Page 185 of Vampires of Eden
I’m tired. Angry, deeply offended and shaken. When that ball of fire came hurling through the living room window, I was in the kitchen. The scene was like something out of an action movie. A situation I could have never fathomed in real life, but there it was. It spread so quickly and things got out of hand before I had time to think.
It was terrifying. I’d never wish that on anyone, even still… we have to look at the bigger picture. We can’t make a snap decision right now.
I reach for the water glass sitting beside me. After I take a healthy sip, I say, “There is no one else. How can you say you’re not important when your phone literally won’t stop ringing. What’s going on?” I mean, Iknowthere’s a lot going on, but Jesus. Am I missing something?
He shrugs. “Everyone can piss off as far as I’m concerned. I don’t owe anyone anything right now.”
After drinking again, I glance at him from the corners of my eyes. “Alright, enough of that—I’msupposed to be the angry one in this relationship. Don’t fuck up the dynamic.”
He laughs, shaking his head and it pleases me that he’s relaxed a bit. I swear, Alexander’s general temperament is sweet as pie, but the second you cross and genuinely piss him off, you’re dead to him.
I like this about him, actually. A man with firm boundaries.
When I finish drinking, I set the glass down, then scoot toward the edge of the bed.
“Where are you going?” Alexander shifts to follow.
I hold up a hand. “My legs are fine. Relax, okay? I’m feeling better. Your blood is helping a lot.”
Slowly, I stand, then lift my arms and stretch my shoulders. I’m stiff and my chest and throat ache, but it could be much, much worse. I walk over to his suitcase and grab his phone. Then, I quickly rummage through my bag beside his and find my phone as well. That Leoni. Such a prudent and amazing vampire.
With both phones in hand, I head back toward the bed. “May I?” I ask, lifting his mobile.
“Sure. Zero-five-one-four.”
Settling beside him, I put my own phone down near my hip, then tap in his code. “What’s that?”
“The month and day I found Buffy.”
I smile. Cute. The home screen flashes open and holy shit. One hundred and six text messages and twenty-eight missed calls. “Alexander… for God’s sake.”
“I haven’t responded to anyone since yesterday morning. They can all go to hell?—”
“Okay, okay.” I tap into the messaging app first. There’s a group chat that’s responsible for the bulk of the texts. Maybe his friends? Also, someone named Sebastian is in second place for highest volume. There’s a bunch of texts from Raphael, his mother and his father.
Raphael’s is the only thread that feels potentially safe for my eyes given the circumstance, so I click into his messages and read through.
“Raphael asked if you made it here safely,” I report. “He also wants you to call your father.”
“When did he send that? About my father.”
“Ten minutes ago.” Feeling brave, I click into the two unread messages from his father. To my surprise, they’re short.
[Michin, call me.]
[Please.]
I look at Alexander. “What does ‘michin’ mean?”
He rolls his eyes. “It’s a term of endearment in my father’s native language—like ‘sweetheart’ or ‘my beloved one.’”
Aw. Something inside of me warms and crumbles as I switch over to his missed calls. There are three from his father—two from yesterday evening and one just this morning.
Ansväd Kendrick was kind to me. He welcomed me in his home and even offered me a generous and glamorous opportunity (for the second time). Whatever he has to say, I don’t think it would be bad? It’s just a feeling I have.
“I know you’re angry, but don’t you think?—”
The set ringtone for my phone chimes through the quiet, as if it’s somehow jealous and wants to get in on all the cellular activity. I look down at the screen and grin. Not great timing, but let’s do it. I pick up my device, then make the swift decision to put the call on speaker.
