the environment,everything—upside down.
When I wake up the next morning, I open my eyes slowly and inhale a deep, smooth breath before I blow it out. Aside from the birds singing beyond the window, it’s quiet. The sun shines buttery and radiant through the window and I’m warm and comfortable in the bed.
My body is healed. My nature is serene, curled up and pampered like a contented house cat in my core, and there’s no pain anywhere. Not even in my throat. This is Alexander’s doing. His blood. I won’t deny that, and I’m grateful.
I know what I want. For as far back as I can remember, I have been dreaming of my freedom and independence. This desire is entrenched, and since I’ve come this far, I’ll do whatever it takes to achieve it. There’s no turning back now.
But this unexpected dream? This second path. I can’t ignore that it stirs me. An intense vision of a prospect that I’ve never once considered.
Maybe, if things had been different, Alexander and me, we wouldn’t have been half bad. If I’m honest with myself, the warm sensation pulsing in my chest tells me that we could have been great. Powerful and aligned, like nothing the vampires of Eden have ever seen before.
I won’t choose that path, though. I can’t, because there are too many layers. In my heart, the reasons are like violent shards of broken glass—too much trauma, oppression and burden. There are so many painful memories associated with Alexander and the life that Lord Blakeley neglectfully forced on me. That path… it would be like going back and combing through the wreckage of a devastating fire.
Yes, the foundation might be intact and suitable for a new start. Maybe, far beneath the charred debris and rubble, there’s hope. A chance for Alexander and me to rebuild.
Regardless, I want to walk away.
This is my first official day of complete freedom from that unbearable life, and I… I am choosing to move forward.
I have to.
