Page 102 of Vampires of Eden: Oliver
“No. And Ihatethat rubbery squeaking sound that they make when the balloon is being contorted. It makes my skin crawl.” Alexander shivers and I snicker.
The gravel road bends just before a small, cozy-looking two-story cottage with white shutters comes into view.
“We’re here,” he says, pulling the car up to the front and stopping beside a set of shallow steps that lead to the porch and front door.
Each side of the cottage is flanked by giant, sprawling hydrangea bushes in the most vivid violet color I’ve ever seen. On the opposite side of the cottage and driveway, healthy vineyards stretch as far as my eyes can see, like an ocean of green. The mountains rise up in the distance, imposing against the blue sky. The sun casts its rays in golden beams across the entire scene, like a radiant blessing from the gods.
I’d love to have a camera good enough to photograph this landscape. What a dreamy place to live every day.
“Hola, Puercoespín. Tengo mucho sin verte,” a cool, teasing voice calls out from the front of the cottage as I close the passenger-side door and look up.
A purebred with a wavy dark brown bob cut just below her chin is there. Her thick bangs are like a seductive shadow over her vibrant brown eyes. She walks to the porch railing, setting her palms against the banister as she leans and addresses Alexander. “Estoy feliz que llegaste bien. ¿Cómo te fue el viaje?”
“Hey—it was alright.” Alexander is busy pulling my suitcase out of the backseat. Can he understand her? Why is she speaking Spanish? I rush around, meeting him on the driver’s side.
“I can get it,” I tell him.
“It’s fine.” He waves and picks up the suitcase. “You need to take it easy. Oliver, this is my cousin Leoni. Leoni, this is Oliver.”
“The famous Oliver of Southern Eden,” she says, grinning and stepping over to meet us with her hands stuffed in the pockets of her brightly patterned coveralls. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
Am I famous? In what way? I have so many questions. “You too. Thank you for letting me stay.”
As we reach the plateau of the porch, Leoni blocks Alexander’s path, which makes me pause just behind him. There’s an odd moment of silence before Leoni’s hand darts out and does something to Alexander’s side that makes him yelp and practically crumble.
“Leoni.”
“Eso es porque solo me llamas cuando tienes necesidad, baboso.” Leoni steps aside, winking at me. “I had to get him at least once. His weak spot.” She chuckles as Alexander nurses his waist and steps past her.
“His what?” I ask. I can’t keep up.
Leoni blinks. Her eyes are almost the same color as Alexander’s. Actually, they might be a mirror image? But her irises register differently set against her auburn features and compared with Alexander’s blonde ones. “His side, you know? How he’s extra sensitive—”
“Oye, ¿podemos entrar y ser normales por cinco segundos?” Alexander is obviously annoyed as he holds the door for me and Leoni. “Detente por favor. Él no sabe nada.”
“Why? Haven’t the two of you been engaged since you were seven?” Leoni says, walking past Alexander and into the house. “How could he not know that about you?Iknow that about you—and all your other ‘unprincely’ little characteristics.”
“Yeah, well, it’s complicated,” Alexander says. As I pass him, I study his face. His expression is agitated and he intentionally avoids my gaze.
What the hell?
“So let me get this straight. You’ve never worked before. Never gotten your hands dirty or done any type of proper manual labor? You’ve been ‘princing around’ your whole life?”
Leoni stares at me in disbelief. As if she’s genuinely confused about my presence in her beautiful cottage and what I could possibly offer. I’m starting to wonder myself.
I rub my palm against the back of my neck. “Um, technically, I’m not a prince, but… I’m—”
“You called and asked if I needed help with the vineyard.” Leoni turns to Alexander, who’s sitting in a sunken armchair and glancing around as if he’s considering buying the place. Like he’s impressed and he’ll make her a very nice offer. “I said yes, and this is what you bring me? A runaway purebred prince who’s never worked a day in his life?”
Alexander shrugs. “Yeah, but he’s good for it—aren’t you, Ollie?”
“I am,” I say, straightening my spine. “I haven’t worked before, but I’m not afraid to. I’m willing to earn my keep and I’ll abide by your rules.” I’m nervous. Leoni is petite but regal, with her arms folded and her leg casually crossed as she regards me. Her skin tone is like toasted cashews and seems to glow in the reflected sunlight bouncing off the walls of the cozy room.
“Ollie is the smartest, kindest vampire I’ve ever known,” Alexander says, folding his ankle over his knee to make himself even more comfortable. “Trust me. He’ll be a great fit for you here.”
I take a step forward, meeting Leoni’s eyes. “I promise that I won’t be a burden to you, and I’ll do whatever it takes to help. If you give me a chance, I’ll show you.” I don’t know what it is, but something in the atmosphere of this house feels right.
I’ve never been this far east in Eden before. I’ve only seen the mountains of our aristocracy from a great distance, like a far-off metaphysical wall representing the boundary that encompasses my secluded life.
