B0089ZO7UC EBOK

by Strider, Jez

  A few more moments passed. “Just wondering, you know, if you’d think about letting go of some of the rules. It’s not a big deal. I just wanted to throw it out there.”

  I’m not a fool, well most of the time anyway. I saw this coming. “Tomorrow is a work day. Why don’t you spend the night?” Maybe it was a small concession, but it was big for me to break the rules of our relationship.

  He visibly relaxed and gave me an affectionate squeeze with his arm. “Let’s run by my place and I’ll feed the dog, then we’ll head over to yours.” I nodded and we rode in content silence until the end of the ride. When I exited the chair and Marcus took my hand once again, someone in the distance caught my eye. Antonio was watching me and he made no secret about it. Luckily, Marcus didn’t notice. The last thing I needed was a confrontation between those two. I glanced at Marc to make sure he didn’t see and when I looked back to the spot Antonio had been leaning, he was gone as if he’d never been there.

  Marcus and I were still laughing and having a good time when I unlocked my front door. When we stepped inside, all amusement abruptly ended. There were boxes everywhere packed with my stuff. My mouth hung agape as I walked into the room. “Antonio.” I whispered as I realized he’d packed or at least had someone else pack all my things so I could flee. On the kitchen counter was a notice that the movers would arrive to move everything the next day. To say I was furious would be an understatement. It didn’t matter that it had all been done for my protection. I made my own decisions. This wasn’t an era where men made all the choices.

  I thought I was mad, but when I turned to Marcus, I saw a look of pure fury that I’d never seen on his face. He jerked the note out of my hand, read it, and crumpled it in his clenched fist. “You’re moving…without even a word about it. Were you just going to leave without even telling me?” He slammed his fist into a nearby wall, leaving a hole in my drywall.

  “Whoa, hun. Let me explain. Well, try to explain.” I immediately grabbed an ice pack from the freezer and tried to put it against his hand.

  He snatched the pack from me with a sneer and shake of his head. “I’m listening.” He said through gritted teeth. I wasn’t scared of him. He had a temper, but he wasn’t dangerous to me as far as I could tell. I’m sure I’d have been pretty pissed to walk into such a strange scene as well. I also knew that the anger was to help hide how hurt he felt.

  “Sit down.” What was I supposed to say? I had no idea where to even begin. The truth seemed like the least logical choice. He begrudgingly took a seat. I noticed my journal from the safe sitting on top of a moving box. I needed a new password…. A small note in elegant script read, “If you love him, give him the truth. –A”. Seriously? I didn’t know Antonio’s angle, but he was right. What other option did I have at this point?

  Marc’s leg bounced up and down uneasily and he leaned forward, putting his hands over his face waiting for my explanation. “My dad…he just up and left my mom, sisters, and me. That’s why I always looked up to my grandfather. I’m sorry if I overreacted.” He rarely showed his temper, but it was volatile. I knew he’d been in bar fights and had to spend a few nights in jail before. “I wouldn’t hurt you. I didn’t mean to scare you or anything.” He added.

  “To explain the moving boxes, I have to tell you some other things about my past first.” I dusted off the cover of the journal. It’d been a long time since I’d opened it. “Here.” At that moment, I was about to freak out. It was too early in our relationship for the big secret to be revealed. Gently, I sat the journal on the table in front of him.

  Eventually, he reached out and opened the book, glancing at my handwriting. “Evey… I’m not much on reading. Just tell me.” He often shortened my name from Evelyn, apparently even when mad.

  My eyes were welling up with tears. I’d been tough, even humorous through the events of the past day and a half and I couldn’t do it anymore. I scooped up my kitty and walked into my bedroom, sitting down on the bed. I burst into tears. The cat let me cuddle it, sensing my unrest, where she’d usually protest being held in place. At least my pets always loved me no matter what. Perhaps it was the only true unconditional love.

  Marcus didn’t follow, but I could hear the occasional ruffle of a page turning. The silence was deafening. Sure, I’d told other men what I was before. It had been a long time, though. It never got easier. The reaction was just too unpredictable. Would his mind be able to accept the new reality, would he hate me for lying, would he be disgusted, would he even believe it or just think I’m crazy?

  After a long time passed, I’d fallen asleep. Reading a history as long as mine is a lengthy endeavor and I knew he would be at it for a while. Emotional exhaustion was taking a toll. Days can turn bad so quickly. At some point in the night, I thought I felt his kiss upon my forehead. When I awoke the next day, I figured it to be true since my journal was on the bed beside me and open. He had written a note on one of the unused pages. It read,

  “I know what you are, but this still doesn’t explain why you are moving. I didn’t want to wake you. I’m taking a walk to clear my head. I don’t know how to deal with this. Don’t leave yet.”

  My eyes ached from crying as I rubbed them. I called the clinic and told my assistant to put up a sign that we were closed indefinitely. Things were changing, whether I wanted them to or not. There was no more going to work for a while. I took a long, hot shower as I waited for Marcus. I’d been up a couple hours and there was still no sign of him. Looking around the kitchen I noticed one of the bottles of blood on the counter. He’d found it. Not all that surprising, I knew he was smarter than his playful, fun attitude let on. One time I asked why he didn’t go to college and he’d said he wasn’t smart enough. I knew better. He ran motorcycle repair shop not far from the boardwalk. It was good business and he was his own boss. Maybe he was smarter than most by doing what he loved and enjoyed.

  Last night he was probably on the verge of telling me he loved me, today I didn’t even know if he’d want to see me again. Whether he wanted to see me or not, I was going to look for him. I figured he was at the shop or would be eventually. I left a note for the movers not to touch my stuff. There was no way I was letting Dante dictate and rule me by fear any longer.

  As I was heading to my Prius, a shiny black 370Z pulled up behind it, blocking me in the driveway. Subtle…. I thought sarcastically. The door opened and Antonio stepped out in a sleek Armani suit. “I thought I told you to leave.” He said as he pulled off his sunglasses, looking sympathetic. “Dante knows I didn’t kill you. A vampire friend of mine warned me. He’s another of Dante’s men, but he owed me.”

  “Oh no…” My hand came up and covered my mouth. “You were right. It was to test you. I bet he knew all along you wouldn’t do it.”

  “Either I bring you to him or he’s going to hunt us both down. And if you don’t stay away from that boy, he’ll end up drained.” He sighed, walking up and grabbing me by the shoulders like he was going to shake sense into me. “You have to let me help you. Why is he after you now after all these years?”

  “I guess he figured out I wasn’t dead. Were you in Versailles?” I questioned.

  With a quick look around, he led me to the passenger side of the car and opened the door for me. I gave a weak smile and sat down as he went around to the driver’s seat. I felt touched that he was taking such risk for me. I’d wondered if what we had in Venice was real or if I’d romanticized it over the years. His actions now were proof of the former.

  “Sí, tesoro mio.” It was hard to tell if he always spoke a mix of Italian and Venetian or if he was just trying to seduce me with it. Either way, hearing him call me his darling made my heart involuntarily skip a beat. I found the uncontrolled response infuriating.

  I nodded as he began driving away from my home. “So was I.” He looked at me sharply before turning back to the road. I’m sure he had questions but he was waiting for me to continue.

  “You’re beloved Master Sanuto,�
� I said keeping with sarcasm for the day, “had been keeping me in seclusion for years with lie after lie about vampires, especially what new vampires were susceptible to. In Versailles, I was locked in my own room. He personally brought all my food, blood and otherwise. When he was away on business, there was one servant allowed to tend to my needs. His fear kept him silent from speaking to me about Dante.” My arms lifted in a slight shrug. “Not about everything , though.”

  Antonio’s grip visibly tightened on the steering wheel. “I can understand him wanting to keep you to himself.” He stole a glance in my direction then shook his head. “That’s horrible, though. When we were in Versailles it was in the late 18th century. You had lived that way for over 200 years?”

  “Yes, in various locations. He told me as a weak, young vampire that I’d burst into flames if I entered sunlight and that people would kill me on sight because of my vampiric appearance. He said my eyes were crimson. My rooms never had a mirror, so I didn’t know any different. According to Dante, these features would fade with time. He saved me. He even told me he loved me. I had no reason to question him at first. By about the time of the October March on Versailles, I’d begun to question the truth.”

  The frown on my former lover’s face deepened. “Everything he said is supported by superstition. I’m sure I would have believed him as well.”

  My eyes followed the passing scenery as we sped by on the way to what I assumed was the airport. “Probably. Anyway, seducing the servant was easy. Christophe quickly became my lover. Later we became good friends after I learned French. Dante didn’t leave me any books to learn French, but Christophe was able to acquire what I needed. He even gave me a secret book that Dante didn’t know about to keep as a diary.“

  “It’s shocking to see your profession now when men have always been your specialty.” He whispered softly trying to find humor but laden with a heavy heart. “I would have saved you if only I’d known. I should have known. I’m sorry.” His hand slid over and gave my thigh a small squeeze before resting there. There seemed to be more he wanted to say. Instead of speaking, he just closed his mouth and left whatever it was unsaid.

  I put my hand on top of his. “Really, it’s not your fault. It wasn’t all bad. A caged bird gets restless, is all.”

  I continued my story. “It was finally my shot at freedom when the women marched on Versailles. Christophe had holed up in my room to defend me from the rebellion. All had gone silent and he went to look out the door, brandishing a sword. One of the women still in the hallway caught him off guard with a kitchen knife to the gut.” Even after so many years, it was a hard day to recount. “As he stumbled backward, he dropped the sword. The enraged peasant charged at me. Quickly, I picked up the weapon. I closed my eyes and swung the sword. When I opened them again, I had decapitated her. Pathetic, isn’t it? The first person I ever kill is a woman…a woman fighting because she and her family are hungry.”

  We’d arrived at the airport and he parked the car. He wasn’t getting out until I finished my story. There wasn’t much more to tell, not concerning my time with Dante, anyway. “I see you as such a delicate creature, even now. I can’t imagine you killing anyone but in self-defense.”

  The last time I told this story was long ago and I was ready to end it. “The door was still open and Christophe was dead. I pushed the door closed slightly as I switched clothing with the dead woman. I knew that if Dante thought I was alive, the pursuit would never end. So…I fed on Christophe, drank until I felt strong. I’d never fed so fully before. With a flash of speed, instinct more than thought, I put the peasant’s head atop her body and broke the desk lamp to cover her with oil. I grabbed the candle flickering in the corner and set the body ablaze. She had my clothing, so I hoped if she was burned badly enough….” My voice trailed off.

  “Master Sanuto would think it was you. Good thinking. You were wearing the peasants clothing, so you could blend in with them. Remind me to never underestimate you.” He smirked faintly.

  I gave him a half smile in return. “I have had my moments.” The sun shined on my face through the open car window and I revered the warmth. “Fear kept driving me. Anyone would have done the same. The palace was chaotic. No one knew me so it was easy to blend in.” I hesitated. “The only moment I really stood out was when I first entered the sunlight. I didn’t get to gradually test and see if my hand burst into flame as I was told. In the hustle and bustle of the crowd, I got knocked directly out into the sunlight.”

  “I assume that was traumatic?” His smirk changed to more of a full on grin.

  Some vampires have such a dark sense of humor. Sure, I guess it’s funny now, but at the time it was terrifying. “Shut up.” He gave a shrug and I allowed myself a small laugh. “My eyes were burning so I may have convinced myself I was on fire. It didn’t take me too long to realize I was fine. The people in the crowd that noticed just shook their heads at my behavior.”

  It was good to see him smile. “Yeah, people often do that with you.” He teased and I gave him a playful smack before getting to the more serious matter at hand.

  “All these years, I assumed he thought I was dead, Antonio. He had to think it. I don’t know how he found out. Please, is there nothing he’s said that would give you a hint?” I pleaded.

  Antonio shook his head somberly and I regretted having to kill the humor. “Nothing, and as far as I knew I was his closest friend. After Versailles we returned to Venice to distance ourselves from the French Revolution. Besides, it had been so long that no one remembered us anymore.” He hesitated then gave an irritated snort of a laugh. “It’s evident now why he was so depressed when we returned to Italy. Did you ever love him?”

  The answer seemed obvious to me. “If I’d loved him, I wouldn’t have fled. I’m not sure he loved me either. He just wanted to possess and control me. Life would have been very different if it’d been you instead of Dante.” I caught his gaze at me and I wished I hadn’t added the last part.

  “Yeah,” He got out of the car and came around to my side to open the door for me. “We will have a much better story.” As much as I wanted to be annoyed by his confidence (or was it arrogance?), it was an attractive trait.

  “Where are we going?” My phone rang interrupting us. Surely it had to be Marcus.

  A deep sigh came from Antonio beside me. “Finish that call and break it. You know they can trace that.”

  “Shit, right.” The call was from my friend and vet tech, Ashley. She was African-American, tall, and had sort of a hippy vibe. A few years back she’d went for the natural hair look and she was rocking it. The men loved it. The woman could be really eccentric, but she was honest. I thought about our heated debates about everything from religion to movie stars and wondered if I’d ever even come back to this city. It’s harder to find a good best friend than a boyfriend.

  Apparently, she’d decided to go by my place when I didn’t show up for work. My behavior had been out of character and she was worried..

  “Evelyn! Thank god, you’re okay. I came by your place and the door was kicked down. Maybe I should have called the police first, but I ran in to find you. The place is ransacked. Your poor kitten was hiding in terror under the bed. She’s fine now. I had a cat carrier in my car so I put her in there.” My friend seemed to be waiting for me to say something, but I listened in mute shock. I didn’t care about my stuff, but I was relieved my cat was okay. After a minute, she continued reluctantly. “Eve…there’s some blood and….and sunflowers like those at the office scattered everywhere.”

  My relief was short lived.

  “Get out of there, Ash. You are going to have to trust me. Don’t call the police. They may be in on it. I don’t know. Take Lucia with you and go home. I’ll call you when I can. Okay?” My voice was surprisingly calm.

  She stammered, “But…”

  “Do what I’m telling you. You don’t want to risk your life and that of your kids. I’ll try to explain when I can.” Luckily, she ag
reed and I dropped the phone to the ground, smashing it with my foot.

  Antonio looked angry. He didn’t ask me what the conversation was about. Maybe he already knew.

  I stared straight at him. “They have Marcus.”

  The moment seemed to drag on as Antonio debated what to do. He was pacing back and forth in front of the car and then suddenly stopped and pointed at me. “Nothing has changed. He pulled two plane tickets out of his pocket. “I was going to go with you, but now you just take your ticket and get out of here. I’ll save the boy.”

  “Over my dead body.” I grimaced at my choice of words. “He wouldn’t be in this mess and neither would you if it wasn’t for me.”

  “You’re not going to be able to do anything to help. Do you think you can just walk up and recite some old poetry and wiggle your hips and Dante will forgive you?” He slammed his fist against the hood of the car, leaving a dent. I suppose he and Marcus both punched things when they were pissed off.

  My temperature was rising and I walked close and gave him a shove. “If you think I’m the same little courtesan that did what all the men wanted without question, you’re sadly mistaken.”

  “Alright, alright. Calm down. I’m sorry! I just don’t want you to get hurt.” He grabbed me and pulled me against him, as if that would protect me. I struggled to fight the tears in my eyes. All I could think was that I had gotten Marcus killed.

  The anger was fleeting. I couldn’t blame Antonio. “Let’s go back to my house and see if we can find a clue.” I said with resolve.

  “Dante’s goons will be watching the house.” He said as he walked back around to get in the car. It was just as well. There was no way he could dissuade me. “Be on your guard.”

  On the way back to my house, I kept my hand gripping the .38 in my purse. I would definitely be prepared.