Page 55 of Blood and Bonbons

“Sure, he’s had a few moments, but so have you, Miss Stabby-pants. Instead of focusing on his almost slips, recognize his restraint.”

“You’re putting too much faith into a creature we know nothing about.”

“And you’re putting a label on a person who you know nothing about. What if everything we think we know about vampires is wrong? You already said he’s not like other vampires. He’s walking around in full sunlight. He ate a deer instead of either of us.”

“Exactly. We don’t know anything about him.”

“You’re fearing the unknown far too much for being the thrill seeker you are. Where’s the Vena who takes life by the horns?”

“She’s still here with her best friend who is always telling her to be more cautious. Where’s your caution? He didn’t kill us today, but what about tomorrow? Or the day after? There’s a reason that vampires haven’t come out into the open. They’re killers, Ev. We’ve heard the stories about mass murders. Villages wiped out. One of these days, he’ll turn on us. I’d rather stake him before that happens.”

Vena made valid points, but I had a hard time reconciling her picture of a murderous monster with Cross. He was just so…proper. Controlled. Most of the time.

“Let’s head home and get ready for work,” I said. “We’ll worry about Cross tomorrow.”

Vena buried her nose in the book the rest of the way home, and I took refuge in the silence.

Our neighborhood was already lively, with a few kids playing on the sidewalks by the time we arrived. The old man across the street scowled at us as his granddaughter rode her bike up and down the driveway. I waved as if his perpetually crabby self didn’t bother me and grabbed my bag.

As soon as I neared the front door, I saw the tilted handle.

“Looks like your fanged friend was eager for your confectionery.” Vena shook her head and walked right in.

I made a face at her and did my best to close the door behind me.

“Still think he’s so useful?” she asked.

Something clinked, and I glanced back at her to see her standing near an empty plate and pouch. While I didn’t like the broken lock, he had said he’d liked my bonbons, and, oddly, that made me happy.

“He’s reimbursing us for the damage when he trades his coin,” Vena said, disappearing into the kitchen.

I walked over to the empty plate and spotted a note in old, flowing cursive.

The bonbons were sweeter than the apology.

The apology had been sweet enough, but maybe not for a newly woken and hungry vampire.

Stowing the plate in the kitchen to clean later, I saw Vena at the counter, carefully unrolling the scrotum. She’d already tainted my flour. Now she was defiling my counters as well?

“Can you do that somewhere else?” I asked.

“The light’s better in here.”

I had been thinking of making a sandwich before work, but not anymore. I glanced at the clock and went to my room for a nap before our shift.

When I reemerged a while later, Vena was in the same spot.

“We have an hour before we have to leave.”

“It will take me two seconds to get ready, and there’s still a lot I need to do before then. If you want to be helpful, fondle this scrotum open while I read.”

“I am not fondling that scrotum.”

Vena smirked at me. “If not the sheep’s scrotum, maybe there’s a Shepard's scrotum you’d like to fondle.”

“You’re going to make me regret getting you a job at Blur, aren't you?”

“No way. I know you’re only doing it because you love me. I’ll save my match-making comments for when it’s just the two of us. Maybe. At least I’ll try really, really hard.”

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