Olivia

by Genevieve McCluer

  “It’s huge.”

  “Well, then, it’s a good thing you’re a vampire.” Right, maybe we’re both saying insensitive snarky things today. I hope it doesn’t keep up. “Come on.” I link my arm with hers and gesture for her to follow. We walk from the garage to the main house. “There’s enough room for a second car if you want to get one.”

  “I don’t actually know how to drive.”

  I can’t help but laugh. “So you, who actually grew up when cars were a thing, can’t drive?”

  “I can’t sail a ship either, and I’m sure you can do that.”

  “That doesn’t tend to come up as often.”

  “I lived right by where I worked, and before that, I lived on campus in college. It’s just never been an issue, and I never cared that much to learn. My parents were busy with work when most people would’ve been learning, and I was fine not knowing how. Besides, you really shouldn’t drive when you’re on drugs, and I like being high more than I like having reliable transportation.”

  I do not understand this woman. We’re so different, even if we’re both incredibly damaged. How is she the one I’ve fallen for? “I could teach you.”

  Eyeing me suspiciously, she purses her lips and shrugs. “If you want.”

  “Then maybe I wouldn’t have to drop you off at work.”

  “See? I knew you’d try to get out of that.”

  I open the front door, unveiling the foyer and the faint smell of parrot. The ceiling is about ten feet high to make up for only having a single floor. “The kitchen’s that way,” I say as Harvey drops onto my shoulder.

  “Tea?”

  “Not right now, I’m showing Mia around.”

  “Pretty,” he says, greeting her.

  “Hey, Harvey. I missed you too,” she says, scratching his head

  He preens happily, stretching out against me. “Tea?”

  “Give me a minute, Mia, while I put the kettle on.” It only takes a few seconds, and Harvey hops on the counter to watch it boil.

  “Tea!” he cheers.

  We resume our tour, as I drag Mia past the living room. I’d forgotten how much of a mess it is. I’ve been spending a bit too much time watching television on the couch. I’m actually a bit behind on one of my classes right now. Her absence affected me more than I had realized. I haven’t felt like this about anyone in centuries. I suppose that’s why she’s moving in. “Would you keep your apartment?” I ask, surprised by my own words.

  She stares as if considering. I can see how desperately she wants to retreat, insist that she’s not moving in, so of course she would, or maybe even run away again, but I think our separation was as hard on her as it was on me as she shakes her head. “I guess not. I’m on a month-to-month lease, so I could get out of it pretty easily. I thought we weren’t U-Hauling, though.”

  “Do you want to? We seem pretty set on you moving in, even as we act like it’s not the case, and quite frankly, I can’t think of anything I’d like more than sharing my home with you. I promise, there’s plenty of room for all your stuff.”

  “Keep bragging, why don’t you?”

  “Well, it’s your place too.”

  She smirks as if trying out that idea for size. “It would be pretty cool to have a place like this.”

  “And the girlfriend?”

  “I guess she’s okay.” She pulls me to her, more accustomed to her increased strength. She leans in to kiss me but catches herself. “I kinda promised myself that I wouldn’t do this sort of thing.”

  “What sort of thing is that?”

  “So many parts of this, but mostly the falling in love and moving in with someone, especially someone I’ve barely even known for two months.”

  “We’ve been through a lot in that time.” Her words finally hit me. “Wait, you’re in love with me?” I smirk, torn between how touched I am and my desire to tease the cynical woman for turning into a romantic.

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “Of course not. I must’ve misheard you.”

  “Fine, I’ll move in.”

  “That’s what I thought.” I try to continue the tour, pointing out a room that she could take as her study, but find myself pinned to the wall.

  “I think you can show me more in a little while.”

  “I have to fix the tea,” I insist, giggling, not even attempting to push her off me.

  Her lips meet my neck. “I’m sure I can finish you off once or twice before it boils.”

  * * *

  Several hours and a few dozen orgasms later, we lie tangled amongst Egyptian cotton sheets. It was the first time we’d done such a thing, but it wasn’t some big unnerving emotional event either. Sex was never the issue for either of us, intimacy was. Wow, speaking of, I just realized I’ve never actually had a woman in this bed before. I tend not to let anyone come here. It’s a nice change of pace. “That was amazing,” I mutter, stretching and almost kicking her.

  “It was pretty nice.”

  “See how much fun you can have actually feeling things?” I ask, reaching for my tea on the nightstand and finding it unpleasantly cold.

  “I’m still high.”

  “Not like you were when I saw you earlier.”

  Groaning, she crawls up the bed until she’s parallel with me. “It keeps me stable. Maybe I don’t need it quite like I’ve been using it the last few weeks, but I can’t just be sober.”

  “You used to use it to balance out your mood, but this isn’t that.”

  “You could use it too. I know how haunted you are. Let me cope how I cope.” She starts to sit up.

  I grab her arm, meeting her eyes. “Okay. Sorry. You said you’ll talk to Elizabeth about it. I’ll try to drop it.”

  With a reluctant nod, she lies back down, her head resting on my pillow. We had quite a workout, and she falls asleep a few seconds later, her breathing stopping. A lot of young vampires are so used to breathing that they keep doing it consciously. Her body knows better when she’s not controlling it.

  I hear Harvey squawking as he tears apart one of his toys in his bedroom. I should buy him something new. I haven’t in a little while. There was that interesting cube on Amazon that seemed different from the last few things I’ve bought him. He’d probably like that. I wrap an arm around Mia, holding her close while I contemplate online shopping. There are a few other things I should get too. She’s moving in, and my place is only set up for one person. I know she has stuff to bring, so maybe we should go through all of that and go over what we’d need more of. More plates are always a good idea, and maybe a welcome present for her, like a nice bundle from a soap store.

  She inhales sharply, bucking against me, her hand spasming on the sheet. “No,” she whimpers, her breathing growing frantic.

  “Mia?”

  She tosses, elbowing me in the nose.

  “I’m here.” I place a hand on her arm as gently and comfortingly as I can. So this is what it’s like being on the other side. I hope I never hurt her too badly in my sleep. My nose still stings. That was a good blow.

  Another whimper and her eyes twitch rapidly as if she’s looking around for something.

  “It’s okay, Mia. I’ve got you. You don’t need to worry.”

  “Huh?” she asks, her eyelids fluttering open. “What?”

  I plant a kiss on her forehead. “You were having a bad dream.”

  “Oh. Yeah. The usual one,” she confirms, rubbing her eyes with her thumb and forefinger.

  “I have some pills that are supposed to help with that.”

  “Or I could get high enough that I won’t feel anything. I think that sounds much better.”

  “Mia, please. I’ve done this to myself for centuries. Doing that won’t help. You still have the dreams even then, don’t you?”

  Her jaw clenches in annoyance. “It’s not as bad.”

  “Well, all you’re going to do is rob yourself of a lot of other emotions. Try my pills.”

  “You don’t try
them. I’ve never seen you take them.”

  Damn it. I didn’t want to have this conversation. Ever, if I could help it. “They don’t work for me.”

  “And you think they will for me?”

  “It’s worth trying, isn’t it?”

  She considers it, her annoyance slowly fading into concern. “On one condition.” Her eyes stare into my very soul with a look so determined, I don’t think I could possibly refuse.

  “Name it.”

  “I’ll try these pills if you’ll give taking pills another chance and find something that works for you. Besides, then you won’t beat me up in my sleep.”

  “You’re one to talk. You have a hell of an elbow.”

  Contrition and pride war in her features, but she settles on a bemused smirk. “You’ll do it?”

  “Will you try bipolar meds instead of heroin?”

  “I’ll try bipolar meds and heroin,” she offers.

  “I want to have my girlfriend all the way here with me.”

  “I’m here,” she insists.

  I sit up, staring at the floor. I don’t know how bad it’s been, but I can’t sit by when she’s actively blocking herself off. For decades, I did the same, far more literally, and wouldn’t allow myself any connection as a result. “I know what it’s like to not want to feel anything, to not let yourself. I know exactly how incapable I was of being there for someone else. Maybe I’m selfish, but I’d like my partner to not go through that.”

  “Are you going to be weird if I still get high when I’m having a bad episode?”

  “Hell, if I’m having one, I may join you.”

  “If it means I might get to see a high Ollie, I suppose you have yourself a deal. Do I need to see Liz for this part, or can we just try all of the pills?”

  “Whatever works, I suppose.”

  “All right.” She hops out of bed, stretching the arm she’d smacked me with. “Where are those pills?”

  Her sleep still seems restless, and maybe it’s just the placebo effect, but her dreams don’t seem quite as violent. Maybe it helps. I’ve had no interest in trying medication again, especially after how the last time went, but if it gets her to do it, I suppose it’s worth it. Maybe eventually, it’ll even make a difference.

  Chapter Twenty

  Happily Ever After

  The cabin is secluded in the middle of the woods. It’s certainly not where I anticipated Elizabeth living, but it has a nice hominess to it. There’s no doorbell, so I knock. Within a few seconds, the door swings open to reveal a wendigo towering over me, her dark fur neatly trimmed and the usual smell of death dampened and covered up with the smell of fresh flowers. “You must be Abby,” I say, extending my hand.

  Her massive fingers envelop mine as she shakes my hand. “I am. Liz has told me almost nothing about you, but it’s nice to meet you. Olivia, right? And this must be Dr. Sun.” Her voice is higher than I’d expected.

  Mia waves. “Hi.”

  “Come on inside.” She gestures for us to enter, her claws almost raking the opposite wall. “Liz is just finishing up dinner. I hope you don’t mind vegetarian.”

  “You can eat vegetarian?” Mia asks, peering at Abigail. “I didn’t think that was possible.” Is she going to try to vivisect our host?

  “I don’t eat, but it’s easier to be around food if it’s not meat.”

  “Oh.” Her eyes glint as she continues eyeing the specimen. I’ve heard about her, the wendigo who successfully swore off eating people. She’s apparently a bit of a legend in that support group in the Community Center. I’ve never been, but I’ve heard good things about it. “And you’re not having any health issues with that?”

  “Just the perpetual starvation,” she offers.

  “Right. Sorry. Well, if there’s anything I can do, feel free to pay my clinic a visit. Maybe we could run some tests and see if there’d be a way to suppress your appetite?”

  “No shop talk,” Elizabeth calls from the kitchen. “I’m sure Abby would be happy to try that out later, but as I’m seeing both of you as my clients, I’d rather we avoid any talk of work.” We find her in the dining room setting a large salad bowl on the table along with some impressively sized mushroom burgers. “You have no idea how hard it’s been to find a meat substitute that has the right feel for a burger. I hope you like it.”

  “I can imagine,” I say. Meat wasn’t as common for meals when I was growing up, but we also didn’t have half a dozen alternatives to imitate the flavor. Live on sailor’s biscuits for long enough, and you stop worrying about that sort of thing. Seeing Mia already picking up the food, I add, “Would you mind if I say grace first?”

  “If you’d like,” Elizabeth says. “But maybe try to skip the crossing yourself bit? I’d hate to see my client self-harming at my dinner table.”

  Mia doesn’t tend to appreciate it either, but she’s learned to stop trying to convince me to give it up. “Okay.” I lead everyone in grace, to no one’s joy, and Mia looks relieved when she can finally eat. She doesn’t even get hungry, and she’s immortal, so I’m not sure what could justify the impatience.

  “It’s delicious,” Mia exclaims, staring in shock at her burger.

  “You don’t need to sound that surprised,” Elizabeth says. “I’ve learned to be a much better cook over the last year. No place delivers out here.”

  “Sorry,” Abby mutters.

  “Honey, you know I don’t mean it like that. Besides, you’re more than worth it.” She winks at her wife, helping herself to some of the salad.

  Abby says, “So, Dr. Sun—”

  “Mia is fine.”

  “Well, Mia, then.” I’ve never seen a bashful wendigo. It’s a little scary. “How’re you adapting to your transformation? I know it’s not the same, but I remember how rough going through mine was. It was only eight years ago, so it’s still relatively fresh. I’m here to help if you need anything.”

  Might Mia just admit how traumatizing the whole thing was? How desperately she didn’t want to do it, but why she gave in? Maybe talk about how gross she thinks blood is? “It was okay,” she says. “I’ve had Ollie helping me through it, and I was already familiar with the community, so most of it didn’t come as a shock. I do catch fire in the sun, though. That was a pleasant surprise.”

  “Really?” Abby asks.

  “You do?” I ask. “You said that it was bad, but I didn’t realize it was quite like that. I expected something more like Iago’s weakness. Oh, I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. That must’ve been terrifying.”

  “It’s okay. You’d left some blood in my fridge, so it didn’t end up being that bad. It just wasn’t a fun thing to find out. But hey, it means that I’m not vulnerable to the same things as you, so I can look at that cross in a bit, and it probably won’t hurt, right?”

  “Yeah, hopefully,” I say, still beating myself up. I chew some salad as I try to ease my conscience. She didn’t want me there, and she would’ve called if she’d changed her mind. I did what she asked. I didn’t do anything wrong, but it sure feels like I did.

  “How’d you two meet?” Mia asks, moving the attention away from herself. She is never comfortable with it there for long.

  “Grade school,” Abby says with a light chuckle. “I honestly can’t recall a time when I didn’t know her.”

  “Oh, it wasn’t after…” She trails off, gesturing toward Abby. I don’t know how none of her clients have mauled her yet. She is the least tactful person I’ve ever known. Of course, with the temper I had when we met, I’m surprised I wasn’t the one to do it. Well, I guess I did kill her.

  “No, it wasn’t after that,” Elizabeth says quickly. “Though I don’t think it would’ve stopped me.” Her fingers interlace with her partner’s skeletal ones. “She’s my whole life. Plus, how cool is finding out that fiends are real? I would’ve been thrilled to go along with that no matter what.” Her teeth show in a playful smile. “Oh, right, and she’s the most caring person I’ve ever known a
nd understands me in a way no one else could. Plus, the tongue.”

  Abby’s black eyes roll at that. “Gee, Liz, you’re so professional.”

  “I’m not at the office now. I can flirt with you.”

  “Love you too.”

  “That’s really cute,” I say, giving Mia’s thigh an affectionate squeeze. I wonder if we’ll ever end up anything like them. We still haven’t said those words beyond her accidentally letting them slip when she moved in. And when I did as well, now that I think about it. “I’m happy for you.”

  “Yeah, me too,” Mia adds, clearly realizing vivisection is off the table. “I was her vet when her parrot was sick. Not quite as touching a story as a lifelong romance.”

  “Well, Harvey’s in love with you too, if that helps.”

  “It does a little.”

  “Harvey?” Abby asks.

  “Her bird,” Liz says. I suppose that hardly counts as breaking confidentiality. It’s not like he’s also her client. Though that would be interesting to see.

  Abby nods, a finger tapping the table since she has no food to busy herself with. “I always thought parrots made the most interesting pets. I considered getting one, but I can’t really anymore. Animals are all scared of me. I can’t even pet a dog.”

  “I think I’d die,” Mia says. Can I just not let her talk to Abby? “That sounds awful. I’m so sorry. Animals are the only thing that kept me going for most of my life.” That’s really not helping. “Do you know what it is that scares them? If it’s because of how intimidating you look, I’ve known a lot of blind animals. We could go to the shelter and find you one? Hell, sometimes people leave abandoned animals with us, and I’m usually the one who drops them off since I’m the one who closes every night. Would you like me to get you one of them or check the shelter? I’m sure they would love having these woods to explore and run around in, and as gentle as you seem, if they aren’t too scared of you initially, I think they’d adjust pretty quickly.” Okay, she may have saved it.

  “Liz, would that be okay?”

  “Of course. You could take it hunting with you.”

  “Then, yeah, I’d love that.”