Only Two Of Us

by Cassandra Russell

  selfish, "she said, hugging me in response. "It's inevitable that I think I can cause some sort of

  loss in your life for joining someone like me. I am so full of limitations, immutable, sterile ...

  "None of this matters to me.

  "Family is something of the utmost importance, Stephanie. And a future next to someone who has no life

  social or not aging can not go unnoticed.

  "Will you stop it?" What I get by staying by your side overcomes any problem I may have

  in the future. Let's not worry about it now, I want to live today, "I said, loving that

  hug.

  - It's all right. He returned to the previous position. "I'll forget about it for now." So is

  your father? She did not say anything about him. Is it still alive? He resumed the conversation, trying to divert the

  concern.

  It made me sink my head into sadness.

  "I do not know, Richard. I'm not sure. I sighed. "Deep down, I'm hopeful he's still

  be alive. Did you know that my father is a hematologist, too?

  - Swear? Who is it?

  - Allan Wernyeck.

  "Is Allan your father?" Wow, you do not stop to amaze me! He exclaimed, puzzled. I the

  I know! He's a great pro. I attended several of his lectures, including reading his articles and research.

  He's the one who treated your grandmother, was not he?

  "Yes, and it did not help."

  "I know, her case had no cure and ... Of course! How could I not have thought of this before? Allan married the

  daughter of his patient and took her to Rio! Richard reached the conclusion. "But tell me, what was it?"

  happened to him?

  I have been detailing everything: about my father's speech in London and his disappearance, the stranger

  written note of his own fist requesting that they not seek him, my return to Brazil in haste by

  account of my stepfather's murder, my mother's depressive state, financial chaos, and the struggle for

  get a job in Rio to support us ...

  "And I still had Juninho," I finished. "You know how it is ... School, food, doctor ... My

  brother has a congenital defect in his feet and needs constant treatment and physical therapy. That's why

  I came to São Paulo, it was the only chance I had to get a fixed job to keep the house, since

  I was not getting it in Rio, "I said sadly. "Well, finally, my father's companion

  contacted the London police to see if they could find any leads, but he never showed up again.

  - Good heavens! I had no idea that the problems you faced were so serious! And think

  who almost resigned because of me! She lamented, putting a hand on her forehead. I should have

  imagined that he had difficulty accepting a post under his

  installed in a place as precarious as that ...

  Instantly, I shrank and tried to lift myself in vain, being hampered by his arms

  like chains of iron and just left, as a last alternative, to turn the face aside. despite

  inevitably ashamed, did not want anyone to feel sorry for me, let alone him.

  Richard seemed to have read my thoughts and said,

  "Stephanie, you do not have to be like this. I know very well what it is to go through this, I was not born in a family

  wealthy How do you imagine my situation was when I had to hide for so long? IT IS

  reason for you to feel pride, not to be ashamed.

  - Look, I did not agree to come here because ...

  - Of course not! - he cut my speech. - After practically waging a war to

  convince her to stay with me? Only if I were a mediocre person to think such a thing!

  I slowly relaxed my shoulders and he suddenly lifted his head, giving me notice that

  something tormented him.

  "Wait-did you say Allan disappeared in London?" His eyes narrowed.

  - Yes, why?

  "Do you have his note in hand?"

  "I have the copy that his companion sent at the time. I always keep it in my bag.

  - I can take a look?

  I looked for her immediately. The paper, so widely seen and questioned, lay crumpled and yellowed.

  "Hmmm ... I think there might be an explanation for that." I just hope it's not too late ...

  He remarked thoughtfully.

  - What are you thinking?

  "Did not Ava tell her story?" He indicated the clue I needed.

  "Do you think ... he may have been hypnotized by a vampire?" I said in surprise.

  "A hematologist would be a very convenient acquisition, would not it? Allan, for who he is, a

  researcher, has free access to blood banks around the world.

  He was right. The hypothesis would be possible. For which reason my father would leave his lifemate,

  even your so-called work, if it was not for something like that, how to be hypnotized?

  The pieces looked like they were falling into place ...

  "My father is an internationally known professional, Richard. The London police would not have

  found if he was prowling any of these blood centers?

  "The hypnotist would never send him to the most popular centers. And, in addition, it is not difficult for a

  vampire hypnotize the police themselves or whoever it is to forget what they saw.

  Hence their sudden lack of interest in continuing the case. It made sense.

  "If a vampire can hypnotize people, why would he need my father to reach the banks?"

  of blood?

  "It's a way of safeguarding the existence of the species." There is always the possibility of some

  distrust or go unnoticed. For some vampires, nomadic nature no longer satisfies,

  and for obvious reasons, if they want to settle down somewhere, even if completely isolated,

  can not attack people in the immediate vicinity, much less appear on the street after a few years without

  cause mistrust. Thus, the presence of Allan in the blood centers would act as a shield,

  would nullify any risk of a vampire being discovered.

  Panic completely invaded me.

  "And if that's true, what am I going to do?"

  - You are not going to do anything. I'm going to London alone.

  - Oh no! You can not leave me out of this! I protested.

  - No way. I can not take risks by taking you to that disgusting crypt! He snarled angrily.

  "He's my father, Richard. It's not fair that you have to solve this problem for me.

  - Ah, now I get it! It means, then, that the rules of "dividing things good and bad" are only

  apply to the vampire here, "he quipped. - Very unfair. I do not accept these conditions. I'm claiming

  my part in your life now, or I will not feel the "whole man" that you practically demanded

  that I would be! He complained, hurt.

  "That's not what I meant," I tried to undo her face. It's just ... I'm scared.

  - Fear of what? She hissed.

  "What if something happens to you?" I'll feel guilty ...

  "What do you think might happen, my love?" I'm practically immortal! I think only you can

  to finish me off, "he said with humor, and I realized that this sentence had a double meaning too.

  "Richard, you may even suppose I'm a fool, but I remember very well than Ava

  said. They can kill you! I do not know how, but they can!

  "They could, but they will not," he assured her. "I know every alley and hiding place in that city.

  I was hiding there for a long time, much longer than you think. I was not caught in that

  time, let alone Ava. Why, after all, would this happen soon?

  - I do not know, I get nervous just thinking ...

  "I'm coming back, I promise." His voice sounded sweet. "I could not stay away for long."

  same...

  "How d
o you expect me to stand here, not knowing what's happening on the other side of the world?"

  Take me with you, Richard, please! - begged.

  "Stephanie, do not insist! Do not ruin what may be the only chance to find your father again -

  he rebuked.

  "I'm going to be suffering from longing," I said, all honeyed.

  It was the last card. If it did not stick ...

  "Besides a little witch, you're a cruel blackmailer!" If you keep talking like this, do not

  I'll get out of here in the next century! That's fine with me, I just do not know if your father

  wait till then, "he mocked.

  "All right," I expressed sadness over defeat.

  "I'll be back so fast you will not even miss me." He ventured to cheer me up with a hug.

  tight.

  "As if that were possible," I whispered softly, discouraged.

  "Stop pouting, or I'll give up." I promise I'll take you to meet the whole world.

  with me but not now.

  "And when do you intend to leave?"

  "I think we'll have to postpone our trip to Rio, if you do not mind." I'll try to buy the ticket.

  for tomorrow morning, if I can survive you by then, "he teased. "It would be nice if I had

  like taking a picture of him. Do you have any?

  - I have it on my camera chip. It's just to reveal.

  I've been thinking ...

  She was getting so accustomed to her constant presence that it would be difficult to spend so many hours or days

  far from it. I knew, however, that it would do no good to torture me like that. The reward would come back:

  the presence of my father-if he met him-and Richard's love.

  This really would be a dream.

  The best dream I ever had.

  Chapter 21

  I could not nail the eye at night. In fact, even if I wanted to, he would let me sleep.

  Richard, though not verbally, still showed that he had not overcome the years of rejection and agony.

  Not that his intense attachment bothered me, far from it, I also wanted as never before every second

  of affection he offered me. He only considered it disturbing to note that, in a way, there were

  there a different amplitude, something that transcended what a simple human would be able to understand.

  It was clear how he needed to feel loved, in an almost unbridled hunger. In the few

  moments when he slept, he perceived him dreaming of something that disturbed him and involuntarily sought

  by some proof that he was not alone, either through a simple encounter of hands or by texture

  of my hair. He came to babble sleeping phrases, mostly unintelligible, however, a "No

  let me "suffered was too clear. I believe that I was intimately afraid of being abandoned again, that I

  died or changed his mind.

  As if that were possible!

  I was not Juliet, I could not imagine my life without having your love, your affection

  irresistible, your kisses ...

  There was nothing to fear. The biggest problem we would have to face would be quite different:

  we were of the same species. As much as he hated being a vampire, this condition would never change. I

  would grow old, sick, tired, die ... and he would not.

  Until when would our relationship last? Ten? Fifteen? Twenty years?

  The weight of the years would fatally distance us and the ingrained suffering would not be less.

  I did not want to think about it, but at some point we'd have to decide what to do about it.

  of fact. As soon as he returned from the trip, we would have to talk seriously about it,

  including their veiled and misguided insecurity.

  I took him to the airport early and inevitably remembered the last time I was in one, although the

  Flight departed now from Congonhas, not from Cumbica.

  On that day, I was able to stop him from leaving and unfortunately there was no longer any way to repeat the dose. It was

  a matter of life and death. Even so, the feel of his embarkation sounded distressing. Still

  to trust his word, the fear that the plan would not work and I would end up alone, without the

  two, populated my head. And to distract my thoughts, I tried as hard as I could to talk about

  matters while driving.

  "I'm curious," I said.

  "Say it," he said, always fumbling with my hair.

  "Can you get some sun?"

  "The sun does not kill vampires, as the movies show. Just leave the body tired, take our

  force and ends up disrupting the vision, which is essentially nocturnal. Because of this, I always leave

  very early and stay in hospitals all day. I also use sunscreen on the

  car and sunglasses like these. He pointed with his finger.

  "Oh, well ... And as for this myth that they can not appear in photos or that they can not see in the

  mirror?

  "I do not know where the people invented these creeds. Oh, and before you ask me, I do not need

  permission to enter the houses and I can not become a bat either. If I could, I would surely have

  flown to the room of his pension. Come to think of it, even that would not be a bad idea ...

  - This is good! - I laughed. "You've relieved me now. I would not like to be without

  a photo of you hit by me. Did you know I'm a great photographer? I already won until contests ... It was what

  pretended to be before nursing.

  - Really? Talented as it is, that would not surprise me. I would like to have a photo of you too,

  though he prefers a thousand times to see it in a way, let's say ... three-dimensional, "he joked. - But do not

  Sorry, we still have our wedding album.

  - Marriage? I raised one eyebrow.

  For this I did not expect...

  - What is it? Am I not good enough for Madame? I can assure you I'm a family man. Already

  I even learned to make your coffee earlier today.

  "Making coffee is important. I shook my head in mockery.

  "I just have some doubts about this ... family guy.

  "Speak that over last night?" You have not seen anything yet, just wait until I get back -

  promised, outgoing.

  It worked like an electric current in my body. Just to imagine, I gave a shake and he

  He laughed at my reaction.

  "Let's change the subject," I said, blushing.

  "It's not my fault, it was you who started it. It will put me through an embarrassing situation.

  in the airport. How will I explain the different color in the eyes at the time of the inspection?

  The dark color in his eyes was the least.

  - I can leave right now if ...

  "I'm joking," he interrupted. "And stop talking about leaving." I do not like to listen, not even

  of joke His voice was contradictorily disturbed.

  - Do not worry. You do not take that risk.

  - I hope so.

  With that face he did, who could?

  The boarding time was the most difficult. Richard waited until they made the final call with the

  sorry for the "saideira", name that gave the last kiss. He was clearly seeking to tailor his

  Today's slang sounds that sounded funny even from her mouth. As for this, until I could not

  complain: it changed one hundred percent after I inadvertently called your attention.

  "Call me as soon as I know something," I said.

  He made a heart with his hands and blew in response. It was beautiful in every way ...

  When I got home, I thought about making a call to give my mother some satisfaction.

  about us. I had not talked to her in days, and if she called the boarding house and found out I did not

  she lived there, she would be worried. Would he be suspic
ious of anything

  his presence?

  No, I do not think so, "I mused.

  I myself did not distrust ... Even more so after we transformed this house into a more

  human.

  I also wanted to tell Anne the news. Surely, she would demand that she pay for that bet

  which we had done before, though I owed this debt with satisfaction. In this case, no

  there was nothing better than being wrong. On second thought, it might be wise to wait a little or someone

  I would be filling my patience until the end of my days, honking phrases such as "I knew" or "I said

  that you were in love, did not I? "

  ***

  The rest of the day passed by.

  It was very strange to move about in that house without Richard's presence nearby. Everything in her had a

  little of his remarkable personality: books, clothes, furniture ... Even his scent lay impregnated in the

  pillow. It was not difficult to imagine him handling his things there, surrounded by everything he did to me

  remind you. He missed her intensely, but he was certain he would hear from him as soon as he

  arrived And that would probably take a while, the flight was not direct, he needed to make a connection.

  Gradually, the impatience was taking me completely. I could not be distracted by

  practically nothing, and look how well I looked for things to do ... Amazing to realize how much he

  filled my life completely when I was by my side.

  ***

  Early the next morning the phone rang. I scrambled up and was relieved to hear her voice.

  Hi love, I woke you? He said sweetly.

  I actually had insomnia. I do not think I could sleep because you were not here.

  I confessed.

  - Did you see? Then it's me who will not let her sleep ... "The voice passed to the sarcastic tone.

  - Always funny. Were you born in some Irish circus? It has a vocation for

  clown, "I returned, and I heard the sound of his laughter.

  "I've arrived in London. I'll call you as soon as I know something, okay?

  "Please," I agreed.

  - Wait for me.

  "That's all I've been doing since yesterday.

  ***

  The days that followed would be, from then on, very long.

  My only consolation was to think that there was little left to return to the stop, which was, in a way or

  on the other hand, a very efficient way to deceive the brain momentarily. If I knew that